Source: Internet
Sunday 14 July 2013
Monday 24 June 2013
Tuesday 11 June 2013
Astronomy Cast | Take a facts-based journey through the universe.
A lot of very interesting Podcasts - Please download and listen!Publish Post
Astronomy Cast | Take a facts-based journey through the universe.
Monday 10 June 2013
NASA - Image of the Day Gallery
Targeting Earth Photographs From Orbit
Inside the Cupola, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, an Expedition 36 flight engineer, uses a 400mm lens on a digital still camera to photograph a target of opportunity on Earth some 250 miles below him and the International Space Station. Cassidy has been aboard the orbital outpost since late March and will continue his stay into September.Image Credit: NASA
Sunday 9 June 2013
SCOPEX 2013 - 20 July 2013 - 9 am to 9pm
Interested in Astronomy, stargazing, astrophotography, buying/building a telescope?
Come visit the astronomy event of the year …
What to expect on the dayCommercial Telescopes and accessories at special show prices
Activities: Telescope making demonstrations, Telescope Auction, Talks, Science Shows, ATM and Astrophotography Competitions
SCOPEX 2013 - 20 July 2013 - 9 am to 9pm
at the Museum of Military History, Johannesburg
Wednesday 5 June 2013
The 10 weirdest physics facts, from relativity to quantum physics
All the matter that makes up the human race could fit in a sugar cube
Atoms are 99.9999999999999 per cent empty space. As Tom Stoppard put it: "Make a fist, and if your fist is as big as the nucleus of an atom, then the atom is as big as St Paul's, and if it happens to be a hydrogen atom, then it has a single electron flitting about like a moth in an empty cathedral, now by the dome, now by the altar."
If you forced all the atoms together, removing the space between them, crushing them down so the all those vast empty cathedrals were compressed into the first-sized nuclei, a single teaspoon or sugar cube of the resulting mass would weigh five billion tons; about ten times the weight of all the humans who are currently alive.
Incidentally, that is exactly what has happened in a neutron star, the super-dense mass left over after a certain kind of supernova.
Tuesday 4 June 2013
Welcome to the brand new SAAO Website
Welcome to the brand new South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) Website
This site is the first phase of an exciting revitalisation of our web presence.
Future plans include multilingual content, real-time upload of event happenings, etc.
Please enjoy your visit.
This site is the first phase of an exciting revitalisation of our web presence.
Future plans include multilingual content, real-time upload of event happenings, etc.
Please enjoy your visit.
"Journey into the Universe"
Source: CCTV
"Journey into the Universe" (working title 'Dark Matter') on CCTV
This is a 30 minute doccie I made for Faces of Africa on Chinese TV earlier this year.
The film follows radio astronomer Nadeem Oozeer and cosmologist Bruce
Bassett as they journey to the SKA site in Carnarvon, in order to
understand how the Square Kilometre Array telescope will shed light on
mysteries of the Universe such as its origins, Dark Matter and Dark
Energy.
Monday 3 June 2013
Asteroid 1998QE2 Fly-by - SAA Observatory
On May 31, 2013, asteroid 1998 QE2 passed by Earth, at a distance no closer than about 5.8 million kilometers, or about 15 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. The asteroid, which was discovered on the 19th August 1998, by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) programme in the US, is thought to be about 2.7 kilometers long. It is not a threat to Earth however, as astronomers are certain that the asteroid will pass by rather uneventfully. Although the asteroid will not be visible with the naked eye as it will be too faint, it will be visible using a small telecope.
For more information visit www.asteroidflyby.saao.ac.za
Sunday 2 June 2013
1998 QE2 Close aproach
And there she goes! Asteroid 1998 QE2 video captured by Jonathan Bradshaw (Astrojunk) complete with meteor and satellite zooming past! Nabbed 31st May during closest approach. -Suzy.
Friday 31 May 2013
Thursday 30 May 2013
SpaceObs on USTREAM: .
Bron: Willie Koorts
Die
beloofde skakels na dekking van vanaand se verbyvlug van Asteroïde 1998
QE2. Ons hoop die weer is ons genadig tussen 19:30-20:30! Gisteraand
se kleedrepetisie lyk heel goed! Geniet.
