Gentleman Armstrong
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Monday 27 August 2012
Sunday 26 August 2012
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Good Clear Skies
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Astrocomet
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Colin James Watling
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
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Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
--
Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/
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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
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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
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Neil Armstrong R.I.P.
RELEASE : 12-601
NASA Administrator Statement on Neil Armstrong's Death
WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement from NASA Administrator Charles Bolden regarding the death of former test pilot and NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was 82.
"On behalf of the entire NASA family, I would like to express my deepest condolences to Carol and the rest of the Armstrong family on the passing of Neil Armstrong. As long as there are history books, Neil Armstrong will be included in them, remembered for taking humankind's first small step on a world beyond our own.
"Besides being one of America's greatest explorers, Neil carried himself with a grace and humility that was an example to us all. When President Kennedy challenged the nation to send a human to the moon, Neil Armstrong accepted without reservation.
"As we enter this next era of space exploration, we do so standing on the shoulders of Neil Armstrong. We mourn the passing of a friend, fellow astronaut and true American hero."
Additional information about Armstrong is available on the Web at:
http://www.neilarmstronginfo.com
- end -
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Good Clear Skies
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Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
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
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--
Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/
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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
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
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Neil Armstrong R.I.P.
RELEASE : 12-600
FAMILY STATEMENT REGARDING THE DEATH OF NEIL ARMSTRONG
WASHINGTON -- The following is a statement from the Armstrong family regarding the death of former test pilot and NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong. He was 82.
"We are heartbroken to share the news that Neil Armstrong has passed away following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.
Neil was our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.
Neil Armstrong was also a reluctant American hero who always believed he was just doing his job. He served his Nation proudly, as a navy fighter pilot, test pilot, and astronaut. He also found success back home in his native Ohio in business and academia, and became a community leader in Cincinnati.
He remained an advocate of aviation and exploration throughout his life and never lost his boyhood wonder of these pursuits.
As much as Neil cherished his privacy, he always appreciated the expressions of good will from people around the world and from all walks of life.
While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves.
For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink."
Additional information about Armstrong is available on the Web at:
- end -
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Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
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
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Lyra Website: https://sites.google.com/site/lyrasociety/
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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
--
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)
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Information
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Thursday 23 August 2012
NASA EDGE: Mars Yard
| 08/22/2012 12:00 PM EDT NASA EDGE visits the Mars Yard at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to learn more about Curiosity and how it will function on the red planet.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Good Clear Skies
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Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
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/
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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)
Monday 20 August 2012
Mars rover's travel plans unveiled / Sea Launch success
NEWSALERT: Sunday, August 19, 2012 @ 1930 GMT
-------------------------------------------------------
The latest news from Spaceflight Now
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ASTRONAUTS FUEL ONLINE SPACE AUCTION
The Astronaut Scholarship Foundation's Fall Semi-Annual Auction of Astronaut
Experiences & Memorabilia! Bid now for lots comprised of astronaut
experiences and pieces of space history, including items flown in space!
Auction closes August 23.
Register today at http://www.astronautscholarship.org/auction
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TENTATIVE TRAVEL PLANS FOR MARS ROVER UNVEILED
----------------------------------------------
The Curiosity rover likely will spend the rest of the year monitoring the
martian weather, collecting radiation data and analyzing rock and soil
samples near its landing site in Gale Crater before it heads for its
ultimate target, the rugged foothills of Mount Sharp just four-and-a-half
miles, but many months, away, the project scientist said Friday.
INTERACTIVE iPAD GUIDE TO CURIOSITY ROVER MISSION
-------------------------------------------------
Astronomy Now and Spaceflight Now have created an interactive iPad guide to the Curiosity rover mission. Learn more about the mission, explore the
rover's components and preview Europe's plans for the next Mars rover
destined to visit the Red Planet.
PHOTOS: ENDEAVOUR READY TO SET SAIL ONE FINAL TIME
--------------------------------------------------
Now peacefully parked in the Vehicle Assembly Building, the space shuttle
Endeavour is counting down the days until she bids farewell to the Kennedy
Space Center and rides piggyback atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to Los
Angeles next month. Spaceflight Now photographer Walter Scriptunas II took
the chance this week to shoot a gallery that captures the beauty of the spacecraft.
