Journal contents items – Page 91 – British Astronomical Association

A 45th supernova for Ron Arbour

Congratulations to Ron Arbour on the discovery of his 45th supernova, SN 2017ein, in NGC 3938 on 2017 May 25

Astronomy at the ‘Observatory Science Centre’

Enjoying Ireland’s COSMOS Star Party

Dark skies at France’s ‘Astrofarm’

Covering the June 3 occultation by 2014MU69 from Bloemfontein, South Africa

On 2017 June 3, the Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2014MU69 [now numbered (486958) 2014 MU69] was expected to occult a

Hunting down the most remote and obscure globular clusters

Globular star clusters are without doubt among the most spectacular objects to be found in the night sky. I’m sure

Determining the magnitudes & spectral types of the components of the binary Mira star X Ophiuchi

Analysis of new photometry and spectroscopy of the binary Mira-type variable star X Ophiuchi between 2016 May and 2016 Dec indicates that the V magnitude of the constant star is 9.0 and its spectral type K1III. The spectral type of the Mira changed from M6III at maximum to M7III as it faded and passed through minimum. The Mira’s V magnitude varied between 6.47 at maximum and 9.83 at minimum, a range of 3.36 mags.

Noctilucent cloud over Britain and Western Europe, 2015–2016

This paper looks at NLC frequency and distribution of observations during the first two years of solar cycle 24’s decline from maximum.

Video meteor spectroscopic and orbital observations, 2015 April to 2016 April

This paper reviews the combined video meteor spectroscopic observations of the Kilwinning Spectroscopic Survey for Meteors (KiSSMe) and the related mutual capture, multi-video station orbital observations from the Network for Meteor Triangulation and Orbit Determination group (NEMETODE) in the period between 2015 April and 2016 April. A total of eleven mutual events were captured. A brief comment is made about the main lines in each spectrum and orbital elements are presented for eight of the meteors.

The elongations of Mercury 2007−2016, and the 2016 solar transit

In this paper we review telescopic observational data of Mercury from 2007 November to 2016 October inclusive, and describe the results of the 2016 solar transit. A gradual improvement in imaging technique has enabled observers to record albedo features upon Mercury’s surface as well as many bright patches corresponding to the ejecta regions of bright craters. An albedo chart and a Messenger map are presented for comparison. At the solar transit, observers obtained images in white light as well as in the wavelengths of H-alpha and Calcium K, timed the various contacts, and re-observed certain optical effects, comparing the results with those obtained at previous events.