Last night we took some
"dress rehearsal" video of the Asteroid 1998 QE2 which is making a close
(if you call 5.8 million km close!) pass to Earth on Friday night using
the 20 inch. The video was saved on UstreamTV at
Bron: Willie Koorts
Die
beloofde skakels na dekking van vanaand se verbyvlug van Asteroïde 1998
QE2. Ons hoop die weer is ons genadig tussen 19:30-20:30! Gisteraand
se kleedrepetisie lyk heel goed! Geniet.
Last night we took some "dress rehearsal" video of the Asteroid 1998 QE2 which is making a close (if you call 5.8 million km close!) pass to Earth on Friday night using the 20 inch. The video was saved on UstreamTV at
Last night we took some "dress rehearsal" video of the Asteroid 1998 QE2 which is making a close (if you call 5.8 million km close!) pass to Earth on Friday night using the 20 inch. The video was saved on UstreamTV at
Tuesday 28 May 2013
Monday 27 May 2013
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Volksblad : Seldsame verskynsel in hemelruim te sien
23 Mei 2013 18:00 - Westelike horison - Jupiter bo, Venus en Merkurius onder
Volksblad : Seldsame verskynsel in hemelruim te sien
KAAPSTAD. – Venus, Jupiter en Mercurius gaan binnekort ’n dans in die lugruim uitvoer om uiteindelik ’n driehoek te vorm.
Dié planete sal van 22 Mei af saans sowat ’n halfuur tot ’n uur ná sonsondergang mooi begin wys.
Maar moenie 26 Mei misloop nie, want dán sal die drie op hul mooiste wees.
Die vorige keer wat die drie plante só ’n driehoek gevorm het, was in Mei 2011.
Ná vandeesmaand sal dit eers weer in Oktober 2015 sigbaar wees, volgens dr. Tony Phillips van Nasa.
Willie Koorts van die Suider-Afrikaanse Sterrewag (Saao) sê ’n mens moet laag op die horison kyk en eers soek na Venus, die helderste van die drie.
Die driehoek sal mooi sigbaar wees, selfs sonder ’n teleskoop, maar dit sal mooier deur ’n verkyker wees.
– Elsabé Brits
Dié planete sal van 22 Mei af saans sowat ’n halfuur tot ’n uur ná sonsondergang mooi begin wys.
Maar moenie 26 Mei misloop nie, want dán sal die drie op hul mooiste wees.
Die vorige keer wat die drie plante só ’n driehoek gevorm het, was in Mei 2011.
Ná vandeesmaand sal dit eers weer in Oktober 2015 sigbaar wees, volgens dr. Tony Phillips van Nasa.
Willie Koorts van die Suider-Afrikaanse Sterrewag (Saao) sê ’n mens moet laag op die horison kyk en eers soek na Venus, die helderste van die drie.
Die driehoek sal mooi sigbaar wees, selfs sonder ’n teleskoop, maar dit sal mooier deur ’n verkyker wees.
– Elsabé Brits
Sunday 19 May 2013
ALERT! NEO Asteroid 1998 QE2 Close Approach - Sky Alerts - Remote Internet Telescopes Network - Online Imaging & Telescope Hosting Service
Wednesday 24 April 2013
UFS101’s Annual Astronomy Fair - 27 April 2013
(Click to enlarge image)
It is that time again for UFS101’s Annual Astronomy Fair on University of the Free State Campus. This will be held on Bloemfontein Campus in the Callie Human on 27 April 2013 from 9:30 -13:00.
You are invited to:
- Observe the sun through a specially equipped telescope;
- Witness the launching of Demo Rockets;
- Attend a presentation inside of an inflatable planetarium (limited space)
- Hear the latest news about SKA-South Africa and astronomy developments in Bloemfontein
- Take a 552m walk on campus to see a Scale Model of our Solar System
- Explore the latest astronomy applications for your iPhone/ iPad
- and much more…
PROGRAMME FOR 27 April 2013 (Bloemfontein)
Time Activity Venue - Badminton Hall (Next to Callie Human Centre)
09:45 -10:15
Presentation: ‘The Universe: The 5% we know of and the "missing" 95%’ by Prof. Matie Hoffman
Astrofair in Callie Human Centre
10:00 - 13:00 Expo,
12:45 Launching of Rockets
Sunday 21 April 2013
Rosette Nebula in Moneceros and Carina Nebula in Carina
Click to Enlarge
Photographer: Herman Bonnet, ASSA Bloemfontein
Photographer: Herman Bonnet, ASSA Bloemfontein
NGC 2237 in Moneceros
Rosette Nebula
Rosette Nebula
Kamera -Canon 400D.
