Astronomy – Page 131 – A Darker View

New Moon

Young Moon — A very young moon over Waikoloa, this is only 26 hours after new, visible to the unaided eye as a sliver in the fading glow of sunset

New Moon will occur today at 05:56HST.

International Team on Keck Observatory Strengthens Big Bang Theory

An international team of scientists using the most powerful telescope on Earth has discovered the moments just after the Big Bang happened more like the theory predicts, eliminating a significant discrepancy that troubled physicists for two decades. The discovery will be published in the international journal Astronomy & Astrophysics on June 6.

Stellar Lithium — The image illustrates the detailed modelling of a small piece of the surface of an old metal-poor star used to derive its abundance of lithium-6. Image credit Karin Lind, Davide De Martin.

One of the most important problems in physics and astronomy was the inconsistency between the lithium isotopes previously observed in the oldest stars in our galaxy, which suggested levels about two hundred times more Li-6 and about three to five time less Li-7 than Big Bang nucleosynthesis predicts. This serious problem in our understanding of the early Universe has invoked exotic physics and fruitless searches for pre-galactic production sources to reconcile the differences.

The team, led by Karin Lind of the University of Cambridge, has proven the decades-old inventory relied on lower quality observational data with analysis using several simplifications that resulted in spurious detections of lithium isotopes.

Continue reading “International Team on Keck Observatory Strengthens Big Bang Theory”

Mars Appears in the Dawn

This week Mars will appear in the dawn sky having passed through superior conjunction on April 17. Look for a 1.5 magnitude object to rise around 04:50, about 10° ahead of the Sun. The red planet will see opposition in April of 2014.

Tomorrow morning a very thin crescent Moon will share the dawn. Rising about 05:05 a 1% illuminated Moon will be 3° below Mars, closer to the rising Sun.

Jupiter Exits the Evening Sky

Jupiter is quickly sliding into the sunset heading for superior conjunction on June 19th. This evening the planet will be 10° above the setting Sun, in the next few days it will disappear into the glare. Look for Jupiter to reappear in the dawn during the first week of July.

Comet C/2011 L4 PanSTARRS

Well past perihelion comet C/2011 L4 continues to put on an impressive show. Amateur sky-watchers have been enjoying the impressive anti-tail reaching out a few degrees from the coma. True, you may need a telescope or at least good binoculars to see the comet. It may be dimming, but still worth the effort to observe.

The iOptron ZEQ25

I had been looking to acquire another astrophoto toy. The desire is for a small, portable astrophoto setup. Yes, I am aware that the words “portable” and “astrophoto” do not really belong in the same sentence, all things are relative.

Thus I have decided on the new iOptron ZEQ25. It is a new design, with some radical differences from the more traditional German equatorial mounts.

The mount is pretty small, a mere 10 pounds of steel and aluminum. Compact enough to be packed into a suitcase for air travel. Performance sufficient to do wide field astrophotography with focal lengths up to 1000mm and a DLSR camera. Perfect for use with either my TV-76 or AT6RC. Unlike my old Losmady G-11 it features a modern GOTO system and can be run from the computer.

AT6RC & ZEQ25 — AT6RC atop an iOptron ZEQ25 mount, note the additional counterweight necessary

The chatter over at Cloudy Nights was promising. A few early production mounts were in the hands of some stateside amateurs, and they have been posting their impressions and images. I was particularly impressed by the measurements of periodic error with results around two arc seconds. This was a small mount that could very easily be a good astrophoto option.

I ordered the mount from the good folks at OPT. It was not yet listed in the website catalog, but a phone call confirmed they were expecting delivery of three mounts shortly. I put down my deposit. A week later I had confirmation that the mount had been received and was ready for shipment to Hawaiʻi as promised.

Continue reading “The iOptron ZEQ25”

Mercury, Venus and Jupiter

This evening will see a line of bright planets in the sunset. Easiest to spot will be the brilliant Venus, shining at -4 magnitude and 15° above the setting Sun. 4°30′ below Venus will be Jupiter, quite low in the sunset, but bright enough to spot at -2 magnitude. 4°16′ above Venus will be Mercury, notably dimmer at -0.2 magnitude. The three will form an almost perfect line of bright objects in the glow of sunset, it should be a nice sight.

Downpour

It looks like it may clear. There should be a few dark hours before moonrise. Maybe I can get the new astrophoto rig out and get everything working properly.

Nothing like two tenths of an inch of rain in half an hour to put a damper on astronomical plans.

Maybe it will clear later.

Scope and Rain — A tropical downpour ends plans to use the ‘scope.

Asteroid 2008 QE2 Ephemeris

Planning to make a go at photographing asteroid 2008 QE2 as it passes the Earth. Before I can do that a little planning is in order. Minor questions… Is it above the horizon near close approach, in my nighttime sky? It turns out this object will be available for observation.

The table below is a precision ephemeris generated by the NASA HORIZONS web interface for Mauna Kea on the island of Hawai’i. Listed are celestial coordinates, time, local elevation and azimuth, magnitude and distance. The marks after the time column indicate daylight (*), twilight (A) and moonlight (M).

