Skywatchers' Journal (Southern Hemisphere)

[Michaelangelica]

Ian Musgrave & Peta O'Donohue
<reynella@mira.net> to ian.musgrave
More options 09-Jan (2 days ago)
G'Day All

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! To those who
sent me Christmas and/or New year wishes, thank you, I've only just
got back from holidays, so I haven't replied to you. Hello to new
subscribers too!

The next solar cycle could be very big, so we may have some auroral
delights ahead of us,
<http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/21dec_cycle24.htm?list28479>NASA - Scientists Predict Big Solar Cycle
just last week some massive CME's made SOHO's image of the week
SOHO Pick of The Weeek

But the big news is Comet 2006/P1 McMcNaught. If it survives its
close encounter with the Sun, it could become very bright in the
Southern hemisphere skies. Unfortunately, it will be also close to
the horizon, making it likely we will only see it in binoculars. But
as Australian astronomers have been following it with telescopes in
the daytime, there is the possibility of a nice view with the unaided
eye. The comet will only become visible in Australia on the 15th
(next Monday evening) low in the western twilight. A spotters map is
here http://home.mira.net/~reynella/skywatch/gifs/jan_p1.gif People
should start looking low to the left of Venus (the brightest object
above the horizon) between 20 to 30 minutes after sunset, binoculars
would be best for this.

For more information, images of the comet from the Northern
Hemisphere, Terry Lovejoys daylight image, other maps and links to
the STERO and SOHO spacecraft , see
Astroblog: Comet P1 McNaught is Bright!
Astroblog will have updates of this exciting comet as they come.

Cheers! Ian

To unsubscribe from aurora alert, send an email to
reynella@werple.mira.net.au with "unsubscribe aurora alert" as the subject.

================================================== ====
Ian Musgrave Peta O'Donohue, Jack Francis, Michael James and Andrew
Thomas Musgrave
reynella@mira.net Peta, Ian, Jack and Mike do the Web Thang
Southern Sky Watch In Space: our gateway to the stars - ABC Science Online
(scroll down right hand menu)
AstroBlogg Astroblog
Sky & Space SKY & SPACE - Home

[Jim Colyer]

I was in Australia in 2002 and saw the southern stars. It was the South Pacific Star Party. Glad I came.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Jim Colyer

I was in Australia in 2002 and saw the southern stars. It was the South Pacific Star Party. Glad I came.

Next time go to the Outback. the stars pu on quite a show there!

We have a Comet !
Ian Musgrave & Peta O'Donohue
<reynella@mira.net> to ian.musgrave
More options 22:01 (14 minutes ago)
G'Day All

I saw it! I saw it! It was fantastic. I also saw it at 1:00 pm in
daylight as well, I'll put up a detailed account at astroblog after
I've put the kids to bed. Beats Halley hands down.

Listen to the Tony Delroy show 702 ABC, at 10:00 pm AEST (NOW!) or
listen via computer at
http://www.abc.net.au/streaming/702/702stream.asx or realpayer from
here, where Bernie Hobbes interviews an astronomer over the Comet.

Cheers! Ian

To unsubscribe from aurora alert, send an email to
reynella@werple.mira.net.au with "unsubscribe aurora alert" as the subject.

================================================== ====
Ian Musgrave Peta O'Donohue, Jack Francis and Michael James Musgrave
reynella@werple.mira.net.au http://werple.mira.net.au/~reynella/
Southern Sky Watch In Space: our gateway to the stars - ABC Science Online

================================================== ====
Ian Musgrave Peta O'Donohue, Jack Francis, Michael James and Andrew
Thomas Musgrave
reynella@mira.net Peta, Ian, Jack and Mike do the Web Thang
Southern Sky Watch In Space: our gateway to the stars - ABC Science Online
(scroll down right hand menu)
AstroBlogg Astroblog
Sky & Space SKY & SPACE - Home

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by Jim Colyer

I was in Australia in 2002 and saw the southern stars. It was the South Pacific Star Party. Glad I came.

Get out your row-boat and come over the big pond again!
Look at this:-

G'Day All

This will be a busy weekend, mostly for Tasmanians.

Tasmanians will see the Moon will pass in front of the bright star
Antares at 5:04 am on Saturday May 5. Antares reappears from behind
the dark limb at 5:51 am.

