Posts Tagged ‘lunar’

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Will new Moon images quiet conspiracy theories?

September 6, 2011

by yaska77

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has recorded the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites. The photos show the twists and turns of the paths made when the astronauts explored the lunar surface, both on foot and in the Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV).

Apollo 12 landing made astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean the third and fourth humans to walk on the moon (Click to enlarge) - Credit: NASA/Goddard/ASU

Apollo 12 astronauts Pete Conrad and Alan Bean performed two moon walks during their mission. In the first walk, they collected samples and determined the best location for monitoring equipment called the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP). This experiment continued to send data about the moon’s interior and surface environment back to Earth for over seven years.

The second moon walk saw them set out from the descent stage, loop around Head crater, past Bench and Sharp craters before heading north east to the landing site of Surveyor 3. Here they collected hardware from the unmanned spacecraft that landed two years earlier.

The Apollo 17 landing site with the Challenger descent stage and the LRV visible (Click to enlarge) - Credit: NASA/Goddard/ASU

In the Apollo 17 image above you can determine the last paths made on the moon by humans, astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, and the easily recognisable dual tracks left by the lunar rover which can be seen to the east of the lander. The vehicle was “parked” there to provide the best camera view of the departing Challenger module at liftoff.

Will these be enough to silence the conspiracies? Probably not (where’s Apollo 11?!) but they’re still fascinating and beautiful to see.

Have a look at more images, video and info on the NASA LRO site here.

Posted in Moon, NASA, yaska77 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Astronomy Events – September 2011

September 1, 2011

by yaska77

Here is a list of upcoming Astronomy events for September. Night clouds all but ruined most viewing in August, however we did have some successes!

Friday 2nd September – Looking south, Comet C/2009 P1 Garradd passes in between the easily indentifiable stars Vega and Altair (and directly below Albireo), just south of Brocchi’s Cluster over the next 3 evenings. Also known as the Coathanger Cluster, it resembles an upside down coathanger and the comet will almost pass parallel to the line of the “hanger” part, just below the hook (which it is closest to on the 3rd)

Comet Garradd position on 2nd, 3rd and 4th September, below Albireo (click to enlarge) - Credit: Stellarium/Sky-Watching

Saturday 3rd September – Mercury is at its greatest western elongation, meaning it will rise (and should be visible) just before the Sun early morning

Sunday 4th September – First Quarter Moon. The recently discovered supernova in M101 (the Pinwheel Galaxy, in the Plough constellation) should be visible through binoculars over coming days. Click here for a guide to locating M101!

Thursday 8th September – NASA is due to launch the twin Grail spacecraft to the Moon, where they will map the gravity field and provide details about the inner core. Grail will launch on a Delta II rocket, to be covered on NASA TV. There are two launch windows at 08:37 and 09:16 EDT (13:37 BST and 14:16 BST), but the launch period extends through to 19th October, with launch times occurring around 4 minutes earlier each day

Using precision formation-flying, the GRAIL spacecraft will map the moon's gravity field (artist's rendering) - Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Monday 12th September – The Full Moon tonight is also known as the Harvest or Wine Moon. Due to its tilted orbit the Moon in September runs roughly parallel to the horizon, and rises around the same time for consecutive evenings (18:38 BST on 11th, 18:55 BST on 12th and 19:12 BST on 13th)

Thursday 15th September – Moon at Apogee (the point of its orbit farthest away from the Earth) 406,065 km

Tuesday 20th September – Last Quarter Moon. Jupiter (which is present in the night sky all month) rises at 20:20 BST, about 3 hours before the Moon. A truly beautiful sight through a telescope, we’re hoping to get a better look (and take some more images) this month

Our image of Jupiter taken on 21st September 2010, we're hoping to get more pics this year (click to enlarge) - Credit: Sky-Watching/A.Welbourn

Friday 23rd September – Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere (at 09:04 GMT). Equinox occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither toward or away from the Sun (the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth’s equator), so day and night are about the same length. This near equilibrium is referred to as the Equilux, where night and day are closest to being 12 hours each (and occurs over 24-25th September)

Sunday 25th September – The gas giant Uranus is at its closest to the Earth today (this year) and should be visible to an unaided eye if your skies are dark enough. Found in the constellation Pisces, Uranus is the only planet to orbit the Sun on its side (possibly the result of a collision in its infancy) and at last count had 27 Moons!

