Solved A Possible Naked-eye Comet in March, A Better One in December.

[Anak]

Until the news about ISON starts heating up in October, I'll be passing along the NASA Science Newsletter.

First up:
Gigantic Hurricane Spotted on Saturn - NASA Science

Video: NASA - Multimedia - Video Gallery


Then:
Cassini Catches Meteors Hitting Saturn's Rings - NASA Science

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Other Interests:

Successful Launch for Antares Orbital Sciences Antares rocket successfully launched at 5 p.m., Sunday, April 21, from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's Pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Antares' maiden flight serves as a precursor for a demonstration flight of its Cygnus resupply ship to the International Space Station later this year.

Source: NASA - Multimedia - Video Gallery

Have $200,000 to take a flight?

MOJAVE, Calif. – Today (Sunday 04-29-2013), Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi’s aabar Investments PJS, completed the first rocket-powered flight of its space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2).

Source: VIRGIN GALACTIC BREAKS SPEED OF SOUND IN FIRST ROCKET-POWERED FLIGHT OF SPACESHIPTWO | Virgin Galactic

Fascinating video of engine firing from 1:31 to 1:49
Virgin Galactic First Powered Flight VNR

If you let the video run into the second video you'll see a few more and different views of the flight.

 

[Anak]

Planets Aligning in the Sunset Sky

Starting about May 11th around a half hour after Sunset and lasting until the end of the month.

May 10, 2013: Sunset is a special time of day. Low-hanging clouds glow vivid red and orange as the background sky turns cobalt blue. The first stars pop out in the heavenly dome overhead, eliciting wishes from backyard sky watchers.

The sunset of May 26th will be extra special. On that date, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury will gather in the fading twilight to form a bright triangle only three degrees wide.

Source: Planets Aligning in the Sunset Sky - NASA Science

A Planetary Feast For May


"Star Gazers" Video Download Page




Clear Skies!

 

[Britton30]

Thanks Steve, I hope the clouds go away so I can see some of these things.

 

[Anak]

Your welcome Gary,

I feel the same way, the weather is finally starting to break around here after being rainy/cloudy all this past week.

 

[Anak]

Confirmed: Bright Explosion on the Moon

May 17, 2013: For the past 8 years, NASA astronomers have been monitoring the Moon for signs of explosions caused by meteoroids hitting the lunar surface. "Lunar meteor showers" have turned out to be more common than anyone expected, with hundreds of detectable impacts occurring every year. They've just seen the biggest explosion in the history of the program.
"On March 17, 2013, an object about the size of a small boulder hit the lunar surface in Mare Imbrium," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "It exploded in a flash nearly 10 times as bright as anything we've ever seen before."

Source: Bright Explosion on the Moon - NASA Science

Clear Skies!

 

[Anak]

While we're waiting for ISON...The Perseid meteor shower has arrived.

I was outside this morning and saw four streakers and three points:

My terminology:

• Streakers, When you see a meteor from the side and it leaves a long "streak" of illumination.
• Points or pointers, When you see a "point" of light fade in then out, this signifies that the meteor was approaching you head-on. These are usually brighter than streakers.

July 26, 2013: In astronomy, there's nothing quite like a bright meteor streaking across the glittering canopy of a moonless night sky. The unexpected flash of light adds a dash of magic to an ordinary walk under the stars. New research by NASA has just identified the most magical nights of all.

"We have found that one meteor shower produces more fireballs than any other," explains Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "It's the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks on August 12th and 13th."

Source: Perseid Fireballs - NASA Science

It is still quiet on the Comet ISON front:

UPDATES:
June 2: Latest assessment. Comet ISON was still stuck at 16th magnitude as of early May, when it was becoming difficult to observe. John Bortle has posted an updated assessment, which should stand unchanged until the comet comes out from the glare of the Sun in early September.
Read Bortle's assessment here.

Source: Updates on Comet ISON - Observing Highlights - SkyandTelescope.com

Here's a simulated view from Sidney, Australia:


Comet ISON - Fall of a Thousand Suns

 

[Anak]

Recent update, I subscribed to Borg386 Perseid Thread: http://www.sevenforums.com/chillout...seid-best-meteor-shower-year.html#post2492611

 

[Britton30]

Me too Steve, thanks. Our local weather prognosticators pronounce it "pur-syde". IT should be "pur-see-id".

 

[Anak]

I find errors every time I watch the "Boob Tube", a lazy bunch of blokes man or woman that can not enunciate properly, it makes me think, "Now what kind of pressures are they under?"

But you are correct Gary. PUR-see-ids, PURseeids.

 

[Anak]

Comet ISON to fly by Mars

August 23, 2013:
Around the world, astronomers are buzzing with anticipation over the approach of Comet ISON. On Thanksgiving Day 2013, the icy visitor from the outer solar system will skim the sun's outer atmosphere and, if it survives, could emerge as one of the brightest comets in years.

