Space Discussion Thread

[Rivem]

I just realized today I was looking at the wrong starts on wikisky.org. As far as I have to zoom in on the non existent anomaly I really doubt I will see anything through my little 4" scope in a light polluted area. It would take a huge scope to see any stars that small.

Actually, the thing CE5 shared from IRAS is very big and bright by comparison to its surroundings, so it's definitely something you would see in a small scope

Anyway, it is unlikely to have the same exact pictures through different cameras, but I just figured I'd mention how I saw a very similar set of lens reflections on short clip of a telescope video shown in what should be the science channel's great american eclipse episode.

Couldn't a strange reflection from an object off center cause bright reflections in a different location? Because the black and white image looks to me like possibly two ringed planets, and the oval eclipse reflections from the rings and their shadowing. Also, there is a strange big green circle halo in one image that would suggest a lens reflection from something very bright, like a near by planet. I've seen saturn in the morning sky when it is near, and it is almost too bright to see. Then again zooming in should greatly reduce the brightness.

That's exactly what the arc below the anomaly is considering how bright the two spots it surrounds are. There are a lot of different optical issues that occur when an object is brighter than it's designed for and/or outside the focal plane. It's hard to tell exactly what kinds of issues would occur with IRAS since I don't know it's optical design, but that's a very reasonable assumption.

Looking at orbital data during the IRAS imaging period, I'm almost certain the anomaly is indeed a set of two images of Saturn caught in the two major imaging passes of the satellite through that area, and the arc is a brightness anomaly. Definitely something the researchers on that project would have been kicking themselves for since the imaging passes were only a few weeks apart which wouldn't have been enough for something so bright to be removed in processing.

 

[diachi]

Aurora watchers keep your eyes peeled! The CME from the 4th of September (Sunspot AR2673) will be hitting us today, G2 to G3 geomagnetic storms expected.

We also had an X9.3 X-Ray flare and CME today, also from AR2673. Still waiting to see if the CME will hit us or not, something to keep an eye on. Biggest X-Ray flare in a over decade, I'd expect some impressive Auroras if the CME hits us.

 

[ArcticDude]

Just gave up for this night, full cloud cover over here.

But luckily it should last for few days so I hope that tomorrow would be better..

 

[diachi]

Just gave up for this night, full cloud cover over here.

But luckily it should last for few days so I hope that tomorrow would be better..

I'll keep an eye out here, clear just now, hopefully it stays that way into the night.

At any rate, with the flare and CME today we should be seeing a good week for Auroras.

Hope you get better luck tomorrow night!

 

[BowtieGuy]

Just heard on the news that these may be visible in my neck of the woods tonight, although it's completely overcast right now. :scowl:

 

[diachi]

Just heard on the news that these may be visible in my neck of the woods tonight, although it's completely overcast right now. :scowl:

Entirely possible, shouldn't need a huge geomagnetic storm to push the Auroras that far south.

Keep an eye out anyway!

 

[paul1598419]

Maybe I'll get lucky and see it here. I am on the south west side of Puget Sound. It is about 170 miles from Canada.

 

[Benm]

How far south would it actually be visible?

I'm at about 52 degrees (for american oriented people that'd be not in the us, but about as far north as Calgary in canada, yet south of alaska by quite a bit).

Currently it's overcast completely, but i've heard that some people actually have seen the northern lights here on very rare occassions. Due to light pollution i could not possibly see it from my home, but if it were visible on a clear day i'd be happy to drive an hour into the countryside or something like that to get the chance.

 

[Rivem]

How far south would it actually be visible?

I'm at about 52 degrees (for american oriented people that'd be not in the us, but about as far north as Calgary in canada, yet south of alaska by quite a bit).

Currently it's overcast completely, but i've heard that some people actually have seen the northern lights here on very rare occassions. Due to light pollution i could not possibly see it from my home, but if it were visible on a clear day i'd be happy to drive an hour into the countryside or something like that to get the chance.

I've seen a very slight aurora at 38 degrees a few times, so I think it's always at least worth a check.

 

[CurtisOliver]

Feel exactly the same Jeff. It happens everytime I get a chance. Overcast.

 

[diachi]

Clear skies last night, didn't see any auroras.

Did get some nice moonrise photos though... Focus is a bit off, damn automatic focus.

 

[Rivem]

Clear skies last night, didn't see any auroras.

Did get some nice moonrise photos though... Focus is a bit off, damn automatic focus.

Very nice photo diachi. That reminds me about the lunar eclipse this January. Timing won't be great in North America, but in the early morning of January 31st, a total Lunar eclipse should be visible for most of the continent. Best views towards the west. The full eclipse should be visible over the Pacific and a lot of East Asia. Eastern Europe should get some views with better timing in the early evening.

RB should be in a very good spot to observe it, so he'll have to share some photos.

 

[paul1598419]

That does look like a lunar eclipse. The red color must have something to do with your latitude, diachi. But, what do I know about lunar eclipses? I've only seen one once and it was many years ago.

 

[Rivem]

That does look like a lunar eclipse. The red color must have something to do with your latitude, diachi. But, what do I know about lunar eclipses? I've only seen one once and it was many years ago.

Probably has more to do with the moon being low on the horizon and atmospheric conditions. A lot like a sunset or sunrise.

It makes a huge difference in color if you watch rising or setting astronomical objects.

 

[diachi]

Very nice photo diachi. That reminds me about the lunar eclipse this January. Timing won't be great in North America, but in the early morning of January 31st, a total Lunar eclipse should be visible for most of the continent. Best views towards the west. The full eclipse should be visible over the Pacific and a lot of East Asia. Eastern Europe should get some views with better timing in the early evening.

RB should be in a very good spot to observe it, so he'll have to share some photos.

Thanks! :beer:

Cheers for the heads up, I'll need to try and keep that in mind.

Probably has more to do with the moon being low on the horizon and atmospheric conditions. A lot like a sunset or sunrise.

It makes a huge difference in color if you watch rising or setting astronomical objects.

^^Yup. Answered in the other thread where Paul asked. It's far more noticeable with the sun because it's far brighter and as such illuminates the clouds/sky, but the effect is the same.

 

[Benm]

Feel exactly the same Jeff. It happens everytime I get a chance. Overcast.

Same here, no way to see it if it was as bright as the moon, such thick cloud coverage... and weather forecasts say it will be that way for a few days, so no chance to get a glimpse even from a very dark location.

As far as geographical location goes it should indeed be possible, in the past it has been observed in such extreme situations nextdoor in germany a few decades ago.

I'ts one of those things i still really want to see myself, but chances here are low. One of my friends actually went way up in norway last year to see it and take photo's... pretty amazing stuff, but it was like -30C outside at that time, which is a bit harsh to me for something that you are by no means guaranteed to see: they spent like 2 weeks up there and got only 3 or 4 nights with good aurora's.