January 1st 1801
Discovery of Ceres
The first asteroid to be discovered in the know called asteroid belt by Piazzi. Today Ceres is reclassified as a dwarf planet.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Wednesday 1st January 2014
On This Day
January 1st 1801
Discovery of Ceres
The first asteroid to be discovered in the know called asteroid belt by Piazzi. Today Ceres is reclassified as a dwarf planet.
January 1st 1801
Discovery of Ceres
The first asteroid to be discovered in the know called asteroid belt by Piazzi. Today Ceres is reclassified as a dwarf planet.
Monday, 30 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Tuesday December 31st 2013
On This Day
December 31st 1719
John Flamsteed died.
John Flamsteed was born on 19 August 1646 he would go on to become the first astronomer royal he produced a star catalogue containing 3,000 stars. This catalogue is still used today with stars being labelled with FL numbers.
December 31st 1719
John Flamsteed died.
John Flamsteed was born on 19 August 1646 he would go on to become the first astronomer royal he produced a star catalogue containing 3,000 stars. This catalogue is still used today with stars being labelled with FL numbers.
Friday, 27 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Saturday 28th December 2013
On This Day
December 28th 1882
Birth of Arthur Stanley Eddington
Eddington was a British astrophysicist, his work on the 1912 eclipse of the Sun allowed him to observe that light bends when it passes a heavy mass. The Eddington Limit, the natural limit to the luminosity of stars, is named in his honour.
December 28th 1882
Birth of Arthur Stanley Eddington
Eddington was a British astrophysicist, his work on the 1912 eclipse of the Sun allowed him to observe that light bends when it passes a heavy mass. The Eddington Limit, the natural limit to the luminosity of stars, is named in his honour.
Thursday, 26 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Friday 27th December 2013
Eye in the Sky
December 27th 2013
The Moon and Spica
At 02.00 UT appearing above the south east horizon, the Moon will be just 0.5 degree from the 1st magnitude star Spica.
On This Day
December 27th 1571 birth of Johannes Kepler
Kepler was a German astronomer and mathematician, between 160-19 he published his work on his "Laws of Planetary Motion", In 1604 he observed a supernova in Ophiuchus which is named after him.
December 27th 2013
The Moon and Spica
At 02.00 UT appearing above the south east horizon, the Moon will be just 0.5 degree from the 1st magnitude star Spica.
On This Day
December 27th 1571 birth of Johannes Kepler
Kepler was a German astronomer and mathematician, between 160-19 he published his work on his "Laws of Planetary Motion", In 1604 he observed a supernova in Ophiuchus which is named after him.
Tuesday, 24 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Thursday 26th December 2013
On This Day
December 26th 1780
Birth of Mary Somerville
Mary Somerville was a Scottish scientist who studied astronomy and mathematics at a time when women were not encouraged to do so. Her career in science was incredible and Somerville College at Oxford, England is named after her.
December 26th 1780
Birth of Mary Somerville
Mary Somerville was a Scottish scientist who studied astronomy and mathematics at a time when women were not encouraged to do so. Her career in science was incredible and Somerville College at Oxford, England is named after her.
Astronomy Scrapbook Wednesday 25th December 2013
A very Merry and Peaceful Christmas to anyone reading this.
On This Day (1)
December 25th 1724 Birth of John Michell
An English natural philosopher who was the first to put forward the idea of an object big enough to stop light escaping from it. He called them "Dark Stars" the modern idea would be a black hole..
On This Day (2)
December 25th 1642 Birth Of Isaac Newton
One of the most influential scientists of all time.
On This Day (3)
December 25th 1758
The predicted return of the comet we now call Halley`s comet.
Edmund Halley observed a comet in 1682 which he would predicted would return around 1758, Halley's prediction proved to be correct, although it was not seen until 25 December 1758, by Johann Palizsch a German farmer and amateur astronomer.
On This Day (1)
December 25th 1724 Birth of John Michell
An English natural philosopher who was the first to put forward the idea of an object big enough to stop light escaping from it. He called them "Dark Stars" the modern idea would be a black hole..
On This Day (2)
December 25th 1642 Birth Of Isaac Newton
One of the most influential scientists of all time.
