INFO FROM SIDC - RWC BELGIUM 2014 Sep 30 12:20:03 There are currently 10 sunspot groups on the solar disk, with two active regions approaching the east limb. However, only NOAA 2173 is producing low-level C-class flaring, the strongest being a C3.3 flare peaking at 21:32UT. NOAA 2175 and NOAA 2177 have some mixed magnetic polarities, but have remained quiet. No Earth-directed CMEs have been observed. The x-ray background flux is already 5 consecutive days above the C1-level. Two 20-degrees long filaments visible in the western solar hemisphere have remained quiet. C-class flaring is expected, with a reasonable chance on an isolated M-class flare. Solar wind speed varied mostly between 340 and 380 km/s, with Bz fluctuating between -7 and +5 nT. Quiet to unsettled geomagnetic conditions were observed, with Kp having some active periods. Geomagnetic conditions are expected to be quiet to unsettled, with locally an active period possible.
Daily Archives: October 1, 2014
Crab Nebula
The Crab Nebula (catalogue designations M1, NGC 1952, Taurus A) is a supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula in theconstellation of Taurus. Corresponding to a bright supernova recorded by Chinese astronomers in 1054, the nebula was observed later by English astronomer John Bevis in 1731. At an apparent magnitude of 8.4, comparable to that of the largest moon of Saturn, it is not visible to the naked eye but can be made out using binoculars under favourable conditions.
At X-ray and gamma ray energies above 30 keV, the Crab is generally the strongest persistent source in the sky, with measured flux extending to above 10 TeV. Located at a distance of about 6,500 light-years (2 kpc) from Earth, the nebula has a diameter of 11 light years (3.4 pc, corresponding to an apparent diameter of some 7 arc minutes) and expands at a rate of about 1,500 kilometers per second (0.5% c). It is part of the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy.
Imaging telescopes or lenses: Ian King Ikharos 8″ RC
Imaging cameras: Atik 460 EX
Mounts: Software Bisque Paramount MX
Guiding telescopes or lenses: Ian King Ikharos 8″ RC
Guiding cameras: Atik 314L+
Software: PixInsight, Software Bisque CCDSoft 5, Software Bisque TheSkyX, iLanga AstroPlanner, Matt Thomas’s CCDCommander
Filters: Baader H-alpha 7nm 36mm, Baader Luminance 36mm, Baader OIII 8,5nm 36mm, Baader Red, Green, Blue 36mm, Baader SII 8nm 36mm
Accessories: Atik EFW2, Innovations Foresight On-axis guider
Dates: Nov. 23, 2013
Frames: 121×600″
Integration: 20.2 hours
Author: Colin McGill
AstroPhotography of the day by SPONLI 1 Oct 2014