Uranus is closest to Earth this year on 25th September (guide above at 23:30 BST) Click to enlarge - Credit: Stellarium/Sky-Watching

Tuesday 27th September – New Moon, a great time to observe deep sky objects without disruption

Wednesday 28th September – Moon at Perigee, the closest point to Earth in it’s orbit (357,560 km)

We’re hoping to finally get a look at Comet Garradd this month, re-image Jupiter and have a look for the new supernova in the Pinwheel Galaxy! Rather ambitious given our luck this year with the weather, but we’ll see!

Remember, it can take your eyes up to 20 minutes to become properly dark adapted, and anything up to an hour for a telescope to reach ambient temperature outside (to ensure the best image), so give yourself plenty of time to get set up!

We recently added the “Monthly Guide” section in the menu bar to the right (where this guide will appear), so next time you visit you can find it again easily!

Guide images created with Stellarium

Archive:
Astronomy Events – August 2011
Astronomy Events – July 2011
Astronomy Events – June 2011

Posted in Astronomy, Galaxy, Jupiter, Mercury, Moon, NASA, Night sky, Resources, Stars, Supernova, yaska77 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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Astronomy Events – August 2011

July 30, 2011

by yaska77

Strap yourself in for the latest edition of our monthly posts, listing upcoming Astronomy events for August! The British skies have been particularly cloudy of late, which means our telescopes are sat under a layer of soft downy dust, so we’re hoping for clearer (and warmer) nights in August!

Monday 1st August – With the Moon still virtually absent after the new Moon of 30th July, it’s a prime time to spot Comet C/2009 P1 Garradd as it starts its pass of globular cluster M15 over the next couple of nights (it will be visible all month in the constellation Pegasus). The comet will reach a maximum solar elongation of 149 degrees on 8th August. Click here for related NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (from 27th July)

Tuesday 2nd August – Moon at Perigee (365,760 km)

Thursday 4th August – The planet-esque asteroid Vesta might just be visible to the naked eye if your skies are dark enough (certainly with binoculars). At around mag 5.48 at its brightest (the lower the mag the brighter the object appears from Earth), it will stay in Capricornus throughout August, following the diagonal line of the brightest stars at the bottom of the constellation (as the month progresses)

Vesta in the constellation Capricornus - Southern sky 4th August 2011 (00:00 GMT/ 01:00 BST) - Credit: Stellarium/Sky-Watching (Click to enlarge)

Sunday 7th August – Jupiter (in Aries) is the bright object high up in the east by midnight. For those up later Mars rises at 01:00 GMT (02:00 BST ), drawing a line to Jupiter straight through the middle of the constellation Taurus

Friday 12th August – The Perseid meteor shower starts 2 evenings of peak activity tonight, although tomorrow’s Full Moon will wash out a lot of the weaker meteors. With an expected ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) of 100 however you should still be able to catch the brighter ones as they blaze a trail across the sky

Perseid Meteor Radiant guide - Northern sky 13th August 2011 (21:00 GMT/22:00 BST) - Credit: Stellarium/Sky-Watching (Click to enlarge)

Saturday 13th August – The Full Moon this evening is also known as the Barley Moon and apparently tells of the ripening crops of summer! Second peak night for the Perseid meteor shower, look to the north towards the W shaped constellation of Cassiopeia

Tuesday 16th August – Venus in superior conjunction, meaning the planet is too close to the Sun to see this month

