A lot of people seem to think space is serious business, but they might change their mind after this week.
Very, VERY early Wednesday morning, at about 3:14 a.m. EDT, billionaire space tourist Guy Laliberte, famous for founding the Cirque du Soleil will be getting a little closer to the soleil on the top of a Soyuz rocket.
Word has it, the former clown and street performer is planning on bringing several clown noses for his fellow astronauts and pulling various pranks. And, no joke, this trip is costing him about $35 million dollars...yup, you read that right. Thirty. Five. Million!
But it won't just be fun and games. Every space tourist who visits the Space Station, in addition to having to pass a long series of tests for fitness and readiness to travel to space, are expected to be a contributing member of the team even if it is only as a guinea pig.
So have fun on the ride, Guy. I'm going to be sleeping.
Clear skies!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Water, water
Well, now it’s official. There really is water on the moon.
Needless to say, you haven’t been able to go far without hearing the news practically being trumpeted from the rooftops, the most recent confirmation coming from India’s contribution to lunar exploration Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan-1 and NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper, or M3 ("M-cubed").
Of course, this isn’t the first time the presence of water has been detected. In fact, space scientists have been studying the moon for years and finding evidence for water. The difference is, however, that this is the first time NASA has stated definitively that there was, in fact, water in one of the otherwise driest places of the solar system.
However, we’re not going to see astronauts doing the backstroke in the Sea of Tranquility anytime soon. We’re not talking that much water. In fact, according to NASA, if one could wring all the water out of a ton of moondust, you’d get 32 whole ounces. Thirst quenching yes, but a lot of work. And there are areas of the moon where it is more prevalent such as the moon’s polar regions. Again, it’s not terribly surprising since radar studies and other probes such as Lunar Prospector have seen hints of the water.
If it shows anything, however, its that our solar system is one wet place. Water seems to be everywhere. Earth, Mars, the moon, several moons in the outer solar system including a couple that shows indications of possible liquid water. And liquid water is absolutely essential as a solvent for the chemicals of life.
It’s also important for where it figures in the manned exploration of space. And that’s pretty much everything from something to drink to making rocket fuel.
So now there is the confirmed existence of water on the moon which makes it, not only a great place to visit, but maybe even stay awhile. Perhaps now that they know they’ll be able to take a shower, perhaps we’ll be astronauts going to the moon and staying.
Clear skies!
Needless to say, you haven’t been able to go far without hearing the news practically being trumpeted from the rooftops, the most recent confirmation coming from India’s contribution to lunar exploration Indian Space Research Organization's Chandrayaan-1 and NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper, or M3 ("M-cubed").
Of course, this isn’t the first time the presence of water has been detected. In fact, space scientists have been studying the moon for years and finding evidence for water. The difference is, however, that this is the first time NASA has stated definitively that there was, in fact, water in one of the otherwise driest places of the solar system.
However, we’re not going to see astronauts doing the backstroke in the Sea of Tranquility anytime soon. We’re not talking that much water. In fact, according to NASA, if one could wring all the water out of a ton of moondust, you’d get 32 whole ounces. Thirst quenching yes, but a lot of work. And there are areas of the moon where it is more prevalent such as the moon’s polar regions. Again, it’s not terribly surprising since radar studies and other probes such as Lunar Prospector have seen hints of the water.
If it shows anything, however, its that our solar system is one wet place. Water seems to be everywhere. Earth, Mars, the moon, several moons in the outer solar system including a couple that shows indications of possible liquid water. And liquid water is absolutely essential as a solvent for the chemicals of life.
It’s also important for where it figures in the manned exploration of space. And that’s pretty much everything from something to drink to making rocket fuel.
So now there is the confirmed existence of water on the moon which makes it, not only a great place to visit, but maybe even stay awhile. Perhaps now that they know they’ll be able to take a shower, perhaps we’ll be astronauts going to the moon and staying.
Clear skies!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Goodbye summer. Hello fall.
So I have to admit, fall is a bittersweet time for me, stargazing-wise.
Let’s face it…May, June and July are not super-duper astronomy times. You get maybe two or three hours of “darkness” and the rest is that “in-between” time. Then there’s those biting bugs…oh, they love me! I apply the DEET and I swear I can hear the mosquitoes laughing either from huffing the fumes or just from me being foolish enough to think that will deter the little bloodsuckers!
So fall is coming and, as a result, the nights get longer, the bugs dwindle away and…well, winter is just around the corner. Great…just great!
Of course, turns out there’s another reason to look forward to fall. Researchers into such things have discovered that the equinoxes are the best time to view aurora. And no one knows why. Sure, this is the time of year when the sun stands directly overhead of Earth’s equator at local noon and north and south poles receive equal amounts of day and night.