First, though, it has to fly by Mars.

"Comet ISON is paying a visit to the Red Planet," says astronomer Carey Lisse of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. "On Oct 1st, the comet will pass within 0.07 AU from Mars, about six times closer than it will ever come to Earth."

Source: Comet ISON to fly by Mars - NASA Science

Mars is rising in the East.

 

[Anak]

Ready, Set, Observe! How to See Comet ISON In The Early Morning Sky

Source: Ready, Set, Observe! How to See Comet ISON In The Early Morning Sky | Universe Today

There will be a live stream about Comet ISON from the Slooh Observatory at 05:30 UTC the 12th of September, 1:30am EDT the 12th, and Wednesday at 10:30pm PDT the 11th.

If video isn't running, click to start....

 

[Britton30]

Nice, thanks for the update Steve.

 

[Anak]

Nice, thanks for the update Steve.

My pleasure Gary, here's the latest:

Sept. 24, 2013: Anticipation is building as Comet ISON approaches the sun for a close encounter on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28). No one knows if the blast of solar heating ISON receives will turn it into one of the finest comets in years--or destroy the icy visitor from the outer solar system.

Astronomer Carey Lisse, the head of NASA's Comet ISON Observing Campaign, hopes that "every telescope on Earth will be trained on the comet in October and November." He may get his wish. As September comes to an end, amateur astronomers around the world are already monitoring the comet.

"Comet ISON is approaching Mars in the pre-dawn sky," explains Lisse. "It is invisible to the naked eye, but within reach of backyard telescopes."

Source: Amateur Astronomers See Comet ISON - NASA Science

I've been trying most mornings to keep a look-out, this is what I'm seeing; 5am edt tomorrow morning. ISON is only at 10.78magnitude. It really won't be naked-eye till it reaches 6.0 or lower.
ISON is centered in the blue cross next to Mars, Mars is the black dot next to the right hash.

Stellarium Screenshot:



This page may give a better perspective of why ISON looks to be next to Mars: Comet C/2012 S1 ISON


p.s. Its a little early, but, don't forget, EDT ends at 2:00 AM on Sunday, November 3 this year.

 

[Anak]

Here are the latest updates:

Video from Astronomy magazine with video narration the same as article:
Observe Comet ISON at its best | Astronomy.com



Sky and Telescope:



There are three other YouTubes here: SkyWeek | Sky and Telescope TV

 

[ICIT2LOL]

For us out here Will Comet ISON put on a show from the southern hemisphere near the end of 2013? | Sydney Observatory

 

[Britton30]

Thanks Steve, now if the clouds stay away....

 

[Anak]

John,

Here are a few more:
Astroblog: Comet C/2012 S1 ISON brightens,1-8 November 2013

COMET ISON CANADA/AUSTRALIA LOCATIONS


This is the interactive astronomy program used in the video above: Comet ISON Model

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Your welcome Gary,

'bout them clouds....I've been out in the mornin' for the last three weeks and I've had a handful of days where it was clear, but I couldn't pick ISON out at 7.5 to 8. magnitude. Plus I have a lot of light pollution.

It will be seeing better now that it is below 6 (5.8) magnitude and it does stay clear.


ISON is there above the Sun on the Elliptic.


There is another Comet in the vicinity of ISON: The Other Great Morning Comet - Comet Lovejoy - SkyandTelescope.com



Last I heard that ESA gravity satellite started falling over Siberia -

11 November 2013 Close to 01:00 CET on Monday 11 November, ESA’s GOCE satellite reentered Earth’s atmosphere on a descending orbit pass that extended across Siberia, the western Pacific Ocean, the eastern Indian Ocean and Antarctica. As expected, the satellite disintegrated in the high atmosphere and no damage to property has been reported.

Here's what Mother Earth looks like if you follow the Gravity:

The colours in the image represent deviations in height (–100 m to +100 m) from an ideal geoid. The blue shades represent low values and the reds/yellows represent high values.

Source(s): GOCE gives in to gravity / GOCE / Observing the Earth / Our Activities / ESA

Image: Space in Images - 2011 - 03 - New GOCE geoid

01:00 CET is UTC+1, so, that is -6hours here in the EST time zone; = 7pm Sunday night: CET ? Central European Time

Factoid:
During the phases of the Moon the ground itself rises about 1foot; page 7A-7 second paragraph: http://www.elcamino.edu/faculty/tnoyes/readings/07ar.pdf


Clear Skies!

Steve

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Thanks Steve I am working those nights so I may get a look at it if the clouds stay away - woo hoo!!

 

[Britton30]

Well we have snow so clouds for a bit.

 

[A Guy]

Comet ISON is now visible with high-powered binoculars

Amateur sky watchers wanting to get a look at the comet can now see ISON with a high quality set of binoculars or small telescope. The comet will make its closest encounter with the sun on November 28. That pass will bring the comet within 730,000 miles of the surface of the sun.

Source

A Guy