Wednesday 17th August – Mercury is in inferior conjunction, so along with Venus is lost in the daylight

Our first CCD capture of Saturn, we'll have to wait a while until we can try again! - Credit: Sky-Watching/A.Welbourn (Click to enlarge)

Thursday 18th August – Moon at Apogee (405,160 km). Saturn will soon be leaving our night skies, but should still just be visible low down in the west soon after sunset

Monday 22nd August – Neptune at opposition in Aquarius, the planet will be visible to the south east rising at dusk, being followed across the sky by Uranus, appearing over the eastern horizon after 20:00 GMT (21:00 BST)

The Moon flanked by Mars and Jupiter - Eastern sky 23rd August 2011 (02:00 GMT/03:00 BST) - Credit: Stellarium/Sky-Watching (Click to enlarge)

Tuesday 23rd August – Early risers (or those up late!) will be able to see the dawn Moon in the Taurus constellation flanked by Mars and Jupiter above the eastern horizon. Orion is also making a welcome re-appearce to our skies, with the red supergiant Betelgeuse rising about the same time as Mars

Monday 29th August – New Moon. If your skies are clear tonight the absence of moon glare make observing deep sky objects (like nebulae and galaxies) easier

Tuesday 30th August – Moon at Perigee (360,860 km)

Should the weather allow we’re targeting Comet Garradd and maybe the Perseid meteor shower for imaging this month.  We’ve been particularly unlucky with regards to night clouds in recent weeks, so surely it’s about time we got a break!

Remember, it can take your eyes up to 20 minutes to become properly dark adapted, and anything up to an hour for a telescope to reach ambient temperature outside (to ensure the best image), so give yourself plenty of time to get set up!

We recently added the “Monthly Guide” section in the menu bar to the right (where this guide will appear), so next time you visit you can find it again easily!

Guide images created with Stellarium

Archive:
Astronomy Events – July 2011
Astronomy Events – June 2011
Astronomy Events – May 2011

Posted in Asteroid, Astronomy, Moon, Nebula, Night sky, Resources, Stars, yaska77 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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Sunrise on the Moon

July 1, 2011

by yaska77

We love awesome images, and having shown you several of our own Moon photos on this blog I wanted to highlight this superb picture.

Click to enlarge (it's stunning) - Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University

On 10th June 2011, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this dramatic sunrise view of the moon’s Tycho crater.

A very popular target with amateur astronomers, Tycho is located at 43.37°S, 348.68°E, and is about 51 miles (82 km) in diameter. The summit of the central peak is 1.24 miles (2 km) above the crater floor. The distance from Tycho’s floor to its rim is about 2.92 miles (4.7 km).

Tycho crater’s central peak complex, shown in the NASA image, is about 9.3 miles (15 km) wide, left to right (southeast to northwest in this view).

Tycho is surrounded by a distinctive ray system forming long spokes (some reach as far as 1,500 km) - Credit: Sky-Watching/A.Welbourn

In our image above (taken with a Canon Eos 550D and a Sky- Watcher 200P Newtonian Reflector Telescope) Tycho can be seen to the bottom right of the full Moon.  Certainly brings home the clarity of the NASA image taken from orbit!

Stunning!

Source: NASA Image of the Day

Posted in Astronomy, Image gallery, Moon, NASA, yaska77 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Astronomy Events – July 2011

June 27, 2011

by yaska77

Latest edition of our monthly posts, listing upcoming Astronomy events for July. Should all go to schedule the last ever Shuttle launch will happen on 8th July, so keep an eye on Sky-Watching for details and updates!

