Atlas 5 rocket boosts Navy satellite / Onboard rocketcams dazzles

   NEWSALERT: Monday, February 27, 2011 @ 2005 GMT
----------------------------------------------------
     The latest news from Spaceflight Now


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
While others are busy talking, we're busy launching.

While other guys launch press conferences, Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne
powers launches of people and critical payloads. In 2011, we powered 14
successful launches. Before you listen to their next promise, click here
and watch all 14 zero-fail launches.

www.FutureSpaceUSA.com/pwr_smoke_and_fire.html
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


ROCKETCAMS OFFER DAZZLING VIEWS OF ATLAS 5 LAUNCH
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When the largest and most powerful Atlas rocket in history thundered to
space Friday, three onboard video cameras captured the stunning views of
what it's like to ride the vehicle off the launch pad and into orbit.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av030/rocketcams/

STILL PHOTOS FROM ROCKETCAMS:
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av030/rocketcampix/


ATLAS 5 ROCKET NAVIGATES NEW NAVY SATELLITE INTO ORBIT
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Like erecting a cellular telephone tower 22,300 miles tall, the U.S.
Navy's first-of-its-kind mobile communications satellite rose high above
Earth Friday night to provide 3G voice, data and video services to
military troops on the move.

http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av030/

LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY:
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av030/launch/

COMPLEX 41 PAD CAMERA:
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av030/remote/

AS SEEN FROM PLAYALINDA BEACH:
http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av030/beach/


ESA INKS METEOSAT CONTRACT, ENDING PROCUREMENT TURMOIL
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The European Space Agency signed a nearly $1.8 billion contract Friday for
six geostationary weather satellites, selecting Thales Alenia Space to
lead an industry team building the next-generation spacecraft for launches
beginning in 2017.

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1202/25esamtg/


BEIDOU NAVIGATION PAYLOAD LAUNCHED BY CHINESE ROCKET
----------------------------------------------------
China launched another satellite Friday for the Beidou space-based
navigation network, continuing the system's expansion after it began trial
service in December.

http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1202/24longmarch/

LAUNCH PHOTOS:
http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1202/24longmarch/photos/


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--

Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling

--

Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--

Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--

Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/

--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Information -- More Info -- And More Info

Weekend Sky Show

Space Weather News for Feb. 24, 2012
http://spaceweather.com

WEEKEND SKY SHOW:  This is a great weekend to watch the sun go down.  Venus, Jupiter and the slender crescent Moon are lining up in the western sky, forming a bright triangle in the evening twilight.  These three objects are so bright, they shine through thin clouds and even city lights.  Check http://spaceweather.com for observing tips, sky maps, and photos from around the world.

BACKYARD ASTRONOMY ALERTS: Would you like a call to remind you when planets are aligning over your home town?  Backyard astronomy alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com

 (voice).

--

Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling

--

Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--

Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--

Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/

--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Information -- More Info -- And More Info

CLOUD....

Cloud-why does there have to be cloud when you want a clear sky....

--

Good Clear Skies-Optional
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling

--

Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--

Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--

Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/

--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Information -- More Info -- And More Info

SPA ENB No. 326

                ***********************************
                The SOCIETY for POPULAR ASTRONOMY
                ***********************************
        

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         Electronic News Bulletin No. 326  2012 February 21
=============================================================


Here is the latest round-up of news from the Society for Popular
Astronomy.  The SPA is Britain's liveliest astronomical society, with
members all over the world.  We accept subscription payments online
at our secure site and can take credit and debit cards. You can join
or renew via a secure server or just see how much we have to offer by
visiting    http://www.popastro.com/

SPA Planetary Section - Announcement

I wish to inform you that as of now I have stood down as the Planetary
Section Director for the SPA. Fellow member and Planetary Imager Alan
Clitherow has taken over from me although I will stay on as his assistant
for a while to ease him into the role.