Mount -CGE PRO
Teleskoop-Skywatcher equinox 120 mm refraktor
Guiding-Nexguide kamera
11 x 2 min exposures
10 flats
10 darks
10 bias
Click to Enlarge
Photographer: Herman Bonnet, ASSA Bloemfontein
NGC 3372 in Carina
Carina Nebula
Carina Nebula
Kamera -Canon 400D.
Mount -CGE PRO
Teleskoop-Skywatcher equinox 120 mm refraktor
Guiding-Nexguide kamera
12 X 4MIN exposures
20 flats
20 darks
20 bias
Thursday 18 April 2013
Tuesday 12 March 2013
The Blue Marble - The most viewed image in history
The Blue Marble is a famous photograph of the Earth, taken on December 7, 1972, by the crew of the Apollo 17 spacecraft, at a distance of about 45,000 kilometres (28,000 mi).
Read more...
Read more...
Sunday 24 February 2013
Chelyabinsk Meteor Flash
Image Credit & Copyright: Marat Ahmetvaleev
Tuesday 19 February 2013
Monday 18 February 2013
Asteroid 2012 DA14 Passes the Earth
Video Credit & Copyright: Daniel López (El Cielo de Canarias)
Wednesday 30 January 2013
Nog `n Komeet C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS)
Klik om te vergroot
Vir die ouens wat vroeg opstaan of glad nie gaan slaap nie.
Komeet Lemon is sterk op koers na Octans en nou is C/2011 L4
(PANSTARRS) vroegoggend in die Suid-Ooste sigbaar. Nee ek het hom nog
nie gesien nie. Te laag vir my. Sal dalk die naweek probeer en op die
dak klim.
Maart se Sky and Telescope sê ons kan die komeet by skypub.com/panstarrs volg. Die voorspelling is klaar daar dat dit nie so helder gaan wees as wat voorspel is nie.
Laat weet ons as jy die komeet sien. (assabfn@gmnail.com)
Skytools 3 gee hierdie voorspelling vir vannag.
On this night C/2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) is best visible between 03:29 and
04:46, with the optimum view at 04:27. Look for it in Telescopium, low
in the southeastern sky during morning twilight. It is obvious visually
in the Orion SkyQuest XT10 Dob. Use the Ultima 42mm for optimum visual
detection. It is magnitude 5.5 with a diameter of 4.5'.
Saturday 26 January 2013
Friday Night (25 Januarie 2013) C/2012 F6 (Lemmon)
Friday - About 23:30 to be precise. I spent some time to find Comet Lemon with my 10X50 binoculars. With the help of my Skytools map it and the binoculars steady on a tripod it was easy. Even with the almost full moon and some street lights. A black cloth over your head will also help.
The techno info the same: Canon 30D with a 300mm (X1.6) lens. 10 Seconds with ISO 3200. I used Nebulosity software ( Stark Labs) to prepare the image.
Friday 25 January 2013
Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6) 23 Januarie 2013
Click to enlarge
With Crux on the left and Musca to the right, Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6) on the late night 23 Januarie 2013 is a little green spot. Photo: Hannes Pieterse
Info: Canon 30D with 50mm lens; 20 X 15 sec exposures; ISO 1600, f4. 20 X Dark frames. Images were prepared in Deepskystacker > Separate registered and dark frame subtracted images were created. These were stacked in Rot`nStack. Final image was tweaked in Photoshop.
- A tree interfered on the right
- A tree interfered on the right
Thursday 24 January 2013
For the Bibliophiles: Deep-Sky Companions: Southern Gems
Hot off the Press!
