From The Day the Earth Smiled;
Something great, something big, something very special that's never happened before is about to happen!
On July 19, 2013, the Cassini spacecraft, currently in orbit around Saturn, will be turned to image that planet and its entire ring system during an eclipse of the sun, as it has done twice before during its previous 9 years in orbit.
But this time will be very different. This time, the images collected will capture, in natural color, a glimpse of our own planet alongside Saturn and its rings on a day that will be the first time the Earth's inhabitants know in advance their picture is being taken from a billion miles away.
I will be jumping up and down and waving furiously! For the UK, we need to wave at 22:27 BST
Now say cheese!
Friday, 19 July 2013
More on ISON
Hubble has caught this gorgeous picture of ISON
Thanks to Waiting for ISON for this info. They also very helpfully provide a link to the NASA Comet ISON Observing Campaign (CIOC). Do check it out for valuable information on the comet.
Thanks to Waiting for ISON for this info. They also very helpfully provide a link to the NASA Comet ISON Observing Campaign (CIOC). Do check it out for valuable information on the comet.
Comet links
Soo... Comet ISON is coming! According to Under British Skies, the nucleus is 1.5 to 3 km - tiny by comet standards. Currently at mag 14, it will take a large scope to view but should be at small scope visibility by August.
Check out here to see a visualisation of the comet as it tracks into the inner solar system. Fingers crossed for perihelion on the 28th November!
More useful links;
Comet chasing in July by Skyhound
Under British Skies (Radio)
Check out here to see a visualisation of the comet as it tracks into the inner solar system. Fingers crossed for perihelion on the 28th November!
More useful links;
Comet chasing in July by Skyhound
Under British Skies (Radio)
Thursday, 11 July 2013
A perfect time for a cup of tea...
Later on in the evening, why don't you have a look into the south for the richly populated area of sky which is Sagittarius?
One of the easiest ways of finding the constellation is to take a pair of binoculars (10 x 50 is fine) and start at Deneb in Cygnus. Sweep to the right and follow the curve of the milky way down to the horizon. You are looking for a funny shaped asterism named 'the teapot' which house some pretty unspectacular naked eye stars. However, the whole area is part of the galactic centre - you will see literally dozens of nebula and clusters. some will be naked eye, others require bins or scopes.
what is nice is that there appears to be nebula right at the top of the teapot spout - that's the steam you see! ;). Click on the picture to view a larger version.
One of the easiest ways of finding the constellation is to take a pair of binoculars (10 x 50 is fine) and start at Deneb in Cygnus. Sweep to the right and follow the curve of the milky way down to the horizon. You are looking for a funny shaped asterism named 'the teapot' which house some pretty unspectacular naked eye stars. However, the whole area is part of the galactic centre - you will see literally dozens of nebula and clusters. some will be naked eye, others require bins or scopes.
what is nice is that there appears to be nebula right at the top of the teapot spout - that's the steam you see! ;). Click on the picture to view a larger version.
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| Look to the South after midnight to see a region seemingly teaming with galaxies and nebula. |
Tonight in the west - Venus and the Moon chase the Sun
Look tonight in the west (you will need a good view of the horizon) at just after sundown to see a young moon framed nicely with Venus and Regulus in Leo.
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| Look West, just after sunset. |
Friday, 12 April 2013
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