I have carried out the role for a little over two years and it was a
privilege and honour to be asked to do it. My reason for standing down is
that although I still enjoy observing the planets it is not my main passion
in Astronomy anymore. I have an 18" and 24" Dobsonian and enjoy going deep to the point that when I'm fully dark adapted (my skies approach mag 6 on a good night) I don't want to look at Jupiter or Mars as it affects my dark adaption! I tend to only observe the planets now in twilight or when there's a moon in the way of faint fuzzies. I do make an exception for a special event happening though or a night of exceptional seeing - the thrill of a visual view of Mars, Jupiter or Saturn under exceptional seeing never goes away! I really appreciate all the contributions I've received over the last
two years and hope I've fully answered any queries.

Alan is very keen to take on the role and an accomplished imager. I hope you give him the support you gave me. I will obviously remain an SPA member as I think it's one of the best amateur organisations going and you will still hear from me as an assistant/member.

All the Best,

Andrew Robertson
Assistant Planetary Section Director

ETA CARINAE ON REPEAT
HubbleSite

Many television channels offer a "+1" option so that if you miss your favourite show you can watch it an hour later.  But what if you miss a stellar outburst? That's no problem in the case of Eta Carinae, as 170 years after the "Great Eruption" a delayed broadcast has come though much to the delight of astronomers.

Eta Carinae is a bright double star that exhibits periodic outbursts, and it belongs to a class of stars known as Luminous Blue Variables. The Great Eruption was one such outburst, and it was visible from Earth between 1837 and 1858. This resulted in Eta Carinae becoming the second brightest star in the sky and losing 20 solar masses worth of material during the two decades.

Some of the light that was emitted at the time of the eruption travelled away from Earth, but then bounced off a dust cloud. This "light echo" then sent the signal back to Earth allowing astronomers to gather valuable information. However, this new data is raising more questions than answers as it turns out that outflow from Eta Carinae is much cooler than other similar stars.  This means that computer models of Luminous Blue Variable will most likely have to be changed to include this observation.

POSSIBLE HABITABLE SUPER-EARTH
University of Hawaii

A team of astronomers have discovered a potentially habitable Super-Earth orbiting a star only 22 light years away.  It is the second planet to be discovered around GJ 667C and it has an orbital period of nearly 29 days. While this is still very short, the planet actually receives almost the same amount of energy from its star as the Earth does from the Sun. This is because the infrared light from the star is absorbed as heat. Thus surface temperatures could be similar to those on Earth.

A Super-Earth is a planet that is between two and ten times the mass of the Earth, and this one is believed to be a minimum of 4.5 Earth masses. The planet orbits an M dwarf star, which is a star smaller than our Sun, which is depleted in metals (astronomers refer to anything other than hydrogen and helium as metals). It is thought that stars that lack enough metals wouldn't have had enough material in the circumstellar disc to form planets early in the stars lifetime, which makes this discovery unusual.

INTERSTELLAR MATTER DIFFERENT TO THE SOLAR SYSTEM
NASA

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer has discovered that material beyond our Solar System differs from that inside. Our Solar System is separated from the rest of the Universe by an invisible boundary known as the heliopause. This boundary is created by the solar wind interacting with the interstellar medium. IBEX can detect particles coming from beyond the heliopause, and it has found that the ratio of oxygen to neon is higher within the Solar System than beyond it. This extra oxygen in the Solar System could mean that our planetary neighbourhood was born in a more oxygen rich region of the Galaxy or that there is oxygen trapped within dust grains in interstellar space.  IBEX has also measured the flow of hydrogen, oxygen, and neon from outside our Solar System for the first time.

SPA SOLAR SECTION
JANUARY 2012
By Richard Bailey, SPA Solar Section Director
Rotation Nos. 2118, 2119

WHITE LIGHT

   A good level of AR activity during the month of varying patterns and numbers of individual sunspots.  Faculae were seen daily.  The NH had most activity, and it was noticeable that some AR's there were sited only a few degrees above the equator.  MDF totals for the whole year 2011 showed a sudden surge of AR activity, almost doubled, from the end of August onwards.