Yesterday evening sunspot group 953, which is big enough to see with
safe solar projection techniques, blasted out a C9.8 flare. Still
don't know if there is a coronal Mass ejection from this one, but if
so it could arrive on the morning of the Sunday the 6th of May. Any
aurora touched off will be weak (Tasmania only), and dimmed greatly
by the Moon.

The brightness of the Moon means that the eta Aquariid meteor shower,
visible on the morning of Sunday 6, will be almost completely drowned
out. Similarly, the Asteroid Vesta, which becomes theoretically
visible to the unaided eye (under dark skies) on Sunday, will need
binoculars to be seen. The morning of Sunday is also the first time
comet Encke can be effectively see seen in binoculars.

Charts 'n stuff can be found at
Southern Sky Watch 2007
Southern Sky Watch 2007
Southern Sky Watch 2007

Cheers! Ian

To unsubscribe from aurora alert, send an email to
reynella@werple.mira.net.au with "unsubscribe aurora alert" as the subject.

================================================== ====
Ian Musgrave Peta O'Donohue, Jack Francis and Michael James Musgrave
reynella@werple.mira.net.au http://werple.mira.net.au/~reynella/
Southern Sky Watch In Space: our gateway to the stars - ABC Science Online

[silverslith]

Cheers man.
I'll be pestering my neighbour for a look at Vesta with his scope.

[Michaelangelica]

An interesting site
IceInSpace - Australian Amateur Astronomy, News and Forums | Home | IceInSpace Home

Total Lunar Eclipse, 28th August 2007



From NASA
NASA - Eclipses During 2007

Looks like the viewing will be good in S America.
Do we have any members there?
Many south, S. American towns will also be able to see the Partial Solar Eclipse of 2007 Sep 11

More details here
IceInSpace - Australian Amateur Astronomy, News and Forums | How-To's | Total Lunar Eclipse, 28th August 2007

[Boerseun]

BUMMER!!!

It sucks being in Africa at times like these...

[Michaelangelica]

There is a "Blue Moon" tonight

[Michaelangelica]

[Aurora Alert] Total Lunar Eclipse, Tuesday August 28 Inbox

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Ian Musgrave & Peta O'Donohue <reynella@mira.net>
to ian.musgrave

show details
21:40 (4 hours ago)
G'Day All

The Sun has been quiet for some time now. Currently it is blank of
all but one tiny sunspot. However, while waiting for Aurora, we have
a total Lunar eclipse.

The evening of Tuesday August 28 will see (weather permitting) the
best total Lunar eclipse as seen from Australia since 1999. The
majority of the eclipse occurs in the early evening so the whole
family can watch it. You don't need any special equipment to see it,
just your eyes (although binoculars will be helpful). Why not have a
lunar eclipse viewing party in your street? For the eastern states
and central states, the Moon enters the darkest part of Earth's
shadow (the Umbra) during the late twilight. For people in WA, the
Moon rises with the eclipse underway. Here are some contact times for
Australia.

Time Zone Penumbral contact Moon enters
Umbra Maximum Eclipse Moon Leaves Umbra Penumbral
Contact Sunset/Moonrise (average)

Eastern States 5:52 pm 6:51 pm 8:37 pm 10:24
pm 11:22 pm ~5:40 pm
Central States 5:22 pm 6:21 pm 8:07
pm 9:54 pm 10:52 pm ~5:51 pm
Western Australia 3:52 pm 4:51 pm 6:37
pm 8:24 pm 9:22 pm ~5:55 pm

A fuller table for Australia and NewZealand is here
Southern Sky Watch 2007

I have made a PDF file with the summary information and kids eclipse
activities that can be accessed here
http://home.mira.net/~reynella1/astr...%20General.pdf

On the day, there will also be a webcast from the ABC (got to the Lab
website for info), a live webcast from the US can be accessed here
NASA - Total Lunar Eclipse: August 28, 2007

The Moon will be a deep copper colour at mid eclipse, and will be
rather lovely to behold.

Cheers! Ian

To unsubscribe from aurora alert, send an email to
reynella@werple.mira.net.au with "unsubscribe aurora alert" as the subject.

[Jay-qu]

Now all we need is for this nice clear weather to hold out till next week and it should be great viewing