But auroras are the result of the interplay between the sun’s outflow of charged particles and our own magnetic field. Is it something to do with the orientation of our own magnetic field? Or something else? No one is sure.
In the meantime, the nights are getting oh so much cooler! In fact, I was out the other night and I was playing with the idea of digging our a parka and gloves. Gloves!! Not to mention the fact that the last few years have not exactly given us great or clear weather. So what does this year have in store?
If the weather cooperates, we’ve got some great constellations. W-shaped Cassiopeia, Andromeda and the naked eye behemoth 2.5 million light years away, Aquarius and it’s plethora of deep sky wonders…there’s certainly lots to see. This year, we also have Jupiter making a great appearance. And Mars is just around the corner, now rising in Gemini shortly after midnight.
So time to pull out the woolies and hope that the weather cooperates. Failing that, there’s always…um…well, there’s always the fall TV line-up. Yeah, here’s hoping for really good weather!
Let’s face it…May, June and July are not super-duper astronomy times. You get maybe two or three hours of “darkness” and the rest is that “in-between” time. Then there’s those biting bugs…oh, they love me! I apply the DEET and I swear I can hear the mosquitoes laughing either from huffing the fumes or just from me being foolish enough to think that will deter the little bloodsuckers!
So fall is coming and, as a result, the nights get longer, the bugs dwindle away and…well, winter is just around the corner. Great…just great!
Of course, turns out there’s another reason to look forward to fall. Researchers into such things have discovered that the equinoxes are the best time to view aurora. And no one knows why. Sure, this is the time of year when the sun stands directly overhead of Earth’s equator at local noon and north and south poles receive equal amounts of day and night.
But auroras are the result of the interplay between the sun’s outflow of charged particles and our own magnetic field. Is it something to do with the orientation of our own magnetic field? Or something else? No one is sure.
In the meantime, the nights are getting oh so much cooler! In fact, I was out the other night and I was playing with the idea of digging our a parka and gloves. Gloves!! Not to mention the fact that the last few years have not exactly given us great or clear weather. So what does this year have in store?
If the weather cooperates, we’ve got some great constellations. W-shaped Cassiopeia, Andromeda and the naked eye behemoth 2.5 million light years away, Aquarius and it’s plethora of deep sky wonders…there’s certainly lots to see. This year, we also have Jupiter making a great appearance. And Mars is just around the corner, now rising in Gemini shortly after midnight.
So time to pull out the woolies and hope that the weather cooperates. Failing that, there’s always…um…well, there’s always the fall TV line-up. Yeah, here’s hoping for really good weather!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Spacecraft in tandem
Next week begins a series of great evening opportunities to watch the International Space Station and the space shuttle Discovery as they sail overhead.
Check out Heavens Above (http://www.heavens-above.com) website if you want to know what they are from your home. Go to the website and set up a (free) account with your local latitude and longitude.
Together, the ISS and the shuttle look pretty much the same as the ISS on its own: a moving dot of light against the background sky. And, with how large the ISS has become, 240 feet by more than 300 feet, it gets pretty bright. A lot of its brightness comes from those spanning wing-like solar panels.
At its brightest, the ISS gets only a little less bright than Venus. However, on occasion and if the geometry between the sun, the ISS and you is right, you might see it get very bright. There are also other satellites that do this, sometimes spectacularly, called Iridium. More about that at another time.
Right now, the ISS is hosting the USS Discovery, with two crews totalling 13 people sharing close, if weightless quarters. Space flight is a friendly affair.
However, the 13-day mission to resupply and enhance the ISS's science capabilities is set to end at the end of next week when the shuttle returns to Earth. In the meantime, about Tuesday, it should on-dock with the station and begin preparations for its return. From our vantage point, we will actually be able to watch as the ISS and the shuttle cross our night sky.
Whatever you might think of the ISS, beachhead to space or orbiting white elephant, it makes an impression. Joined by the shuttle, there's no doubt human beings are at least on their way into space.
Clear skies!
Check out Heavens Above (http://www.heavens-above.com) website if you want to know what they are from your home. Go to the website and set up a (free) account with your local latitude and longitude.
Together, the ISS and the shuttle look pretty much the same as the ISS on its own: a moving dot of light against the background sky. And, with how large the ISS has become, 240 feet by more than 300 feet, it gets pretty bright. A lot of its brightness comes from those spanning wing-like solar panels.
