The annual Lyrid meteor shower peaks this weekend on the night of April 21-22 when Earth passes through a stream of debris from Comet C/1861G1 Thatcher. The incoming Lyrid meteoroids have atmospheric entry velocities of 49 km/s, and Lyrid meteors appear swift. A fair proportion are bright, and some leave persistent ionisation trains.
The April Lyrid shower, while relatively modest, brings a welcome upturn in rates for a few nights, particularly around the maximum – this year expected just before dawn on Sunday, April 22 – normally producing observed rates of perhaps 6-8 meteors/hr under the clearest and darkest conditions when the radiant is well up in the sky, corresponding to a corrected Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) around 10. Activity is about this level for 12 hours or so centred on the maximum. At other times, observed Lyrid rates may be only 2-3 meteors/hr.
The best observed Lyrid rates will typically be found after midnight, when the radiant (RA 18h 08m Dec +32°) located some 10 degrees south-west of Vega, near the Lyra/Hercules border, climbs higher in the sky. The radiant elevation approaches a very respectable 66 degrees by 0300 hrs local time.
This year’s peak coincides with a new Moon, so there will be absolutely no interference by moonlight. The promise of a good Lyrid display has prompted NASA to plan an unusual 3D meteor photography experiment combining observations from the ground, a research balloon, and the International Space Station. More details are available on:
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/18apr_lyrids/
Although Lyrid activity is generally rather modest, unmapped filaments of dust laid down by the comet occasionally trigger outbursts in rates – most recently in 1982 when, for a couple of hours, a ZHR around 200 was attained. While there is no expectation of enhanced activity in 2012, the Lyrids have sprung surprises on us in the past, and remain a shower very much worth observing.
John W. Mason, Director, BAA Meteor Section
Saturn is at opposition on 15 April 2012 in the constellation of Virgo. With a magnitude of 0.2, it lies north east of Virgo’s brightest star, Spica (magnitude 0.98).
The north pole of the planet (and hence the north face of the rings) is iinclined by ~13.8 degrees towards the Earth. Small telescopes should be able to detect Cassini’s division in each ansae.
Small telescopes should also be able to detect what appears to be a single broad dark band in the planet’s northern hemisphere. This spans the latitudes of the classical North Equatorial and North Temperate belts.
Higher resolution observations reveal a lighter zone within this band at the approximate latitude of last year’s great northern hemisphere storm. Higher resolution observations have also detected some residual storm activity at this latitude.
A brighter bluish coloured zone is visible further north.
Recently on 12 April an image taken by Anthony Wesley showed a bright spot at an approximate latitude of 55 degrees N and an approximate System 3 longitude of 312 degrees. Further observations are required of this feature.
Mike Foulkes. Saturn Section director.
Two ‘bright’ supernovae in nearby galaxies are well within the range of most amateur astronomers telescopes.
Supernova Candidate PSN J10435372+1140177 in M95 – now designated 2012aw
Supernova 2012aw imaged by Nick James on March 18th
This supernova was discovered on 2012 March 16.8493 by J. Skvarc & Alessandro Dimai of the Italian Supernovae Search Project.
M95 is at R.A. = 10h43m53s.72, Decl. = +11°40′17″.7 (= NGC 3351) and the SN is located 60″ west and 115″ south of the center of M95. M95 is well placed for observation, transiting at around 23:00 UT, with the galaxy culminating at about 50° altitude. M95 is part of the Leo I group of galaxies, about 38 million light years distant.
A discovery image can be found here:
http://www.observatorij.org/vstars/PSN20120317/PSNJ10435372+1140177.jpg
Nick James observation of this object (above) puts it at about magnitude 13 and adds that unfortunately Mars is very close and has caused significant interference with the image. However, Mars will continue to move further away as time progresses.
And here is an image by Martin Mobberley, the following night:
Supernova 2012aw imaged by Martin Mobberley on March 19th
SN 2012au in NGC 4790 in Virgo
Discovered by the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey and Stan Howerton (USA) at mag 18.2C on 2012 March 14.450 but it has rapidly brightened and is currently at magnitude 13.25V. This SN is of Type Ib, and apparently found in the early stages of its evolution so it may well brighten further.
