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| This is a picture of the Veil Nebula. This Nebula is made up of filaments of shocked gas that has began to glow. This is also known to be the remnants of a supernova, and it most likely appeared to Earth's eyes about 5,000 years ago. The red in the picture is atomic hydrogen, and the blue is atomic oxygen. The span of ythis nebula is about 6 times the diameter of the moon. It is located about 1,500 light years away, and is actually two separate nebulae that have collided (The Witch's Broom and Pickering's Triangle). This image is amazing due to the dynamic and contrast of colors seen, and it amazes me that such beauty can be seen in space. |
Friday, April 4, 2014
APOD: Along the Western Veil
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
APOD: Sun and Prominence
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| Prominence on the sun, such as these, can be seen from time to time on the edge of the sun's surface. This large prominence was seen in the week of March 4th 2014, and was seen to have simply been emitting light using hydrogen. These such prominence are clouds of solar gas that have been held in tact and suspended on the surface by the magnetic field of the Sun. The people whom have edited in a picture of Earth to proportionate the sizes of both the prominence and our Earth, showing that the prominence is in fact larger than the Earth. These prominence last about a month, and can emit a Coronal Mass Ejection, which sends hot gas throughout the solar system and causes Auroras on Earth. |
APOD: The Antennae Galaxies in Collision
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| Two galaxies have recently been spotted colliding in the far off constellation of Corvus. it is recognized that these galaxies may be "colliding", however the stars that are held in the galaxy rarely collide due to the insignificance of them compared to the entirety of the galaxy, which is mainly made up of dust, gas and debris. This may look like it is happening fast, however this merging will take hundreds of years to show any significant differences from what we see now. However, the collision is causing the rapid birth of millions of stars in these galaxies, meaning new things could be forming for our eyes to see. |
APOD: Messier 63: The Sunflower Galaxy
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| Messier 63 is a bright spiral galaxy seen in the Northern sky, and it is located about 25 million light years out from Earth. It can be seen in the constellation of Canes Venatici and is also known, scientifically, as NGC 5055. This galaxy is a whopping 100,000 light years across, which is roughly the size of our own Milky Way. This galaxy is called the Sunflower Galaxy because of its noticeable yellow tinge to the core and the pink star forming regions. Although those aren't the typical colors of a sunflower, it shows a familiar resemblance. This picture caught my eye due to its sheer beauty and contrast of colors that it almost made me think that it was a drawing or a depiction done electronically; it is hard to believe how beautiful our universe can be. |
Observation logs Q3 (All for the Quarter)
Jamuary 31st, 2014
Used my Celestron Optical scope outside of my house.
Observed Orion, Gemini, Taurus, Sirius, Saw Venus in the southeast.
Total time: 45 Minutes
February 9th, 2014
Used same telescope, observed from outside of my house in a flat area.
Was able to observe a lot. Included Auriga, Orion, Taurus, Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda and each corresponding bright star(s): Capella, Betelgeuse and Rigel, M103, Gamma Andromeda, and Orion's nebula, the Horse-head Nebula.
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
February 24th, 2014
Usual Telescope, Usual spot
Went out around 8:00 and observes the International space station as it crossed the sky. I was not able to see very clearly due to some cloud coverage, however I was able to catch a few glimpses of it. It was very interesting, and I was able to get a decent view of the station, not in great detail, but it was visible enough for me to make out what it was. There was enough visibility for me to also make out Jupiter, Mars (later that night), Orion and its star Betelgeuse, and Orion's Belt (Clouds covered the rest of the constellation), and Canis Major.
Total Observation time: 2 Hours
March 1st, 2014
Because I was not able to make it to astronomy night, I decided to be there in spirit and do observations on my own! The weather was pristine for observing the night sky, so I decided to soak it all in while it lasted, before spring starts and it turns rainy. I was able to make out Jupiter, with its moons as well, Cassiopeia, Orion, with its belt, Betelgeuse and Rigel, and the Horse-head nebula, Triangulum, Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper, Pegasus, and Taurus. I made a lot out of this opportunity, as this night could not have been any better for star gazing.
Total Observation time: 2 Hours, 30 Minutes
March 14th, 2014
Today, as it was fairly clear after the slight bit of rain, I was able to see, in detail, the Milky Way, clearer than I had ever seen it before. I was also able to see the very bright Waxing gibbous face. i was also able to identify the Pleiades, Orion, Triangulum, Ursa Major, Cepheus and Cassiopeia.
Total Observation Time: 1 Hour
Used my Celestron Optical scope outside of my house.
Observed Orion, Gemini, Taurus, Sirius, Saw Venus in the southeast.
Total time: 45 Minutes
February 9th, 2014
Used same telescope, observed from outside of my house in a flat area.
Was able to observe a lot. Included Auriga, Orion, Taurus, Pegasus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda and each corresponding bright star(s): Capella, Betelgeuse and Rigel, M103, Gamma Andromeda, and Orion's nebula, the Horse-head Nebula.
