*** The Official Astronomy & Universe Thread ***

[kwerk]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19637073

Nice link from the BBC.

That sun picture could be a van gough, pretty amazing.

 

[Jongo]

Just ordered myself an xbox webcam along with a lens adapter to use with my skywatcher 150p, hopefully should be getting some basic planetary pictures on the go soon. Just need to find some motors next, FLO my usual place to buy hasn't had any in for a long time and ebay seems only to have a single axis motor

 

[xxalxx]

I am off here in 2 weeks http://www.ginginobservatory.com/


LATE -Dark Night Stargazing
Event Date : 06/ 10/ 2012 08:30 pm
Description :
Dark Night Stargazing evenings show off the Milky Way Galaxy at its best!
EARLY DARK NIGHT STARGAZING
...
Location : Gingin Observatory, Gingin West

 

[Cosimo]

 

[Cosimo]

 

[xxalxx]

I am off here in 2 weeks http://www.ginginobservatory.com/


LATE -Dark Night Stargazing
Event Date : 06/ 10/ 2012 08:30 pm
Description :
Dark Night Stargazing evenings show off the Milky Way Galaxy at its best!
EARLY DARK NIGHT STARGAZING
...
Location : Gingin Observatory, Gingin West

ha!, after chatting with my work mates about this, they pointed out that my work own this ....

http://www.perthobservatory.wa.gov.au/

 

[Cosimo]

 

[Sleeve]

I think I have a problem.

The past month or so I have been thinking about space and the universe to such a point that I'm actually freaking myself out.

I dont like the fact we are on a sphere, suspended in nothing, with such a vast empty expanse surrounding us. Creeps me out.

Just doesn't make sense.

 

[Cosimo]

 

[Nismo]

Was just putting the bins out and saw the ISS passing overhead with both Venus and Jupiter shining brightly.

I love this time of year for looking up

 

[Cosimo]

 

[Nightglow]

New Comet discovered.

New comet discovered, should become one of the brightest lights in the sky - even outshining the moon.
should be visible from October 2013 onwards.

http://news.sky.com/story/991654/newly-discovered-comet-may-outshine-the-moon

 

[Andy90]

Wikipedia Article on C/2012 S1 - the newly discovered Comet.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2012_S1

National Geographic Report

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/09/120927-new-comet-2012-s1-ison-science-space-moon/

The wiki article states that it should pass closest to Earth on 26th December 2013, when it will be a mere 37 million miles from Earth - bet it will look stunning in the night sky over Nazareth

Seriously though, they think this might be one of the brightest Comets ever see on Earth.

 

[Cosimo]

http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/

 

[mrk]

This is cosmic (in origin anyway) so worth posting here.

Continued research into what happened in our Planet's history has come up with consistent results that a comet (or something similar) crashed on Earth about 12,900 years ago causing massive change.

This much has been considered for some time anyway but the new data provides more evidence.

http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblo...ns-creation-crucial-evidence-discovered-.html

Life really does walk a fine line between extinction and living!

 

[samir_ansari]

Just got back from South Africa and managed to get this while I was out in the bush:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/53683_10151060402361268_1625990379_o.jpg

***Please resize image to no more than 1280 wide.***

My lens filter wasn't on straight hence the star warping on the left

 

[mrk]

I am amazed! Shoot settings?

I hate Western light pollution!

 

[Cosimo]

Just got back from South Africa and managed to get this while I was out in the bush:



My lens filter wasn't on straight hence the star warping on the left :([/QUOTE]

The number of starts is just amazing. Great picture. :)

 

[Mik3]

That's awesome.

How much total exposure time is that?

 

[samir_ansari]

Thanks guys, the picture is a mosiac made up of 4 panes. Each pane was with the following setup:

Canon 450D on a portable motorised table top tripod
10 x 30 seconds (with about 10 dark frames)
50mm @ f1.8 + 2" Astronomik light pollution filter