At its brightest, the ISS gets only a little less bright than Venus. However, on occasion and if the geometry between the sun, the ISS and you is right, you might see it get very bright. There are also other satellites that do this, sometimes spectacularly, called Iridium. More about that at another time.
Right now, the ISS is hosting the USS Discovery, with two crews totalling 13 people sharing close, if weightless quarters. Space flight is a friendly affair.
However, the 13-day mission to resupply and enhance the ISS's science capabilities is set to end at the end of next week when the shuttle returns to Earth. In the meantime, about Tuesday, it should on-dock with the station and begin preparations for its return. From our vantage point, we will actually be able to watch as the ISS and the shuttle cross our night sky.
Whatever you might think of the ISS, beachhead to space or orbiting white elephant, it makes an impression. Joined by the shuttle, there's no doubt human beings are at least on their way into space.
Clear skies!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
What a show!
Wow, what a night! That's the kind of thing we amateur astronomers live for.
One of Jupiter's rarest shows was scheduled to begin. I had a choice of two scopes, my prized 200mm Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptric telescope or my less-used 80mm refractor. I decided to give the refractor a workout this time around and it was well worth it!
Of course there are some, well, not rules so much as guidelines one should follow in basic backyard astronomy and one near the top of the list is don't observe over nearby buildings if you can help it. They radiate heat and that can muddy the view. Sadly, a large strip mall sits to my south and, since I don't have a car, I have to contend with it and that giant sodium lamp. Oh, how I wish I had an air rifle...um, not that I would condone acts of vandalism. That would be wrong, of course.
Anyway, I got my first look at Jupiter around 10:30 p.m. Three of Jupiter's moons remained in sight. Io was heading towards eclipse behind Jupiter and Europa and Ganymede were paired off and heading on their way to pass in front. Callisto was nowhere in sight. And just a hint of the Great Red Spot, a very difficult thing to make out in a small 'scope.
I settled in for the long haul.
By 11:45, Io began to kiss the edge of Jupiter as I watched it slowly slide in behind...a tiny bud of light that melted into the main body of the planet. That was followed on the other side about 15 minutes later by Europa beginning its incursion in front of Jupiter. It slowly melded its light into the body of the planet, however, I was able to follow it past the merger for several minutes.
That left Jupiter with only one moon visible: Ganymede. Ganymede is further out from Jupiter than Io or Europa so, naturally, it moves a little slower. By 12:45 a.m., it was starting to move in front of Jupiter but it wasn't in a hurry. After getting up and moving around a bit, I went back and watched as the bright dot of Ganymede against the backdrop of space became the dark spot of Ganymede against the white clouds of Jupiter.
However, there was something "odd" about this spot. It seemed...elongated. Of course, as Ganymede began to cross Jupiter's disk, so did Europa's shadow so the two of them moved together in tandem for a while, separating after about an hour or so.
I continued to watch the show, occasionally looking up at the occasional snap or rustle nearby. I kept an open nostril to the air with the possibility of a malodorous visitor in mind. It's amazing how still one can become when one sees that black and white flash nearby. Luckily, such was not the case. But a representative of my vote for the next dominant species did amble across the fence - a racoon. Opposable thumbs make all the difference.
Needless to say, by 2 a.m., I was getting tired. But the show continued. I would occasionally take a look at the moon floating nearby. Talk about your contrasts. The solar systems largest planet a mere spark of light while our own, relatively insignificant moon dominating the night sky. But it's all perspective. After all, the moon has the advantage, being only 300,000 kms away. Jupiter is over 600 million kms.
The 'seeing' was mediocre at best and Jupiter experienced brief moments of clarity between jumping around in the air currents. I've seen astronomy described as being like birdwatching from the bottom of a pool. It's an apt description.
I had my best views at around 91-times magnification. I also experimented with filtering, finding the Wratten 11 still my favourite Jupiter filter. The clouds band details just seem to "pop."
By 2:21 a.m., Io was beginning to re-emerge and Jupiter was about to cease its "moonlessness." Meanwhile, Jupiter was heading for some trees, so I decided it was time to pack it in and go to bed.
As I'm writing this, it's now later in the morning and I'm feeling a bit sleep deprived and waiting for my first cup of tea to kick in. Still, it was an awesome show and I wouldn't have missed it for the world! Or worlds, as the case may be.
One of Jupiter's rarest shows was scheduled to begin. I had a choice of two scopes, my prized 200mm Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptric telescope or my less-used 80mm refractor. I decided to give the refractor a workout this time around and it was well worth it!
