What’s Up What’s Up Jan 2008 – Feb 2008Jan 2008 – Feb 2008

Sa-sa-na Loft Astro SocietySa-sa-na Loft Astro Society

Mars Rover UpdateMars Rover Update

Mars Rove UpdateMars Rove Update– NASA announces 2009 contract extensionNASA announces 2009 contract extension– Opp – exploring interior of Victoria CraterOpp – exploring interior of Victoria Crater– Spirit – Racing against energy to get to its Winter Spirit – Racing against energy to get to its Winter

Home on Mars.Home on Mars. New software added to improve efficiency getting New software added to improve efficiency getting

to locationto location For every day of travel, a day of chargingFor every day of travel, a day of charging Panels still dustyPanels still dusty If it doesn’t get to North facing spot, may not If it doesn’t get to North facing spot, may not

survive winter.survive winter.

Astronomical EventsAstronomical Events

1/21 – Mercury at Greatest Elongation1/21 – Mercury at Greatest Elongation 2/6 New Moon2/6 New Moon 2/20 – Full Moon – TOTAL LUNAR 2/20 – Full Moon – TOTAL LUNAR

ECLIPSEECLIPSE 11stst Week of February – Sporadic Meteors Week of February – Sporadic Meteors

– Up to 5 per hour at times.Up to 5 per hour at times.

Asteroids and CometsAsteroids and Comets 17P/Holmes 17P/Holmes

– In PerseusIn Perseus

Comet 8P/TutleComet 8P/Tutle– Crest at mag 5.5Crest at mag 5.5– Last week in Dec to Jan 10Last week in Dec to Jan 10– Heading between Cetus and PiscesHeading between Cetus and Pisces– Jan 26Jan 26thth – Closest to Sun – Closest to Sun

Comet 46P WirtanenComet 46P Wirtanen– Heads from Pisces to AiresHeads from Pisces to Aires– 88thth Magnitude Magnitude– 11stst week of February week of February

1 Ceres Cruises through Cetus at 8.3 mag1 Ceres Cruises through Cetus at 8.3 mag– On Jan 6th, Ceres and Tutle will lie in the same field of view.On Jan 6th, Ceres and Tutle will lie in the same field of view.– Considered a Dwarf Planet not an asteroid.Considered a Dwarf Planet not an asteroid.

6 Hebe treks through Cancer6 Hebe treks through Cancer– Beelines toward M44 Beehive ClusterBeelines toward M44 Beehive Cluster– 99thth magnitude – opposition 2/6 magnitude – opposition 2/6

Comet 17P/HolmesComet 17P/Holmes

Heart and Soul Heart and Soul Nebula in Nebula in CassiopeiaCassiopeia

Solar ActivitySolar Activity Coronal holes are vast regions Coronal holes are vast regions where the sun's magnetic field where the sun's magnetic field opens up and allows solar wind to opens up and allows solar wind to escape. A million mile-per-hour escape. A million mile-per-hour wind stream is spewing from this wind stream is spewing from this coronal hole and heading toward coronal hole and heading toward Earth. Earth.

Solar Cycle 24 PredictionsSolar Cycle 24 Predictions

Favorite APODsFavorite APODs

The Milky way GalaxyThe Milky way Galaxy M51 – Whirlpool GalaxyM51 – Whirlpool Galaxy

Date Object name Magnitude

RA (current epoch)

Dec (current epoch)

Earth distance (au) Rise time

Transit time Set time Phase (%)

Sun distance (au)

