10 New Iridium NEXT Satellites in orbit

The satellites still very close to each other on this chart (marked in red). They will eventually spread out like the other Iridium satellites.

 Chart for Bloemfontein tonight 20:30 (25 January 2017)

  The latest Iridium satellites should be visible tonight. Use binoculars.  About Magnitude 5 - 7.

Iridium Announces Successful First Launch of Iridium NEXT Satellites

 MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 14, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Iridium Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:IRDM) announced today the successful launch of its first ten Iridium NEXT satellites. The satellites were delivered into low-Earth orbit approximately one hour after the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 9:54:39 a.m. PST. Iridium NEXT is the company’s next-generation satellite constellation, replacing and enhancing its existing network of low-Earth orbit satellites spanning the entire globe – the largest commercial satellite constellation in space.

Read more 

Open Evening at the Boyden Observatory - 10 December 2016

The Friends of Boyden Observatory and ASSA Bloemfontein had a succesfull Open Evening at Boyden Observatory.

Programme: 

18:00 – 19:00:  Family Math and Science (Gr. 1 – Gr 7) (family fun with math and science)

19:00 – 19:30: Visit to Boyden 1.5-m telescope and Boyden museum

19:30 – 19:45: Presentation on “Summer Constellations” on top of the Boyden Auditorium

19:45 – 21:00:  Observing through the telescopes

Iridium 61 visible in Bloemfontein

Iridium 61, 11 December 2016, 19:45 (Click to enlarge image)

 Iridium 61 brightened to a spectacular 8th magnitude in the constellation of Columba over Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Photo information: 49 images stacked in Startrail software. 

Canon 30D and 50mm standard lens mounted on tripod and Canon timer remote Controler.

ISO: 100

Exposure: 30 Seconds

f-stop:  f4.5

Clouds moved in and help to give the image some punch.

Heavens  Above information

Photo: Hannes Pieterse

2017 Sky Guide - Africa South

The Sky Guide is the astronomical handbook for southern Africa, and is an invaluable practical resource for anyone who has even a passing interest in the night skies of southern Africa.

Read more...  (Exclusive 2017 Sky Guide competition!)

The Sky Guide is also available from bookshops or on-line bookshops such as Loot.co.za, Exclus1ves.co.za or Takealot.

2017 Astronomy Wall Calendar

Click to enlarge image

 Order now!

A 12-page wall calendar with a mix of astrophotos and rarely-seen South African historical images, for 2017. In support of the Centre for Astronomical Heritage NPC. Just in time for the holidays!

The 2017 wall calendar is in support of a newly-formed non-profit organization, the Centre for Astronomical Heritage. The Centre's mission is to protect South Africa's astronomical heritage, something which most of us are interested in and concerned about.

The calendars are A3 sized, glossy, full-colour and gorgeous, and showcase a mix of the latest South African astrophotos and rarely seen historical images. 

The friendly Johan Brink (Director: Finances) of the Centre has kindly offered to manage the orders, packaging, and shipment of the 2017 astro-calendars.

A calendar costs only R 120, to which you add whatever postage method you'd prefer (e.g. Poskantoor, PostNet, courier...). Like in previous years, bulk orders are possible (to reduce postage). Please discuss the options with Johan.

Only 150 have been produced, so please place your order soonest.

Send e-mail to johan@cfah.org.za for more information

World Light pollution Map

Click on image  to enlarge - Bloemfontein area

Click to open World wide light Pollution Map

November Supermoon 2016: Best Photos From Across the Globe

Marseille, France- Last night's supermoon was the biggest we'll see until 2034. Appearing 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, the stunning spectacle was a sight to behold in many countries across the globe. According to NASA, the full moon of November 14 was not only the closest of 2016, but the closest moon to date in the 21st century. The New York Times reports that on an average day, the moon is about 238,900 miles away from Earth, and on Sunday and Monday, it was about 221,524 miles away. Read more...
 Source : Heavy

 21 of the best photos of the supermoon from around the world
(www.sciencealert.com)

'Supermoon' Photos: The Closest Full Moon Until 2034 in Pictures
(Space.com)

28 Incredible Views Of The Supermoon From Around The World
(BuzzFeedNews)

On our doorstep! Nova confirmed! TCP J18102829-2729590

 Image created with Skytools 3 Click on image to enlarge

Source: Jazzistentialism 

Nova confirmed ! TCP J18102829-2729590

 Visit page
 A confirmation spectrum of TCP J18102829-2729590, a galactic nova in Sagittarius. The target, setting rapidly in the west, was imaged using the Alpy 600 under challenging conditions, providing confirmation as a classical nova in the optically thick stage. The resulting ATel (kindly prepared by Steve Shore, University of Pisa) can be found here. Additional spectra at both high and low resolution have been acquired and made available via the ARAS spectral database.

 ____________________________

In Bloemfontein South Africa it was clearly visible with a 20 X 80 Celestron Skymaster binocular in the Western sky. Guesstimate magnitude when compared to stars close by, about magnitude 8.   

 Sky Quality meter reading:  18.94 (26°C)  (Brightness of the night sky in magnitudes per square arcsecond)

 (Hannes Pieterse - ASSA Bloemfontein)

• Download Skytools 3 map to help you find it

ScopeX 2016 - Photo Gallery

 Photos: Hannes Pieterse, ASSA Bloemfontein

ScopeX 2016
Annual Telescope and Astronomy Expo
Johannesburg
15 October 2016

• View Gallery

Naval Hill Planetarium - New Horizons: Painting a portrait of Pluto

New Horizons: Painting a portrait of Pluto

Public talk by leading NASA engineer

Place / Plek: Naval Hill Planetarium

Date / Datum: Monday / Maandag 3/10/2016

Time / Tyd: 18:15 for 18:30

Free - No booking required / Gratis - Geen bespreking is nodig nie

Launched in 2006, the New Horizons spacecraft was sent on a decade-long trek to gather data from Pluto, one of the most endeared and debated bodies in our Solar System. After swinging past Jupiter for a gravity boost, the tiny spacecraft gained enough speed to make its closest approach of Pluto on 14 July 2015, and conducted a six-month-long reconnaissance flyby study of the (now) exoplanet and its moons. Because of the distance from Pluto to Earth (five billion kilometres), the massive amount of data collected from the fly-by continues to stream back, offering new insights into Pluto and the space environment at the Solar System’s outermost regions. So what have scientists learned about the enigmatic Pluto? And what does the future hold for the tiny spacecraft? Join NASA Deputy Chief Technologist (Retired), Jim Adams, to find out.

Jim Adams

NASA Deputy Chief Technologist, Retired

  

Jim Adams retired as NASA’s Deputy Chief Technologist in September 2016 to focus on the development of young and emerging innovators and entrepreneurs by encouraging creative processes and innovative thinking. He served in NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC from 2012, where he was responsible for the management of the technology strategy and innovation initiative across the entire agency.

Jim’s more than 25-year career at NASA saw him work on over 30 successful space missions. He was also the recipient of three NASA medals recognising exceptional service, including NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Medal.

 
Mr Adams’ travel is provided by SKA Africa in support of 2016 World Space Week, 4-10 October 2016.

Jim holds a BSc in Physics from Westminster College and a MSc in Electrical Engineering from Villanova University.

Apparently, he bakes a mean apple pie, but this is yet to be confirmed by a reputable judge in South Africa.