|
||||||||
Space and Astronomy Thread |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#2251 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,288
|
It looks like an aircraft contrail to me; certainly doesn't look like these northern hemisphere pics of it: http://www.universetoday.com/100619/...isphere-debut/
|
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2252 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 452
|
We get a lot of planes flying over here, and that most definitely wasn't a plane - the contrails are a lot longer and thinner than that, usually. The pic was taken with a mobile and uploaded, so it probably wasn't the clearest pic we could have taken, but I do know it was the comet.
I'll be looking again this week - it'll be around again, won't it? Edit: haha I'll feel most foolish if it was a plane. Eek.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2254 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 7,104
|
Am on the west coast of Sweden and the skies are stunningly clear at the moment! Must make a trip to the coast to try and get a pic!
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2255 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2,090
|
Quote:
A view from Canary Islands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2256 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 19,567
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2257 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 366
|
sun is shining in the north west , sorry to be a pain roughly where will it be tonight , i run a beaver scout group and will try and show them
any help would be greatly appreciated thanks |
|
|
|
|
|
#2258 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 19,567
|
Quote:
sun is shining in the north west , sorry to be a pain roughly where will it be tonight , i run a beaver scout group and will try and show them
any help would be greatly appreciated thanks Also see my post immediately above yours. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2259 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Bishop-Auckland / Darlington
Posts: 6,636
|
Quote:
sun is shining in the north west , sorry to be a pain roughly where will it be tonight , i run a beaver scout group and will try and show them
any help would be greatly appreciated thanks For best view, give it at least 45 mins after the Sun has set - that way the background sky will be darker, allowing the comet to stand out against it, and the tail will be pointing generally away from the Sun. The comet should be very low above the western horizon, and will gradually move a little further Northwards each night, and a little further away from the Sun. However, it will also be dimming very gradually too - so the overall contrast between background sky, and comet probably won't change much from one day to the next. By the end of the month it's expected to be dipping below naked-eye brightness - but will still be a nice binocular object. For the first few days of April it tracks slowly past the Andromeda galaxy, making for nice binocular views, and a great photo-opportunity for astrophotographers. Personally, I've not seen it yet ![]() Clouds to my west for the past few days - though tonight is looking hopeful - currently sunny. If you can see the thin crescent Moon tonight, look a few degrees left and up a bit from it, to find the comet. edit: Henry's picture proves the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2260 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2,090
|
Quote:
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2261 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
|
Quote:
Maybe some big news coming from the Curiosity rover next week?
http://spaceref.com/mars/curiousmars...-analysis.html At a briefing at NASA's Washington headquarters, NASA scientists said the rock contains clay minerals that formed in a watery environment - an environment that may be favourable for microscopic organisms. http://www.news.com.au/technology/na...#ixzz2NMqjoMz5 That confirms other evidence that Mars had a wetter and more benign past (it takes centuries to form clay beds) and was possibly more conducive to the emergence of life there (there's no direct indication of that yet). Quote:
For the next coupla weeks it will be low to the West, shortly after sunset.
For best view, give it at least 45 mins after the Sun has set - that way the background sky will be darker, allowing the comet to stand out against it, and the tail will be pointing generally away from the Sun. The comet should be very low above the western horizon, and will gradually move a little further Northwards each night, and a little further away from the Sun. However, it will also be dimming very gradually too - so the overall contrast between background sky, and comet probably won't change much from one day to the next. By the end of the month it's expected to be dipping below naked-eye brightness - but will still be a nice binocular object. For the first few days of April it tracks slowly past the Andromeda galaxy, making for nice binocular views, and a great photo-opportunity for astrophotographers. Personally, I've not seen it yet ![]() Clouds to my west for the past few days - though tonight is looking hopeful - currently sunny. If you can see the thin crescent Moon tonight, look a few degrees left and up a bit from it, to find the comet. edit: Henry's picture proves the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words ![]() ![]() The forecast for the next couple of days is a bit better so here's hoping. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2262 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 366
|
Thanks for all you r help, come sunset and it had clouded over , so will try again tonight
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2263 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 19,567
|
Comet should be on view tonight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2264 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 4,372
|
Quote:
Comet should be on view tonight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2265 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Osaka
Posts: 2,007
|
Quote:
Tried to see it but no joy....
![]() Best of luck to all on the thread. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2266 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 19,567
|
A friend of mine saw it in binoculars.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2267 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
|
Quote:
No joy here yet, you need luck and the patience of a saint when comes to comet spotting.
Best of luck to all on the thread. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2268 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2,090
|
Quote:
I saw nothing on Wednesday despite the clear skies and tonight it clouded over in the west so that even the crescent Moon was obscured. Spotting live baby unicorns is easier in comparison!