1/14/2008 Mercury -0.84 20h 50m 39s -19°18'53" 1.17 08:32 13:22 18:14 81.32 0.35 1/14/2008 Venus -4.03 17h 07m 28s -21°19'24" 1.23 04:58 09:39 14:20 80.2 0.72 1/14/2008 Mars -1.13 05h 41m 35s +26°56'17" 0.66 14:17 22:09 06:05 97.89 1.6 1/14/2008 Jupiter -1.85 18h 26m 19s -23°09'11" 6.17 06:24 10:56 15:28 99.92 5.24 1/14/2008 Saturn 0.45 10h 41m 09s +10°11'27" 8.54 20:29 03:12 09:52 99.86 9.27 1/14/2008 Uranus 5.9 23h 09m 02s -06°16'26" 20.68 09:59 15:38 21:17 99.96 20.1 1/14/2008 Neptune 7.97 21h 32m 44s -14°52'10" 30.91 08:55 14:02 19:09 99.99 30.04 1/14/2008 Pluto 14.03 17h 58m 23s -17°09'47" 32.29 05:30 10:28 15:25 100 31.4 1/21/2008 Mercury -0.63 21h 27m 19s -15°25'33" 0.99 08:25 13:31 18:38 59.63 0.32 1/21/2008 Venus -4.01 17h 44m 14s -22°08'18" 1.28 05:10 09:48 14:25 82.01 0.72 1/21/2008 Mars -0.92 05h 36m 09s +26°50'30" 0.7 13:45 21:36 05:32 96.62 1.61 1/21/2008 Jupiter -1.86 18h 33m 06s -23°04'58" 6.13 06:03 10:35 15:07 99.86 5.24 1/21/2008 Saturn 0.4 10h 39m 51s +10°20'46" 8.47 19:59 02:43 09:23 99.9 9.27 1/21/2008 Uranus 5.91 23h 10m 07s -06°09'24" 20.77 09:32 15:11 20:51 99.97 20.1 1/21/2008 Neptune 7.97 21h 33m 43s -14°47'28" 30.96 08:28 13:35 18:43 100 30.04 1/21/2008 Pluto 14.03 17h 59m 22s -17°09'50" 32.24 05:03 10:01 14:59 99.99 31.41 1/28/2008 Mercury 0.47 21h 42m 44s -12°11'51" 0.81 07:59 13:17 18:35 27.13 0.31 1/28/2008 Venus -3.99 18h 21m 24s -22°25'56" 1.32 05:21 09:57 14:34 83.73 0.72 1/28/2008 Mars -0.7 05h 33m 42s +26°43'39" 0.75 13:16 21:06 05:01 95.32 1.61 1/28/2008 Jupiter -1.88 18h 39m 43s -22°59'49" 6.08 05:42 10:14 14:47 99.8 5.24 1/28/2008 Saturn 0.34 10h 38m 18s +10°31'27" 8.4 19:30 02:14 08:55 99.93 9.27 1/28/2008 Uranus 5.92 23h 11m 18s -06°01'46" 20.86 09:05 14:45 20:25 99.98 20.1 1/28/2008 Neptune 7.98 21h 34m 43s -14°42'36" 31 08:01 13:09 18:16 100 30.04 1/28/2008 Pluto 14.02 18h 00m 17s -17°09'45" 32.18 04:37 09:35 14:32 99.99 31.41 2/4/2008 Mercury 3.67 21h 25m 50s -11°40'46" 0.67 07:13 12:31 17:49 2.71 0.32 2/4/2008 Venus -3.98 18h 58m 41s -22°11'05" 1.35 05:30 10:07 14:45 85.33 0.72 2/4/2008 Mars -0.49 05h 34m 04s +26°37'01" 0.8 12:49 20:40 04:34 94.09 1.62 2/4/2008 Jupiter -1.9 18h 46m 10s -22°53'48" 6.02 05:20 09:53 14:26 99.72 5.24 2/4/2008 Saturn 0.29 10h 36m 32s +10°43'14" 8.35 19:00 01:45 08:26 99.96 9.28 2/4/2008 Uranus 5.93 23h 12m 35s -05°53'36" 20.93 08:38 14:19 20:00 99.98 20.1 2/4/2008 Neptune 7.98 21h 35m 45s -14°37'35" 31.02 07:34 12:42 17:50 100 30.04 2/4/2008 Pluto 14.02 18h 01m 09s -17°09'29" 32.1 04:10 09:08 14:06 99.99 31.41 2/11/2008 Mercury 2.78 20h 54m 14s -13°44'02" 0.66 06:22 11:32 16:42 6.64 0.36 2/11/2008 Venus -3.96 19h 35m 45s -21°23'50" 1.39 05:36 10:17 14:58 86.85 0.73 2/11/2008 Mars -0.29 05h 37m 03s +26°31'04" 0.86 12:25 20:15 04:08 93 1.63 2/11/2008 Jupiter -1.93 18h 52m 24s -22°47'04" 5.95 04:58 09:32 14:06 99.63 5.23 2/11/2008 Saturn 0.24 10h 34m 35s +10°55'47" 8.32 18:29 01:15 07:58 99.98 9.28 2/11/2008 Uranus 5.94 23h 13m 55s -05°44'59" 20.98 08:11 13:53 19:34 99.99 20.1 2/11/2008 Neptune 7.98 21h 36m 48s -14°32'31" 31.03 07:08 12:16 17:24 100 30.04 2/11/2008 Pluto 14.01 18h 01m 56s -17°09'06" 32.02 03:43 08:41 13:39 99.98 31.42 2/18/2008 Mercury 0.92 20h 40m 30s -15°49'50" 0.73 05:49 10:52 15:55 25.99 0.4 2/18/2008 Venus -3.94 20h 12m 19s -20°05'29" 1.43 05:39 10:26 15:13 88.27 0.73 2/18/2008 Mars -0.1 05h 42m 21s +26°25'33" 0.93 12:04 19:53 03:46 92.08 1.63 2/18/2008 Jupiter -1.96 18h 58m 23s -22°39'47" 5.87 04:36 09:10 13:45 99.54 5.23 2/18/2008 Saturn 0.19 10h 32m 32s +11°08'45" 8.3 17:59 00:46 07:29 100 9.28 2/18/2008 Uranus 5.94 23h 15m 19s -05°36'02" 21.03 07:45 13:27 19:08 99.99 20.1 2/18/2008 Neptune 7.98 21h 37m 50s -14°27'26" 31.02 06:41 11:49 16:58 100 30.04 2/18/2008 Pluto 14.01 18h 02m 38s -17°08'36" 31.92 03:17 08:14 13:12 99.98 31.42

