In the Sky This Week – September 29, 2020
The Astronomy at the Beach event has come and gone, and although we did not have the amount of attendees we've had at in-person events, we did have some sessions with a lot of viewers. The speakers were fantastic, and many of the sessions were recorded, so you can access the event website and watch replays! I spent the last several months helping the board of the Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs (GLAAC) with their website for the event, and was monitoring several events simultaneously as they were happening during the event. Now that the event is over, I'm thinking about how GLAAC can help promote Michigan's astronomy clubs, and their presenters who have expressed an interest in doing remote presentations for in-school and at-home classrooms.
Venus appears low in the eastern predawn sky all week near the star Regulus in Leo - look for the inverted question mark asterism. At the same time over in the northeastern sky, the handle of the Big Dipper asterism is pointing down towards the horizon.
Venus appears in the eastern predawn sky near the star Regulus all week. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.
Venus appears very near the star Regulus on the mornings of October 3rd and 4th.
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- Venus appears in conjunction the star Regulus in the predawn sky on Oct. 3rd. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.
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- Venus appears in conjunction the star Regulus in the predawn sky on Oct. 4th. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.
Saturn and Jupiter appear in the southern sky after sunset; the Moon appears over in the southeastern sky.
Saturn and Jupiter appear in the southern sky after sunset the Moon appears in the southeastern sky on Sept. 29th. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.
Mars appears in the southeastern sky after midnight this week; the Moon moves eastward each evening, getting closer to Mars.
Mars and the Moon appear high in the southeastern sky around midnight this week. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.
The Moon appears close to Mars from Oct. 2-4th - appearing very close to Mars on Oct. 3rd.
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- The Moon appears in a very close conjunction with Mars in the southeastern sky at midnight on Oct. 3rd. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.
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- The Moon appears in a very close conjunction with Mars at midnight on Oct. 3rd. Credit: Stellarium / Bob Trembley.
The Moon is a waxing gibbous - visible to the southeast in early evening, and up for most of the night.
The full Moon occurs on Oct. 1st - rising at sunset, visible high in the sky around midnight, and visible all night.
After Oct. 1st, the Moon will be a waning gibbous - rising after sunset, visible high in the sky after midnight, and visible to the southwest after sunrise.
The Moon from 2020-09-29 - 2020-10-04. Visualizations by Ernie Wright / NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio.
If you click on the Moon image above, or click this link, you will go to NASA's Moon Phase and Libration, 2020 page - it will show you what the Moon looks like right now. If you click the image on that page, you will download a high-rez TIF image annotated with the names of prominent features - helpful for logging your observations!
Annotated close-up of the Moon on Oct. 4th. Visualizations by Ernie Wright / NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio.
Moon News
We want to see your lunar artwork! Share your creations and see others' on the official International #ObserveTheMoon Night gallery! https://t.co/ZvOiLdA0ea
Art by Onur Cengiz pic.twitter.com/qYeb04dYtf
— NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) September 26, 2020
The Sun has been spotless for 3 days; the northern coronal hole continues to be huge - with a thick tendril stretching southward - very near a region with a LOT of coronal loop activity!
The Sun seen in 193 angstroms (extreme ultraviolet) September 28, 2020:
Lots of prominence activity over the last several days!
The Sun seen in 304 angstroms (extreme ultraviolet) September 28, 2020:
You can view the Sun in near real-time, in multiple frequencies here: SDO-The Sun Now.
You can create your own time-lapse movies of the Sun here: AIA/HMI Browse Data.
You can browse all the SDO images of the Sun from 2010 to the present here: Browse SDO archive.
Solar Activity on Facebook - Run by Volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Pamela Shivak
The SOLARACTIVITY PICTURE OF THE DAY for September 29th, 2020 goes out to Otto Gruebl for this Calcium image.
Comments by Otto: "Sun in CaK of 27.9.2020 from Taurikura, Northland with decaying AR 2773 and two small prominences Lunt 60 refractor w.Lunt CaK module B1200, ZWO ASI 174 MM,Ioptron AZ Pro Autostakkert,Photoshop CC 2018"
Solar Corona
Solar wind speed is 604.9 km/sec (↑↑), with a density of 8.2 protons/cm3 (↑) at 1241 UT.
