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Pictured is a Delta IV rocket launch from Cape Canaveral on November 21st, 2010. The image is a 20 second exposure taken at dusk, shot from about 100 miles west of the launch site. The launch placed a classified payload in orbit for the United States Air Force.
Difficult but not impossible to catch against the dawn or dusk sky, spotting an extreme crescent moon can be a challenge. The slender crescent pictured was shot 30 minutes before sunrise when the Moon was less than 20 hours away from New. A true feat of visual athletics to catch, a good pair of binoculars or a well aimed wide field telescopic view can help with the hunt.
The Sun is our nearest star, and goes through an 11-year cycle of activity. This image was taken via a properly filtered telescope, and shows the Sun as it appeared during its last maximum peak in 2003. This was during solar cycle #23, a period during which the Sun hurled several large flares Earthward. The next solar cycle is due to peak around 2013-14.
Located in the belt of the constellation Orion, Messier 42, also known as the Orion Nebula is one of the finest deep sky objects in the northern hemisphere sky. Just visible as a faint smudge to the naked eye on a clear dark night, the Orion Nebula is a sure star party favorite, as it shows tendrils of gas contrasted with bright stars. M42 is a large stellar nursery, a star forming region about 1,000 light years distant.
Orbiting the planet in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) every 90 minutes, many people fail to realize that you can see the International Space Station (ISS) from most of the planet on a near-weekly basis. In fact, the ISS has been known to make up to four visible passes over the same location in one night. The image pictured is from the Fourth of July, 2011 and is a 20 second exposure of a bright ISS pass.
Next to the Sun, the two brightest objects in the sky are the Moon and the planet Venus. In fact, when Venus is favorably placed next to the Moon, it might just be possible to spot the two in the daytime. Another intriguing effect known as earthshine or ashen light is also seen in the image on the night side of the Moon; this is caused by sunlight reflected back off of the Earth towards our only satellite.
A mosaic of three images taken during the total lunar eclipse of December 21st, 2010. The eclipse occurred the same day as the winter solstice. The curve and size of the Earth’s shadow is apparent in the image.
Astro-Event of the Week: 03.30.09: 100 Hours of Astronomy!
This week’s shout-out is not an event in the skies above, but a global happening right here on the good ol’ planet Earth. On April 2nd thru the 5th, the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) 2009 culminates with an unprecedented global event: 100 Hours of non-stop Astronomy!
Planetariums, museums, clubs, observatories, and just average enthusiasts world wide are planning major bashes/events… check out their website for an interactive map of events occurring near you! In addition, there are major event webcasts planned via UStream in case you are clouded out or live in places like Alert, Canada… or you can organize your own shindig and submit it to the cause! Rumors are the White House may event host a Star Party, a historic first! You may ask; where might there be a confirmed Astroguyz sighting? Well, the Gainesville and Sarasota, Florida events are equidistant from Astroguyz HQ… I may ask if they require an extra tube or two, plus an operator!
This week’s word is… Astronomy! Ah…back to the basics. The term comes from the Greek astros (star) and nomos (law). Probably the oldest of the sciences, astronomy involves the study of phenomena beyond our Earth and atmosphere, although both aforementioned objects do occasionally interfere. A challenge to you, on this weekend of 100 Hours of Astronomy (said it, again!) and the IYA 2009 in general; lets get out there and set the public straight on the difference between astronomy (science…) and astrology (not science!) It’s a mission and cause I’m sure we can all rally around (forget that pesky Plutoid business!) Tell ‘em Astroguyz.com sent you!