Week 1.   On the 2nd. SH AR 1388 was by the CM, 1386 nearing the W limb ahead of it, and 1389 following with 13 spots and a good leader. NHAR1390 with seven small spots was lonely in the NH near the CM .  On the 7th the NH had 4 AR's spread across the disk, 1391 – 94,  the SH 88 and 89 by the W limb.

Week 2.   5 NH AR's across the disk on the 10th.,1391 the strongest with 15 spots just past the CM, It was by the W limb on the13th, less active.  SH empty.

Week 3.   A surge of AR's  across the disk, with 9 on the 15th., 6 NH, 3 SH. NH AR1396 most active with 15 spots.  SH AR1397 half way to the CM. 1399 just behind, 1400 ahead.  Round the E limb had come the month's largest pair of
AR's NH1401 and just above NH1402They dominated the disk as they went westwards and developed split headers.  The leader of 1402 was a (protected ) naked eye spot on the 19th.

Week 4 to end of the month.   On the 22nd. NH AR' 1408 just round from the E limb to make 6 NH AR's  across the disk. NH1401 and 02 still good clusters. SH blank.  NH AR1410 by the E limb with a large leader, showing the Wilson Effect well. SH AR1411 appeared by the CM on the  29th. a small single spot. The month ended with 3 NH AR's,  AR1413 was the largest with 11spots and near the CM, 1418 above.  3 SH AR's  nearing the W limb.


MDF     5.16      R  72.97

H-ALPHA

Some excellent prominences were on  show during the month, amongst daily smaller ones, and filaments were regularly seen especially across the NH where most AR activity took place.   No flares were seen, but small amounts of plaging were seen to AR's.  NH AR 1393 had small areas of  very bright plaging around  1120UT on the 5th.

MDF   4.28

Visit the Solar link from the SPA Homepage, go to Reports and select the month for which you want to see samples of the fine pictures and drawings sent in by Solar Section members.


Bulletin compiled by Amanda Doyle


============================================================

--

Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling

--

Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--

Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--

Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/

--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Information -- More Info -- And More Info

Solar Eclipse in Space

Space Weather News for Feb. 21, 2012
http://spaceweather.com

SOLAR ECLIPSE FROM SPACE: Earlier today the new Moon passed in front of the sun, producing a solar eclipse visible from space.  High-resolution images of the event captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory are featured on the Feb. 21st edition of http://spaceweather.com.

 

--

Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling

--

Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--

Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--

Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/

--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Information -- More Info -- And More Info

[BAA-ebulletin 00654] Maps of Jupiter and its moons

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BAA electronic bulletin
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Maps of Jupiter and its moons

As Jupiter is now high in the evening sky, you may like to look at some recent maps of the planet which we have posted on the BAA Jupiter Section web site, to illustrate the interesting features and events over this apparition.  Some were compiled by individual observers from their own images; the others were compiled by Marco Vedovato of the JUPOS team from images by numerous observers as indicated.  URL:

    http://www.britastro.org/jupiter/2011report03.htm

Also, we have posted maps of the Galilean moons, from spacecraft, with the major features labelled.  The best amateur images can now record a few of these features (see our 2011 report  no.2 for superb examples)!  Thanks to Bjorn Jonsson and to the USGS for the base maps.  URL:

    http://www.britastro.org/jupiter/moonmaps.htm

Jupiter is still high enough for good observations, which the undersigned will be happy to receive.  And even naked-eye observers can enjoy the view of the planet in the evening twilight, especially as it will be alongside Venus for several days around March 15.

