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| » | INTEGRAL_SPIACS trigger 5506-0
Possible GRB The event time is 2009-04-25T09:05:16 UT. Location RA 0.1193 Dec 0.0518 (J2000) |
| » | SWIFT_XRT_Position trigger 350311-0
Possible GRB The event time is 2009-04-24T14:45:29 UT. Location RA 189.52 Dec 16.836 (J2000) uncer ... |
| » | SWIFT_UVOT_Darkburst trigger 350311-0
Possible GRB The event time is 2009-04-24T14:30:48 UT. Location RA 189.52 Dec 16.843 (J2000) |
| » | SWIFT_UVOT_Darkburst_proc trigger 350311-0
Possible GRB The event time is 2009-04-24T14:30:48 UT. Location RA 189.52 Dec 16.843 (J2000) |
| » | SWIFT_UVOT_Findchart trigger 350311-0
Possible GRB The event time is 2009-04-24T14:29:28 UT. Location RA 189.52 Dec 16.843 (J2000) |
Date published: not known
 | North 43o 54' 57" West 78o 34' 59" 95m ASL MPC Observatory Code H61 |
Wednesday 30 December 2009
2010 Moon Phase Calendar Available for Download
Michael Cook,Wednesday 30 December 2009 - 10:32:20 //Comments are turned off for this item
The 2010 Moon Phase Calendar shows for each month the maxima and minima of Lunar declination, apogee and perigee, libration, and Lunar eclipses. New for 2010: bright objects within 10 degrees of the Moon throughout the year. The calendar is available in two formats: PDF which can be scaled to fit your printer's paper; JPG to set as your desktop wallpaper or for other apps. (JPG idea courtesy Don Munro - thanks Don!). Download your copy now. And please provide any comments.
Thursday 16 April 2009
Variable Star Campaign Underway
Michael Cook,Thursday 16 April 2009 - 20:25:14 //Comments are turned off for this item
Observations have been requested of the following variable stars. Photometric monitoring using a CCD began on the dates shown.
BG Gem (2009-03-02)
BG Geminorum is a long period eclipsing binary system (Porb ∼ 90 days); currently the nature of the primary is uncertain. Recent observational evidence indicate that the primary star is a black hole. If so, BG Geminorum would be the black hole binary system with the largest orbital period, by an factor of 3, as well as being the only known eclipsing black hole binary system in the Galaxy.
Yz Cnc (2009-03-05)
Dr. Christian Knigge, University of Southampton, England, has requested monitoring dwarf novae cataclysmic variables as part of a search for radio jet formation during outbursts. Dr. Knigge is attempting to observe a dwarf nova outburst within six hours of the outburst onset using the NRAO Very Large Array (VLA) telescope in New Mexico and the Jodrell Bank MERLIN telescope in the United Kingdom. Rapid optical detection of an outburst onset will be used to trigger target-of-opportunity (TOO) observations with both radio telescopes to study the behavior of dwarf novae outbursts in the radio region of the spectrum, and to determine whether CV systems are capable of forming radio jets similar to those observed in X-ray bursters and other X-ray binaries. Yx Cnc is one of ten targets.
SDSS J102347.68+003841.2 (2009-04-16)
Anne Archibald (McGill University) and collaborators request long-term monitoring of the transient source SDSS J102347.68+003841.2 (== FIRST J102347.6+003841). This object is a known ellipsoidal variable (V ~17.3-17.8) consisting of a neutron star primary and a 0.2 solar mass secondary, with a binary period of 0.198 days. While the known ellipsoidal variation is understood to be a combination of tidal
deformation of the secondary and heating of the side closer to the primary, the system was also observed to go into optical outburst in
2001, increasing in optical flux by a factor of 4 (~1.5 magnitudes), suggesting that a mass transfer episode occurred. The neutron star is a
known pulsar, and the system is described as a "radio-selected cataclysmic variable"; the intermittent accretion may indicate that this
is a very evolved low-mass X-ray binary. Currently (as of 2009 April) the system does not appear to be active, and no sign of an accretion
disk is seen. Long-term monitoring of this faint star for future outbursts of a similar nature is requested. Future outbursts will trigger X-ray and radio observations of this source to better understand the evolution of neutron star binary systems.