However, it is vary close to the core of the host galaxy, but is the brightest supernova so far this year. Recent images etc can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/watchingthesky/6846911246
NGC 4790 is at R.A. = 12h54m52s.18, Decl. = -10°14′50″.2 and the SN is located 3″.5 east and 2″.0 north of the center of NGC 4790. NGC 4790 is not very far from Saturn, but currently culminates at about 27° altitude at around 01:00 UT.
Further information on these and other supernovae can be found on the extensive web page of the International Supernova Network and the Astronomy Section of the Rochester Academy of Sciences at:
http://www.rochesterastronomy.org/supernova.html.
Yesterday evening, following much agitation of the Earth’s magnetic field, an aurora (the northern lights) was viewed by many from the north of Scotland. Poor weather in other areas may have prevented views further south.
BAA member Denis Buczynski captured a few images of the display from Portmahomack, which will give a flavour for what was seen. These were taken between 20:58 and 23:48 with a Canon 400D and a 28mm lens at f2.8 at ISO 800. Exposures were all about 30 secs.
Many reports are coming in of a bright fireball, visible at about 21:40 UT on Saturday, 3rd March 2012. That night the skies were exceptionally clear over large parts of the UK, and many people had been out observing the nice display of the Moon and planets visible that evening.
Gerard Gilligan of Liverpool AS reported that about 20-30 members who were still at the site of the March Wirral Star Party witnessed the magnificent fireball, which rounded off their very busy and successful evening in spectacular fashion.
Sightings have so far been received over a wide area extending from Scotland down through the Lake District to Merseyside. Many eyewitnesses have reported that the fireball was clearly fragmenting towards the end of the track. Observations of this fireball from locations on the eastern side of the Pennines would be particulary useful.
Any BAA members who saw this event, or who may have been contacted by non-astronomers who witnessed it, are asked to collect as much information about the sighting as possible and send it either to the BAA Meteor Section’s Fireball Co-ordinator Len Entwisle at len.entwisle@btinternet.com or to meteor@britastro.org.
Useful information will include the name and location of the observer, the precise time of the event, the altitude and azimuth of the start and end points of the visible track, the position of the observed track against the background stars (or in relation to the waxing gibbous Moon and Mars in the sky, if seen towards the south-east), and a description of the fireball’s visual appearance, colour, etc. together with any unusual features.
It is clear from some of the reports in the national news media that there were other bright meteors visible during the evening of Saturday, 3rd March, but this appeal relates particularly to the event occurring at about 21.40 UT.
This meeting will be held at the Humfrey Rooms, 10 Castillian Terrace, Northampton, NN1 1LD
There has been a slight change to the previously advertised programme as due to illness Martin Lunn is unable to give his talk on dating Cassiopeia A. However David Boyd and Owen Brazell have kindly stepped in at short notice to give talks and the (hopefully) final programme is shown below.
09.30 Coffee
10.00 – 10.45 Welcome and Review of the Year – Stewart Moore
10.45 – 11.30 The Death of Stars – Bob Winter
11.30 – 12.15 The Spectra of Dying Stars – Robin Leadbeater
12.15 – 12.30 Behaviour of Gyulbudaghian’s Nebula and PV Cep – David Boyd
12.30 – 12.45 New Planetary Nebulae – Owen Brazell
12.45 Buffet Lunch
14.30 – 15.15 Building and Using a Large Dobsonian – Andrew Robertson
15.15 – 16.00 Observing from New Mexico Skies – Chris Longthorn
16.00 Tea
16.30 – 17.30 Cosmic Genesis – a Unique View of the Birth of a Neutron Star – Dr Matthew Malek (Imperial College)
17.30 Meeting round up – Stewart Moore
Everyone welcome. Entrance £10 (to include buffet lunch) payable at the door.
No need to book in advance. All talks subject to possible change.
Exhibition of deep sky material by Section members is encouraged (bring your own display boards).
The BAA and Webb Deep Sky Society hope to have sales stands at the meeting.