SEA LAUNCH DEPLOYS TV SATELLITE FOR LATIN AMERICA
-------------------------------------------------
A telecommunications satellite for broadcasting cable and direct-to-home TV
programming across Latin America and the Caribbean was blasted into orbit
today atop a 20-story-tall booster rocket launched from a floating platform
in the Pacific Ocean.
PRIORITIES LIST ISSUED TO DIRECT HELIOPHYSICS RESEARCH
------------------------------------------------------
NASA should shift its heliophysics research strategy to include more nimble,
less expensive satellite missions in light of a tight budget already devoted
to several costly projects this decade, top scientists reported this week.
ENDEAVOUR AND ATLANTIS DO THE FINAL SHUTTLE SHUFFLE
---------------------------------------------------
The space shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis swapped locations at Kennedy Space Center Thursday morning, as Endeavour departed her hangar for the final time
to take up storage in the Vehicle Assembly Building and Atlantis left
storage to resume museum display preparations, briefly appearing
nose-to-nose on the road.
SPECIAL PHOTO GALLERY
HUBBLE WATCHES STAR CLUSTERS ON A COLLISION COURSE
--------------------------------------------------
Astronomers using data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have caught two
clusters full of massive stars that may be in the early stages of merging.
The clusters are 170,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a
small satellite galaxy to our Milky Way.
+++ FERRYFLIGHT SHUTTLE PATCH
"The Final Mission" - NASA emblem developed for the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
crew and their support teams to deliver the orbiters to their final destinations at museums. http://www.spaceflightnowstore.com/ +++
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Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
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 -- And More Info
--
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 -- And More Info
Solar Activity Moderately High
Space Weather News for August 18, 2012
http://spaceweather.com
SOLAR ACTIVITY PICKS UP: Following a week of quiet, solar activity is picking up again with a series of M-class solar flares off the sun's northeastern limb. So far none of the eruptions has been Earth-directed. This could change, however, with the approach of an active farside sunspot that appears set to turn toward our planet in the days ahead. Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and forecasts.
SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com
http://spaceweather.com
SOLAR ACTIVITY PICKS UP: Following a week of quiet, solar activity is picking up again with a series of M-class solar flares off the sun's northeastern limb. So far none of the eruptions has been Earth-directed. This could change, however, with the approach of an active farside sunspot that appears set to turn toward our planet in the days ahead. Check http://spaceweather.com for movies and forecasts.
SOLAR FLARE ALERTS: Would you like a call when solar flares are underway? X-flare alerts are available from http://spaceweathertext.com (text) and http://spaceweatherphone.com
(voice).
--
--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
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)
--
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)
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Thursday 9 August 2012
[BAA-ebulletin 00688] PERSEID METEOR SHOWER 2012
==========================================================
BAA electronic bulletin
==========================================================
PERSEID METEOR SHOWER 2012
Always the summer's main attraction for meteor observers, this August's display of the Perseid meteors should be quite favourable given that the peak occurs just a few days before new Moon. Consequently, there will be only slight interference from the waning crescent Moon (on the Taurus/Gemini border) just before dawn.
It is hoped that observers will make every effort to cover the peak of the shower well this year. Meteor observing is a particularly good activity for local societies and the BAA Meteor Section welcomes reports from such groups.
Experienced observers have already reported early activity from the Perseid shower. Peter Meadows and Nick James managed to capture a nice bright Perseid (displaying in-flight and terminal bursts) with their video imaging systems on Saturday, 4th August at 23:56 UT.
WHEN TO OBSERVE
Perseid rates normally take a marked 'kick' upwards around August 8, and with the Moon now on the wane, watches may be carried out in darkening skies from now right through until the end of the shower's normal period of activity on August 20, a few days after New Moon. It is hoped that, weather permitting, observers will cover shower activity throughout this period, even on nights away from the maximum.
The Perseids are expected to peak around 10h UT on Sunday, August 12, making the late evening and pre-dawn hours of August 11/12 and the following night of August 12/13 probably the most productive for observers in the UK this year. Good observed rates may also be expected in the early morning hours on August 10/11 and 13/14 as the shower radiant (RA 03h 04m Dec +58o) climbs high into the eastern sky. Perseid shower activity will be starting to decline by the time darkness falls on August 14.