On This Day (3)
December 25th 1758
The predicted return of the comet we now call Halley`s comet.
Edmund Halley observed a comet in 1682 which he would predicted would return around 1758, Halley's prediction proved to be correct, although it was not seen until 25 December 1758, by Johann Palizsch a German farmer and amateur astronomer.
Monday, 23 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook 24th December 2013
On This Day (1)
December 24th 1965
Barwell Meteorite
The biggest meteorite to land in Britain in recorded history; an L6 ordinary chondrite, it fell in pieces on the Leicestershire village of Barwell in England on Christmas Eve 1965. The meteor fragments hit buildings and even a car. When the fragments were put together, the Barwell Meteorite proved, appropriately, to be about the size of a Christmas turkey.
On This Day (2)
December 24th 1968
Apollo 8, First Manned Mission to the Moon.
Apollo 8 became the first manned mission to orbit the Moon, launched on December 21st 1968. On December 24, 1968, while watching Earth Rise from the Moon the crew of Apollo 8 Bill Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman read in turn from the Book of Genesis verses 1 through 10, using the King James Version.
Borman then said, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you - all of you on the good Earth."
December 24th 1965
Barwell Meteorite
part of the Barwell Meteorite.
The biggest meteorite to land in Britain in recorded history; an L6 ordinary chondrite, it fell in pieces on the Leicestershire village of Barwell in England on Christmas Eve 1965. The meteor fragments hit buildings and even a car. When the fragments were put together, the Barwell Meteorite proved, appropriately, to be about the size of a Christmas turkey.
On This Day (2)
December 24th 1968
Apollo 8, First Manned Mission to the Moon.
Earthrise seen from the Moon
Apollo 8 became the first manned mission to orbit the Moon, launched on December 21st 1968. On December 24, 1968, while watching Earth Rise from the Moon the crew of Apollo 8 Bill Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman read in turn from the Book of Genesis verses 1 through 10, using the King James Version.
Borman then said, "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you - all of you on the good Earth."
Sunday, 22 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Monday 23rd December 2013
On This Day
December 23rd 1672
The Moon Rhea was discovered by the Italian astronomer Cassini. Rhea is the second-largest moon of Saturn and the ninth largest moon in the solar system.
December 23rd 1672
The Moon Rhea was discovered by the Italian astronomer Cassini. Rhea is the second-largest moon of Saturn and the ninth largest moon in the solar system.
Saturday, 21 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Sunday 22nd December 2012
On This Day (1)
December 22nd 968AD
The first mention of the solar corona being seen during the eclipse of the Sun on December 22 968 by the Byzantine historian Leo Diaconus from Constantinople (now Istanbul).
On This Day (2)
December 22nd 1870
The French astronomer Pierre Janseen used a hot air balloon to escape from France during the Franco Prussian war to fly to Algeria to see the eclipse of the Sun, sadly it was cloudy!
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December 22nd 968AD
The first mention of the solar corona being seen during the eclipse of the Sun on December 22 968 by the Byzantine historian Leo Diaconus from Constantinople (now Istanbul).
On This Day (2)
December 22nd 1870
The French astronomer Pierre Janseen used a hot air balloon to escape from France during the Franco Prussian war to fly to Algeria to see the eclipse of the Sun, sadly it was cloudy!
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Friday, 20 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Saturday December 21st 2013
Eye in the Sky
Winter Solstice
At 17.11 UT the centre of the Sun will reach its lowest point in the sky, this is the Winter Solstice.
Winter Solstice
At 17.11 UT the centre of the Sun will reach its lowest point in the sky, this is the Winter Solstice.
Thursday, 19 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Friday 20th December 2013
On This Day (1)
December 20th 1996
Carl Sagan died.
Carl Sagan was one of the best known popularisers of astronomy and cosmology. He is best known for the award winning Cosmos TV series in 1980.
On This Day (2)
December 20th 1896
Walter S Adams was born.
He worked on solar spectroscopy and co-discovered a relationship between the relative intensities of certain spectral lines and the absolute magnitude of a star. He was able to show that spectra could be used to determine whether a star was a giant or a dwarf.