Deep-Sky Companions: Southern Gems - Stephen James O'Meara
In Southern Gems, Stephen James O'Meara makes a detour beneath the southern skies, presenting a fresh list of 120 deep-sky objects for southern hemisphere stargazers to observe. Showcasing many exceptional objects catalogued by the pioneering observer James Dunlop, known as the 'Messier of the southern skies', all are visible through small- to moderate-sized telescopes or binoculars under dark skies. The list features some of the blackest dark nebulae, icy blue planetary nebulae and magnificent galaxies of all types. Each object is accompanied by beautiful photographs and sketches, original finder charts, visual histories and up-to-date astrophysical background information. Whether you live in the southern hemisphere or are just visiting, this new Deep-Sky Companion will make a perfect observing partner, whatever your background. There is no other southern sky guide like it on the market.
Magda Streicher a southern observer from Polokwane also contributed to make this book a must have!
- Publisher: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
- Published: 31 January 2013
- Hardback
- ISBN:9781107015012
- 450pages
- 204 b/w illus. 114 maps
- Dimensions: 253 x 177 mm
-The Book Depository (Free Shipping to South Africa) - $40.80 (Best Price)
Tuesday 22 January 2013
From Bloemfontein: Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6)
22 January 2013 - Moves into Constellation, Musca (23:00) In spite of the moon and other lights the comet is still clearly visible
January 21, 2013 - Near Acrux, Constellation Crux
For the night owls: Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6) is clearly visible. Bright star on the image is Alpha 2 Cru (Acrux).
Technical data: Canon 30D with 300mm X 1.6 lens. ISO 3200; Aperture f5.6 Shutter speed 5 seconds. Camera on tripod. 15 photos stacked on each other in Deepskystacker; 10 Dark frames used to remove digital noise. It is also easy visible with a 12X50 binoculars. Even better with a 20X80 binoculars. The light pollution is quite bad in Bloemfontein and the moon was still up. Despite this I found it easily. According to Skytools 3 it is magnitude 7.2.
A look or you see it tonight and let you know.
January 21, 2013 - Near Acrux, Constellation Crux
For the night owls: Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6) is clearly visible. Bright star on the image is Alpha 2 Cru (Acrux).
Technical data: Canon 30D with 300mm X 1.6 lens. ISO 3200; Aperture f5.6 Shutter speed 5 seconds. Camera on tripod. 15 photos stacked on each other in Deepskystacker; 10 Dark frames used to remove digital noise. It is also easy visible with a 12X50 binoculars. Even better with a 20X80 binoculars. The light pollution is quite bad in Bloemfontein and the moon was still up. Despite this I found it easily. According to Skytools 3 it is magnitude 7.2.
A look or you see it tonight and let you know.
Monday 21 January 2013
Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6) brightens faster than expected
Comet Lemmon (Michael Jaeger)
In Crux
2013 is gearing up nicely to be a superb year for bright comets. Already we have two comets that promise to be spectacular this year; Comet PanSTARRS (C/2011 L4) should peak at magnitude -1 in March and then later in the year comet ISON (C/2012 S1) may even reach the dizzy heights of magnitude -15 in November.
There is another comet that is currently brightening faster than expected and although will probably not be bright as the above-mentioned comets, it may prove to be the surprise package of the year. Its name is Comet Lemmon (C/2012 F6).
Discovery
Alex Gibbs of the Mount Lemmon Survey discovered Comet Lemmon on March 23, 2012. The Mount Lemmon Survey is part of the Catalina Sky Survey (CSS), a Near-Earth objects searching project, specifically aimed at finding potentially hazardous asteroids (PHAs) that may pose a threat of impact to Earth. Currently there are a number of telescopes participating in the survey, each of the order of 1-metre in aperture, located at various astronomical sites. The project is producing superb results with the Mount Lemmon telescope currently the most prolific telescope in the world for discovering Near-Earth Objects.
The objects discovered are often faint; Comet Lemmon was only magnitude 20.7 when found.
More information...
Polish your metal mirror - Sir William Herschel
This is an example of a polishing machine devissed by William Herschel for small speculum metal mirrors. Image: Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Bath
For your book shelve
From: The Complete Guide to the Herschel Objects: Sir William Herschel's Star Clusters, Nebulae and Galaxies - by Mark Bratton
Sunday 20 January 2013
Near-Earth Asteroid 2012 DA14 to Miss Earth on February 15, 2013
In this oblique view, the path of near-Earth asteroid
2012 DA14 is seen passing close to Earth on Feb. 15, 2013.
Discovered by the LaSagra observatory in southern Spain, the small
asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass within about 3.5 Earth radii of the Earth's
surface on February 15, 2013. Although its size is not well
determined, this near-Earth asteroid is thought to be about 45
meters in diameter. Asteroid 2012 DA14 will pass inside the geosynchronous
satellite ring, located about 35,800 km above the equator.