It is there, provided you look at the original hi-res or the zoomed link. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2269 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Bishop-Auckland / Darlington
Posts: 6,636
|
AT LAST!
![]() Spotted it tonight (well - last night, considering it's now after 2am) Very, very difficult to pick it out from the background sky by naked eye. I had spotted it but didn't realise - thought it was just a faint star. Then was sweeping slowly with 20x80 binoculars and finally identified it - once I'd got a handle on where it was, I was able to home in on it by naked-eye, and on closer scrutiny, and using the technique of averted vision, was able to see that what I first thought was a faint star, was slightly fuzzy, with just a hint of tail pointing upwards. By about 7:25, when it was really low, but the sky had darkened more - it was really nice in the binocs. Fingers crossed for more cloudless nights, so I can follow it as it passes by the Andromeda galaxy early next month. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2270 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Osaka
Posts: 2,007
|
QUOTE=Carlos_dfc;64806865]AT LAST!
![]() Spotted it tonight (well - last night, considering it's now after 2am) Very, very difficult to pick it out from the background sky by naked eye. I had spotted it but didn't realise - thought it was just a faint star. Then was sweeping slowly with 20x80 binoculars and finally identified it - once I'd got a handle on where it was, I was able to home in on it by naked-eye, and on closer scrutiny, and using the technique of averted vision, was able to see that what I first thought was a faint star, was slightly fuzzy, with just a hint of tail pointing upwards. By about 7:25, when it was really low, but the sky had darkened more - it was really nice in the binocs. Fingers crossed for more cloudless nights, so I can follow it as it passes by the Andromeda galaxy early next month.[/quote] Thanks for posting Carlos all I will end up with is frostbite and a better understanding of how clouds work...
|
|
|
|
|
|
#2271 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 11,055
|
Gutted. My best chance of seeing it was a few days ago, clear skies - except for one rogue slow moving black cloud exactly where I was looking.
No chance of clear skys methinks. Hope ISON is worth it now. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2272 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Stoke-On-Trent
Posts: 7,158
|
Voyager 1 exits the Solar System
I've followed the progress of these craft since their launch in 1977, amazing that it is no longer in the solar system.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21866532 |
|
|
|
|
|
#2273 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
|
In praise of Jocelyn Bell Burnell...
...who was the actual discoverer of pulsars which are rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation which can be picked up by Earth-based radio telescopes. She appeared on this week's edition of Science Cafe and the interview and questions and answers are well worth a listen. I have also provided links to other relevant sources. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00848zw http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b016812j http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/u...sights/pulsars Curiosity breaks rock to reveal dazzling white interior A rock crushed under the Curiosity Mars rover's wheels has dazzled mission scientists in more ways than one...The unusual colour indicates the presence of hydrated minerals that formed when water flowed through the robot's landing site in ancient times. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21340279 Ice blades threaten Europa landing Jupiter's icy moon Europa is a prime target for future space missions as it harbours a buried ocean that could have the right conditions for life. But attempts to land may face a major hazard: jagged "blades" of ice up to 10m long. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21341176 Quote:
Here is a photo taken in London: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom_190...n/photostream/
It is there, provided you look at the original hi-res or the zoomed link. |
|
|
|
|
|
#2274 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Josameto
Posts: 5,231
|
Martian Gigapixel panorama, courtesy of Curiosity.
http://www.360cities.net/image/mars-...r-days-136-149 |
|
|
|
|
|
#2275 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Storbritannia
Posts: 28,916
|
Quote:
Martian Gigapixel panorama, courtesy of Curiosity.
http://www.360cities.net/image/mars-...r-days-136-149 ![]() Whilst on the subject of Mars, here are a few interesting radio programmes: The planet Mars boasts the most dramatic landscapes in our solar system. Kevin Fong embarks on a grand tour around the planet with scientists, artists and writers who know its special places intimately- through their probes, roving robots and imaginations. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rggq7 Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the planet Mars. Named after the Roman god of war, Mars has been a source of continual fascination. It is one of our nearest neighbours in space, though it takes about a year to get there. It is very inhospitable with high winds racing across extremely cold deserts. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00772rr Hitch a ride to the Red Planet; Samira Ahmed is at the controls for a trip that promises commentary on NASA's latest Mars mission, a history of our fascination with the planet and the huge pull it has exerted on our cultural life. To plot a course through the clouds of theology, astronomy and pure speculation, the science writer, Marcus Chown has joined forces with the theoretical physicist, Lawrence M. Krauss, and one of Radio 3's New Generation Thinkers, Josh Nall - a science historian from Cambridge University. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01mss9z |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 13:48.