December 20th 1996
Carl Sagan died.
Carl Sagan was one of the best known popularisers of astronomy and cosmology. He is best known for the award winning Cosmos TV series in 1980.
On This Day (2)
December 20th 1896
Walter S Adams was born.
He worked on solar spectroscopy and co-discovered a relationship between the relative intensities of certain spectral lines and the absolute magnitude of a star. He was able to show that spectra could be used to determine whether a star was a giant or a dwarf.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Thursday 19th December 2013
Eye in the Sky
In the early hours of this morning the 97% waning gibbous Moon is about 5 and one half degrees below the planet Jupiter.
On this Day
December 19th 1973.
The famous picture of a giant solar prominence loop was taken from Skylab.
In the early hours of this morning the 97% waning gibbous Moon is about 5 and one half degrees below the planet Jupiter.
On this Day
December 19th 1973.
The famous picture of a giant solar prominence loop was taken from Skylab.
Tuesday, 17 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Wednesday December 18th 2013
On this Day
December 18th 1958
The successful launch of the SCORE satellite
Project SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment) was the world’s first communication satellite. It captured world attention by broadcasting a Christmas message via short wave frequency from U.S. President Dwight D Eisenhower through an on-board tape recorder.
SCORE, finally allowed America to draw level in the technology race with Russia and was a response to the Sputnik satellites.
December 18th 1958
The successful launch of the SCORE satellite
Project SCORE (Signal Communications by Orbiting Relay Equipment) was the world’s first communication satellite. It captured world attention by broadcasting a Christmas message via short wave frequency from U.S. President Dwight D Eisenhower through an on-board tape recorder.
SCORE, finally allowed America to draw level in the technology race with Russia and was a response to the Sputnik satellites.
Monday, 16 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Tuesday 17th December 2013
Eye in the Sky
On Tuesday December 17th , the Moon will be Full, nothing new there it happens every month, but each Full Moon has its own name. In December it is the Before Yule Moon.
The feast of Yule occurs on December 21st when we reach the winter solstice when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky. This is "Sol Invictus" "The Undefeated Sun". In medieval times people had to wait until the December Full Moon occurs, this year it is on the 17th and between then and the 21st they had to go into the forest chop down a tree and obtain the Yule Log. This would then be burnt during the festive season.
On Tuesday December 17th , the Moon will be Full, nothing new there it happens every month, but each Full Moon has its own name. In December it is the Before Yule Moon.
The feast of Yule occurs on December 21st when we reach the winter solstice when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky. This is "Sol Invictus" "The Undefeated Sun". In medieval times people had to wait until the December Full Moon occurs, this year it is on the 17th and between then and the 21st they had to go into the forest chop down a tree and obtain the Yule Log. This would then be burnt during the festive season.
Sunday, 15 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Monday 16th December 2013
On This Day
December 16th 1965
Launch of Pioneer 6, NASA`s oldest working satellite
Pioneers 6 was launched to study the Sun. Today there is no data coming back from Pioneer 6. However in 2000 it was woken up briefly. It is still the world`s oldest surviving satellite.
December 16th 1965
Launch of Pioneer 6, NASA`s oldest working satellite
Pioneers 6 was launched to study the Sun. Today there is no data coming back from Pioneer 6. However in 2000 it was woken up briefly. It is still the world`s oldest surviving satellite.
Saturday, 14 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Sunday December 15th 2013
Eye in the Sky
On the 15th December the Moon passes through the northern part of the Hyades star cluster passing close to the bright red star Aldebaran
On This Day (1)
December 15th 1964
Launch of San Marcos 1
This was the first launch of an entirely Italian designed satellite, San Marcos 1, it was designed to study the upper part of the Earths atmosphere, it re-entered the atmosphere and burnt up on September 13, 1965.