Of course there are some, well, not rules so much as guidelines one should follow in basic backyard astronomy and one near the top of the list is don't observe over nearby buildings if you can help it. They radiate heat and that can muddy the view. Sadly, a large strip mall sits to my south and, since I don't have a car, I have to contend with it and that giant sodium lamp. Oh, how I wish I had an air rifle...um, not that I would condone acts of vandalism. That would be wrong, of course.
Anyway, I got my first look at Jupiter around 10:30 p.m. Three of Jupiter's moons remained in sight. Io was heading towards eclipse behind Jupiter and Europa and Ganymede were paired off and heading on their way to pass in front. Callisto was nowhere in sight. And just a hint of the Great Red Spot, a very difficult thing to make out in a small 'scope.
I settled in for the long haul.
By 11:45, Io began to kiss the edge of Jupiter as I watched it slowly slide in behind...a tiny bud of light that melted into the main body of the planet. That was followed on the other side about 15 minutes later by Europa beginning its incursion in front of Jupiter. It slowly melded its light into the body of the planet, however, I was able to follow it past the merger for several minutes.
That left Jupiter with only one moon visible: Ganymede. Ganymede is further out from Jupiter than Io or Europa so, naturally, it moves a little slower. By 12:45 a.m., it was starting to move in front of Jupiter but it wasn't in a hurry. After getting up and moving around a bit, I went back and watched as the bright dot of Ganymede against the backdrop of space became the dark spot of Ganymede against the white clouds of Jupiter.
However, there was something "odd" about this spot. It seemed...elongated. Of course, as Ganymede began to cross Jupiter's disk, so did Europa's shadow so the two of them moved together in tandem for a while, separating after about an hour or so.
I continued to watch the show, occasionally looking up at the occasional snap or rustle nearby. I kept an open nostril to the air with the possibility of a malodorous visitor in mind. It's amazing how still one can become when one sees that black and white flash nearby. Luckily, such was not the case. But a representative of my vote for the next dominant species did amble across the fence - a racoon. Opposable thumbs make all the difference.
Needless to say, by 2 a.m., I was getting tired. But the show continued. I would occasionally take a look at the moon floating nearby. Talk about your contrasts. The solar systems largest planet a mere spark of light while our own, relatively insignificant moon dominating the night sky. But it's all perspective. After all, the moon has the advantage, being only 300,000 kms away. Jupiter is over 600 million kms.
The 'seeing' was mediocre at best and Jupiter experienced brief moments of clarity between jumping around in the air currents. I've seen astronomy described as being like birdwatching from the bottom of a pool. It's an apt description.
I had my best views at around 91-times magnification. I also experimented with filtering, finding the Wratten 11 still my favourite Jupiter filter. The clouds band details just seem to "pop."
By 2:21 a.m., Io was beginning to re-emerge and Jupiter was about to cease its "moonlessness." Meanwhile, Jupiter was heading for some trees, so I decided it was time to pack it in and go to bed.
As I'm writing this, it's now later in the morning and I'm feeling a bit sleep deprived and waiting for my first cup of tea to kick in. Still, it was an awesome show and I wouldn't have missed it for the world! Or worlds, as the case may be.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
It's the Jupiter show!
Turns out, Jupiter can do magic tricks. In particular, it's going to make all of its moons disappear! Eat your heart out Chris Angel!
Jupiter actually has about three dozen moons ranging in size from larger than our moon (Ganymede) to objects no bigger than a city block. However, four have been known since the first time Galileo spied them with his small telescope: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Not surprising, they're called the Galilean moons.
Most nights, even a pair of binoculars will show Ganymede and Callisto out of Jupiter's glare, and even a small telescope will show all four. They make their slow and steady way, turning never-ending circles around the solar system's largest planet.
From time to time, they seem to disappear as they pass either in front or behind Jupiter. One missing is certainly common. Seeing Jupiter with only two of its retinue is even common. However, it's not nearly so frequent to see three of the moons disappear. Only a few times a century will all four disappear. In my 30 years looking skyward, I've never seen it happen.
What makes tonight even more exciting is that rarest of commodities: clear weather! Actual clear skies!!!
So excuse me while I prepare to tune out this world and tune in on Jupiter and it's amazing disappearing moon show. No cover, no minimum...and everyone has a front row seat!
Jupiter actually has about three dozen moons ranging in size from larger than our moon (Ganymede) to objects no bigger than a city block. However, four have been known since the first time Galileo spied them with his small telescope: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Not surprising, they're called the Galilean moons.
Most nights, even a pair of binoculars will show Ganymede and Callisto out of Jupiter's glare, and even a small telescope will show all four. They make their slow and steady way, turning never-ending circles around the solar system's largest planet.