BG Gem (2009-03-02)
BG Geminorum is a long period eclipsing binary system (Porb ∼ 90 days); currently the nature of the primary is uncertain. Recent observational evidence indicate that the primary star is a black hole. If so, BG Geminorum would be the black hole binary system with the largest orbital period, by an factor of 3, as well as being the only known eclipsing black hole binary system in the Galaxy.
Yz Cnc (2009-03-05)
Dr. Christian Knigge, University of Southampton, England, has requested monitoring dwarf novae cataclysmic variables as part of a search for radio jet formation during outbursts. Dr. Knigge is attempting to observe a dwarf nova outburst within six hours of the outburst onset using the NRAO Very Large Array (VLA) telescope in New Mexico and the Jodrell Bank MERLIN telescope in the United Kingdom. Rapid optical detection of an outburst onset will be used to trigger target-of-opportunity (TOO) observations with both radio telescopes to study the behavior of dwarf novae outbursts in the radio region of the spectrum, and to determine whether CV systems are capable of forming radio jets similar to those observed in X-ray bursters and other X-ray binaries. Yx Cnc is one of ten targets.
SDSS J102347.68+003841.2 (2009-04-16)
Anne Archibald (McGill University) and collaborators request long-term monitoring of the transient source SDSS J102347.68+003841.2 (== FIRST J102347.6+003841). This object is a known ellipsoidal variable (V ~17.3-17.8) consisting of a neutron star primary and a 0.2 solar mass secondary, with a binary period of 0.198 days. While the known ellipsoidal variation is understood to be a combination of tidal
deformation of the secondary and heating of the side closer to the primary, the system was also observed to go into optical outburst in
2001, increasing in optical flux by a factor of 4 (~1.5 magnitudes), suggesting that a mass transfer episode occurred. The neutron star is a
known pulsar, and the system is described as a "radio-selected cataclysmic variable"; the intermittent accretion may indicate that this
is a very evolved low-mass X-ray binary. Currently (as of 2009 April) the system does not appear to be active, and no sign of an accretion
disk is seen. Long-term monitoring of this faint star for future outbursts of a similar nature is requested. Future outbursts will trigger X-ray and radio observations of this source to better understand the evolution of neutron star binary systems.
Friday 27 March 2009
Newcastle Observatory Joins GCN
Michael Cook,Friday 27 March 2009 - 18:51:48 //Comments are turned off for this item
On March 26, 2009, Newcastle Observatory joined NASA's Gamma Ray Burst Coordinates Network (GCN) to perform follow-up optical astrometric (postional) and photometric observations of gamma ray bursts (GRBs).
GRBs are probably the most violent explosive events in the cosmos, and can be many billions of light-years away. The total energy released can be greater than that of an entire galaxy, but ony for a few moments. Gamma rays from these explosive events (probably merging black holes and neutron stars) are first detected by orbiting spacecraft (SWIFT, INTEGRAL, etc.) which relay astrometric information (right ascension and declination) to ground-based telescopes for follow-up postional (astrometric) and photometric observation in many wavelengths. Newcastle observatory receives postional information within minutes of the spacecrafts's detection of gamma rays, slews the telescope to the GRB target to perform optical observations of the burst "afterglow", and measures the rate of "decay" of the afterglow over a period of minutes, hours and days.
For more information about the GCN, please visit: http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/.
