The Official Astronomy Thread

[Crusader]

Thanks man, now I only have to wait when I'm not all alone, I don't know which criminals are lurking right now

Well the best observing time would be from 20:00 so no need to go running around in the middle of the night like some crazy person... that comes later when you own a scope .

 

[Kalvaer]

Astronomy Observation Challenge

I've got a little challenge for all those lurkers, closed astronomy fans and even us old hands. Instead of just reading about out, why not get yourself outside and start observing for yourself. A telescope is NOT required.

Thats such a cool idea!

Have some other links to add to try help.
The JHB Planetarium have a set of charts they put up monthly for SA: http://www.planetarium.co.za/skyPlani.html

Another really neat program to get can be found here: http://nio.astronomy.cz/om/index.html It will allow you to make and print your own planisphere for your exact location that you can print out and keep with you

Also JHB ASSA has a monthly publication they email out that you can download from their site. Its a bit about astronomy around the country and worldwide, and also has details of things to see for the month: http://www.assajhb.co.za/Default.aspx?tabid=80

 

[mercurial]

Thanks Kal!

 

[Crusader]

Nice links Kal!

Did anyone take me up on the challenge? I had a great time last night trying to finish the list. It's amazing how much is visible using only binoculars. There are quite a few objects where you will simply go "Wow!" in disbelief. If your sky is dark enough there's quite a few of the globular clusters on the bino list that you can even make out with the naked eye.

I've only got 3 more to spot then I'm finished with the naked eye, and binocular list. As I was finishing up some clouds moved in, ending the session prematurely.

If you are just starting, a great starting point would be the area around Jupiter. There are so many clusters there that you are bound to hit some without much effort.

It's definitely well worth it to do the list. It doesn't take that much time, binoculars aren't too heavy, and you can view large sections at a time so it's easier to spot the objects.

Good luck guys - clear and dark skies!

 

[Kalvaer]

I need to get a set of Bino's... would be cheating with the telescope

 

[Crusader]

I need to get a set of Bino's... would be cheating with the telescope

Well not exactly, unless you use a GOTO scope. Doing it manually with a scope might even be more difficult, since you don't see as much of the sky, except if you only use your finderscope.

That reminds me... *goes and edit rules*

 

[Kalvaer]

I dont have goto so thats ok.. Can I use Stellerium instead of a chart I've got the sky and telescope sky maps book.. Just have to turn it upside down to use it

 

[Crusader]

You can, but some of the objects have slightly different designations on the Skymap charts. I think I found two that had different NGC numbers from what is shown in Starry Night. So just check that you can find everything in Stellarium.

The Skymap chart is very usable itself once you figure out the scale. I did everything working only from the Skymap chart and later double checking, that I found the right objects, on Starry Night.

You might want to color in the objects you are looking for beforehand, so they stands out. It also helps to figure out the constellation abbreviations they use for the list beforehand so you don't end up having to try to find out what RecA stands for, and then trying to find it on the map.

It might be a good idea to only find things using the finderscope at first , since it should give you the same 5 degree FOV and magnification as binoculars. Then you can come back and view them in detail on a later day.

Otherwise you can find them and then go in for the detail view, but it might take a couple of nights to go through the list since I'm sure you'll want to stick around for a while just observing each object. The choice is up to you.

 

[marine1]

Meteor Shower 12 August

Space Weather News for August 5, 2008
http://spaceweather.com

COUNTDOWN TO THE PERSEIDS: The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks one week from today, on Tuesday, August 12th. The best time to look is during the dark hours before dawn on Tuesday morning when forecasters expect 50 to 100 meteors per hour. Get away from city lights if you can; plan a camping trip! The darker the sky, the more meteors you will see.

The source of the Perseids is Comet Swift-Tuttle, which has littered the August portion of Earth's orbit with space dust. The dusty zone is broad and Earth is already in its outskirts. As a result, even before the peak on August 12th, you may see some "early Perseids" streaking across the night sky. Photos of these early arrivals will be featured in the days ahead on http://Spaceweather.com as part of our full coverage of the Perseid meteor shower.

 

[mercurial]

Nice. Can't wait

 

[Crusader]

Sadly the Perseids are mostly a Northern Hemisphere event. We might be able to get the tail-end of the show.

For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, the Perseid radiant never climbs above the horizon, which will considerably reduce the number of Perseid meteors you are likely to see. Nevertheless, on the night of maximum, it is possible to see 10-15 meteors per hour coming up from the northern horizon.

Some more info

 

[mercurial]

Awww

 

[Crusader]

Well, I managed to finish my Starmap list last night. I'm thinking of getting the scope out this weekend and go back for a detailed view. Hopefully the weather holds. How are you guys progressing?

Found a couple of other meteor showers that should be viewable in our hemisphere. Although they might be few and far between.