My Current Target ListMy Current Target List Andromeda Galaxy (M31, M32, M110)Andromeda Galaxy (M31, M32, M110) NGC 404 – Ghost of MirachNGC 404 – Ghost of Mirach M33 - Triangulum/Pin Wheel GalaxyM33 - Triangulum/Pin Wheel Galaxy NGC 672/IC 1727 – Interacting GalaxiesNGC 672/IC 1727 – Interacting Galaxies 17P/Comet Holmes17P/Comet Holmes NGC 7662 - Blue SnowballNGC 7662 - Blue Snowball MarsMars Orion and M42Orion and M42 M41 OC and NGC 2362 Tau ClusterM41 OC and NGC 2362 Tau Cluster Herschel h3945 – Winter AlbireoHerschel h3945 – Winter Albireo NGC 869 - Double ClusterNGC 869 - Double Cluster Stock 2 – Muscle Man Cluster AsterismStock 2 – Muscle Man Cluster Asterism NGC 457 – Open ClusterNGC 457 – Open Cluster NGC 2264 – Christmas Tree ClusterNGC 2264 – Christmas Tree Cluster NGC 2261 – Hubble’s Variable NebulaNGC 2261 – Hubble’s Variable Nebula NGC 2237, 2238,2246 Rosette NebulaNGC 2237, 2238,2246 Rosette Nebula NGC 2244 – Open ClusterNGC 2244 – Open Cluster NGC 2329 – Eskimo NebulaNGC 2329 – Eskimo Nebula NGC 2371/2372 – Planetary in GeminiNGC 2371/2372 – Planetary in Gemini M35 and NGC 2158 in GeminiM35 and NGC 2158 in Gemini M50 Open ClusterM50 Open Cluster M46 Open Cluster and NGC 2438 – Planetary NebulaM46 Open Cluster and NGC 2438 – Planetary Nebula IC 418 – Spiro-graph NebulaIC 418 – Spiro-graph Nebula M79 – Globular ClusterM79 – Globular Cluster SaturnSaturn