Its orbit about the sun can bring it no closer
to the Earth's surface than 3.2 Earth radii on February 15, 2013.
On this date, the asteroid will travel
rapidly from the southern evening sky into the northern morning sky
with its closest Earth approach occurring about 19:26 UTC when it will
achieve a magnitude of less than seven, which is somewhat fainter than
naked eye visibility. About 4 minutes after its Earth close approach,
there is a good chance it will pass into the Earth's shadow for about 18 minutes or so
before reappearing from the eclipse. When traveling rapidly into the
northern morning sky, 2012 DA14 will quickly fade in brightness.
Source: NASA
Sunday 13 January 2013
Sunspot AR1654 (12 January 2013)
Photo: Dennis Simmons, Brisbane, Australia
Amateur astronomers with backyard solar telescopes are encouraged to monitor in the days ahead. It is not only crackling, but also growing. As of Jan 12th, the behemoth stretches more than 180,000 km (14 Earth diameters) from end to end. Dennis Simmons sends this picture of the behemoth from Brisbane, Australia: "Although the air was milky from nearby bush fires burning north of Brisbane, the seeing turned out to be good enough for a high-resolution shot," says Simmons. "I dedicate this image to the brave Australian fire fighters, working in horrendous, hot and windy conditions whilst fighting fires burning out of control across the south-east states of our country. I salute your selfless courage."
Visit: Spaceweather.com
AR1654 is a Monster Sunspot. (And It’s Aiming Our Way.)
Active Region 1654 on the Sun’s western limb, seen by SDO on Jan. 11 (NASA/SDO/HMI team. Diagram by J. Major.)
Thursday 10 January 2013
Sir Patrick Moore death: Tributes to the astronomer
Sir Patrick Moore's contribution to the world of astronomy
Monday 19 November 2012
Orion vanaf Boyden-sterrewag
ASSA Bloemfontein het `n mini werkswinkel oor "Wyeveldastrofotografie met `n DSLR-kamera op `n driepoot gehou. Barbara Cunow se lesing by die Kaapse simposium het as grondslag gedien.
Daar is so bietjie afgewyk van die lesing, maar die basiese beginsel was dieselfde.
Verloop van die lesing:
Kyk eers na die YouTube-video en bespreek dit.
1. DSLR-kamera (Weet hoe werk die Self Timer om die kamera eers te stabiliseer; (of `n elektroniese sluiterontspanner). Gebruik die kamera op Manual; Fokus ees op helder ster of planeet en skakel dan outofokus af.
2. Stewige driepoot
3. Hoë ISO 1600 en 3200
4. Kort beligtings 4 sekondes tot so 10 sekondes werk goed in ligbesoedelde omgewing
5. Lens: 18 - 55mm en 100mm
6. Beligtings: 10 - 480
Sagteware.
1. Barbara eveel Regim aan om fot's op mekaar te pak (stack). (Laai af) Jy het die jongste Java Script-sagteware nodig en laai Regim af met 64 bit Internet Explorer). Unzip en dubbelkliek op regim.cmd.
2. Ons het Deepskystacker gebruik (DSS) (Laai af)
- YouTube-video om Deepskystacker te gebruik
- Nog een wat by vorige aansluit (met aanpassings)
Die les wat ons uit die lesing geleer het is om dinge eenvoudig te hou.
Hierdie is die begin van jou eerste treetjies om astrofotografie te doen.
Bietjie afdwaal.
Johan Smit van Pretoria het vroeër vanjaar by die Karoo-sterrefees `n eenvoudige formule gegee om met jou ISO en die fokale lengte van jou lens die regte sluiterspoed uit te werk sonder om sterstrepe (startrails) te kry.
Hierdie formule kan veral in `n donker omgewing werk en `n goeie riglyn wees. Eksperimenteer gerus daarmee. Hier is `n webtuiste waar dit bespreek word. ( Tips > Stars & Star Trails ). Barbarahet haar foto's in `n ligbesoedelde omgewing geneem.
