Tag Archives: Astronomy

ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS FOR JANUARY 2011

December 31, 2010 5:31 PM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

January 2011 Sky Map

JAN 2:  A Waning Crescent Moon within 5 degrees of Antares at the time of dawn

JAN 3-4: Quadrantid Meteor Shower will peak

JAN 4: Partial Solar Eclipse

JAN 4: New Moon

JAN 7: Saturn Western Quadrature

JAN 10: Venus Greatest Western Elongation

venus and mercury will be on greatest elongation on 10th Jan

JAN 10: Mercury Greatest Western Elongation

JAN 12: First Quarter Moon

JAN 15: A Waxing Gibbous Moon (10.32 days old) within 2 degrees of Pleiades (M45).

JAN 20: Full Moon

JAN 21: A Waning gibbous Moon (16.86 days old) within 5.5 degrees of Regulus.

JAN 25: A Waning Gibbous (20.45 days old) Moon will be around 8.5 degrees from Saturn

JAN 26: Last Quarter Moon

JAN 26: The Moon within 6 degrees of Spica. Also the Moon, Spica and Saturn are aligned in a straight line.

JAN 29: A Waning Crescent Moon (24% illuminated) is just around 2 degrees N-NE of Antares.

JAN 30: A Waning Crescent Moon (16% illuminated) is just around 4 degrees NE of Venus.

V S/AASTRO

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ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS FOR DECEMBER 2010

November 30, 2010 6:14 PM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅
Dec 1: The Moon is about 10.5 degrees W-SW of Saturn in the East before dawn
Dec 1: Mercury Greatest Elongation
Dec 2: The Moon is just 3.5 degrees West of Spica in the East before dawn

Dec 3: The Moon is 8 degrees SE of Venus in the East before dawn
Dec 5: New Moon
Dec 7: A very thin Waxing Crescent Moon is just 2 degrees NE of Mercury very low in the West-Southwest just after sunset
Dec 13: First Quarter Moon
Dec 13: The Moon is 7 degrees NW of Jupiter
Dec 13-14: A peak time for the Geminids. Geminid meteor maximums commonly reach 50 or more meteors per hour.
Dec 17: Jupiter Eastern Quadrature
Dec 18: A Waxing Gibbous Moon is within 6.5 degrees from M45
Dec 19: Uranus Eastern Quadrature
Dec 20: Mercury Inferior Conjunction
Dec 21: Full Moon
Dec 26: The Moon is 6.5 degrees SE of Regulus
Dec 27: Pluto Conjunction
Dec 28: Last Quarter Moon
Dec 29: The Moon forms a triangle with Spica and Saturn in the East before dawn. Saturn is nearly 8 degrees and Spica is nearly 7 degrees away from the Moon.
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ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER 2010

October 31, 2010 3:37 PM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

Nov 1: The Moon is 5 degrees S of Regulus in the East before dawn

Nov 4: A Waning Crescent Moon is about 7.5 degrees SE of Saturn in the East just before dawn

Nov 6 : New moon

Nov 13: First Quarter Moon

Nov 16: A Gibbous Moon is nearly 6.5 degrees away from Jupiter

Nov 17/18: The Leonids Meteor Shower will peak. This shower has produced meteor storms in the past, but no storm is expected this year. Also the Waxing Gibbous Moon will shine till after Mid-Night.

Nov 18: Neptune Eastern Quadrature

Nov 20: Mercury and Mars are just 1 deg 40’ apart in the W-SW, very low after Sunset.

Nov 21: Full Moon.

Nov 22: The Moon is just 1 deg 30’ away from M45-The Pleiades (after mid night) but an observer will have to use a binocular to glimpse M45.

Nov 29:  A Last Quarter Moon is nearly 9 degrees from Regulus

NOVEMBER 2010 PLANET ROUND-UP

MARS: Very low in Scorpius in the Western evening sky in the beginning of month. On 8th at evening Mars will share company with a very thin Crescent Moon and also they will form a trio with Regulus. On 20th November at evening Mars will be paired with Mercury by just 1.5 degrees apart.

NEPTUNE: The planet shining at magnitude 7.8 in the beginning of the month. FindNeptune just within 12’ 53” NW of the 5th mag Mu Capricorni star. Neptune will be at Eastern Quadrature on November 18.