John Rogers

_________________________________

John H. Rogers, Ph.D.
Jupiter Section Director,
British Astronomical Association

<jhr11@cam.ac.uk>
http://www.britastro.org/jupiter/
_________________________________



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BAA-ebulletin mailing list visit:
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/baa-ebulletin
(c) 2012 British Astronomical Association    http://www.britastro.org/
=============================================================

--

Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling

--

Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--

Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--

Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/

--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Information -- More Info -- And More Info

SPA ENB No. 325

***********************************
The SOCIETY for POPULAR ASTRONOMY
***********************************
=============================================================
Electronic News Bulletin No. 325  2012 February 2
=============================================================

Here is the latest round-up of news from the Society for Popular
Astronomy.  The SPA is Britain's liveliest astronomical society, with
members all over the world.  We accept subscription payments online
at our secure site and can take credit and debit cards. You can join
or renew via a secure server or just see how much we have to offer by
visiting    http://www.popastro.com/


SPA SOLAR SECTION
DECEMBER 2011
By Richard Bailey, SPA Solar Section Director
Rotation Nos. 2117, 2118

WHITE LIGHT

Solar activity was good through the month, the NH being the stronger in the first half though no large AR's were seen in either hemisphere.  The first week had most individual sunspots.  It was noticeable that some NH AR's were nearer the equator than any in the SH. Faculae was regularly seen.

Week 1.   As at the end of last month,  AR's were spread across the NH, up to 5 being seen.  On the 2nd. from E to W were 1364, 65, 62, 61 and 58.  In the SH  AR1363 was halfway to the CM. By the 7th., SH AR's 67, 68 and 63 were astride the CM,  and 5 NH AR's across the disk with 1369 trailing.

Week 2.   A similar scene. On the 13th, NH AR1376 by the CM, others westward. SH AR1374 by the CM.

Week 3.   Stronger activity in the SH than in the NH from the 18th, Up to 5 across the disk there on the 20th. NH AR1384 was the best AR of the month, having a large leader and good followers.

Week 4 to the end of the month. The SH continued its activity, On the 29th. 4 AR's showed from E to W, AR 1386, a sprinkling of small spots was by the CM,
1389 just in from the E, 1387 by the W limb and two NH AR's,  fading 1384 followed by small 1390.

MDF   5.36       R   54,32

H-ALPHA

Good sized and varied prominences were  seen regularly  around the disk some being visible for a few days with changed appearances.  A fine arched  one stood out in the NW on the 12th,   A quickly erupting prominence on the 3rd in the NE , another on the 17th. in the NW around 1100UT  achieved good heights.   An intensely bright flare was observed in the E on the  31st at 1310UT,
Filaments were regularly seen.   In Week 2 extended filaments were observed across the NH,  NH AR1384 had good plaging and filament activity.

MDF    4.36

This Solar report is an edited version. The full report, which includes a selection of the fine pictures sent in by Section members, can be viewed on the SPA homepage in the Solar section under monthly reports.

GRAIL DUO REACH THE MOON
NASA

NASA's twin Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) probes successfully entered lunar orbit over New Years. GRAIL-A, which has just been renamed to Ebb, arrived at its destination on New Years Eve and GRAIL-B, now called Flow, followed 25 hours later on New Years Day. The names Ebb and Flow were chosen due to the effect that the Moon's gravity has on the Earth's tides, and the names were the result of a competition for schools in the USA to name the two probes. The science phase of the mission will begin in March, and in the mean time the twins will be spiralling down to their desired orbit. Once there, they will begin to map the lunar gravity by measuring the varying distance between the craft as Flow follows Ebb around the Moon. If there is a large mass on the surface or in the interior, then Flow will accelerate towards it, temporarily leaving Ebb behind. Soon Ebb will catch up, and it is distances between the craft that allow the gravity beneath them to be
measured.  A gravity map will reveal secrets of the lunar interior, as well enabling scientists to measure the Moon's tides. Just as the Moon creates tides on Earth, the Earth also creates 9 centimetre bulges in the lunar
rock.


DELAY TO DRAGON LAUNCH
SpaceX

SpaceX's Dragon test flight, which was due to occur on 7 February, has been delayed. The delay is due to the fact that further work is needed on the craft before SpaceX will be happy to launch it.  The Dragon capsule has already been tested in orbit, and was launched by SpaceX's own Falcon 9 rocket. However this test flight will go one step further and the craft will dock with the International Space Station. If successful, it will show that private companies have the ability to send supplies to the space station. It is hoped that eventually Dragon will also be able to bring people to the ISS. The capsule could still be launched by the end of February, but it is possible that it could be delayed up until April.