Alpha Capricornids (Jul 03 - Aug 15) near constellation of Capricorn
N. Delta Aquarids (Jul 15 - Aug 25) near Aquarius
S. Delta Auarids (Jul 12 - Aug 19) near Aquarius
N. Iota Aquarids (Aug 11 - Aug 31) near Aquarius

 

[Kalvaer]

I have another one for everyone.. last week we saw a satellite flying across the sky.. couldn't check right there, but we believe it was the IIS

To check though here is another site so you can see when it will be overhead to see if you can spot it. http://www.heavens-above.com/

Then one more.. to everyone who believes that astronomy has to be done at night.. Check the same site to find out when Iridium Flares will happen in your area... Even in the day time you will be able to see the satellites fly through the blue sky.. just need to know where to look.

PS: your office staff might think your are an idiot.. when you suddenly run outside to look at the sky... but its well worth it, when you spot your first one!

 

[mercurial]

Nebula application

CNebulaX 1.7.1 - CNebulaX description


Construction of powerful sky maps and lists of deep sky objects, to be studied in deep sky observing sessions
The current release of CnebulaX is complete and can be used to plot very good maps. The main aim is the construction of powerful sky maps and lists of deep sky objects, to be studied in our deep sky observing sessions.

CnebulaX also implements a library, ephemerid facilities, telescope control, prediction of visibility, annotations, overlaying facilities, and more auxiliary tools for the deep sky observer. It is an excellent instrument for learning to know the sky at many levels.

The same way as the former MSDOS release, CNEBULAX is a full database manager, combined with a star map generator, a reference library and an observing notebook.

Currently, it is able to plot 25 million stars (GSC 1.2). However, smaller star databases are also available (Tycho II, AC2000 and PPM). The full release also includes more than one million deep sky objects, double and variable stars (all the files required for the full installation are within this website). The number of databases is unlimited, and under certain rules, the program can create and manage as much as one wishes.

Here are some key features of "CNebulaX":

· Observer-oriented: it was developed under the point of view of a deep sky enthusiast, covering all the needs of a DS observer
· Lots of information for any object, and it is opened to incorporate more, or appending more databases
· A new star database: Guide Star Catalogue 1.2, with more than 25,000,000 stars. Its power is impressive; I am astonished with the details. With the picture collection and the current maps, guiding the telescope and CCD imaging is now easier than ever!!! This database can be downloaded from the complements section, where the basic installation can be expanded. Everything is free, naturally.
· It displays annotations (several thousands at the moment): click on an object and check how it looks at the eyepiece. It is compatible with the observer's logbook; the volume of annotations is, however, far greater, although only text is displayed in this case.
· The full CNebulaX release includes more than one million deep sky objects (ca. 1,250,0000 DSOs). The basic installation includes a mixed DSO database (32,000 objects) and Tycho II (2,5 million stars). In this website, you will find to download all the additional files required to expand the basic installation, visit the complements section.
· Comfortable toolbox, hierarchically organized with a multi-tab interface
· Multiple facilities for an easy and accurate navigation, and telescope guiding (navigator, tables, lists, ephemerids, auxiliary plots, etc)
· Horizontal mode to show the sky aspect as shown from your observing place
· Horizon editor to customize the geographical features: mountains, hills, buildings, etc
· Cross search capabilities to find objects and jump to them: making programming lists is really easy. You can combine observing lists, and load/save lists at your will.
· Observing list viewer allows navigating to the objects, see their pictures or location on gradually zoomed maps, and represent all the objects in several all-sky views
· Accessibility: transference of information to other programs, maps, pictures, or annotations at the telescope.
· Printing: native high resolution vector maps, or via clipboard to other applications.
· Horizontal mode: the equatorial maps can be kept permanently oriented to the zenith (pseudo-horizontal mode), useful in combination with Earth-based maps
· Fully rotable maps: the maps can be turned or flipped as wished to match the telescope appearance
· Meade LX200 classic is controlled via RS232C port - click on the map and move/synchronise the telescope to it
· It can overlay maps on pictures to identify stars and deep sky objects on pictures
· Observer logbook facility to write down observations, and pasting pictures, drawings or maps
· Enhanced capabilities to generate monochrome or colour maps (copy/paste, fully finished)
· Full screen mode, and finder/month/year views
· This version is also able to compile and index new databases, very convenient for maintenance (error corrections).
· Accuracy 10 times greater than in previous releases, in fact more than most sources provide.
· The provided documentation include some RTF files that can be accessed from a viewer.
· I have also altered the former MSDOS release to keep the compatibility, and in addition, now it is also able to display the GSC.

Download it here .

 

[marine1]

Thanks Merc, Kal please PM me your e mail address for that thing we spoke about.
Thanks

 

[mercurial]

Also found this beautiful, color and highly detailed skychart , by Orion.

 

[Kalvaer]

Also found this beautiful, color and highly detailed skychart , by Orion.

Wrong hemisphere though

 

[mercurial]

Damnit. I'll check again.

 

[Kalvaer]

Soon as as saw that blasted Polaris.. I knew it.. Guys in the north have it too easy.