Category Archives: Of Interest

Earth’s Companion Asteroid

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Earth Has A Companion Asteroid With a Weird Orbit

by NANCY ATKINSON on APRIL 6, 2011

In this graphic of a horseshoe orbit from NASA, Horseshoe orbits follow contour lines that enclose Lagrange points L3, L4 & L5. Credit: NASA

There are plenty of near-Earth asteroids out there, but this latest one studied by two researchers at Armagh Observatory in Northern Ireland is extremely rare in that it has a weird, horseshoe-shaped orbit. Not that Asteroid 2010 SO16 does an about-face and turns around in mid-orbit — no, the asteroid always orbits the Sun in the same direction. But because of its unique orbital path and the gravitational effects from both the Earth and the Sun, it goes through a cycle of catching up with the Earth and falling behind, so that from our perspective here on Earth, its movement relative to both the Sun and the Earth traces a shape like the outline of a horseshoe: it appears to approach, then shift orbit, and go farther away without ever passing Earth.

This asteroid was discovered on September 17, 2010 by the WISE Earth-orbiting observatory.

tro read more go to:    http://www.universetoday.com/84652/earth-has-a-companion-asteroid-with-a-weird-orbit/

April’s Lyrid Meteor Showers

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April’s Shooting Stars

by ADRIAN WEST on APRIL 5, 2011

Lyrids Radiant Credit: Adrian West

April showers? Yes! The 16th to the 26th this month brings us the April Lyrid Meteor Shower, with the peak occurring on April 22nd.

The meteors in this shower tend to be bright and leave persistent trains as they enter the Earth’s atmosphere. In recent years the shower has averaged 10 to 20 meteors per hour.

You may think that this sounds like a fairly mediocre shower and not worth bothering with, but it has been known for the Lyrids to surge and rates rise rapidly to over 100 per hour! This is what makes this shower so interesting and difficult to predict. Will it be a biggy this year or not?

Lyrid meteors radiate from a point (radiant) in the constellation of Lyra and this is where this shower gets its name. The best time to look for Lyrid meteors will late in the evening on April 22nd after 10 pm as the constellation of Lyra rises up from the northeast horizon.

This will give you 2 or 3 hours of meteor watching before the waning gibbous moon rises and starts to wash out the sky. But still, it’s well worth staying up to see as many bright meteors as possible.

 

Comparison of Sun’s Activity

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Just How Active is our Sun Now Compared to Two Years Ago?

by NANCY ATKINSON on APRIL 5, 2011

This video provided by the Solar Dynamics Observatory provides a side-by-side comparison of the Sun from precisely two years ago (left, from SOHO in 2009) to the present (right, from Solar Dynamics Observatory, showing March 27-28, 2011) which dramatically illustrates just how active the Sun has become. The comparisons shown in two similar wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light, reveal how the Sun now sports numerous active regions that appear as lighter areas that are capable of producing solar storms. Two years ago the Sun was in an extremely quiet solar minimum. The Sun’s maximum period of activity is predicted to be around 2013, so activity will likely continue to ramp up.

fr/universe.com

Huge Asteroid to Pass Near Earth in November

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FR/SPACE.COM

Potentially Dangerous Asteroid Spotted Passing Earth
The near-Earth asteroid named 2005 YU55 — on the list of potentially dangerous asteroids — was observed with the Arecibo Telescope’s planetary radar on April 19, 2010 when it was about 1.5 million miles from the Earth, which is about 6 times the distance to the moon. Full Story.
CREDIT: Arecibo Observatory/Michael Nolan

Mark your calendars for an impressive and upcoming flyby of an asteroid that’s one of the larger potentially perilous space rocks in the heavens – in terms of smacking the Earth in the future.

It’s the case of asteroid 2005 YU55, a round mini-world that is about 1,300 feet (400 meters) in diameter. In early November, this asteroid will approach Earth within a scant 0.85 lunar distances. [Photo of Asteroid 2005 YU55]

Due the object’s size and whisking by so close to Earth, an extensive campaign of radar, visual and infrared observations are being planned.

Asteroid 2005 YU55 was discovered by Spacewatch at the University of Arizona, Tucson’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory on Dec. 28, 2005. En route and headed our way, the cosmic wanderer is another reminder about life here on our sitting duck of a planet

to read more go to:     http://www.space.com/11310-huge-asteroid-2005-yu55-passing-earth-november.html

 

Global Lunar Week

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Global Lunar Week – April 10 to 16, 2011

by TAMMY PLOTNER on APRIL 7, 2011

Lunar Week Logo Courtesy of Astronomers Without Borders

In 2009, hundreds of thousands of people participated in one way or another with the International Year of Astronomy, and there’s no reason to let the excitement die!Astronomers Without Borders are celebrating the entire month of April as Global Astronomy Month and one of the focus points is just three days from arrival… Global Lunar Week!

