Daily Archives: August 17, 2014

The Sun Online and solar activity. August 17, 2014

No C flares were registered during the past 24 hours. In the next 48 hours, eruptive conditions (C flaring) are possible, especially from beta-gamma regions NOAA AR 2144 and 2139.Over the past 24 hours, solar wind speed as observed by ACE was stable around 280 km/s until it jumped to a plateau of
about 300 km/s around 23h UT on August 16. Meanwhile, the magnitude of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF) increased from about 2 to 8 nT. Over the past 24 hours, geomagnetic conditions were quiet (K Dourbes between 0 and 2; NOAA Kp between 0 and 2). Quiet geomagnetic levels (K Dourbes < 4)
are expected on August 17, 18 and 19. The expected arrival of the halo CME of August 15 at the end of August 19 may induce active geomagnetic conditions.
SIDC

Equipment: Coronado 90 +  Imaging Source DMK  + LX75
Processing: Photoshop, Avistack 300 frames
Date: 08/17/14
Time UT: 16:00
Exposure 1/500 sec.

Observatory Sponli

  

Jupiter and Venus from Earth 

jupiterpersonvenus_nikodem_647
Image Credit: Marek Nikodem (PPSAE)

 It was visible around the world. The sunset conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in 2012 was visible almost no matter where you lived on Earth. Anyone on the planet with a clear western horizon at sunset could see them. Pictured above in 2012, a creative photographer traveled away from the town lights of Szubin, Poland to image a near closest approach of the two planets. The bright planets were separated only by three degreesand his daughter striking a humorous pose. A faint red sunset still glowed in the background. Early tomorrow (Monday) morning, the two planets will pass even closer – only 0.2 degrees apart as visible from some locations – just before sunrise.

APOD NASA 17-Aug-14

Wizard Nebula

cc55079d2db41537ff36e38a30276cc0.1824x0_q100_watermark_watermark_opacity-4_watermark_position-6_watermark_text-Copyright Alberto Pisabarro
NGC 7380
 (also known as the Wizard Nebula) is an open cluster discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. William Herschel included his sister’s discovery in his catalog, and labelled it H VIII.77. It is also known as 142 in the 1959 Sharpless catalog (Sh2-142). This reasonably large nebula is located in Cepheus. It is extremely difficult to observe visually, usually requiring very dark skies and an O-III filter.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Sky-Watcher ED80 Pro Black-Diamond
Imaging cameras: Canon EOS 1000D / Rebel XS
Mounts: Sky-Watcher HEQ5
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Lunatico EZG60
Guiding cameras: QHYCCD QHY5
Focal reducers: Orion 0.85x Reducer/Corrector
Software: PHD guiding, PixInsight, BinaryRivers BackyardEOS, Bahtinov Grabber
Filters: Astronomik CLS CCD clip in
Accessories: Xap Refrigeración Canon
Dates: Aug. 11, 2013
Frames: Astronomik CLS CCD clip in: 20×600″ ISO800 6C
Integration: 3.3 hours
Darks: ~20
Bias: ~20

Author: Alberto Pisabarro
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 17 Aug 2014