Di. ISO ÷ Focal Length = Maximum Shutter Speed
- Onthou die goedkoper DSLR-kameras het `n X1.6 faktor.
- Vir hierdie kameras is die formule: ISO ÷ (Focal Length X 1.6) = Maximum Shutter Speed
Voorbeeld: 3200 ISO ÷ (24mm X 1.6) = 83 sekondes.
Vir `n plek met baie ligbesoedeling sou jy hierdie formule kon aanpas. Stel op 400 ISO en `n 10 sekonde beligting is die gevolg. Dit gaan jou so `n bietjie eksperimentering kos.
Groete
Hannes Pieterse
(assabfn@gmail.com)
Daar is so bietjie afgewyk van die lesing, maar die basiese beginsel was dieselfde.
Verloop van die lesing:
Kyk eers na die YouTube-video en bespreek dit.
- Doing astrophotography with a DSLR on a tripod, presented by Barbara Cunow
- YouTube
1. DSLR-kamera (Weet hoe werk die Self Timer om die kamera eers te stabiliseer; (of `n elektroniese sluiterontspanner). Gebruik die kamera op Manual; Fokus ees op helder ster of planeet en skakel dan outofokus af.
2. Stewige driepoot
3. Hoë ISO 1600 en 3200
4. Kort beligtings 4 sekondes tot so 10 sekondes werk goed in ligbesoedelde omgewing
5. Lens: 18 - 55mm en 100mm
6. Beligtings: 10 - 480
Sagteware.
1. Barbara eveel Regim aan om fot's op mekaar te pak (stack). (Laai af) Jy het die jongste Java Script-sagteware nodig en laai Regim af met 64 bit Internet Explorer). Unzip en dubbelkliek op regim.cmd.
2. Ons het Deepskystacker gebruik (DSS) (Laai af)
- YouTube-video om Deepskystacker te gebruik
- Nog een wat by vorige aansluit (met aanpassings)
Die les wat ons uit die lesing geleer het is om dinge eenvoudig te hou.
Hierdie is die begin van jou eerste treetjies om astrofotografie te doen.
Bietjie afdwaal.
Johan Smit van Pretoria het vroeër vanjaar by die Karoo-sterrefees `n eenvoudige formule gegee om met jou ISO en die fokale lengte van jou lens die regte sluiterspoed uit te werk sonder om sterstrepe (startrails) te kry.
Hierdie formule kan veral in `n donker omgewing werk en `n goeie riglyn wees. Eksperimenteer gerus daarmee. Hier is `n webtuiste waar dit bespreek word. ( Tips > Stars & Star Trails ). Barbarahet haar foto's in `n ligbesoedelde omgewing geneem.
Di. ISO ÷ Focal Length = Maximum Shutter Speed
- Onthou die goedkoper DSLR-kameras het `n X1.6 faktor.
- Vir hierdie kameras is die formule: ISO ÷ (Focal Length X 1.6) = Maximum Shutter Speed
Voorbeeld: 3200 ISO ÷ (24mm X 1.6) = 83 sekondes.
Vir `n plek met baie ligbesoedeling sou jy hierdie formule kon aanpas. Stel op 400 ISO en `n 10 sekonde beligting is die gevolg. Dit gaan jou so `n bietjie eksperimentering kos.
Groete
Hannes Pieterse
(assabfn@gmail.com)
Sunday 11 November 2012
The Washington Double Star Catalog
- Visit the The Washington Double Star Catalog and learn more...
Astrometry Department, U.S. Naval Observatory
3450 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20392
wds@ad.usno.navy.mil
The Washington Double Star Catalog (WDS) maintained by the United States Naval Observatory is the world's principal database of astrometric double and multiple star information. The WDS Catalog contains positions (J2000), discoverer designations, epochs, position angles, separations, magnitudes, spectral types, proper motions, and, when available, Durchmusterung numbers and notes for the components of 103,861 systems based on 750,563 means.
Global Warming Cause Felt by Satellites and Space Junk
An artist's illustration of the Canadian Space Agency's SCISAT-1 satellite in orbit, which is carrying the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment to track carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere.