All gold items are new and recommended by Robert Werkman, Keith’s brother! Items in bold italics will be All gold items are new and recommended by Robert Werkman, Keith’s brother! Items in bold italics will be inserted next monthinserted next month

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Ghost of Mirach – NGC 404Ghost of Mirach – NGC 404

Magnitude 10Magnitude 10 Elliptical GalaxyElliptical Galaxy In AndromedaIn Andromeda

Interacting Spirals – NGC 672/IC Interacting Spirals – NGC 672/IC 17271727

NGC 672NGC 672– Magnitude 10.7Magnitude 10.7

– Spiral GalaxySpiral Galaxy– In TriangulumIn Triangulum

IC 1727IC 1727– Mag 11.4Mag 11.4– Spiral GalaxySpiral Galaxy

InteractingInteracting

Comet 17P HolmesComet 17P Holmes

The Blue Snowball (NGC 7662)The Blue Snowball (NGC 7662)

Magnitude 8.3Magnitude 8.3 Planetary NebulaPlanetary Nebula AndromedaAndromeda

Mars and Pleiades Mars and Pleiades

Orion and the CrabOrion and the Crab

M41 OC and NGC 2362 Tau M41 OC and NGC 2362 Tau ClusterCluster

NGC 869, 743 and Stock 2NGC 869, 743 and Stock 2

NGC 457 – Open ClusterNGC 457 – Open Cluster Mag 6.4Mag 6.4 Open ClusterOpen Cluster Owl ClusterOwl Cluster Dragonfly ClusterDragonfly Cluster ET ClusterET Cluster .5 deg across.5 deg across

NGC 2264 - Christmas Tree NGC 2264 - Christmas Tree ClusterCluster

Mag 4.1Mag 4.1 Open ClusterOpen Cluster Contains Conus Contains Conus

NebulaNebula 2-3 deg across2-3 deg across

NGC 2261 – Hubble’s Variable NGC 2261 – Hubble’s Variable NebulaNebula

Mag 30Mag 30 NebulaNebula Go Wide FieldGo Wide Field OIII requiredOIII required

NGC 2237,2238,2246 and 2244NGC 2237,2238,2246 and 2244

Rosette Nebula Rosette Nebula and Friendsand Friends

Mag 30/blue Mag 30/blue mag 4mag 4

NebulaNebula Go Wide FieldGo Wide Field OIII requiredOIII required

NGC 2329 – The Eskimo NebulaNGC 2329 – The Eskimo Nebula

CastorCastor Mag 1.6Mag 1.6 Double BluesDouble Blues Easily splitEasily split

Mag 9.1Mag 9.1 Planetary NebulaPlanetary Nebula

NGC2371/2372NGC2371/2372 Double BubbleDouble Bubble Mag 11.2Mag 11.2 Planetary Neb.Planetary Neb.

M50 - Open ClusterM50 - Open Cluster

M50M50 Mag 5.9Mag 5.9 Open ClusterOpen Cluster .5 deg across.5 deg across

M46 - Open ClusterM46 - Open Cluster M46M46 Mag 6.1Mag 6.1 Open ClusterOpen Cluster .75 deg across.75 deg across

NGC 2438NGC 2438 Mag 10.3Mag 10.3 Planetary NebulaPlanetary Nebula .1 deg across.1 deg across

Saturn and its MoonsSaturn and its Moons

Titan – 8.4Titan – 8.4 Rhea – 9.8Rhea – 9.8 Dione – 10.2Dione – 10.2 Tethis – 10.3Tethis – 10.3 Encilidus – 11.8Encilidus – 11.8 Mimas – 11.3Mimas – 11.3 Hyperion – 14.5Hyperion – 14.5

New ToysNew Toys