From the data it is clear that the evening of May 30th (May 31st UT) allows observation from Hawai’i, at an elevation of ~46° a few hours after dark. Nicely placed and nicely timed for observation. Close approach is actually the next day, but the difference is minor. The next evening allows a second chance at the observation while the asteroid is still close.

 Date        Time(UT)  RA           Dec        Az     El    Mag   Dist(AU)
 2013-May-30 00:00 *   13 43 52.20 -28 33 56.2 112.3 -29.8  11.21 0.04085
 2013-May-30 02:00 *   13 46 41.34 -28 16 36.7 118.4  -4.7  11.18 0.04069
 2013-May-30 04:00 *   13 49 26.76 -27 58 53.8 130.2  18.3  11.16 0.04054
 2013-May-30 06:00 A   13 52 09.08 -27 40 36.2 151.4  36.2  11.14 0.04040
 2013-May-30 08:00     13 54 49.78 -27 21 36.2 184.3  42.6  11.12 0.04027
 2013-May-30 10:00  m  13 57 30.80 -27 01 52.3 215.4  33.2  11.10 0.04016
 2013-May-30 12:00  m  14 00 14.01 -26 41 29.3 234.5  13.6  11.08 0.04006
 2013-May-30 14:00  m  14 03 00.70 -26 20 37.2 245.4 -10.2  11.06 0.03998
 2013-May-30 16:00 *m  14 05 51.26 -25 59 28.2 251.6 -35.9  11.04 0.03989
 2013-May-30 18:00 *m  14 08 45.07 -25 38 14.0 252.2 -62.2  11.02 0.03981
 2013-May-30 20:00 *m  14 11 40.61 -25 17 03.0 180.9 -84.4  11.00 0.03973
 2013-May-30 22:00 *   14 14 35.91 -24 55 57.7 106.2 -62.5  10.98 0.03965
 2013-May-31 00:00 *   14 17 28.96 -24 34 55.0 106.6 -35.9  10.96 0.03956
 2013-May-31 02:00 *   14 20 18.30 -24 13 47.1 112.4  -9.7  10.94 0.03948
 2013-May-31 04:00 *   14 23 03.30 -23 52 23.2 122.8  14.9  10.92 0.03940
 2013-May-31 06:00 A   14 25 44.36 -23 30 33.2 141.7  35.8  10.90 0.03933
 <strong>2013-May-31 08:00     14 28 22.79 -23 08 10.0 174.9  46.8  10.89 0.03928</strong>
 <strong>2013-May-31 10:00     14 31 00.46 -22 45 11.5 211.6  40.5  10.87 0.03924</strong>
 2013-May-31 12:00  m  14 33 39.26 -22 21 41.4 234.6  21.6  10.86 0.03922
 2013-May-31 14:00  m  14 36 20.68 -21 57 48.0 247.4  -2.4  10.84 0.03921
 2013-May-31 16:00 *m  14 39 05.32 -21 33 42.1 255.5 -28.6  10.83 0.03921
 2013-May-31 18:00 *m  14 41 52.80 -21 09 34.6 261.1 -55.6  10.81 0.03921
 2013-May-31 20:00 *m  14 44 41.82 -20 45 33.3 260.5 -83.0  10.80 0.03921
 2013-May-31 22:00 *m  14 47 30.51 -20 21 41.7  95.4 -69.3  10.78 0.03921
 2013-Jun-01 00:00 *   14 50 16.87 -19 57 58.3  99.5 -41.8  10.77 0.03921
 2013-Jun-01 02:00 *   14 52 59.31 -19 34 17.3 105.9 -14.8  10.75 0.03920
 2013-Jun-01 04:00 *   14 55 37.04 -19 10 30.4 115.3  11.2  10.74 0.03920
 2013-Jun-01 06:00 A   14 58 10.22 -18 46 29.3 131.8  34.7  10.73 0.03921
 <strong>2013-Jun-01 08:00     15 00 39.97 -18 22 08.0 163.7  50.2  10.72 0.03924</strong>
 <strong>2013-Jun-01 10:00     15 03 08.03 -17 57 24.4 206.9  47.9  10.71 0.03928</strong>
 2013-Jun-01 12:00  m  15 05 36.32 -17 32 20.9 234.7  29.7  10.70 0.03934
 2013-Jun-01 14:00  m  15 08 06.41 -17 07 04.2 249.5   5.3  10.69 0.03941
 2013-Jun-01 16:00 *m  15 10 39.11 -16 41 42.7 259.1 -21.1  10.69 0.03949
 2013-Jun-01 18:00 *m  15 13 14.27 -16 16 25.3 267.5 -48.5  10.68 0.03957
 2013-Jun-01 20:00 *m  15 15 50.83 -15 51 18.8 283.9 -75.9  10.67 0.03966
 2013-Jun-01 22:00 *m  15 18 27.08 -15 26 26.5  75.8 -74.8  10.67 0.03974

