Daily Archives: April 10, 2014

The Sun Online and solar activity. April 10, 2014

The Sun produced four C-class flares since our last bulletin. A C4.7 flare, peaking at 1h52 UT on April 10, originated from the active region complex with the recurrent NOAA ARs 2019, 2010 and 2023 and is currently situated at the East limb. Also NOAA AR 2030 did produce a C1.2 flare peaking at 0h13 UT on April 10, which seems associated with a slow CME (first measurement in LASCO at 0h48 UT of April 10) that is propagating in westward direction. Further analysis is needed to determine whether this CME has an Earth-bound component. More C-class flares are expected especially from the active regions that are currently rotating around the East limb. Also an isolated M-class flare is possible during the next 48 hours.
Normal solar wind parameter values are measured by ACE. The solar wind speed is currently near 420 km/s  and the interplanetary magnetic field has a value of about 5nT. Current magnetic conditions are quiet to unsettled and are expected to remain so till the arrival of the CH high speed stream, which might result in active conditions from April 12 on.

SIDC

Equipment: Coronado 90 +  Imaging Source DMK  + LX75
Processing: Photoshop, Avistack 300 frames
Date: 04/10/14
Time UT: 14:00
Exposure 1/500 sec.

With SPONLI Space is getting closer

  

Related posts:

  1. The Sun Online and solar activity. April 9, 2014
  2. The Sun Online and solar activity. April 8, 2014
  3. The Sun Online and solar activity. January 19, 2014
  4. The Sun Online and solar activity. March 05, 2014

Mars, Ceres, Vesta

MarsCeresVesta2014La
Image Credit & Copyright: Tunç Tezel (TWAN)

That bright, ruddy star you’ve recently noticed rising just after sunset isn’t a star at all. That’s Mars, the Red Planet. Mars is now near its 2014 opposition (April 8) and closest approach (April 14), looping through the constellation Virgo opposite the Sun in planet Earth’s sky. Clearly outshining bluish Spica, alpha star of Virgo, Mars is centered in this labeled skyview from early April, that includes two other solar system worlds approaching their opposition. On the left, small and faint asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres are seen near star Tau Virginis. But you’ll just have to imagine NASA’s Dawn spacecraft cruising between the small worlds.Having left Vesta in September of 2012, Dawn’s ion engine has been steadily driving it to match orbits with Ceres, scheduled to arrive there in February 2015. Of course, you can also look near Mars for the Moon opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky on the night of April 14/15 … and see a total lunar eclipse.

NASA APOD 10-Apr-2014

Related posts:

  1. Mars Red and Spica Blue
  2. Mars and Orion over Monument Valley
  3. Jelly Donut Shaped Rock Appears on Mars
  4. A Hole in Mars

Dumbbell Nebula in the constellation Vulpecula

f82896774df826dec8fedf273c20ab58.1824x0_q100_watermark
The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as Apple Core Nebula, Messier 27, M 27, or NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1,360 light years. The Dumbbell Nebula appears to be shaped like an prolate spheroid and is viewed from our perspective along the plane of its equator.  The central star, a white dwarf, is estimated to have a radius which is 0.055 ± 0.02 R☉ which gives it a size larger than any other known white dwarf. The central star mass was estimated in 1999 by Napiwotzki to be 0.56 ± 0.01 M☉.
This object was the first planetary nebula to be discovered.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Meade SC 8″ LX-5
Imaging cameras: Nikon D5100
Mounts: Meade LX5
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Meade SC 8″ LX-5
Software: DeepSkyStacker, photoshop
Dates: July 29, 2012
Locations: Loowit Imaging Observatory
Frames: 30×50″
Integration: 0.4 hours

Author: Steve Rosenow

AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI
10 April 2014

Related posts:

  1. Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula
  2. M27 in Vulpecula
  3. Dumbbell Nebula
  4. M27, the Dumbbell Nebula