All else being equal, the best observed rates are found when the Perseid radiant - near the 'Sword Handle' star cluster on the Perseus-Cassiopeia border - is highest in the sky during the pre-dawn hours. However, even in the early evening (when there will be absolutely no interference from moonlight), the radiant is already at quite a favourable elevation above the horizon.
With cloudless skies, and in a dark viewing site, observers can expect to see between 50 and 70 meteors each hour near the peak. Even in light polluted towns or cities observed rates may still be around ten an hour in the early morning hours when the radiant is high.
VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
The BAA's visual meteor report forms, available as downloads in both pdf and Excel formats, enable observers to record the time of occurrence, apparent magnitude, shower membership (or if sporadic), constellation in which seen, and details of any persistent train or other characteristics, for each meteor seen. Watches should ideally be of an hour's duration or longer (in multiples of 30 minutes). Observers should also carefully record the observing conditions and the stellar limiting magnitude.
Visual observers are invited to submit their observations electronically, using the new BAA report forms, to meteor@britastro.org.
IMAGING
The Perseids are well known for the abundance of fast, bright meteors close to their maximum. Perseid meteoroids enter the atmosphere at a velocity of 60 km/sec, and the resulting meteors often leave behind persistent ionisation trains.
The large numbers of bright events in the five-day interval centred on Perseid maximum makes this an excellent target for digital imaging, considering the low level of interference from moonlight this year. Conventional film is now the medium of choice for very few observers, with most having made the transition to digital SLR cameras.
With a tripod-mounted camera, lens (usually a wide-angle) at full aperture and a high ISO setting, the observer hopes that a bright meteor will flash through the field of view while the shutter is open. Digital SLRs (DSLRs) are very efficient at collecting background light from the sky, particularly at a setting of ISO 1600, so exposures should generally be kept relatively short - no more than five minutes' duration in a really dark, rural location, and probably only 10 to 30 seconds from a more typical observing site. With some DSLRs, the camera can be operated using a programmable timer attached to the shutter control to take repeated exposures one after the other for as long as required, provided the battery is fully-charged beforehand.
Such a set up, under good sky conditions, can capture meteors of magnitude 1 and brighter. Ideal aiming directions are about 20-30 degrees to one side of the radiant at 50 degrees altitude above the horizon - Cygnus in the early evening, the Square of Pegasus later in the night, or towards the north celestial pole, for best results.
Images of meteor tails may be emailed to meteor@britastro.org. Image labels should include the name of the imager and the date and time (UT) of the exposure.
This e-bulletin issued by:
John W. Mason, Director, BAA Meteor Section
2012 August 08
==========================================================
BAA-ebulletin mailing list
BAA electronic bulletin
==========================================================
PERSEID METEOR SHOWER 2012
Always the summer's main attraction for meteor observers, this August's display of the Perseid meteors should be quite favourable given that the peak occurs just a few days before new Moon. Consequently, there will be only slight interference from the waning crescent Moon (on the Taurus/Gemini border) just before dawn.
It is hoped that observers will make every effort to cover the peak of the shower well this year. Meteor observing is a particularly good activity for local societies and the BAA Meteor Section welcomes reports from such groups.
Experienced observers have already reported early activity from the Perseid shower. Peter Meadows and Nick James managed to capture a nice bright Perseid (displaying in-flight and terminal bursts) with their video imaging systems on Saturday, 4th August at 23:56 UT.
WHEN TO OBSERVE
Perseid rates normally take a marked 'kick' upwards around August 8, and with the Moon now on the wane, watches may be carried out in darkening skies from now right through until the end of the shower's normal period of activity on August 20, a few days after New Moon. It is hoped that, weather permitting, observers will cover shower activity throughout this period, even on nights away from the maximum.
The Perseids are expected to peak around 10h UT on Sunday, August 12, making the late evening and pre-dawn hours of August 11/12 and the following night of August 12/13 probably the most productive for observers in the UK this year. Good observed rates may also be expected in the early morning hours on August 10/11 and 13/14 as the shower radiant (RA 03h 04m Dec +58o) climbs high into the eastern sky. Perseid shower activity will be starting to decline by the time darkness falls on August 14.