Near real-time animation of the corona and solar wind from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO):
Animated LASCO C2 Coronograph showing the solar corona above the Sun's limb (the white circle). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech-SOHO
Sun News
Data from NASA missions — like our Solar Dynamics Observatory and the retired RHESSI satellite — is helping scientists study potential connections between solar flares and “sunquakes,” seismic waves on the Sun. More from @UCBerkeley: https://t.co/UMczVuuChr pic.twitter.com/nzmfoQdEjd
— NASA Sun & Space (@NASASun) September 22, 2020
Potentially hazardous asteroids: 2037 (last updated June 2, 2020)
Total Minor Planets discovered: 995,348 (+142)
Upcoming Earth-asteroid encounters:
| Asteroid |
Date(UT)
|
Miss Distance
|
Velocity (km/s)
|
Diameter (m)
|
| 2020 PM7 |
2020-Sep-29
|
7.5 LD
|
8.3
|
118
|
| 2020 SV5 |
2020-Sep-30
|
3.4 LD
|
13.7
|
20
|
| 2020 SQ |
2020-Sep-30
|
5.7 LD
|
5.9
|
12
|
| 2020 SO2 |
2020-Sep-30
|
18.1 LD
|
14.8
|
39
|
| 2020 SM4 |
2020-Oct-01
|
8.2 LD
|
7.6
|
10
|
| 2020 SU5 |
2020-Oct-01
|
5.4 LD
|
9.4
|
16
|
| 2020 RJ3 |
2020-Oct-01
|
15.3 LD
|
15.5
|
71
|
| 2001 GP2 |
2020-Oct-01
|
6.1 LD
|
2.2
|
15
|
| 2020 RZ3 |
2020-Oct-02
|
15.6 LD
|
13.3
|
37
|
| 2020 SY3 |
2020-Oct-03
|
16.6 LD
|
7.8
|
24
|
| 2010 UC |
2020-Oct-04
|
14.6 LD
|
3.2
|
12
|
| 2020 RV2 |
2020-Oct-05
|
14.9 LD
|
4.2
|
26
|
| 2020 RR2 |
2020-Oct-06
|
16.3 LD
|
4.1
|
28
|
| 2020 RK2 |
2020-Oct-07
|
10 LD
|
6.7
|
49
|
| 2019 SB6 |
2020-Oct-07
|
11.9 LD
|
7.6
|
16
|
| 2020 SX3 |
2020-Oct-08
|
4.4 LD
|
10.9
|
50
|
| 2020 RO1 |
2020-Oct-09
|
17.4 LD
|
3.2
|
29
|
| 2018 GD2 |
2020-Oct-13
|
16.4 LD
|
6.7
|
5
|
| 2020 RM6 |
2020-Oct-15
|
13 LD
|
7.7
|
39
|
| 2017 UH5 |
2020-Oct-20
|
8.9 LD
|
5.9
|
18
|
| 2020 SG3 |
2020-Oct-20
|
19.5 LD
|
5.3
|
34
|
| 2018 VG |
2020-Oct-21
|
15.1 LD
|
6.7
|
12
|
| 2017 TK6 |
2020-Oct-24
|
17.3 LD
|
12.4
|
41
|
| 2008 GM2 |
2020-Oct-25
|
17.7 LD
|
3.6
|
8
|
| 2020 QD5 |
2020-Oct-26
|
10.1 LD
|
8.6
|
80
|
| 2020 OK5 |
2020-Oct-29
|
6.4 LD
|
1.3
|
27
|
| 2018 VP1 |
2020-Nov-02
|
1.1 LD
|
9.7
|
2
|
| 2020 HF4 |
2020-Nov-03
|
16.2 LD
|
2.9
|
11
|
| 2010 JL88 |
2020-Nov-05
|
10.5 LD
|
15.7
|
16
|
| 2019 XS |
2020-Nov-07
|
15.4 LD
|
9.4
|
51
|
| 2018 VS4 |
2020-Nov-09
|
14.9 LD
|
10.1
|
25
|
| 2020 ST1 |
2020-Nov-14
|
19.1 LD
|
8.1
|
163
|
| 2019 VL5 |
2020-Nov-15
|
8.5 LD
|
8.2
|
23
|
| 2017 WJ16 |
2020-Nov-23
|
5 LD
|
4.8
|
49
|
| 2018 RQ4 |
2020-Nov-26
|
8.1 LD
|
7.4
|
15
|
Notes: LD means "Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance between Earth and the Moon. Red highlighted entries are asteroids that either pass very close, or very large with high relative velocities to the Earth. Table from SpaceWeather.com
Asteroid News:
On September 28, 2020, the NASA All Sky Fireball Network reported 21 fireballs.
(21 sporadics)
In this diagram of the inner solar system, all of the fireball orbits intersect at a single point--Earth. The orbits are color-coded by velocity, from slow (red) to fast (blue). Credit: SpaceWeather.com
Fireball News:
Listen to @BBCr4today (from 1:45:37 until 1:49:00 in). The NEMETODE meteor network tracked the #earthgrazer across the UK. (https://t.co/TrBxbN7Dpx @Cmdr_Hadfield #meteor @paulhaworth #fireball pic.twitter.com/WwEqna9rny
— SCAMP (@SCAMP_Meteors) September 28, 2020
Some preliminary results on the earthgrazing #fireball of yesterday morning, from Dutch all-sky #meteor camera images.
