The Dawn of an Exciting Year for Planetary Science!

A series of images put together by the Dawn
Frame Camera Team of Ceres on approach.
Image Credit: NASA / JPL / UCLA /
MPS / DLR / IDA / Emily Lakdawalla

In 2007, NASA launched a probe called Dawn into the asteroid belt to investigate two planetary bodies, Vesta and Ceres. Dawn reached Vesta in the summer of 2011 and after a year and a couple months of studying the asteroid, it was on its way to Ceres. We're in the winter of 2015 now, and Dawn is just starting to merge onto the orbital path of Ceres!

Dawn is expected to reach its orbital phase of the mission around Ceres in early May, and will most likely have high resolution images of this dwarf planet soon after that. As of this moment, the images presented are higher resolution images than what we have from the Hubble Space Telescope.

An image of Vesta taken by Dawn back in 2011.
Expect similar quality of Ceres in May 2015!
Image credit: NASA / JPL

A series of images showing Ceres as Dawn gets closer.
Image Credit: NASA / JPL / UCLA / MPS / DLR / IDA / Emily Lakdawalla

It is an exciting time for astronomy and planetary science (and humanity in general). Once the summer comes about, we will have witnessed how two planetary bodies look like up close and personal for the first time ever! Ceres will be its own prize, but everyone's eyes will be eager to see the other planetary body this summer - Pluto. More to come!

- SHH

Partial Solar Eclipse of October 23, 2014

Collage of Partial Solar Eclipse
Taken at OCC-OR, Farmingron Hills, MI

There was a viewing of the partial solar eclipse that happened on Thursday - October 23, 2014. Viewing started at 5:30 pm, outside of A-Bldg at OCC-OR. About 40% of the Sun was eclipsed by the moon, and despite the few clouds on the horizon, we were able to get a decent viewing of the event. The Moon started eclipsing the Sun at about 5:39 pm, and continued to cover the Sun throughout the evening as shown in the pictures in this post. Special solar filters were used in the Coronado solarscope, and the 6" Orion telescope. A projection of the sun on a screen was used with the 4.25" Astroscan. Overall, it was a great viewing and we're glad many people were able to witness this event at OCC!

Sun before the eclipse. Notice the size of the Sunspots
Taken by Samer Hariri, 10/23/2014 - Farmington Hills, MI

The beginning of the eclipse

Clouds on the western horizon didn't block our view through the telescopes.

Getting close to maximum eclipse in our area.

Almost at maximum. Notice the mountains on the edge of the Moon.

Projection of the Partial Solar Eclipse using the Astroscan.
Notice the tree line in the right picture as we were nearing the end.

A schematic of how a solar eclipse happens.
Source: http://astronomy.starrynight.com

Eclipse Timetable (EDT - for The Metro Detroit Area)

Eclipse Began – 5:39 pm
Max Eclipse – 6:31 pm

Sun Set - 6:36 pm

WARNING: Never look directly at the sun during a solar eclipse, or EVER! NEVER EVER look at the sun through binoculars or telescopes! Severe eye damage and blindness will most likely occur. Expert sky observers use proper precautions and specially designed solar filters in order to safely view the eclipse.

Total Lunar Eclipse of October 8, 2014

A collage of the Lunar Eclipse.
Note: Only the first half of the eclipse
was visible from Michigan. 

We had a very successful viewing of the Total Lunar Eclipse on October 8. It was great to see a dedicated group of people show up so early to witness the eclipse. The weather was a bit chilly, but the skies were clear and offered us a perfect view of the eclipse, Jupiter, and some winter constellations such as Orion, Canis Major, Auriga, and Taurus. We got the opportunity to view Uranus through the telescope as it was very close to the Moon. We also viewed the Orion Nebula, and Jupiter with it's 4 Galilean moons. Overall, it was an eventful early morning, that ended with the eclipsing moon setting in the west, and the crisp October morning sun rising.