On This Day (2)
December 15th 1966
Discovery of Janus
Saturn`s 10th moon Janus was discovered by the French astronomer Audouin Dolfuss, it had been seen earlier but not recognised. Janus occupies practically the same orbit as the moon Epimetheus which during the 1970s and 80s confused astronomers who thought they were the same object. The size Janus is 203×185×152.6 km
On the 15th December the Moon passes through the northern part of the Hyades star cluster passing close to the bright red star Aldebaran
On This Day (1)
December 15th 1964
Launch of San Marcos 1
This was the first launch of an entirely Italian designed satellite, San Marcos 1, it was designed to study the upper part of the Earths atmosphere, it re-entered the atmosphere and burnt up on September 13, 1965.
On This Day (2)
December 15th 1966
Discovery of Janus
Saturn`s 10th moon Janus was discovered by the French astronomer Audouin Dolfuss, it had been seen earlier but not recognised. Janus occupies practically the same orbit as the moon Epimetheus which during the 1970s and 80s confused astronomers who thought they were the same object. The size Janus is 203×185×152.6 km
Friday, 13 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Saturday 14th December 2013
On This Day (1)
December 14th 1546
The birth of Tycho Brahe, the last of the great pre telescopic astronomers. He died in 1601. Amongst his many achievement was the discovery of the supernova in 1572 in Cassiopeia which today is called Tycho`s star.
On This Day (2)
December 14th 1807.
The birth of Rev. TW Webb who would produce the first edition of Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes in 1859. He died in 1885.
On This Day (3)
December 14th 1962
Mariner 2 space became the first spacecraft to reach Venus. It showed the first real evidence that Venus was a very hostile world and was nothing like Earth, destroying many of the scientists views of Venus at the time.
December 14th 1546
The birth of Tycho Brahe, the last of the great pre telescopic astronomers. He died in 1601. Amongst his many achievement was the discovery of the supernova in 1572 in Cassiopeia which today is called Tycho`s star.
On This Day (2)
December 14th 1807.
The birth of Rev. TW Webb who would produce the first edition of Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes in 1859. He died in 1885.
On This Day (3)
December 14th 1962
Mariner 2 space became the first spacecraft to reach Venus. It showed the first real evidence that Venus was a very hostile world and was nothing like Earth, destroying many of the scientists views of Venus at the time.
Thursday, 12 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Friday 13th December 2013
Eye in the Sky
On the night of December 13th/14th the Geminid meteor shower will be at its peak with around 100 meteors per hour visible.
On This Day
December 13th 1795
Wold Cottage meteorite landed
At around 3 pm on the afternoon of December 13th 1795 a meteorite landed near the village of Wold Newton in East Yorkshire, England. It made a crater about 3 feet wide (1metre) and 6 inches deep (180mm). It weighed about 56 pounds (25kg). People thought that the sound of the detonation was like a canon firing. The local militia turned out because the thought a French warship was bombarding the coast.
The meteorite is now on display at the British Museum.
On the night of December 13th/14th the Geminid meteor shower will be at its peak with around 100 meteors per hour visible.
On This Day
December 13th 1795
Wold Cottage meteorite landed
At around 3 pm on the afternoon of December 13th 1795 a meteorite landed near the village of Wold Newton in East Yorkshire, England. It made a crater about 3 feet wide (1metre) and 6 inches deep (180mm). It weighed about 56 pounds (25kg). People thought that the sound of the detonation was like a canon firing. The local militia turned out because the thought a French warship was bombarding the coast.
The meteorite is now on display at the British Museum.
Wednesday, 11 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Thursday December 12th 2013
On This Day (1)
December 12th 1964
The Mariner 4 space craft en route to Mars passes through the Geminid meteor stream.
On This Day (2)
December 12th 1921
Henrietta Swan Leavitt died on this day, born on July 4th 1868 Leavitt she discovered the relation between the luminosity and the period of Cepheid Variable stars. Though she received little recognition in her lifetime, it was her discovery that first allowed astronomers to measure the distance between the Earth and faraway galaxies. After Leavitt's death, Edwin Hubble used the luminosity-period relation for Cepheids to determine that the Milky Way is not the only galaxy in the observable universe.
The first Cepheid was discovered by John Goodricke in York in 1784, Goodricke was deaf and interestingly Leavitt was partially deaf.
On This Day (3)
December 12th 1871
The French astronomer Janssen used spectroscopy at the solar eclipse in India to propose that the corona consists of both hot and cooler particles and therefore is part of the Sun.
