Daily Archives: August 30, 2014

The Sun Online and solar activity. August 30, 2014

The Sun produced several small C-class flares, originating from NOAA AR 2146, AR 2149 and AR 2152. AR 2146 has now rotated around the West limb. No Earth-directed CMEs were detected. More C-class flares are expected, with a slight chance for M-class flares. Solar wind speed values ranges between 400 and 450 km/s. The magnitude of the interplanetary magnetic field remained relatively stable around 6 to 7 nT, while Bz is fluctuating between -6 and +6 nT. Geomagnetic conditions are unsettled to active and are expected remain so for the next 48 hours, due to the influence of the increased solar wind related to the equatorial coronal hole.
SIDC

 

Related posts:

  1. The Sun Online and solar activity. August 28, 2014
  2. The Sun Online and solar activity. August 24, 2014
  3. The Sun Online and solar activity. August 26, 2014
  4. The Sun Online and solar activity. August 27, 2014

The Starry Sky under Hollow Hill 

HollowHillwithHans
Image Credit & Copyright: Phill Round

 Look up in New Zealand’s Hollow Hill Cave and you might think you see a familiar starry sky. And that’s exactly what Arachnocampa luminosa are counting on. Captured in this long exposure, the New Zealand glowworms scattered across the cave ceiling give it the inviting and open appearance of a clear, dark night sky filled with stars. Unsuspecting insects fooled into flying too far upwards get trapped in sticky snares the glowworms create and hang down to catch food. Of course professional astronomers wouldn’t be so easily fooled, although that does look a lot like the Coalsack Nebula and Southern Cross at the upper left…

APOD NASA 30-Aug-14

Related posts:

  1. Cave with Aurora Skylight 
  2. Evolution of the space food
  3. Light Pillars over Finland
  4. Alicante Beach Moonrise 

M27, the Dumbbell Nebula

16b125b6a311472bac0a1376f1687a67.1824x0_q100_watermark_watermark_opacity-16_watermark_position-4_watermark_text-Copyright Stefan Westphal

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.

This object was the first planetary nebula to be discovered; by Charles Messier in 1764. At its brightness of visual magnitude 7.5 and its diameter of about 8 arcminutes, it is easily visible in binoculars, and a popular observing target in amateur telescopes.

Imaging telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK SPX 250
Imaging cameras: Canon 20Da
Mounts: Vixen New Atlux + Skysensor 2000
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Orion Optics UK SPX 250
Guiding cameras: M-Gen Guiding Kamera
Focal reducers: GPU Komakorrektor
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS2, DSS, Fitswork
Accessories: Lacerta MGEN2, Lacerta OAG
Dates: Sept. 6, 2013
Locations: Kreben
Frames: 44×360″ ISO800
Integration: 4.4 hours
Darks: ~20
Flats: ~11

Author: Stefan Westphal
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 30 Aug 2014

Related posts:

  1. Dumbbell Nebula
  2. Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula
  3. Dumbbell Nebula in the constellation Vulpecula
  4. Helix Nebula in Aquarius