The Lunar Eclipse Close to Totality
Notice the planet Uranus

The Orion Constellation - October 8, 2014
Notice the Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula - October 8, 2014
Taken with Nikon D5100 w/ 18 mm Nikkor Zoom Lens

The eclipsing Moon setting as the Sun is rising.

Sunrise Animation - October 8, 2014

Sunrise - October 8, 2014
Oakland Community College - Farmington Hills, MI

Lunar Eclipse Viewing - October 8, 2014

Lunar Eclipse on February 20, 2008 - East Lansing, MI

UPDATE
10/7/2014, 11:00 pm EDT

Weather forecast is showing mostly CLEAR SKIES for tomorrow morning. Looks like viewing is a GO! Hope to see you there!

On Wednesday, October 8, there will be a Total Lunar Eclipse that will be visible for us in the Michigan area. The eclipse will happen in the dawn hours on Wednesday morning, and we will be gathering in front of A-Bldg at Orchard Ridge with telescopes and binoculars. Viewing will begin around 6:15 a.m. as the total eclipse will begin at 6:25 a.m. We will gather by the island in the traffic circle in front of A-Bldg.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is located between the Moon and the Sun. This occurs during a full moon phase. The lunar eclipse begins when the Moon enters the partial shadow of Earth, the penumbra, and is greatest when the Moon is in the center of the full shadow of the Earth, the umbra.

Lunar eclipses usually last for a few hours, and are most exciting when seen entering/exiting the umbra. In addition to the Lunar Eclipse this Wednesday, we will also have the opportunity to look at the planet Uranus through the telescope, as it will be very close to the Moon in our sky during that time. Also, you will have the opportunity to view Venus and some other October morning constellations.

The Anatomy of a Lunar Eclipse.
 (Source: http://www.sunwheelgrove.co.uk/cosmos/the-moon)

Lunar Eclipse Time Table (EDT for the Detroit Area)

Partial Eclipse Begins - 5:15 a.m.

Total Eclipse Begins - 6:25 a.m.

Greatest Eclipse - 6:55 a.m.

Total Eclipse Ends - 7:24 a.m.

Moon Sets - 7:44 a.m. 

As always, this viewing is dependent on weather. If the forecast is too cloudy for that morning, there will most likely not be a viewing. If it's crystal clear, we hope to see you there! I will keep everyone posted as we get closer to the date, so WATCH THIS SPACE!

Clear Skies!!

- SHH

The Heart of the Scorpion

Full Moon - September 8, 2014
Taken w/ Nexus 5 through telescope.

The fall skies are upon us - and they're filled with stars (among other things)! We've had two opportunities to view so far, September 8th, and September 17th. The first night offered us the Harvest Moon, which flooded the skies with light and dimmed most of the stars. The second night however was one that started off with crisp n' clear skies, that got a bit hazy toward the end. 

Saturn and Mars are the two planets visible for us around this time, however they are about to dip below the western skies as they make their ways around the Sun. We were lucky to have viewed Saturn twice now, and perhaps we'll have a chance at viewing one, maybe two other times. For the early birds among you, Venus is another planet that is visible in the predawn skies and you're encouraged to have it in your sky journals! 

Scorpius with Mars and Saturn on September 17, 2014.
Also in view: Parts of the Teapot & Ophiuchus, and an airplane trail.

Mars (Ares) at this time is in the constellation Scorpius, visible for us low in the southern/southwestern sky. Antares (Anti-Mars) is one of the stars that stand out in our southern sky at the moment. Antares is the 17th brightest star in our skies, and it is considered a red supergiant. Its color and brightness resemble the planet Mars in the night sky, and due to its possible confusion with the red planet, it is said to have been named the anti-Mars.

Ryan looking at the Moon with the Big Dipper in the background. 

Samer looking for the Perseus Double Open Cluster w/ Big Dipper in Background. 

The sky is always changing, and there are quite a few stars and constellations that will rise in the East/Northeast throughout this semester. The fall semester provides a wonderful opportunity for us to experience how the sky changes as the seasons change. Stay tuned for some awesome events (i.e Lunar Eclipse) and remember to keep looking up!

Clear Skies!! 

-SHH