Jupiter and Moons in 2007 - image by Chris Newsome
As Jupiter is now high in the evening sky, you may like to look at some recent maps of the planet which we have posted on the BAA Jupiter Section web site, to illustrate the interesting features and events over this apparition. Some were compiled by individual observers from their own images; the others were compiled by Marco Vedovato of the JUPOS team from images by many observers.
You can see the full picture here:
http://www.britastro.org/jupiter/2011report03.htm
Also, we have posted maps of the Galilean moons, from spacecraft, with the major features labelled. The best amateur images can now record a few of these features (see our 2011 report no.2 for superb examples)! Thanks to Bjorn Jonsson and to the USGS for the base maps.
You can see the maps here:
http://www.britastro.org/jupiter/moonmaps.htm
Jupiter is still high enough for good observations, which the BAA will be happy to receive. And even naked-eye observers can enjoy the view of the planet in the evening twilight, especially as it will be alongside Venus for several days around March 15.
Over the next few nights comet C/2009 P1 Garradd will pass close by the globular cluster M92, in Hercules, and this will make for an interesting observing opportunity.
Comet 2009 P1 Garrad on 31st January 2012 by Martin Mobberley
Stewart Moore, the BAA Deep Sky Section Director writes:
Although not a spectacular comet with a majestic tail, C/2009 P1 (Garradd) has endeared itself to many observers by visiting bright deep sky objects on its journey through the heavens. In late August 2011 it visited the globular cluster M71 and in early September of the same year it made a close approach to the Coathanger asterism. Now visible in the morning sky, Garradd continues its friendship with deep sky objects by making a close approach to another globular cluster, this time M92 in Hercules.
On February 3/4 it passes within 0.5 degree west of M92, making an ideal photo opportunity. The coordinates of M92 are RA 17h 17m.1 and Dec +43deg 08min. M92 has a visual magnitude of 6.5 and a diameter of 14 arcmin. Details and an ephemeris for the comet, which has a predicted magnitude of 6.5, can be downloaded from the Comet Section web page and are also available in the latest BAA paper circular No. 826 dated 2012 January 18.
With the Moon setting just after 04:00 on Feb. 3, M92 and the comet will be found at an altitude of around 40 degree in the east. Please send all observations to both the Deep Sky Section and the Comet Section.
As part of our near-term strategy to significantly increase the BAA’s online presence, Council has decided to ask for expressions of interest from a suitably qualified person to take up a freelance web designer role. This person would be responsible for a radical overhaul of the Association’s website using open-source tools, the management and maintenance of our online presence and the commissioning and management of content.
Council envisages offering a 3-year contract, reviewed annually for a fee in the region of £12-14K per year. We would expect the necessary commitment to average around 15-20 hours per week although workload will be variable.
The successful applicant will have a large amount of autonomy to work towards the goals set by Council and we would expect this activity to start sometime in the 2nd quarter of 2012. Membership of the BAA is not essential but a good knowledge of amateur astronomy, the Association and its objectives will be expected.
To express an interest in this exciting opportunity and to receive further details please send an e-mail to webdesign@britastro.org before Friday, 10th February.
One of John's images from the M/S Midnatsol on January 24/25
The Sun has been very active this past week and John Mason, who is currently in Norway, reports that spectacular aurorae have been seen over the last few days. The images here were taken on the night of January 24/45. John writes:
I took a total of 508 images that night using a Canon EOS 450D with 10 mm f/2.8 Sigma fish-eye. All images were at 1600 ISO with exposure times ranging from 1s to 15s during the night, depending on the brightness of the auroral structures being imaged and the steadiness of the ship at the time. During the most active part of the display exposures ranged from 1s to 6s. During the auroral display, I was observing from the aft of deck 9 on the Hurtigruten ship M/S Midnatsol, which was sailing roughly northwards from Tromsø to Oksfjord, via Skjervøy at the time.
There are more of John’s spectacular images below and John even made the Washington Post.
Jan 24/25 1824UT.
Jan 24/25 2012UT
- Jan 24/25 2331UT
@britastro