JUPITER and URANUS will remain around 3 degrees throughout the month. Jupiter shining at mag -2.7 along with Uranus (mag 5.7) is well placed in the sky after sunset for observation

SATURN: The ringed planet will rise around 5am in the month’s beginning. On 4thNovember the planet will be nearly 7 degrees N-NE of Crescent Moon forming a very nice naked-eye view. Saturn will begin this month by staying within 1.5 degrees East from Porrima in Virgo and will keep moving away toward east.

VENUS: The brightest planet will emerge from the Eastern morning sky during the first week of the month. On November 18, the planet will be 3 degrees 18’ East of Spica.

MERCURY: Very low in the evening Western sky will remain in the glare of the Sun. The inner most planet will emerge from the Western horizon during 10th November and will form a trio with Mars and Antares in the evening of 15th November. Mercury will be just 1 deg 40’ from Mars on 20th evening. Mercury will slowly keep getting up the western sky unless it reaches Greatest Eastern Elongation on December 1st.

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ആസ്ട്രോ തൃശൂരില്‍ ചന്ദ്രശേഖര്‍ അനുസ്മരണം സംഘടിപ്പിച്ചു

October 30, 2010 3:05 AM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

ആസ്ട്രോ കേരളയുടെ തൃശൂര്‍ ജില്ലാ ഘടകത്തിന്‍റെ ആഭിമുഖ്യത്തില്‍ പ്രമുഖ ജ്യോതിശാസ്ത്രജ്ഞനായിരുന്ന സുബ്രമഹ്ണ്യം ചന്ദ്രശേഖറുടെ ജന്മശതാബ്ദി ആചരണം നടത്തി.അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്‍റെ ജീവിതത്തെയും സംഭാവനകളെയും കുറിച്ച് ആസ്ട്രോ തൃശൂര്‍ ഘടകം ചെയര്‍മാനായ ശ്രീ.പി ആര്‍ ചന്ദ്രമോഹന്‍ വിദ്യാര്‍ഥികള്‍ക്കായി ക്ലാസ് നയിച്ചു.ഒക്ടോബര്‍ 19 നു തൃശൂര്‍ ഗവ.മോഡല്‍ ഗേള്‍സ്‌ ഹൈസ്കൂളില്‍ വച്ചു  നടന്ന പരിപാടിയില്‍ ആസ്ട്രോ ഭാരവാഹി ശ്രീ അജയകുമാര്‍,സ്കൂള്‍ ഭാരവാഹികള്‍ തുടങ്ങിയവര്‍ സംബന്ധിച്ചു.നിരവധി വിദ്യാര്‍ഥികള്‍ പരിപാടിയില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്തു

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AASTRO Quiz competition accomplished to gain student mass

October 20, 2010 9:53 AM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

The quiz competition conducted by AASTRO on the centenary birth day of Dr. S. Chandrasekhar was rich in participation and knowledge. Around 80 students from various schools in Thiruvananthapuram participated actively in the contest. The program was formally inaugurated by Shri. Arul Jerald Prakash, Director of Kerala Science and Technology museum.The quiz was lead by Prof. Pappootty. Anand Justin from St. Mary's HSS, Thiruvananthapuram came first in the Higher Secondary level and Sreelakshmy V P from Govt. GHSS Cotton Hill came first in the High School level.

The quiz was followed by a lecture by Shri. D Krishna Warrier on Chandrasekhar's contribution to astrophysics and other related facts. Students, teachers, AASTRO members and many interested public participated in the program.

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Astronomy Quiz for students in connection with Chandrasekhar Centenary Programs

October 15, 2010 4:51 PM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

On the centenary birthday of Indian legend in the field of astrophysics,Dr.S. Chandrasekhar, AASTRO conducts an astronomy quiz competition for High School-Higher Secondary students. The competition will start at 1.30 pm at the seminar hall of Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, PMG.  From an institution, ten students can participate in the competition (5 from HS and 5 from HSS).

Dr.C.P. Aravindakshan will moderate the competition, which will commence at 1.30 p.m. Not more than 10 students can participate from a school. Each participant will have to pay Rs.25 as registration fee at the venue. The quiz is to commemorate the birth centenary of Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, eminent Indian-born physicist and Nobel Laureate.Dr. Chandrasekhar is particularly remembered for his contributions to the study of evolution of stars in astrophysics.The quiz is  designed to give the students some new knowledge , rather than just testing their knowledge. The programme will be followed by an astronomy lecture by Prof. K. Pappootty,Director,State Institute of Encyclopedia Publications.  Students other than the participants, teachers and interested public from any field are also invited to this event.. They will get opportunity to interact with eminent people in the field.