Friday 1st July – Start the month with a new Moon!  Darker skies provide great conditions for astrophotography.  There is also a partial solar eclipse in the southern hemisphere. Noctilucent clouds are still sometimes visible in the northwest (after sunset) and northeast (just before sunrise) at the beginning of July.  Try catching them on camera using a 5 to 10 second exposure, trying different ISO’s to find which work best for you! Also, Jupiter’s largest moon Ganymede will transit the planet’s South Pole region early this morning (best viewed through a telescope around 03:50 (BST))

Sunday 3rd July – The crescent Moon can be located close to the western horizon soon after sunset, with Mercury located to the right of it just about visible in clear skies. Photographing the Moon when it’s waxing or waning can reveal the features behind the shadow, a phenomenon known as Earthshine. This is where light reflecting back off the Earth is strong enough to illuminate the night side of the Moon

Earthshine on a crescent Moon (7th March 2011) - Credit: Sky-Watching/A.Welbourn

Monday 4th July – The Earth will be at aphelion today, the farthest point from the Sun on its elliptical orbit. Remember if planning to observe the Sun only use certified filters or Solar Telescopes

Thursday 7th July - Moon at Perigee, the closest its orbit comes to Earth (369,570 km)

Friday 8th July – Although generally fairly weak, the Capricornids Meteor Shower reaches the first of three predicted peaks tonight.  The ZHR (Zenithal Hourly Rate) is around 5 meteors per hour (peaking up to 9), with similar rates expected on both 15th and 26th July. NASA’s last ever shuttle mission (STS-135 Atlantis) is scheduled to launch from Kennedy Space Center at 11:26 EDT (15:26 GMT/ 16:26 BST)

NASA STS-135 astronauts Commander Chris Ferguson (center right), Pilot Doug Hurley (center left), and Rex Walheim and Sandy Magnus (mission specialists) - Credit: NASA/Robert Markowitz

Tuesday 12th July – Today the planet Neptune completes its first full orbit of the Sun since its discovery in 1846. That’s some year!

Friday 15th July – Full Moon. Tonight is another good night to witness the “Moon-Illusion” as it lies quite low in the sky.  It’s also the only night this month the Moon will be in visible in the sky all night, from sunset to sunrise.

Thursday 21st July – The weak Alpha Cygnids Meteor Shower peaks tonight, with ZHR predicted at 5 per hour. Moon at Apogee (404,355 km)

A Perseid Meteor captured in 1993 - Credit: S. Kohle & B. Koch, Bonn University (Image links to NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day from 2002)

Saturday 23rd July – The Perseid Meteor shower begins today and should run until 20th August.  While the shower peak isn’t until 13th August, this will coincide with a full Moon meaning many of the meteors will be washed out in the glare

Sunday 24th July – Jupiter is easily spotted this evening (best seen after midnight), just to the right of the waning crescent Moon. It should appear very bright and be difficult to miss, despite the light coming from the Moon nearby

Our image of Jupiter captured with a colour CCD camera - Credit: Sky-Watching/A.Welbourn

Monday 25th July – The Moon will be close to the Pleiades Open Cluster in the morning sky. Best viewed around 03:00 BST the glow from the Moon shouldn’t be too strong allowing you to locate the Pleiades with ease

Friday 29th July – The fairly active Delta Aquariids Meteor shower will reach its first peak this evening, with a ZHR of up to 20 meteors per hour

Saturday 30th July -  Tonight will see the second new Moon of July, so if your skies are sufficiently dark enough you should easily spot the Milky Way, crossing the sky in an arc from north to south (and up high to the east) from nightfall

Should the weather allow we’re targeting the Milky Way for imaging this month (with two new Moons helping keep the skies dark), with any luck we’ll bring you some new photos so wish for clear skies!

Remember, it can take your eyes up to 20 minutes to become properly dark adapted, and anything up to an hour for a telescope to reach ambient temperature outside (to ensure the best image), so give yourself plenty of time to get set up!

Archive:
Astronomy Events – June 2011
Astronomy Events – May 2011
Astronomy Events – April 2011
Astronomy Events – March 2011

Also, now follow us on Twitter @sky_watching

Posted in Astronomy, Moon, Nebula, Night sky, Resources, Stars, yaska77 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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