All else being equal, the best observed rates are found when the Perseid radiant - near the 'Sword Handle' star cluster on the Perseus-Cassiopeia border - is highest in the sky during the pre-dawn hours. However, even in the early evening (when there will be absolutely no interference from moonlight), the radiant is already at quite a favourable elevation above the horizon.
With cloudless skies, and in a dark viewing site, observers can expect to see between 50 and 70 meteors each hour near the peak. Even in light polluted towns or cities observed rates may still be around ten an hour in the early morning hours when the radiant is high.
VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
The BAA's visual meteor report forms, available as downloads in both pdf and Excel formats, enable observers to record the time of occurrence, apparent magnitude, shower membership (or if sporadic), constellation in which seen, and details of any persistent train or other characteristics, for each meteor seen. Watches should ideally be of an hour's duration or longer (in multiples of 30 minutes). Observers should also carefully record the observing conditions and the stellar limiting magnitude.
Visual observers are invited to submit their observations electronically, using the new BAA report forms, to meteor@britastro.org.
IMAGING
The Perseids are well known for the abundance of fast, bright meteors close to their maximum. Perseid meteoroids enter the atmosphere at a velocity of 60 km/sec, and the resulting meteors often leave behind persistent ionisation trains.
The large numbers of bright events in the five-day interval centred on Perseid maximum makes this an excellent target for digital imaging, considering the low level of interference from moonlight this year. Conventional film is now the medium of choice for very few observers, with most having made the transition to digital SLR cameras.
With a tripod-mounted camera, lens (usually a wide-angle) at full aperture and a high ISO setting, the observer hopes that a bright meteor will flash through the field of view while the shutter is open. Digital SLRs (DSLRs) are very efficient at collecting background light from the sky, particularly at a setting of ISO 1600, so exposures should generally be kept relatively short - no more than five minutes' duration in a really dark, rural location, and probably only 10 to 30 seconds from a more typical observing site. With some DSLRs, the camera can be operated using a programmable timer attached to the shutter control to take repeated exposures one after the other for as long as required, provided the battery is fully-charged beforehand.
Such a set up, under good sky conditions, can capture meteors of magnitude 1 and brighter. Ideal aiming directions are about 20-30 degrees to one side of the radiant at 50 degrees altitude above the horizon - Cygnus in the early evening, the Square of Pegasus later in the night, or towards the north celestial pole, for best results.
Images of meteor tails may be emailed to meteor@britastro.org. Image labels should include the name of the imager and the date and time (UT) of the exposure.
This e-bulletin issued by:
John W. Mason, Director, BAA Meteor Section
2012 August 08
==========================================================
BAA-ebulletin mailing list
visit:
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/baa-ebulletin
(c) 2012 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
==========================================================
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/baa-ebulletin
(c) 2012 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
==========================================================
--
Good Clear Skies
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Astrocomet
--
Colin James Watling
--
Various Voluntary work-Litter Picking for Parish Council (Daytime) and also a friend of Kessingland Beach (Watchman)
--
--
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 -- And More Info
--
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 -- And More Info
Saturday 4 August 2012
[BAA-ebulletin 00687] August Journal PDF now on the BAA website
============================================================
BAA electronic bulletin
============================================================
August Journal PDF now on the BAA website
Members may now download the August Journal from the BAA website,
www.britastro.org. Sign in first (top right of screen), then under the
'Members' tab click on Downloads.
And don't forget you may now purchase the complete archive of the BAA
Journal from 1890 to 2011 on DVD, from www.britastro.org/journal-dvds.
Hazel McGee
Journal Editor
2012 August 1
============================================================
BAA-ebulletin mailing list-visit:
http://lists.britastro.org/mailman/listinfo/baa-ebulletin
(c) 2012 British Astronomical Association http://www.britastro.org/
============================================================
BAA electronic bulletin
============================================================
August Journal PDF now on the BAA website
Members may now download the August Journal from the BAA website,
www.britastro.org. Sign in first (top right of screen), then under the
'Members' tab click on Downloads.
And don't forget you may now purchase the complete archive of the BAA
Journal from 1890 to 2011 on DVD, from www.britastro.org/journal-dvds.
Hazel McGee
Journal Editor
2012 August 1
============================================================
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
--
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 -- And More Info
--
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 -- And More Info
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