Posts Made By: Dave Mitsky

Asteroid 2006 VV2 will pass by Earth at a distance of just 2.1 million miles. This 1.5 kilometer-sized near earth object will shine at tenth magnitude as it streaks through Leo at the rate of about one degree/hour. It should be readily visible through amateur instruments.

An ephemeris for the asteroid is posted at http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/Ephemerides/Unusual/K06V02V.html.

For further information, see http://echo.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroids/2006VV2/html/2006VV2_planning.html and http://britastro.org/baa/content/view/228/2/

Dave Mitsky

My friend and observing partner Tony Donnangelo and I had success in observing the rapidly moving NEO 2006 VV2 from his backyard last night from 0:30 to 2:50 UT (8:30 to 10:50 p.m. EDT). We employed his 14.5" f/4.3 Starmaster Sky Tracker Dob and detailed finder charts prepared using Starry Night Pro.

This was the third NEO that I've observed telescopically. I've always particularly enjoyed being able to see a celestial object move in real time. Viewing the asteroid at 202x (9mm Nagler Type 6) allowed easy detection of its motion, particularly when it passed nearby a field star.

Asteroid 2006 VV2 was located in Leo Minor at 0:00 UT and was brighter than predicted. We both estimated it to be easily ninth magnitude. As it headed towards Leo, the asteroid narrowly missed occulting a tenth magnitude star at approximately 2:44 UT.

When we returned to the telescope after a warm-up and hot cocoa break the transparency had deteriorated considerably and we could no longer locate 2006 VV2. We observed Saturn for a bit using a variety of eyepieces yielding magnifications ranging from 202x to 455x and then called it quits for the night.

Dave Mitsky

The fourth edition of Phil Harrington's Star Ware, the ultimate guide to amateur astronomy gear, has finally been published. I was a member of a team of amateur astronomers who proofread Phil's manuscript last year. It was a lot of work but it was also a very interesting experience. I was even able to make a few small contributions.

I'm looking forward to receiving an autographed copy of the new Star Ware from Phil at the NEAF in a couple of weeks.

I recommend this book highly, of course!

Dave Mitsky

Since Astronomy Day occurs this month, the Abrams Planetarium Sky Calendar for April is available for free.

http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/SkyCalendar/AprCal07.pdf

http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/SkyCalendar/AprMap07.pdf

Dave Mitsky

As well as the rest of us...

See http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/wildlife/article2449968.ece for the story.

For further information, on the missing honeybee dilemma browse:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070404/ts_csm/cbee

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9213661

Dave Mitsky

Watching the RR Lyrae variables in M3 blink on and off is something else.

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap070415.html

Dave Mitsky

Greetings,

Here are my deep-sky object lists for the two hour swath of right ascension for April.

Dave Mitsky

One hundred deep-sky objects for April: NGC 4024, NGC 4027 (Corvus); NGC 3511, NGC 3513, NGC 3672, NGC 3887, NGC 3892, NGC 3955, NGC 3962, NGC 3981 (Crater); NGC 3091, NGC 3109, NGC 3145, NGC 3203, NGC 3242, NGC 3309, NGC 3585, NGC 3621, NGC 3717, NGC 3904, NGC 3936 (Hydra); M65, M66, M95, M96, M105, NGC 3098, NGC 3162, NGC 3177, NGC 3185, NGC 3190, NGC 3226, NGC 3227, NGC 3300, NGC 3346, NGC 3367, NGC 3377, NGC 3384, NGC 3389, NGC 3412, NGC 3437, NGC 3489, NGC 3495, NGC 3507, NGC 3521, NGC 3593, NGC 3607, NGC 3608, NGC 3626, NGC 3628, NGC 3630, NGC 3640, NGC 3646, NGC 3655, NGC 3681, NGC 3684, NGC 3686, NGC 3691, NGC 3810, NGC 3842, NGC 3872, NGC 3900, NGC 4008 (Leo); NGC 3245, NGC 3254, NGC 3277, NGC 3294, NGC 3344, NGC 3414, NGC 3432, NGC 3486, NGC 3504 (Leo Minor); NGC 2990, NGC 3044, NGC 3055, NGC 3115, NGC 3156, NGC 3166, NGC 3169, NGC 3246, NGC 3423 (Sextans); IC 750, M97, M108, M109, NGC 3079, NGC 3184, NGC 3198, NGC 3310, NGC 3359, NGC 3610, NGC 3665, NGC 3675, NGC 3738, NGC 3877, NGC 3898, NGC 3941, NGC 3953, NGC 3998, NGC 4026 (Ursa Major)

Top 10 deep-sky objects for April: M65, M66, M95, M96, M97, M105, M108, M109, NGC 3115, NGC 3628

Challenge deep-sky object for April: Leo I (Leo)

The brightest supernova ever recorded is discussed at http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/07may_bigsupernova.htm?list85666 and http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18523377/.

Dave Mitsky

For those of you who haven't seen this yet, here are the speakers for the star party at Cherry Springs State Park next week.

Friday, May 18

1:00 p.m. - Dr. Peter Allen (Penn State) - The Smallest Stars: Their Role in the Universe

3:00 p.m. - T.J. Koller (ASH Stardust Newsletter Editor and the Secretary of the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg) - The Night Sky for the Cherry Springs Star Party

4:00 p.m. - T.J. Koller - The Hubble Space Telescope

6:30 p.m. - Alan Chen ( http://www.heavenlyview.com ) - Imaging with a One-shot Color Camera

Saturday, May 19

1:00 p.m. - Dr. Al Lamperti (Temple University and the Delaware Valley Amateur Astronomers) - A 3D Tour of the Universe Beyond the Solar System

2:30 p.m. - Karl Krasley (the Pennsylvania Outdoor Lighting Council and the Chesmont Astronomical Society) - Light Pollution Is Hiding My Galaxies

4:00 p.m. - Chip Harrison (Cherry Springs State Park Park Manager) - Cherry Springs Dark Skies (A PowerPoint update on what's new at the park for 2007 and where the future is going to take us.)

6:00 p.m. - Rob Teeter ( http://www.teeterstelescopes.com/ ) - Building the Perfect Telescope

Vendors who will be present at the Cherry Springs Star Party or who have contributed door prizes are listed at http://www.astrohbg.org/s4/s4_vendors.php

Dave Mitsky

Information on the raffle prizes for the 2007 Cherry Springs Star Party has been posted at http://www.astrohbg.org/s4/s4_doorprizes.php

Dave Mitsky