December 12th 1964
The Mariner 4 space craft en route to Mars passes through the Geminid meteor stream.
On This Day (2)
December 12th 1921
Henrietta Swan Leavitt died on this day, born on July 4th 1868 Leavitt she discovered the relation between the luminosity and the period of Cepheid Variable stars. Though she received little recognition in her lifetime, it was her discovery that first allowed astronomers to measure the distance between the Earth and faraway galaxies. After Leavitt's death, Edwin Hubble used the luminosity-period relation for Cepheids to determine that the Milky Way is not the only galaxy in the observable universe.
The first Cepheid was discovered by John Goodricke in York in 1784, Goodricke was deaf and interestingly Leavitt was partially deaf.
On This Day (3)
December 12th 1871
The French astronomer Janssen used spectroscopy at the solar eclipse in India to propose that the corona consists of both hot and cooler particles and therefore is part of the Sun.
Tuesday, 10 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Wednesday 11th December 2013
Eye in the Sky (1)
December 11th 2013
At about 22.10UT the moon will occult the 4th magnitude star Epsilon Pisces, the star will re appear at about 22.17UT ( time varies with location)
Eye in the Sky (2)
December 11th 2013
The Sigma Hydrids meteor shower which is active between December 4th and 15th will reach maximum tonight. The shower should produce 5 meteors per hour.
Eye in the Sky (3)
December 11th 2013
The December Monocerotids have a long active period between November 9th until December 18th. They peak on December 11th. Only about 2 meteors per hour will be seen. The meteor shower appears to be connected to comet Mellish 1917 I.
However the December Monocerotids might be able to solve an astronomy riddle. Between 1038 until 1099 AD a number of very bright meteors and fireballs were observed. It is possible that although very weak now the Monocerotids was a very spectacular shower but that due to planetary gravitational effects from the 4 gas giants the stream has changed positioned. These same changes could bring the Monocerotids back again in about 1,000 years time.
On This Day
December 11th 1863
Annie Jump Cannon was born, the daughter of shipbuilder and state senator Wilson Lee Cannon and his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Jump, Cannon grew up in Dover, Delaware she was instrumental in the development of the Harvard Classification Scheme for stars. The HR diagram classification of stars OBAFGM is based on her work.
Her observation of stars and stellar spectra was extraordinary. Her Draper Catalogue listed nearly 230,000 stars, all the work of a single observer. Cannon also published other catalogues of variable stars, including 300 that she personally discovered. Her career lasted more than 40 years, during which time women gained acceptance within the scientific community. She was the first woman to be elected as an officer of the American Astronomical Society.
She was also the only single female to win the Henry Draper Medal from the National Academy of Sciences in 1931.
Annie Jump Cannon died April 13, 1941.
December 11th 2013
At about 22.10UT the moon will occult the 4th magnitude star Epsilon Pisces, the star will re appear at about 22.17UT ( time varies with location)
Eye in the Sky (2)
December 11th 2013
The Sigma Hydrids meteor shower which is active between December 4th and 15th will reach maximum tonight. The shower should produce 5 meteors per hour.
Eye in the Sky (3)
December 11th 2013
The December Monocerotids have a long active period between November 9th until December 18th. They peak on December 11th. Only about 2 meteors per hour will be seen. The meteor shower appears to be connected to comet Mellish 1917 I.
However the December Monocerotids might be able to solve an astronomy riddle. Between 1038 until 1099 AD a number of very bright meteors and fireballs were observed. It is possible that although very weak now the Monocerotids was a very spectacular shower but that due to planetary gravitational effects from the 4 gas giants the stream has changed positioned. These same changes could bring the Monocerotids back again in about 1,000 years time.
On This Day
December 11th 1863
Annie Jump Cannon was born, the daughter of shipbuilder and state senator Wilson Lee Cannon and his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Jump, Cannon grew up in Dover, Delaware she was instrumental in the development of the Harvard Classification Scheme for stars. The HR diagram classification of stars OBAFGM is based on her work.