From time to time, they seem to disappear as they pass either in front or behind Jupiter. One missing is certainly common. Seeing Jupiter with only two of its retinue is even common. However, it's not nearly so frequent to see three of the moons disappear. Only a few times a century will all four disappear. In my 30 years looking skyward, I've never seen it happen.
What makes tonight even more exciting is that rarest of commodities: clear weather! Actual clear skies!!!
So excuse me while I prepare to tune out this world and tune in on Jupiter and it's amazing disappearing moon show. No cover, no minimum...and everyone has a front row seat!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Moonstruck!
A lot of us amateur astronomers don’t think much of the moon.
Well, it’s there. It’s big and bright. It washes out our usual targets, those faint fuzzy things that lie in the spaces between (and beyond) the stars. Besides, it’s already been visited and people have been looking at it for years. So what’s the big deal? I know, when the moon’s out, my telescope tends to stay in.
It’s actually too bad. I remember my first view of the moon blew me away and I’ve met many skywatchers who have had a similar experience. It can be a disconcerting view through a telescope, with the craters and the mountains looming in the eyepiece. It’s almost like you’re falling in. And there is so much detail, it can almost be overwhelming.
Okay, a bit of science content here. The predominant theory for the origin of our moon is the “the big splash” or “the big whack” in which a collision of the proto-Earth with a Mars-sized object sent material into orbit and coalesced into our moon. For your next dinner party or game of Trivial Pursuit, this object has been dubbed “Theia,” after the Greek legend of the Titan that mothered the moon.
Earth is unique in the rocky worlds of the inner solar system. It is the only one that has such a big moon. Mars has a couple of captured asteroids in its orbit and Mercury has nothing. It’s theorized that perhaps Venus might have had one, but that it might have collided with Venus. That might explain the planet’s odd slow, backward rotation and the fact that “something” virtually resurfaced the planet in lava some unknown time ago.
Yes, we did go there. Don’t get me started on that whole stupid “conspiracy” thing, please! And a lot was learned about it.
But the moon offers a simply stunning view. Sharp-eyed viewers can pick out the main features with their naked eye like the “seas” which were once oceans of impact lava. Even binoculars will show the largest craters and mountain chains like the Appenines. A telescope shows even more, especially as the curving day/night boundary or “terminator” crosses the moon’s disk. This is where the 3-D nature of the moon as a separate orb becomes evident. Even some “colour” is visible if you know what to look for, although they are very muted browns and blues. It’s an amazing sight!
So maybe it’s time to give the moon a little more of the respect it deserves. Maybe become, not just a stargazer, but a ‘lunagazer,’ too.
Clear skies!
Well, it’s there. It’s big and bright. It washes out our usual targets, those faint fuzzy things that lie in the spaces between (and beyond) the stars. Besides, it’s already been visited and people have been looking at it for years. So what’s the big deal? I know, when the moon’s out, my telescope tends to stay in.
It’s actually too bad. I remember my first view of the moon blew me away and I’ve met many skywatchers who have had a similar experience. It can be a disconcerting view through a telescope, with the craters and the mountains looming in the eyepiece. It’s almost like you’re falling in. And there is so much detail, it can almost be overwhelming.
Okay, a bit of science content here. The predominant theory for the origin of our moon is the “the big splash” or “the big whack” in which a collision of the proto-Earth with a Mars-sized object sent material into orbit and coalesced into our moon. For your next dinner party or game of Trivial Pursuit, this object has been dubbed “Theia,” after the Greek legend of the Titan that mothered the moon.
Earth is unique in the rocky worlds of the inner solar system. It is the only one that has such a big moon. Mars has a couple of captured asteroids in its orbit and Mercury has nothing. It’s theorized that perhaps Venus might have had one, but that it might have collided with Venus. That might explain the planet’s odd slow, backward rotation and the fact that “something” virtually resurfaced the planet in lava some unknown time ago.
Yes, we did go there. Don’t get me started on that whole stupid “conspiracy” thing, please! And a lot was learned about it.
But the moon offers a simply stunning view. Sharp-eyed viewers can pick out the main features with their naked eye like the “seas” which were once oceans of impact lava. Even binoculars will show the largest craters and mountain chains like the Appenines. A telescope shows even more, especially as the curving day/night boundary or “terminator” crosses the moon’s disk. This is where the 3-D nature of the moon as a separate orb becomes evident. Even some “colour” is visible if you know what to look for, although they are very muted browns and blues. It’s an amazing sight!
So maybe it’s time to give the moon a little more of the respect it deserves. Maybe become, not just a stargazer, but a ‘lunagazer,’ too.
Clear skies!
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