Rare case of a meteor that definitely went in and out of the atmosphere again! Just like the famous 1972 Grand Tetons fireball@MVerstraaten @cgbassa @Doenker pic.twitter.com/cYIPXb1oOE— Dr Marco Langbroek (@Marco_Langbroek) September 23, 2020
Position of the planets and a couple spacecraft in the inner solar system:
Position of the planets and a couple spacecraft in the inner solar system, 2020-09-29. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley.
Position of the planets in the middle solar system:
Position of the planets in the middle solar system, 2020-09-29. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley.
Position of the planets, some dwarf planets and some transneptunian objects in the outer solar system:
Position of the planets and some transneptunian objects in the outer solar system, 2020-09-29. Credit: NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley.
NASA's OSIRIS-REx Asteroid Sample Return Mission
At the very end of the TAGSAM arm is the sample collector head - it's sort of like my hand, and it'll be the only part of me that touches Bennu's surface while gathering a sample.
Image details: https://t.co/7N4az6wO7y pic.twitter.com/mOJoGCAYsu
— NASA's OSIRIS-REx (@OSIRISREx) September 28, 2020
International Space Station
Weather has pushed the launch of a U.S. cargo mission to Thursday and the Exp 63 crew is back to work after a weekend of leak tests. More... https://t.co/pNtJnqM9hU pic.twitter.com/vjbNSr5swu
— Intl. Space Station (@Space_Station) September 28, 2020
NEWS: We’re now targeting 2:40am ET Saturday, Oct. 31, for the launch of the @NASA and @SpaceX Crew-1 mission to send astronauts to the @Space_Station. Here is the latest #LaunchAmerica update: https://t.co/UXtCHLq247 pic.twitter.com/szkUUQMVv1
— Kathy Lueders (@KathyLueders) September 29, 2020
Climate
The world's latest sea level-monitoring satellite has arrived at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to be prepared for its Nov. 10 launch. Once in orbit, the mission will collect highly accurate measurements for more than 90% of the ocean. https://t.co/0JtXSTzJTW
— NASA Climate (@NASAClimate) September 28, 2020
We often get questions from readers about Earth’s Arctic and Antarctic sea ice. Arctic sea ice has declined over the past five decades, while Antarctic sea ice has increased, and then declined. Why do they behave differently? We answer. https://t.co/iqn0pysdY6
— NASA Climate (@NASAClimate) September 24, 2020
See a list of current NASA missions here: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/?type=current
ex·o·plan·et /ˈeksōˌplanət/, noun: a planet orbiting a star other than the Sun.
Data from the NASA Exoplanet Archive
* Confirmed Planets Discovered by TESS refers to the number planets that have been published in the refereed astronomical literature.
* TESS Project Candidates refers to the total number of transit-like events that appear to be astrophysical in origin, including false positives as identified by the TESS Project.
* TESS Project Candidates Yet To Be Confirmed refers to the number of TESS Project Candidates that have not yet been dispositioned as a Confirmed Planet or False Positive.
Did you know we offer free printable wildlife workbooks for children 5+ to help teach them about light pollution?
Check out all of our resources for educators here: https://t.co/tz4LUlezDk pic.twitter.com/gjFcMRocLC
— IDA Dark-Sky (@IDADarkSky) September 28, 2020
Hubble: Beautiful Universe
#HubbleFriday Everything you see in this Hubble image makes up only a tiny fraction of this galaxy’s bulk.
NGC 5585 has far more dark matter than similarly sized galaxies. Dark matter can’t be directly observed, and what it is remains a mystery: https://t.co/Y2lIgfmpmm pic.twitter.com/l88dXgAnuG
— Hubble (@NASAHubble) September 25, 2020
Stay safe, be well, and look up!
Apps used for this post:
NASA Eyes on the Solar System: an immersive 3D solar system and space mission simulator - free for the PC /MAC. I maintain the unofficial NASA Eyes Facebook page.
Universe Sandbox: a space simulator that merges real-time gravity, climate, collision, and material interactions to reveal the beauty of our universe and the fragility of our planet. Includes VR support.
SpaceEngine: a free 3D Universe Simulator for Windows. Steam version with VR support available.
Stellarium: a free open source planetarium app for PC/MAC/Linux. It's a great tool for planning observing sessions. A web-based version of Stellarium is also available.
Section header image credits:
The Sky - Stellarium / Bob Trembley
Observing Target - Turn Left at Orion / M. Skirvin
The Moon - NASA/JPL-Caltech
The Sun - NASA/JPL-Caltech
Asteroids - NASA/JPL-Caltech
Fireballs - Credited to YouTube
Comets - Comet P/Halley, March 8, 1986, W. Liller
The Solar System - NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley
Spacecraft News - NASA Eyes on the Solar System / Bob Trembley
Exoplanets - Space Engine / Bob Trembley
Light Pollution - NASA's Black Marble
The Universe - Universe Today