Her observation of stars and stellar spectra was extraordinary. Her Draper Catalogue listed nearly 230,000 stars, all the work of a single observer. Cannon also published other catalogues of variable stars, including 300 that she personally discovered. Her career lasted more than 40 years, during which time women gained acceptance within the scientific community. She was the first woman to be elected as an officer of the American Astronomical Society.
She was also the only single female to win the Henry Draper Medal from the National Academy of Sciences in 1931.
Annie Jump Cannon died April 13, 1941.
Monday, 9 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Tuesday December 10th 2013
Eye in the Sky
The Chi Orionid meteor shower will be at maximum on the night of December 10th. Although only about 5 meteors per hour will be seen they are usually bright. This shower is always overshadowed by the Geminids in a few days time.
On This Day
December 10th 1974 Launch of Helios 1
Helios 1 was a West German satellite launched by NASA to observe the Sun the mission ended in 1985.
The Chi Orionid meteor shower will be at maximum on the night of December 10th. Although only about 5 meteors per hour will be seen they are usually bright. This shower is always overshadowed by the Geminids in a few days time.
On This Day
December 10th 1974 Launch of Helios 1
Helios 1 was a West German satellite launched by NASA to observe the Sun the mission ended in 1985.
Astronomy Scrapbook Monday December 9th 2013
Eye in the Sky (1)
METEOR OUTBURST:
The Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar detected an outburst of Andromedid meteors on Dec. 8th. Meteor rates were near 20 per hour (ZHR), The shower could increase in intensity on Dec. 9th, Andromedid meteoroids come from Comet Beila which broke apart in the 19th century. The shower's radiant in Cassiopeia is high in the sky after sunset for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. A similar outburst of Andromedids in 2011 was rich in faint meteors. If the 2013 outburst is the same, dark skies will be required to see it.
Comet Beila
Eye in the Sky (2)
Jupiter will be just 15 arc minutes from the star delta Gemini.
On This Day
December 9th 1858
A meteorite fell onto a wooden house in Ausson France. The meteorite was an L5 Chrondrite and weighed 300g.
METEOR OUTBURST:
The Canadian Meteor Orbit Radar detected an outburst of Andromedid meteors on Dec. 8th. Meteor rates were near 20 per hour (ZHR), The shower could increase in intensity on Dec. 9th, Andromedid meteoroids come from Comet Beila which broke apart in the 19th century. The shower's radiant in Cassiopeia is high in the sky after sunset for observers in the Northern Hemisphere. A similar outburst of Andromedids in 2011 was rich in faint meteors. If the 2013 outburst is the same, dark skies will be required to see it.
Comet Beila
Eye in the Sky (2)
Jupiter will be just 15 arc minutes from the star delta Gemini.
On This Day
December 9th 1858
A meteorite fell onto a wooden house in Ausson France. The meteorite was an L5 Chrondrite and weighed 300g.
Astronomy Scrapbook Sunday December 8th 2013
On This Day
December 8th 1908
The 60 inch telescope at Mount Wilson telescope had its "first light" on December 8, 1908. It was at the time the largest operational telescope in the world. The 60 inch would go on to become one of the most successful telescopes in history.
December 8th 1908
The 60 inch telescope at Mount Wilson telescope had its "first light" on December 8, 1908. It was at the time the largest operational telescope in the world. The 60 inch would go on to become one of the most successful telescopes in history.
Friday, 6 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Saturday December 7th 2013
On This Day
December 7th 1905
Gerard Kuiper was born
Kuiper was a Netherland born American astronomer best know for suggesting that there is an asteroid belt beyond Neptune. This is the area of the solar system we now call the "Kuiper Belt".
Kuiper also discovered the moon Miranda which orbits Uranus in 1948 and Neptune` s second moon Nereid in 1949. In addition, he discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars and the existence of a methane atmosphere above Titan the largest of the moons of Saturn I 1944. Kuiper also pioneered airborne infrared observing using a Convair 990 aircraft in the 1960s.
On This Day
December 7th 1979
Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin died.
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Born in England in 1900 she would go on to become a champion for women astronomers. In 1925 her Ph.D. explained the composition of stars. Astronomer Otto Struve called it "undoubtedly the most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever written in astronomy".
