Monthly Archives: September 2011

WISE asteroid survey gives Earth a moment of relaxation

Posted on September 30, 2011 by astrobob

Good news on potential asteroid troubles for tender-hearted Earth. NASA announced yesterday that a recent study of the sky by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) determined that there are significantly fewer mid-sized asteroids in Earth’s neighborhood by a factor … Continue reading →

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Mars takes up beekeeping

Posted on September 29, 2011 by astrobob

One way or another, I’m going to coax you out under the dawn sky. If the sight of Orion, the zodiacal light and Comet Honda aren’t enough, Mars is headed straight for the center of the Beehive Star Cluster over … Continue reading →

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Comet Honda visits the ghost of comets past

Posted on September 28, 2011 by astrobob

I really should do my winter sky observing in September. The only obstacle is having to get up before dawn. During the evening hours, we see the stars of late summer and early fall – Cassiopeia, the Summer Triangle, the … Continue reading →

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Aurora pix! Take a seat in Andromeda’s time machine

Posted on September 27, 2011 by astrobob

It was painful to look at the auroral plots and satellite images last night and know the northern lights were happening only 4 miles away … through an impenetrable layer of clouds. Walking the dog around 9 p.m., I could … Continue reading →

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Sun grows a monster spot

Posted on September 26, 2011 by astrobob

I just got in from observing the sun with my little refracting telescope. My attention was riveted by a huge sunspot group on the eastern half of the sun’s disk that’s been growing larger and feistier by the day. I … Continue reading →

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A starry night with friends, “E” Day for Comet Elenin looms

Posted on September 25, 2011 by astrobob

I truly need to catch up on sleep. I’ve been up until 2 or later the past couple nights. For good reason. Last night I attended the Furtman Farm Star Party in northern Wisconsin, an annual gathering of starry-eyed men … Continue reading →

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Crescent moon and Comet Honda lure us out at dawn

Posted on September 24, 2011 by astrobob

Andrew Kirk’s beautiful image of the crescent moon reminds us to watch for an even thinner crescent at the start of morning twilight tomorrow. You’ll find it still in a dark sky by looking to the east an hour and … Continue reading →

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UARS satellite bites the dust plus a must-see video

Posted on September 24, 2011 by astrobob

Just for giggles. Be sure to watch to the end The defunct UARS satellite has finally bitten the dust. It broke up late last night September 23-24 over the North Pacific Ocean. Here’s the latest update from NASA as of … Continue reading →

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Comet Elenin a no-show; Doomed satellite may fall tonight

Posted on September 23, 2011 by astrobob

Happy equinox! Fall began in the northern hemisphere at 4:05 a.m. today when most of us were asleep. At the same moment, the first kiss of spring greeted those living in the southern hemisphere. Yesterday I hiked up north near … Continue reading →

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UARS satellite to miss U.S. – Groove on the new Vesta flyover video

Posted on September 22, 2011 by astrobob

Check out this fantastic auroral landscape movie made by the astronauts aboard the space station during a geomagnetic storm on Sept. 17 . They were flying over the southern hemisphere at the time. Notice that Orion rises upside-down from the … Continue reading →

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