Showing posts with label stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stars. Show all posts
Monday, February 25, 2008
Lunar Eclipse
I hope you all had the chance to go out and see the beautiful lunar eclipse that took place on February 20th. Here's a picture that I took off our back deck. Saturn is to the left and Regulus above. Click on the picture to get a closer view. Our fellow blogger Dr. Zibbs also captured the moment. Be sure to check out That Blue Yak for more fan photos.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Sky Show Tonight!
Hi all, a very cool event is happening in tonight's sky for most of North America. There will be a lunar eclipse that starts around 8:30 ish and lasts through 11ish. This is when the moon passes through the shadow of the Earth. If the skies stay clear here in the Philly area, it should be quite a show. The moon will most likely turn a rusty red color. Also Saturn and Regulus (the heart of the constellation Leo) will form a triangle with the moon. So be sure to check it out!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Golden Comet Holmes
This past Saturday Beeps and I were at a really fun bonfire out in Unionville. Unionville is just far enough from West Chester to see a clear starry night. So of course, like the star geek I am, I took my binoculars.
At one point I left the bonfire and walked into the yard to look at the stars. I was facing northeast and noticed a blurry round shape in the constellation Perseus. I looked and thought it was a galaxy I had never seen before. It was bright and perfectly round. I called several people over and we all looked. It was fun to share the experience with a group of people. Some who had never looked at the night sky with binoculars.
Enlarge this picture to find it in the night sky:
The next day, still puzzled, I referenced several books I had to see what the heck it might be. But alas, there was no reference to a galaxy in that constellation. The next day my Dad left me a voice mail about "a comet in the northeast." Today I Googled "November comet" and eureka! The Golden Comet Holmes is our newest galactic visitor.
Here's what NASA has to say about it: Surprising Comet Holmes remains easily visible as a round, fuzzy cloud in the northern constellation Perseus. Skywatchers with telescopes, binoculars, or those that just decide to look up can enjoy the solar system's latest prodigy as it glides about 150 million kilometers from Earth, beyond the orbit of Mars. Still expanding, Holmes now appears to be about 1/3 the size of the Full Moon, and many observers report a yellowish tint to the dusty coma. A golden color does dominate this telescopic view recorded on November 1, showing variations across the coma's bright central region. But where's the comet's tail? Like any good comet, Holmes' tail would tend to point away from the Sun. That direction is nearly along our line-of-sight behind the comet, making its tail very difficult to see.
So if you have a chance, head outside on a clear night and look to the northeast right under the constellation Cassiopeia (the big W on its side) and you'll see a round fuzzy blob.
Good hunting!
At one point I left the bonfire and walked into the yard to look at the stars. I was facing northeast and noticed a blurry round shape in the constellation Perseus. I looked and thought it was a galaxy I had never seen before. It was bright and perfectly round. I called several people over and we all looked. It was fun to share the experience with a group of people. Some who had never looked at the night sky with binoculars.
Enlarge this picture to find it in the night sky:
The next day, still puzzled, I referenced several books I had to see what the heck it might be. But alas, there was no reference to a galaxy in that constellation. The next day my Dad left me a voice mail about "a comet in the northeast." Today I Googled "November comet" and eureka! The Golden Comet Holmes is our newest galactic visitor.
Here's what NASA has to say about it: Surprising Comet Holmes remains easily visible as a round, fuzzy cloud in the northern constellation Perseus. Skywatchers with telescopes, binoculars, or those that just decide to look up can enjoy the solar system's latest prodigy as it glides about 150 million kilometers from Earth, beyond the orbit of Mars. Still expanding, Holmes now appears to be about 1/3 the size of the Full Moon, and many observers report a yellowish tint to the dusty coma. A golden color does dominate this telescopic view recorded on November 1, showing variations across the coma's bright central region. But where's the comet's tail? Like any good comet, Holmes' tail would tend to point away from the Sun. That direction is nearly along our line-of-sight behind the comet, making its tail very difficult to see.
So if you have a chance, head outside on a clear night and look to the northeast right under the constellation Cassiopeia (the big W on its side) and you'll see a round fuzzy blob.
Good hunting!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Dang, We're Small Potatoes
The Hubble space telescope is an amazing machine. It can take pictures back in time for crying out loud! Seriously, the Hubble telescope has captured light that is finally reaching us from the big bang. There's a great site hubble.org where you can learn more and see an incredible gallery of pictures. Here are a few of my favorites. Click on them for a bigger experience.
Ah, the Orion Nebula. How beautiful. Even people who have a small telescope can see the swirling dust below the belt of one of our most beloved constellations!
The Cats Eye nebula. Breathless.
The Hubble has indeed had its share of problems; from broken lenses to power failure. The US government, on several occasions, has seriously considered steering the Hubble to it's fiery death upon reentry into our atmosphere. But alas, NASA has found a way to keep it alive, and I for one am grateful.
Where else can you see pictures of what's really out there and feel divine hope all at the same time?
A close up of my favorite planet Jupiter. Incredible storms rage across its surface.
Distant galaxies. Whoever says we're alone out here must be crazy. Take a moment to wrap your brain around the enormity of this picture. Each galaxy containing billions of stars. The stars themselves are thousands and thousands of lightyears apart.
A close up of one of the prettiest galaxies, the Whirlpool Galaxy. Simply stunning.
Ah, the Orion Nebula. How beautiful. Even people who have a small telescope can see the swirling dust below the belt of one of our most beloved constellations!
The Cats Eye nebula. Breathless.
The Hubble has indeed had its share of problems; from broken lenses to power failure. The US government, on several occasions, has seriously considered steering the Hubble to it's fiery death upon reentry into our atmosphere. But alas, NASA has found a way to keep it alive, and I for one am grateful.
Where else can you see pictures of what's really out there and feel divine hope all at the same time?
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