” A week-long series of programs, from April 10 through 16, will be dedicated to the Moon during Global Astronomy Month to help people rediscover our closest companion in space.” says AWB. “Lunar Week takes place while the Moon is well-placed for observation in the evening sky. As the Moon’s phases and positions change during its orbit around the Earth, there will be Moon-themed star parties to observe the Moon by telescope and naked eye, educational programs, online observing events, competitions and a celebration of the Moon in different cultures.”

to read more go to;     http://www.universetoday.com/84699/global-lunar-week-april-10-to-16-2011/

 

Unprecedented Cosmic Blast

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Space Telescopes Observe Unprecedented Explosion

by NANCY ATKINSON on APRIL 7, 2011

Images from Swift’s Ultraviolet/Optical (white, purple) and X-ray telescopes (yellow and red) were combined in this view of GRB 110328A. The blast was detected only in X-rays, which were collected over a 3.4-hour period on March 28. Credit: NASA/Swift/Stefan Immler

From a NASA press release:

NASA’s Swift, Hubble Space Telescope and Chandra X-ray Observatory have teamed up to study one of the most puzzling cosmic blasts yet observed. More than a week later, high-energy radiation continues to brighten and fade from its location.

Astronomers say they have never seen anything this bright, long-lasting and variable before. Usually, gamma-ray bursts mark the destruction of a massive star, but flaring emission from these events never lasts more than a few hours.

to read more go to:http://www.universetoday.com/84694/space-telescopes-observe-unprecedented-explosion/

 

Herbs for Health

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Herbs are not only great in meals for spice and added flavor but are key to the nutritional density in the foods you eat. Herbs can protect you against diseases, clear toxins from your body, and provide you with vitamins and minerals.

Here are some examples of such, from a list of nine assembled by Planet Green:

Basil

Basil provides Vitamins A, C, and K, along with iron, manganese, magnesium, and potassium. Loaded with flavonoids, basil helps prevent cell damage from radiation and oxygen.

Ginger

Treat nausea and an upset stomach with ginger; prevent and treat the common cold with its antiviral components.

Fenugreek

This Mediterranean herb is good for menstrual cramps, menopause symptoms, cholesterol, and diabetes.

Flat Leaf Parsley

Parsley is renowned for containing high levels of antioxidants and is full of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber that help balance cholesterol and ward off constipation.

Turmeric

The Cork Cancer Research Centre’s test results show that turmeric can kill gullet cancer cells in 24 hours!

Sources:

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

Believe it or not, but common herbs and spices are actually some of the healthiest foods on the planet—topping the list of high ORAC value foods—so you can easily boost the nutritional value of your meal simply by spicing it up a bit. ORAC is a standardized method of measuring the antioxidant capacity of different foods and supplements. The higher the ORAC score, the more effective a food is at neutralizing harmful free radicals.

So, every time you flavor your meals with herbs or spices you are literally “upgrading” your food without adding a single calorie.

The Secret Powers of Herbs and Spices

to read more and find out what herbs are good for what, go to:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/04/9-healing-herbs-and-how-to-use-them-in-your-cooking.aspx

Arctic Ozone Layer reaches New Low

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Arctic Ozone Levels Reach All-Time Low

by NANCY ATKINSON on APRIL 6, 2011

In the past, massive ozone loss over Antarctica has grabbed the headlines. But this year, measurements by several different sources show record levels of stratospheric ozone loss over the Arctic. Scientists say the main reason for the record ozone loss this year is that unusually cold stratospheric temperatures, which have endured later into the season than usual. Scientists say the unusual loss is not catastrophic, but something that needs to be monitored.

To read more go to:

http://www.universetoday.com/84655/arctic-ozone-levels-reach-all-time-low/

April 1st Aurora

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fr/spaceweather.com

PRIL AURORAS: According to the space weather forecast, geomagnetic storms were unlikely on April 1st. It would’ve been foolish to go out looking for Northern Lights. Warren Gammel of Fairbanks, Alaska, decided to check the skies anyway, and this is what he saw:

“I didn’t expect to see too much when I went out at 2 a.m. on April 1st, but the auroras were fairly strong,” he says. “I took these pictures using a Canon T1i with a Pelang 8mm fisheye lens.”

The display was caused by a minor but effective solar wind stream that arrived during the early hours of April 1st. The impact sparked bright lights across the Arctic realm of North America.

 

Good Time to View the Planet Saturn

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ASTRONOMY: Saturn will star Sunday evening

11:26 AM PDT on Friday, April 1, 2011

 

By JAN SEARS
The Press-Enterprise 

Saturn will be at its best and brightest on Sunday evening and will be the only planet in the evening sky all month.

The planet will be so bright, viewers won’t necessarily need a telescope to see its rings. A set of binoculars with at least 20-power magnification will be sufficient, said Tyler Nordgren, a physics professor at the University of Redlands.

Saturn takes its starring role in the sky each April, when the planet is in opposition to the sun. That means that as the sun sets in the west, Saturn rises in the east.

To read more and check out where to look to see Saturn go to:

http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_saturn01.1fb34cc.html

You can get some information about myths and legends about Saturn, the Roman god, here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn_(mythology)