CREDIT: Canadian Space Agency
Rising carbon dioxide levels at the edge of space are apparently reducing the pull that Earth's atmosphere has on satellites and space junk, researchers say.
The findings suggest that manmade increases in carbon dioxide might be having effects on the Earth that are larger than expected, scientists added.
In the layers of atmosphere closest to Earth, carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, trapping heat from the sun. Rising levels of carbon dioxide due to human activity are leading to global warming of Earth's surface.
Read more...
Source: www,space.com
Total Solar Eclipse of 2012 November 13/14
On 2012 November 13/14, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from
within a narrow corridor that traverses Earth's southern Hemisphere.
The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in northern Australia and
crosses the South Pacific Ocean with on other no landfall.
The Moon's penumbral shadow produces a partial eclipse visible from a
much larger region covering Australia, New Zealand, and the South
Pacific.
Read more....
Source: Nasa
The Van Allen Probes: Honoring the Origins of Magnetospheric Science
A broad suite of instruments on the Van Allen Probes will help scientists understand more about the myriad types of particles and waves in the radiation belts that encircle Earth, providing a flood of new data for scientists who study the magnetosphere. Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center.
Earth's magnetism has captured human attention since the first innovator noticed that a freely moving piece of magnetized iron would always align itself with Earth's poles. Throughout most of history, the origins and physics of this magnetism remained mysterious, though by the 20th century certain things had been learned by measuring the magnetic field at Earth's surface. These measurements suggested that Earth's magnetic field was consistent with that of a giant bar magnet embedded deep inside Earth. However, the magnetic field observed at the surface of our planet is constantly fluctuating. During the 1930s scientists pioneered explanations that such fluctuations were due to streams of particles from the sun striking and becoming entrapped within Earth’s magnetic field.
Truly understanding Earth's magnetic environment, however, required traveling to space. In 1958, the first US rocket -- known as Explorer 1 and led by James Van Allen at the University of Iowa -- was launched. By providing observations of a giant swath of magnetized radiation trapped around Earth, now known as the Van Allen Belts, Explorer 1 confirmed that Earth's magnetic environment, the magnetosphere, was not a simple place. We now know that it has a complex shape – compressed on the side facing the sun, but stretched out into a long tail trailing off away from the sun -- affected as much by incoming material from the sun as Earth's own intrinsic magnetism. This magnetic field constantly fluctuates in response to both internal instabilities and events on the sun. It also provides a home for a host of electrified particles spiraling through this complex system.
Read more...
Sunday 4 November 2012
Smile! The Curiosity Rover’s Ultimate Self-Portrait
Click to Enlarge
The Curiosity rover self portrait. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Malin Space Science Systems
Source: Universe Today
OK, we thought the low-resolution self-portrait from yesterday was great… but here’s the real goods: a monster, high-resolution awesome mosaic of 55 images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), showing the rover at its spot in Gale Crater — called Rocknest — with the base of Gale Crater’s 5-kilometer- (3-mile-) high mountain, Aeolis Mons or Mount Sharp, rising in the background. The images were taken on Sol 84 (Oct. 31, 2012), and sent to Earth today. In the foreground, four scoop scars can be seen in the regolith in front of the rover. As we mentioned about the previous MAHLI mosaic, the arm was moved for each of the 55 images, so the arm and the camera doesn’t show up, just like any photographer behind the camera (or their arms) isn’t visible in a photograph.
You can get access to the full resolution version at this link. It’s amazing.
But that’s not all…
Read more:
OK, we thought the low-resolution self-portrait from yesterday was great… but here’s the real goods: a monster, high-resolution awesome mosaic of 55 images taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), showing the rover at its spot in Gale Crater — called Rocknest — with the base of Gale Crater’s 5-kilometer- (3-mile-) high mountain, Aeolis Mons or Mount Sharp, rising in the background. The images were taken on Sol 84 (Oct. 31, 2012), and sent to Earth today. In the foreground, four scoop scars can be seen in the regolith in front of the rover. As we mentioned about the previous MAHLI mosaic, the arm was moved for each of the 55 images, so the arm and the camera doesn’t show up, just like any photographer behind the camera (or their arms) isn’t visible in a photograph.
You can get access to the full resolution version at this link. It’s amazing.
But that’s not all…
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