For details, please contact Mr. Vaisakhan Thampi (9846608238) or Mr. Pradeep Attukal (9447525367)

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AASTRO Observed World Space week

October 12, 2010 7:45 PM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

As part of its World Space Week celebrations, AASTRO -Thiruvananthapuram chapter conducted a lecture series on 7th October for students and public. The program started at 3 pm at the seminar hall of Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, PMG, Thiruvananthapuram. The first lecture was presented by Dr. Thirtha Pratim Das, Scientist, VSSC about 'Discovery of H2O on Moon'. Dr. T. P. Das, with the aid of beautiful slides, lucidly presented the chronological development of the explorations that finally confirmed the presence of water on moon. The second lecture was presented by Prof. K. Pappootty, Director, State Institute of Encyclopedic Publications and President of AASTRO, about 'Astronomy and Astrology'. He briefly explained the difference between the purely scientific concepts of of Astronomy and the superstitious interpretations given to them. The lectures were followed by interactive sessions where the audience could clear their queries.

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SKYMAP FOR OCTOBER 2010

October 2, 2010 12:09 AM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

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AASTRO Monthly Meet @ Planetarium

July 6, 2010 9:37 PM ⋅ Leave a Comment ⋅

AASTRO office bearers,members and enthusiasts , as a part of  its monthly meet up,  will gather at Kerala state Science & technology Museum on Wednesday, 5.30 PM. AASTRO will arrange public lectures and discussions regarding  vivid topics in astronomy, astrophysics,physics, space science and allied subjects. For July, we have a presentation on Relativity theory by Shri.K.S.Skaria IPS followed by a discussion on it. Eminent personalities, AASTRO Members, planetarium officials, students and other subject  enthusiasts will take part. the talk is open for public too. For more details, one can contact Shri.D.S.Vaishakahan Thampi , Ph : 9846608238

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ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS FOR JULY 2010

July 5, 2010 12:02 PM ⋅ 1 Comment ⋅

JULY 1: Moon at apogee  (farthest from Earth) at 10h UT (distance 405,036 km; angular size 29.8')
JULY 3: Moon near Jupiter (morning sky) at 20h UT. Mag. -2.5.
JULY 4: Last Quarter Moon at 14:35 UT.
JULY 6: Earth at Aphelion (farthest from Sun) at 11h UT. The Sun- Earth distance is 1.01670 a.u. or about 152.1 million km.
JULY 8: Moon near Pleiades (morning sky) at 6h UT.
JULY 9: Moon near Aldebaran (morning sky) at 2h UT.
JULY 10: Venus 1.0° NNE of Regulus (evening sky) at 12h UT. Mags. -4.1 and 1.4.
JULY 11: Total Solar Eclipse visible from South Pacific Ocean. Path of totality includes parts of the Cook Islands, Tahiti, Tuamotu Archipelago, Easter Island, and southern Chile and Argentina. Greatest totality (5m 20s) occurs in open ocean at 19:34 UT.
JULY 11: New Moon at 19:40 UT. Start of lunation 1083.

JULY 13: Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 11h UT (361,115 km; 32.1').
JULY 14: Moon near Regulus (evening sky) at 13h UT.
JULY 14: Moon near Venus (evening sky) at 22h UT. Mag. -4.1.
JULY 16: Moon near Mars (evening sky) at 0h UT. Mag. +1.4.
JULY 16: Moon near Saturn (evening sky) at 14h UT. Mag. +1.1.

Sky map for July

JULY 18: Moon near Spica (evening sky) at 6h UT.
JULY 18: First Quarter Moon at 10:11 UT.
JULY 21: Moon near Antares (evening sky) at 20h UT.
JULY 26: Full Moon at 1:37 UT.
JULY 27: Mercury 0.3° SSW of Regulus (25° from Sun, evening sky) at 22h UT. Mags. +0.1 and +1.3.
JULY 29: Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 0h UT (distance 405,955 km; angular size 29.3').
JULY 31: Moon near Jupiter (morning sky) at 2h UT. Mag. -2.7.
JULY 31: Mars 1.8° SSW of Saturn (evening sky) at 6h UT. Mags. +1.5 and +1.1.

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