700 DOWN, BILLIONS MORE TO GO
OGLE/PLANET

To date over 700 exoplanets have been discovered, but recent calculations show that there should be at least 100 billion planets in the Milky Way. Most of those planets have been discovered by detecting the stars wobble due to the planet, known as radial velocity, or by the periodic dimming of the star as the planet passes in front of it, known as transiting. However thirteen planets have been discovered via a technique known as microlensing. Microlensing relies on a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein in which light bends around massive objects. As light from a distant star, known as the source, bends around a foreground star, known as the lens, we see an increase in light as the source star is magnified by the "lens". This magnification allows any planets around the lens star to be detected as a bump or a dip on the light curve. These events are incredibly rare, as the Earth, lens and source star need to be lined up perfectly. The fact that thirteen planets have been
detected via this method either implies that planets are very common in the Galaxy, with an average of 1.6 planets per
star.

PLANETS
By Andrew Robertson, Planetary Section Director

Jupiter, the King of the planets is slowly coming to the end of an excellent
apparition. At the end of January it culminates (reaches it's highest
position due south) at 1716 hours at an altitude of 49 degrees. The sun sets just after 4.30pm but astronomical dark doesn't begin until about 6.30pm. I
find twilight one of the best times to observe the planets as the atmosphere
can be particularly steady during this period which at the moment coincides
with Jupiter being reasonably high in the sky. It still presents a
reasonable angular diameter of 39" and I've been getting some
excellent views of it from as early as 4.30pm. By 10pm Jupiter is low down
in the West at an altitude of only 20 degrees. Seeing will be poor at this
altitude so the window of good opportunity is reducing. By the end of
February it culminates just after 3.30pm whereas the sun doesn't set until
5.30pm with Jupiter descending to 20 degrees altitude by 8.30pm. It's worth
grabbing a look when you can - there are always things happening with
Jupiter. Currently the North Equatorial Belt (NEB) seems to be getting
thinner and the Great Red Spot (GRS) is fading in colour. Also there are
always transits and occultations of its moons taking place, a glorious
spectacle to watch.

Venus currently shines like a beacon at magnitude -4.1 in the SSW at an
altitude of 27 degrees as the sun sets. It's 15" in diameter and displaying
a 75% gibbous phase. By the end of February at sunset Venus will have risen
to 37 degrees altitude in the SW displaying a diameter of 18" and a phase of
64%.

Mars is coming to prominence as it approaches it's opposition on 3rd March.
It exceeded 10" in diameter on 12th January and will remain above this
diameter until 29th April. I always consider 10" diameter the size at which
reasonable detail can be observed visually. It's currently 11.6" in diameter
culminating at 3am at an altitude of 44 degrees. It's also showing a phase
of 96% which is readily detectable visually. But it's at an altitude of 20
degrees by 2230 hrs so you should be able to start getting reasonable views
from about 11pm. Visually a prominent North polar cap is on view and you can
readily observe it's main dark features such as Syrtis Major in a moderate
aperture telescope. By the end of February it culminates at 0030 hours at an
altitude of 47 degrees showing a full disc and displaying an angular
diameter of almost 14". Remember, Mars only comes to opposition about every
2 years and 2 months so it's worth making the most of this opportunity.

Saturn is now rising in the early hours reaching 20 degrees altitude in the
SE by 2.30am. It culminates at 5am at an altitude of 28 degrees. Saturn is
well south of the celestial equator now (declination is currently -9
degrees) and it's only going to get worse over the next few years.

Good observing and please submit any observing reports to me via the
planetary section web site.

Bulletin compiled by Amanda Doyle

--

Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling

--

Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--

Profile: http://www.google.com/profiles/astrocomera
--

Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/

--
Real Astronomer and head of the Comet section for LYRA (Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth Regional Astronomers) also head of K.A.G (Kessingland Astronomy Group) and Navigator (Astrogator) of the Stars (Fieldwork)
--
Information -- More Info -- And More Info