GRBs are probably the most violent explosive events in the cosmos, and can be many billions of light-years away. The total energy released can be greater than that of an entire galaxy, but ony for a few moments. Gamma rays from these explosive events (probably merging black holes and neutron stars) are first detected by orbiting spacecraft (SWIFT, INTEGRAL, etc.) which relay astrometric information (right ascension and declination) to ground-based telescopes for follow-up postional (astrometric) and photometric observation in many wavelengths. Newcastle observatory receives postional information within minutes of the spacecrafts's detection of gamma rays, slews the telescope to the GRB target to perform optical observations of the burst "afterglow", and measures the rate of "decay" of the afterglow over a period of minutes, hours and days.
For more information about the GCN, please visit: http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/.
Wednesday 19 November 2008
Observatory Code Assigned by the Minor Planet Center
Michael Cook,Wednesday 19 November 2008 - 18:25:32 //Comments are turned off for this item
On Wednesday, November 19 at 4:31 PM EST, Newcastle Observatory was advised via e-mail from Gareth Williams, Associate Director of the Minor Planet Center (MPC), that it was assigned observatory code H61. This signifies that Newcastle Observatory is capable of making astrometric observations of acceptable quality.
Part of the observatory's mission will now be to gather astrometric observations of small solar system objects (minor planets or asteroids and comets) and submit those measurements to the Minor Planet Center on a regular basis. The goal is to obtain follow up observations on objects so that their orbits can be better defined.
The MPC operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), under the auspices of Division III of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The SAO is a "research institute" of the Smithsonian Institution. It is joined with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Part of the observatory's mission will now be to gather astrometric observations of small solar system objects (minor planets or asteroids and comets) and submit those measurements to the Minor Planet Center on a regular basis. The goal is to obtain follow up observations on objects so that their orbits can be better defined.
The MPC operates at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO), under the auspices of Division III of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). The SAO is a "research institute" of the Smithsonian Institution. It is joined with the Harvard College Observatory (HCO) to form the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA), and is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Thursday 23 October 2008
Astrometric Observational Program Begins
Michael Cook,Thursday 23 October 2008 - 21:54:14 //Comments are turned off for this item
Today, the observatory begins an astrometry program for minor planets and comets. A "first light" image of numbered minor planet, or asteroid, (1865) Ceberus was captured this evening to mark the beginning of the observatory's astrometry observations to be submitted to the Minor Planet Center at Harvard University's Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.The start of this program begins the process of acquiring an "observatory code" assigned by MPC if the observations are of acceptable quality. The observations involve determining accurate positions of minor planets to sub arc-second precision (there are 3,600 arc seconds in an angular degree). The MPC reporting requirements are stringent, but that makes it all the more challenging.
Monday 14 January 2008
2008 Moon Phase Calendar Available for Download
Michael Cook,Monday 14 January 2008 - 12:16:39 //Comments are turned off for this item
A handy 8 1/2" x 11" graphic that you can hang anywhere to show you the phase of the Moon for each day of the year is available in the downloads section of this web site.
Saturday 31 March 2007
Welcome to Newcastle Observatory News
Michael Cook,Saturday 31 March 2007 - 16:06:42 //Comments are turned off for this item
Newcastle Observatory's web site now uses a content management system (CMS). I began deploying the CMS during the last week of March 2007.
Tuesday 13 February 2007
First Light for Meade DSI PRO II CCD Camera
Michael Cook,Tuesday 13 February 2007 - 09:30:00 //Comments are turned off for this item
My first images taken with the Meade DSI PRO CCD camera were taken today. I want to image all the Messier objects, so it was fitting that I start with an image of M1 (Crab Nebula), a planetary nebula as a result of a supernova explosion. Images can be browsed in the Image Gallery.
Monday 03 May 2004
Ordering the 10 Foot Home Dome
Michael Cook,Monday 03 May 2004 - 13:59:48 //Comments are turned off for this item
After mulling over my decision to get a home dome, I finally settled on the 10 foot model. I then called my dealer, Walter MacDonald at Winchester Electronics, to ask him some questions and go over my requirements. Walter was very helpful and suggested some good ideas to make life easier, like getting the remote power module. I would reccommend going through a dealer since they know all the shipping an customs issues.
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