Stephen Kennedy's Rants

Archive for the ‘Astronomy’ Category

There are two celestial events to see this August, the first being this weekend. The annual Perseids Meteor shower is this coming weekend and the end of the month features a real treat, a Full Lunar Eclipse.

The Perseid Meteor shower happens this weekend August 11, 12, 13 with the peak occurring the evening of Sunday August 12^th. While there is no expectation of an exceptional show, this years shower coincides with the new moon, meaning there will be no moonlight washing out the sky (that won’t help the light pollution in towns and cities though). While from a dark sight on Sunday evening you could easily see 80 to 100 meteors an hour, you may only see one of the brightest every 5 to 10 minutes in the city. The shower is expected to peak high in the sky Sunday between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM Eastern time. The meteors can appear any where over head so lie back and enjoy the show. If you can’t make it out Sunday you should be able to head out Saturday or Monday evening and catch the early or late part of the celestial fireworks show. Search the net as there is loads of information on the Perseids.

The early morning of August 28^th brings a less frequent event, especially to watchers in Western Canada, a full Lunar eclipse! The Peneumbral phase of the eclipse starts at 1:53 AM Mountain Time, when the moon first starts to enter the penumbra or outer shadow of the earth. The moon starts to enter the Umbral phase at 2:51 AM and totality begins at 3:52 AM. Mideclipse, when the moon is deepest and darkest occurs at 4:37AM and totality ends at 5:22 AM, and the Penumbral phase and the eclipse ends at 7:21 AM.

During the umbral phase, the moon should appear as deep red/rust colour, although since it will be passing a little south of the centre of the umbra, the southern end should appear brighter and yellower than the northern half.

The entire event will happen in the South West part of the sky and while it can be seen with naked eye, binoculars or a small telescope is all that is needed to really appreciate this event.

If you want to see what your night sky will be like on the above evenings, check out this great online tool from Canadian Software Writer Attilla Danko using Environment Canada’s data called the Clear Sky Clock here http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/ . Astronomers all over North America use this data to plan their observing sessions, and it is some of the most accurate information I have seen.

Hopefully your skies will be clear to see these great events!

moon0526aOriginally uploaded by sysguy_2000

Moon photo taken 26/05/2007 Shot through William Optics Zenithstar FD 80 APO Scope with Canon Digital Rebel XT. Processed in Registax (Maybe a bit over processed) Stack of 7 images. Testing the blog posting from Flickr.com

Just a reminder that the Calgary Centre of RASC is holding a public star night tomorrow, March 24^th at the west end of Fish Creek Park. The event starts at 7:00 PM and runs till 10:00, and goes clear or cloudy. Several members will have telescopes set up to see our special guest, the planet Saturn, (Weather permitting) and there will be games for kids, informative booths and presentations. For more information and maps to the location please visit the RASC Calgary website at
http://calgary.rasc.ca

You can also read more about the event in my earlier post about it, just click on the Astronomy category.

Stephen

I have one of my scopes up for sale. It is a Skywatcher 80 MM ED refractor. This is indentical to the Orion 80 ED so if you want reviews you can also serach for that. The kit I am selling includes the Sky Watcher 80 ED refractor with stock crayford focuser (600mm and F7.5), a 9×50 Finder with Quick Release bracket, 2 Tube Rings, A SkyWatcher AZ3 Alt Az Mount and an Aluminum Padded Hard Case  for the scope. No eyepieces or diagonals. Asking 700.00 OBO. Will ship anywhere but buyer pays shipping.

This is great as a second scope, as a guide scope, an astrophotgraphy scope or as a grab and go setup. Features FPL-53 Glass.

Selling to fund another scope purchase.

Please contact me if you are interested.

Stephen

For the next few Friday nights you can head down to the Telus World of Science down on 6th Ave and 11 St SW and take a peek through some telescopes. Members of the Calgary Centre of RASC are down there on the observing deck. Viewing goes on nice Friday nights (clear and above -20C) for the next few weeks. Admission is free but you do have to pay for parking. Families welcome.

Mar 9th 2007 7:30PM – 8:30PM
Mar 16th, 23 and 30th, 2007 9:00PM -10:00PM

Bring the family down for a peak at the stars