Daily Archives: August 11, 2014

The Sun Online and solar activity. August 11, 2014

There were two low C flares during the past 24 hours. The brightest flare (C1.6) was released by NOAA AR 2137 and peaked around 12:34 UT on August 10. In the next 48 hours, eruptive conditions (C flaring) are likely, especially from AR 2137, AR 2132, and from two unnumbered regions near the
East limb.Over the last 24 hours, solar wind speed as observed by ACE increased from about 300 to about 420 km/s, probably under the influence of a coronal hole high speed stream. The magnitude of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) varied between 8 and 11 nT. Over the past 24 hours, geomagnetic conditions were quiet (K Dourbes between 1 and 3; NOAA Kp between 1 and 2) except for one three-hour excursion of active conditions (K Dourbes = 4) between 18h and 21h UT on August 10. Quiet  geomagnetic levels (K Dourbes < 4) are expected on August 11, 12, and 13, with possible excursions to active levels on August 13 due to the arrival of another coronal hole high speed stream.
SIDC

Equipment: Coronado 90 +  Imaging Source DMK  + LX75
Processing: Photoshop, Avistack 300 frames
Date: 08/11/14
Time UT: 16:00
Exposure 1/500 sec.

Observatory Sponli

  

Related posts:

  1. The Sun Online and solar activity. May 23, 2014
  2. The Sun Online and solar activity. May 22, 2014
  3. The Sun Online and solar activity. March 14, 2014
  4. The Sun Online and solar activity. May 21, 2014

Rosetta Approaches Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko 

Image Credit & Copyright: ESA, Rosetta spacecraft, NavCam imager; Music: Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Mozart)

What does it look like to approach a comet? Early this month humanity received a new rendition as the robotic Rosetta spacecraft went right up to — and began orbiting — the nucleus of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. This approach turned out to be particularly fascinating because the comet nucleus first revealed itself to have an unexpected double structure, and later showed off an unusual and craggily surface. The above 101-frame time-lapse video details the approach of the spacecraft from August 1 through August 6. The icy comet’s core is the size of a mountain and rotates every 12.7 hours. Rosetta’s images and data may shed light on the origin of comets and the early history of our Solar System. Later this year, Rosetta is scheduled to release the Philae lander, which will attempt to land on Comet Churyumov–Gerasimenko’s periphery and harpoon itself to the surface.

APOD NASA 11-Aug-14

Related posts:

  1. Spacecraft Rosetta Shows Comet has Two Components 
  2. Rosetta’s Target Comet 
  3. Rosetta’s Rendezvous 
  4. Comet ISON Rising

NGC 2736: Pencil Nebula

ac3a7afa101e2fd96a0e47d43997a333.1824x0_q100_watermark
NGC 2736 (also known as the Pencil Nebula) is a small part of the Vela Supernova Remnant, located near the Vela Pulsar in the constellation Vela. The nebula’s linear appearance triggered its popular name. It resides about 815 light-years (250 parsecs) away from our solar system. It is thought to have been formed from part of the shock wave of the larger Vela Supernova Remnant. The Pencil Nebula is moving at roughly 644,000 kilometers per hour (400,000 miles per hour).

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Astro-Physics 152mm f/7.5 Starfire EDF
Imaging cameras: FLI ProLine Proline 16803
Mounts: Software Bisque Paramount MX
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Takahashi FS-60C
Guiding cameras: Starlight Xpress Superstar
Focal reducers: Astro-Physics AP 4.0″ Field Flattener
Software: PixInsight 1.8, FocusMax, Maxim DL Pro 5, Software Bisque TheSky6 Professional, Photoshop CS Photo Shop CS5, CCD Autopilot 5
Filters: Astrodon E-series LRGB Ha 5nm
Accessories: Sirius Dome
Dates: March 4, 2014
Locations: Sydney Australia
Frames: 28×600″
Integration: 4.7 hours

Author: David Nguyen
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 11 Aug 2014

Related posts:

  1. NGC 2736: Pencil Nebula
  2. A Corner of SNR in Vela
  3. Omega nebula in Sagittarius
  4. IC 2944: Running Chicken Nebula