| July 29, 2010 Volume 51 Edition No. 30 |
FREE
|
| July 29, 2010 Headlines (24)| Community Calendar (1) | Editorial (0) | Issue Archives |
| Classifieds (6) | Search |
| Sharing a picture perfect sky | |||
| by Rod Clark |
|
|
|
||
.jpg) Our picture of the month is a photograph of the Eagle Nebula. It is one of the few nebula that actually look like their name-sake. At this time of the year, it can be found in a busy area of the southern sky, slightly above the Sagittarius teapot. It is said to be visible through binoculars but with recommendations for an absolutely clear night and a very dark sky.The Eagle Nebula is a huge cloud of gas, estimated to be sixty-five light-years in diameter. It radiates infrared light, signifying an active star-forming region, probably powered by a supernova explosion. The Eagle Nebula measures at being 6500 light-years from us, indicating that the light required to make this picture, left its source about the time that our ancestors were inventing the wheel. You may ask how this photograph could be taken from such a great distance. Reasonable expectations would suggest using one of the famous space telescopes, perhaps the Spitzer or the Hubble. But the truth is that it was taken from within our own community, at the Hallam Observatory near Comber and the astro-photographer was Tecumseh’s own Steven Mastellotto. Steve is the past president for The Windsor Center of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and has the use of Hallam’s fourteen inch telescope. Recently, he acquired a new CCD (digital) camera especially designed for astronomical photography. This means that the telescope becomes the main lens of the camera. Steve is pleased with the results from his new camera and reports that, “the attached image is the result of taking 4 x 10 minute exposures. I am very happy with this ‘first-light’ attempt and I cannot wait to learn how to use everything.” On the night of August 12/13, we will welcome the annual Perseid Meteor shower. With some reluctance, we pass on the prophecy that this will be one of the best displays and with assurances for 100 meteors per hour. The advantage of a moonless night will help make this goal possible. The meteors are grains of dust ejected from Comet Swift-Tuttle which, like an old friend, has passed many times through our celestial neighbourhood. The comet’s path passes through the north-eastern sky. The August open-house at the Hallam Observatory will be on the seventh at 9.00 pm .jpg)
add your comments on this story | |||
|
| |||