Saturday, 9 October 2010

Where is M13? — A Three Dimensional Galactic Atlas!

Astronomy observation help
Hier is `n oulike stukiie sagteware om te kyk waar die Messier-voorwerpe in ons galaksie geleë is. En dit is gratis (No cosmic strings attached!) - Hannes Pieterse, ASSABFN.

 We all have our favorite deep sky objects that we've looked at hundreds and hundreds of times. We know where to find them in the night sky, but most of us have little idea where they lie in the three-dimensional space around our Galaxy. Isn't that just a bit strange?

Where is M13? is a unique application that helps you visualize the locations and physical properties of deep sky objects in and around the Galaxy.

At home, Where is M13? serves as a reference you will frequently turn to when you read about an object and become curious where it is with respect to our galaxy. In the field, the program will enhance your observing experience by allowing you to get an intuitive sense of the physical location, size, luminosity, and distance of the object you are viewing. You will find Where is M13? a great educational and outreach tool as well. 

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Saturday, 2 October 2010

Karoo National Starparty 2011 is om die draai.




 2011 Karoo National Starparty
Datum: Vrydag, 29 April - Maandag, 2 Mei 2011
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Nuusbriewe: Canopus en Cape Observer - Oktober 2010

Besoek die Astronomical Society of Southern Africa - Johannesburg Centre se webblad  en laai die jongste tydskrif af. (Links onder op die spyskaart.


 


Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
- Cape Centre


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Friday, 1 October 2010

Waarnemingshulp vir Oktober 2010

Astronomy observation help
 October 2010
Pdf (Thanx Auke)


Ander hulp



Pdf -formaat (Dankie Auke)

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'Goldilocks planet just right for life'

An artist's impression of Gliese 581g and its parent star
Source: BBC News By Katia Moskvitch Science reporter, BBC News

Astronomers have detected an Earth-like exoplanet that may have just the right kind of conditions to support life.
Gliese 581g lies some 20 light-years away in its star's "Goldilocks zone" - a region surface temperatures would allow the presence of liquid water.

Scientists say that the newly found world could also potentially have an atmosphere.

Their findings, made with the Keck telescope in Hawaii, appear in the Astrophysical Journal.

The researchers, from the University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC) and the Carnegie Institution of Washington, have been studying the movement of the planet's parent star, a red dwarf called Gliese 581, for 11 years.

Their observations have revealed a number of exoplanets spinning around the star.
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A Fun and Easy Way To Learn More About Astronomy

Astronomy observation help

A Fun and Easy Way To Learn More About Astronomy

If you want to learn more about astronomy, telescopes, and the night sky, then you’ve come to the right place.

Whether you’re a total beginner or you’ve been a stargazer for some time, this website will help build your enjoyment and appreciation of the constellations and night sky in the northern and southern hemispheres.  Even if you have just a few minutes a week.  Even if you haven’t taken a science course since high school.

You’ll find no long, dense pages filled with facts and equations here.  Just short, easy-to-readthe most beautiful sights in nature. bits of insights and advice– delivered directly to you by email– to help you find your way around the stars and constellations, select and use a telescope or pair of binoculars, and understand a little of the science behind some

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Discovery's Last Ride

By Susan Poulton
for Breaking Orbit
Space Shuttle Discovery rolled out to the launch pad for the final time tonight, with first motion out of the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) coming 30 minutes early at 7:23pm ET, beneath a stunning sunset. Hundreds of employees gathered to watch the event and cheer on Discovery as they watched the last of two launches get underway. Loud roars and applause could be heard as the shuttle passed the grandstands and cars poured into the area as everyone wanted to catch a glimpse.  

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Saturn Aurora


Image courtesy NASA/JPL/University of Leicester/University of Arizona

Hundreds of miles tall, curtains of aurorae undulate above Saturn's south polar clouds in a
composite of near-infrared images released Friday by NASA's Cassini orbiter. (See pictures of earthly auroras generated by a September solar storm.)
In this false-color picture, aurorae are bright green, sunlight reflected off Saturn's rings and high-altitude haze are blue, and heat emissions from the planet's interior glow deep red. Get the full story on National Geographic's Breaking Orbit blog >>
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Star Gazers Deep Space Atlas

Astronomy observation help

STAR GAZERS DEEP SPACE ATLAS
A VALUABLE AND VERSITILE TOOL FOR STAR GAZING 
  • For ANYONE interested in the night sky, but has no idea where to start!
  • For the BEGINNER and SERIOUS star gazer.
  • Beginners may with ease, gaze up at the starry sky, find constellations and experienced observers may use a telescope to its full potential.
CAMPING - HIKING - USE AT HOME - DARK SKY OBSERVING
SPECIAL FEATURES
  • 270 DEW RESISTANT PAGES - Dew may be wiped off (cold nights).
  • STARS SHOWN AS VIEWED FROM HOME - Most other books show the sky upside-down for S.A. because published for northern hemisphere.
  • STEP BY STEP GUIDED SKY TOURS EACH MONTH - Locate a constellation and/or celestial object the same evening after purchase.
  • WHITE TEXT ON BLACK PAPER - Excellent reading at night with a red LED torch which maintains your “dark adaption”.
  • HUNDREDS OF OBJECTS TO OBSERVE -  Star Clusters, Gas Clouds, Galaxies, Dying Stars, Double Stars and Variable stars.
  • ON-LINE SUPPORT - Wayne offers assistance to users via a website.
Contact Information:
Wayne Mitchell

Author of the STAR GAZER'S DEEP SPACE ATLAS

Member of the Pretoria Centre of the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa

Email: wayne.mitchell@penbrogroupe.com    

Cell: 072 465 7739.
  1. Example Pages and contact information(2M)
  2. Example Pages and contact information in PDF format .  (2M)
  3. Website
  4. Information and how to order

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Sunday, 26 September 2010

Get ready for a naked-eye comet - Comet 103P/Hartley 2

Astronomy observation help
Comet 103P Hartley 2 imaged on the evening of 10 Sep 2010 from Mauna Kea, 13x100s luminance plus 3x100s@2x2binning for RGB color, ST2k camera and 100mm APO. Foto: Andrew Cooper
Lekker! Dit lyk of hier weer `n helder komeet (Comet 103P/Hartley 2) op pad is. Die maan gaan pla, maar dalk sien ons dit met die blote oog of ten minste met verkykers. Hier is `n klomp inligting. Kry jou sterkaarte reg en maak reg om te kyk.

In Suid-Afrika gaan Comet 103P/Hartley 2 so teen 8 Oktber sy kop in die Noorde bo die horison uitsteek.

Groete
Hannes Pieterse
_________________________________________________________________________
Astronomy:

Get ready for a naked-eye comet
Comet 103P/Hartley promises to be the brightest comet of 2010 when it peaks in October.
Richard Talcott, senior editor

 The brightest comet of the year starts to put on a good show in late September before reaching its peak in October. When Comet 103P/Hartley glows at its brightest, it should be visible with naked eyes under a dark sky.

Australian astronomer Malcolm Hartley discovered this comet in March 1986. It orbits the Sun once every 6.5 years, traveling from just outside the orbit of Jupiter to nearly Earth's distance from the Sun. This is the comet's fourth return to the inner solar system since it was discovered, and its best one yet.

Comet 103P/Hartley should peak at 5th magnitude when it passes closest to Earth in October. A 5th-magnitude star is bright enough to see with naked eyes if you're out of the city, but a comet's light spreads out, making it harder to see. Still, you'll have a good chance to see it without optical aid from a dark-sky site. Binoculars will show the comet nicely, and a telescope will let you see details.
More info
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