She met Russian born astrophysicist Sergei I. Gaposchkin in Germany, they married and moved to America. Although very committed to astronomy she still had to time to raise a family and placed women very firmly in main stream astronomy.
Payne Gaposchkin probably did more than any other woman to show that women could work in the very male dominated world of astronomy.
December 7th 1905
Gerard Kuiper was born
Kuiper was a Netherland born American astronomer best know for suggesting that there is an asteroid belt beyond Neptune. This is the area of the solar system we now call the "Kuiper Belt".
Kuiper also discovered the moon Miranda which orbits Uranus in 1948 and Neptune` s second moon Nereid in 1949. In addition, he discovered carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of Mars and the existence of a methane atmosphere above Titan the largest of the moons of Saturn I 1944. Kuiper also pioneered airborne infrared observing using a Convair 990 aircraft in the 1960s.
On This Day
December 7th 1979
Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin died.
_(3)%5B1%5D.jpg)
Born in England in 1900 she would go on to become a champion for women astronomers. In 1925 her Ph.D. explained the composition of stars. Astronomer Otto Struve called it "undoubtedly the most brilliant Ph.D. thesis ever written in astronomy".
She met Russian born astrophysicist Sergei I. Gaposchkin in Germany, they married and moved to America. Although very committed to astronomy she still had to time to raise a family and placed women very firmly in main stream astronomy.
Payne Gaposchkin probably did more than any other woman to show that women could work in the very male dominated world of astronomy.
Thursday, 5 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Friday December 6th 2013
On This Day
December 6th 1695
A solar eclipse was visible from the summit of Mount Everest.
On This Day
December 6th 2052
The least distance between the Earth and Moon during the 21st century: 356,421km.
December 6th 1695
A solar eclipse was visible from the summit of Mount Everest.
On This Day
December 6th 2052
The least distance between the Earth and Moon during the 21st century: 356,421km.
Wednesday, 4 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Thursday 5th December 2013
Eye in the Sky
The waxing crescent Moon and Venus are only 7.5 degrees apart at about 17.00hrs low in the southwest.
On the night of December 5th/6th southern hemisphere observes might glimpse some Phoenicid meteors. The shower was unknown until 1956 when over 100 meteors per hour were reported. Since then the number of meteors seen has been at best 5 per hour. One notable feature was the number of exploding fireballs seen.
The meteor shower has been linked with the lost periodic comet Blanpain (1819 IV)
On This Day
December 5th 1968
HEOS 1 ( Highly Eccentric Orbit Satellite) was launched
HELIOS 1 was launched by the European Space Research Organization (ESRO)It was designed to study magnetic fields, solar winds and cosmic rays. It re entered the Earths atmosphere on 28th Oct 1975.
The waxing crescent Moon and Venus are only 7.5 degrees apart at about 17.00hrs low in the southwest.
On the night of December 5th/6th southern hemisphere observes might glimpse some Phoenicid meteors. The shower was unknown until 1956 when over 100 meteors per hour were reported. Since then the number of meteors seen has been at best 5 per hour. One notable feature was the number of exploding fireballs seen.
The meteor shower has been linked with the lost periodic comet Blanpain (1819 IV)
On This Day
December 5th 1968
HEOS 1 ( Highly Eccentric Orbit Satellite) was launched
HELIOS 1 was launched by the European Space Research Organization (ESRO)It was designed to study magnetic fields, solar winds and cosmic rays. It re entered the Earths atmosphere on 28th Oct 1975.
HEOS 1
Tuesday, 3 December 2013
Astronomy Scrapbook Wednesday 4th December 2013
On This Day
December 4th 1973
Pioneer 10 is at its closest approach to Jupiter, at a distance of 132,252 km.The first spacecraft to reach Jupiter. Pioneer 10 had been launched on March 3rd 1972.
Pioneer 10 at Jupiter
On This Day
December 4th 2002
A total Solar Eclipse occurred, this was the first solar eclipse in December since 22nd December 1889, the next total solar eclipse in December will be on 14th December 2020.
The next long gap between Solar eclipses in December will be between 27th December 2084 and 9th December 2197.
December 2002 TSE
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