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes
February 24th, 2014
Usual Telescope, Usual spot
Went out around 8:00 and observes the International space station as it crossed the sky. I was not able to see very clearly due to some cloud coverage, however I was able to catch a few glimpses of it. It was very interesting, and I was able to get a decent view of the station, not in great detail, but it was visible enough for me to make out what it was. There was enough visibility for me to also make out Jupiter, Mars (later that night), Orion and its star Betelgeuse, and Orion's Belt (Clouds covered the rest of the constellation), and Canis Major.
Total Observation time: 2 Hours
March 1st, 2014
Because I was not able to make it to astronomy night, I decided to be there in spirit and do observations on my own! The weather was pristine for observing the night sky, so I decided to soak it all in while it lasted, before spring starts and it turns rainy. I was able to make out Jupiter, with its moons as well, Cassiopeia, Orion, with its belt, Betelgeuse and Rigel, and the Horse-head nebula, Triangulum, Ursa Major, or the Big Dipper, Pegasus, and Taurus. I made a lot out of this opportunity, as this night could not have been any better for star gazing.
Total Observation time: 2 Hours, 30 Minutes
March 14th, 2014
Today, as it was fairly clear after the slight bit of rain, I was able to see, in detail, the Milky Way, clearer than I had ever seen it before. I was also able to see the very bright Waxing gibbous face. i was also able to identify the Pleiades, Orion, Triangulum, Ursa Major, Cepheus and Cassiopeia.
Total Observation Time: 1 Hour
APOD: Orion Nebula in Surrounding Dust
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| This high definition photo of the Orion Nebula definitely caught my eye. This nebula, about 1600 light years away, is a completely think cloud of dust that is completely opaque to light. This cloud surrounds both M 42 and M 43, which seem grey in the picture above. Other things in this nebula include the Trapezium star cluster. In the next few million years, this nebula will slowly dissipate and disperse into the Galaxy. The extremely high resolution and deep colors really popped to me and drew me to this picture. THis is a truly fantastic piece of art. |
Astronomer Bio: Percival Lowell
Percival Lowell was an American astronomer born in Boston Massachusetts on March 13th, 1855. He is most significantly known for initiating the search for a planet existing beyond the orbit of Neptune, ending with the introduction of Planet X in our solar system.
Previously to studying astronomy, he was devoted to literature and travel. He had been inspired by a lecture on Japan to travel to the Far East. He started his expedition in the East in Korea, where he served as a foreign secretary to the Korean Special Mission, which was the first diplomatic mission for Korea.
Starting his astronomy career in the 1890s, he began to devote himself to Mars, being inspired by Giovanni Schiaparelli's exposition of the "canals" on Mars, which hinted at the presence of water on another planet. This start was made a reality when Lowell built his very own private observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he could further examine his theories and observations. His Mars studies ended with his theory that there were intelligent life forms on Mars that constructed an irrigation system across the planet and created bands of cultivated vegetation that was solely dependent on the canals that carried water from the ice caps that melted every year. This theory wasn't disproved until the fly-by of Mariner 4 done in July of 1965.
Many health problems troubled Lowell throughout his life. At the age of 61, Percival Lowell died of a cerebral hemorrhage on November 12, 1916. Although he was gone, he was not forgotten. Lowell had left behind a million dollar fund to aid in the search and discovery of Planet X, the planet which he had been searching for past the orbit of Uranus. The million dollar fund ultimately dissipated, for the widow of Lowell began fighting for the money through many law suits. Although the money was gone, the search never slowed.
Previously to studying astronomy, he was devoted to literature and travel. He had been inspired by a lecture on Japan to travel to the Far East. He started his expedition in the East in Korea, where he served as a foreign secretary to the Korean Special Mission, which was the first diplomatic mission for Korea.
Starting his astronomy career in the 1890s, he began to devote himself to Mars, being inspired by Giovanni Schiaparelli's exposition of the "canals" on Mars, which hinted at the presence of water on another planet. This start was made a reality when Lowell built his very own private observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, where he could further examine his theories and observations. His Mars studies ended with his theory that there were intelligent life forms on Mars that constructed an irrigation system across the planet and created bands of cultivated vegetation that was solely dependent on the canals that carried water from the ice caps that melted every year. This theory wasn't disproved until the fly-by of Mariner 4 done in July of 1965.
Many health problems troubled Lowell throughout his life. At the age of 61, Percival Lowell died of a cerebral hemorrhage on November 12, 1916. Although he was gone, he was not forgotten. Lowell had left behind a million dollar fund to aid in the search and discovery of Planet X, the planet which he had been searching for past the orbit of Uranus. The million dollar fund ultimately dissipated, for the widow of Lowell began fighting for the money through many law suits. Although the money was gone, the search never slowed.
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