Date Time(UT) RA Dec Az El Mag Dist(AU)

2013-May-30 00:00 * 13 43 52.20 -28 33 56.2 112.3 -29.8 11.21 0.04085

2013-May-30 02:00 * 13 46 41.34 -28 16 36.7 118.4 -4.7 11.18 0.04069

2013-May-30 04:00 * 13 49 26.76 -27 58 53.8 130.2 18.3 11.16 0.04054

2013-May-30 06:00 A 13 52 09.08 -27 40 36.2 151.4 36.2 11.14 0.04040

2013-May-30 08:00 13 54 49.78 -27 21 36.2 184.3 42.6 11.12 0.04027

2013-May-30 10:00 m 13 57 30.80 -27 01 52.3 215.4 33.2 11.10 0.04016

2013-May-30 12:00 m 14 00 14.01 -26 41 29.3 234.5 13.6 11.08 0.04006

2013-May-30 14:00 m 14 03 00.70 -26 20 37.2 245.4 -10.2 11.06 0.03998

2013-May-30 16:00 *m 14 05 51.26 -25 59 28.2 251.6 -35.9 11.04 0.03989

2013-May-30 18:00 *m 14 08 45.07 -25 38 14.0 252.2 -62.2 11.02 0.03981

2013-May-30 20:00 *m 14 11 40.61 -25 17 03.0 180.9 -84.4 11.00 0.03973

2013-May-30 22:00 * 14 14 35.91 -24 55 57.7 106.2 -62.5 10.98 0.03965

2013-May-31 00:00 * 14 17 28.96 -24 34 55.0 106.6 -35.9 10.96 0.03956

2013-May-31 02:00 * 14 20 18.30 -24 13 47.1 112.4 -9.7 10.94 0.03948

2013-May-31 04:00 * 14 23 03.30 -23 52 23.2 122.8 14.9 10.92 0.03940

2013-May-31 06:00 A 14 25 44.36 -23 30 33.2 141.7 35.8 10.90 0.03933

2013-May-31 08:00 14 28 22.79 -23 08 10.0 174.9 46.8 10.89 0.03928

2013-May-31 10:00 14 31 00.46 -22 45 11.5 211.6 40.5 10.87 0.03924

2013-May-31 12:00 m 14 33 39.26 -22 21 41.4 234.6 21.6 10.86 0.03922

2013-May-31 14:00 m 14 36 20.68 -21 57 48.0 247.4 -2.4 10.84 0.03921

2013-May-31 16:00 *m 14 39 05.32 -21 33 42.1 255.5 -28.6 10.83 0.03921

2013-May-31 18:00 *m 14 41 52.80 -21 09 34.6 261.1 -55.6 10.81 0.03921

2013-May-31 20:00 *m 14 44 41.82 -20 45 33.3 260.5 -83.0 10.80 0.03921

2013-May-31 22:00 *m 14 47 30.51 -20 21 41.7 95.4 -69.3 10.78 0.03921

2013-Jun-01 00:00 * 14 50 16.87 -19 57 58.3 99.5 -41.8 10.77 0.03921

2013-Jun-01 02:00 * 14 52 59.31 -19 34 17.3 105.9 -14.8 10.75 0.03920

2013-Jun-01 04:00 * 14 55 37.04 -19 10 30.4 115.3 11.2 10.74 0.03920

2013-Jun-01 06:00 A 14 58 10.22 -18 46 29.3 131.8 34.7 10.73 0.03921

2013-Jun-01 08:00 15 00 39.97 -18 22 08.0 163.7 50.2 10.72 0.03924

2013-Jun-01 10:00 15 03 08.03 -17 57 24.4 206.9 47.9 10.71 0.03928

2013-Jun-01 12:00 m 15 05 36.32 -17 32 20.9 234.7 29.7 10.70 0.03934

2013-Jun-01 14:00 m 15 08 06.41 -17 07 04.2 249.5 5.3 10.69 0.03941

2013-Jun-01 16:00 *m 15 10 39.11 -16 41 42.7 259.1 -21.1 10.69 0.03949

2013-Jun-01 18:00 *m 15 13 14.27 -16 16 25.3 267.5 -48.5 10.68 0.03957

2013-Jun-01 20:00 *m 15 15 50.83 -15 51 18.8 283.9 -75.9 10.67 0.03966

2013-Jun-01 22:00 *m 15 18 27.08 -15 26 26.5 75.8 -74.8 10.67 0.03974

Mercury, Venus and Jupiter

The evening dance of Mercury, Venus and Jupiter continues. This evening will see Jupiter and Venus draw to within 1°09′ of each other. Tomorrow will see the configuration shift a bit, Jupiter and Venus slightly closer at 1°05′ separation. Mercury will be about 3° above the close pair.

With Venus rising a little each day while Jupiter is heading into the sunset and superior conjunction, the pair will quickly separate after this close approach. After the end of the month Jupiter will depart the stage.