APOD: Along the Western Veil

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. 

APOD: Sun and Prominence

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

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

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

APOD: Orion Nebula in Surrounding Dust

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.

APOD: The View Near a Black Hole

This picture shows a representation of what once was the star GRO J1655-40, and is now a black hole surrounded by swirling gas emitting bright lights. This light has proven to be a flickering light, going at a rate of about 450 flickers per second, giving the illusion that it is one continuous light wave. This star is seven times the mass of our Sun.  The rotation of the star is what has been discovered to be the source of the supposed flicker. This picture caught my eye due to the sheer beauty shown in this black hole, which we humans do not see very often, making it a sight to see.

Percival Lowell Citations

http://www2.lowell.edu/Research/library/paper/lowell.html

http://www.space.com/19774-percival-lowell-biography.html

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/349831/Percival-Lowell

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/scientists/percival_lowell

http://www.discoveryofpluto.com/pluto04.html

Bright Supernova in M82

On January 21st, 2014, a supernova, classified as SN 2014J, was seen from the University College London Obesrvatory. This special supernova was seen in the M82 Galaxy, which is also known as the Cigar Galaxy. This specific galaxy can be seen with the naked eye near the Little Dipper constellation. Since the galaxy is 12 Million Light-Years away, this supernova actually occured 12 million years ago, and the light from it is just now reaching Earth. It is one of the closest supernovas to be seen in recent decades. 

Lovejoy in the New Year

This year, Comet Lovejoy graced us to open the new year on January 1st, 2014. This magnificent sighting was most clear just before dawn on the New Year's Night. Lovejoy made one of its closest passes to Earth, only coming 6.7 light-minutes away from our planet. This comet didnt quite make it close to the sun, however it did come fairly close on the night of December 22nd. This sighting was especially wonderful, as we were graced with extraordinary green comas and exceptionally long tails.

Observation Logs Q2

November 1, 2013
Time: 10:00-11:00 P.M.
Place: Home
Sky: Partly Cloudy, 90% visibility

Instruments: Celestron 40 mm Refractor Telescope

Planets: Venus, Jupiter

Bright Stars: Polaris, Antares, Vega, Deneb, Altair, Thuban

Constellations: Lyra, Cygnus, Draco, Scorpio, Corona Australis, Aquila, Hercules

Binary Stars: Epsilon Lyrae (Vega)

Deep Sky: M13 (Globular Cluster in Hercules), M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra)

Other: Houses in the way of other constellations that were possibly in the sky, couldn't really tell what they were



November 5, 2013
Time: 9:00-11:00 P.M.
Place: Rothenbach Park
Sky: Clear

Instruments: Celestron 40 mm Refractor Telescope

Planets: Venus, Jupiter, 2 satellites

Bright Stars: Vega, Deneb, Altair, Fomalhaut, Delta CVephei, Polaris, Thuban, Andromeda, Gamma, Alberio

Constellations: Lyra, Cygnus, Draco, Aquila, Cepheus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, Ursa Minor, Delphinus, Aquarius

Binary Stars: Epsilon Lyrae (Vega)

Deep Sky:  M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra), M31, M103

Other: Milky Way in Aquila


November 7, 2013
Time: 10:1200 P.M.
Place: Rothenbach Park
Sky: Partly Cloudy, Approx. 80% visibility

Instruments: Celestron 40 mm Refractor Telescope

Planets: Venus, Jupiter blocked by clouds

Bright Stars: Vega, Deneb, Altair (clouds), Polaris, Alpha Capricornus, Antares, Mira, Algol

Constellations: Lyra, Cygnus, Aquila, Ursa Minor, Capricorn, Scorpius, Cetus, Perseus

Binary Stars: Epsilon Lyrae (Vega) Blurry

Deep Sky: N/A

Other: Milky Way throughout the sky


November 21, 2013
Time: 9:00-11:00 P.M., 1:00-2:00 A.M.
Place: Home
Sky: Clear

Instruments: Celestron 40 mm Refractor Telescope

Planets: Venus next to moon

Bright Stars: Vega, Deneb, Altair, Fomalhaut, Gamma, Andromeda, Algol, Mira, Antares, Delta Cephi, Polaris,Thuban, Alberio, Epsilon Lyrae

Constellations: Lyra, Cygnus, Draco, Aquila, Cepheus, Andromeda, Piscis Austrinis, Cetus, Perseus, Draco, Ursa Minor, Saggitarius, Hercules, Vulpecula

Deep Sky:  M8, M20, M13, M27, M57, M31

William Lassell Biography Q2

       William Lassell, born in 1799 in Lancashire, England, was an amateur astronomer that is attributed with the discovery of Ariel and Umbriel of Neptune, Triton of Neptune, and Hyperion of Saturn. Before Lassell got into the field of Astronomy, he began a brewery business in 1825 after starting an apprenticeship in 1818. In 1844, Lassell found his love with Astronomy and began building his own 24-inch reflecting telescope. On October 10, 1846, Lassell made the discovery of Neptune's moon, Triton, which was his first discovery. This discovery was made only 17 days after the planet itself was discovered. Two years later, he discovered Saturn's moon Hyperion. On that same day, the Bond brothers  also discovered Hyperion, they never had any contact with each other. In 1851 and 1852, Lassell discovered Umbriel and Ariel, he also constructed a larger reflector telescope, which was 48 inches. He used this large telescope to make observations of nearby nebulae. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of London in 1849 and was president of the Royal Astronomical Society from 1870 to 1872. He later died on October 5, 1880 in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Although William Lassell is not the most known astronomer out there, he has made several significant discoveries and is also known for his creativity and innovation in his constrction of his telescopes.

Works Cited

 

Chapman, Allan. "William Lassell (1799-1880) and the Discovery of Triton, 1846." William Lassell (1799-1880) and the Discovery of Triton, 1846. Liverpool Astronomical Society., 4 Oct. 2005. Web. 10 Jan. 2014. http://www.mikeoates.org/lassell/lassell_by_a_chapman.htm.

 

 

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "William Lassell (British Astronomer)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2014. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/331026/William-Lassell>.

NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula

Aquarius, a sun-like star that is located at about seven hundred light-years away from Earth, is slowly  dying. However, in its last few thousand years of life, it has produced the Helix Nebula, which is a very studied Planetary Nebula. This picture took a total of 28.5 hours of exposure to create the deep view that we see in the picture. The span of the nebula is about six light-years across. The center white dot is the Nebula's hot, central star that created the Nebula. This beautiful picture deserves recognition by everyone.