Cycle 10 Abstract Catalog (Based on Phase I Submissions)
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The Dunhuang Chinese Sky: a Comprehensive Study of the Oldest Known Star Atlas
25/02/09JAHH/v4 1 THE DUNHUANG CHINESE SKY: A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE OLDEST KNOWN STAR ATLAS JEAN-MARC BONNET-BIDAUD Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique ,Centre de Saclay, F-91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France E-mail: [email protected] FRANÇOISE PRADERIE Observatoire de Paris, 61 Avenue de l’Observatoire, F- 75014 Paris, France E-mail: [email protected] and SUSAN WHITFIELD The British Library, 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB, UK E-mail: [email protected] Abstract: This paper presents an analysis of the star atlas included in the medieval Chinese manuscript (Or.8210/S.3326), discovered in 1907 by the archaeologist Aurel Stein at the Silk Road town of Dunhuang and now held in the British Library. Although partially studied by a few Chinese scholars, it has never been fully displayed and discussed in the Western world. This set of sky maps (12 hour angle maps in quasi-cylindrical projection and a circumpolar map in azimuthal projection), displaying the full sky visible from the Northern hemisphere, is up to now the oldest complete preserved star atlas from any civilisation. It is also the first known pictorial representation of the quasi-totality of the Chinese constellations. This paper describes the history of the physical object – a roll of thin paper drawn with ink. We analyse the stellar content of each map (1339 stars, 257 asterisms) and the texts associated with the maps. We establish the precision with which the maps are drawn (1.5 to 4° for the brightest stars) and examine the type of projections used. -
Determination of the Night Sky Background Around the Crab Pulsar Using Its Optical Pulsation
28th International Cosmic Ray Conference 2449 Determination of the Night Sky Background around the Crab Pulsar Using its Optical Pulsation E. O˜na-Wilhelmi1,2, J. Cortina3, O.C. de Jager1, V. Fonseca2 for the MAGIC collaboration (1) Unit for Space Physics, Potchefstroom University for CHE, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa (2) Dept. de f´isica At´omica, Nuclear y Molecular, UCM, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, Madrid, Spain (3) Institut de Fisica de l’Altes Energies, UAB, Barcelona, Spain Abstract The poor angular resolution of imaging γ-ray telescopes is offset by the large collection area of the next generation telescopes such as MAGIC (17 m diameter) which makes the study of optical emission associated with some γ-ray sources feasible. In particular the optical photon flux causes an increase in the photomultiplier DC currents. Furthermore, the extremely fast response of PMs make them ideal detectors for fast (subsecond) optical transients and periodic sources like pulsars. The HEGRA CT1 telescope (1.8 m radius) is the smallest Cerenkovˆ telescope which has seen the Crab optical pulsations. 1. Method Imaging Atmospheric Cerenkovˆ Detectors (IACT) can be used to detect the optical emission of an astronomical object through the increase it generates in the currents of the camera pixels [7,3]. Since the Crab pulsar shows pulsed emission in the optical wavelengths with the same frequency as in radio and most probably of VHE γ-rays, we use the central pixel of CT1 [5] and MAGIC [1] to monitor the optical Crab pulsation. Before the Crab observations were performed, the expected rate of the Crab pulsar and background were estimated theoretically. -
RADIAL VELOCITIES in the ZODIACAL DUST CLOUD
A SURVEY OF RADIAL VELOCITIES in the ZODIACAL DUST CLOUD Brian Harold May Astrophysics Group Department of Physics Imperial College London Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy to Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine London · 2007 · 2 Abstract This thesis documents the building of a pressure-scanned Fabry-Perot Spectrometer, equipped with a photomultiplier and pulse-counting electronics, and its deployment at the Observatorio del Teide at Izaña in Tenerife, at an altitude of 7,700 feet (2567 m), for the purpose of recording high-resolution spectra of the Zodiacal Light. The aim was to achieve the first systematic mapping of the MgI absorption line in the Night Sky, as a function of position in heliocentric coordinates, covering especially the plane of the ecliptic, for a wide variety of elongations from the Sun. More than 250 scans of both morning and evening Zodiacal Light were obtained, in two observing periods – September-October 1971, and April 1972. The scans, as expected, showed profiles modified by components variously Doppler-shifted with respect to the unshifted shape seen in daylight. Unexpectedly, MgI emission was also discovered. These observations covered for the first time a span of elongations from 25º East, through 180º (the Gegenschein), to 27º West, and recorded average shifts of up to six tenths of an angstrom, corresponding to a maximum radial velocity relative to the Earth of about 40 km/s. The set of spectra obtained is in this thesis compared with predictions made from a number of different models of a dust cloud, assuming various distributions of dust density as a function of position and particle size, and differing assumptions about their speed and direction. -
Naming the Extrasolar Planets
Naming the extrasolar planets W. Lyra Max Planck Institute for Astronomy, K¨onigstuhl 17, 69177, Heidelberg, Germany [email protected] Abstract and OGLE-TR-182 b, which does not help educators convey the message that these planets are quite similar to Jupiter. Extrasolar planets are not named and are referred to only In stark contrast, the sentence“planet Apollo is a gas giant by their assigned scientific designation. The reason given like Jupiter” is heavily - yet invisibly - coated with Coper- by the IAU to not name the planets is that it is consid- nicanism. ered impractical as planets are expected to be common. I One reason given by the IAU for not considering naming advance some reasons as to why this logic is flawed, and sug- the extrasolar planets is that it is a task deemed impractical. gest names for the 403 extrasolar planet candidates known One source is quoted as having said “if planets are found to as of Oct 2009. The names follow a scheme of association occur very frequently in the Universe, a system of individual with the constellation that the host star pertains to, and names for planets might well rapidly be found equally im- therefore are mostly drawn from Roman-Greek mythology. practicable as it is for stars, as planet discoveries progress.” Other mythologies may also be used given that a suitable 1. This leads to a second argument. It is indeed impractical association is established. to name all stars. But some stars are named nonetheless. In fact, all other classes of astronomical bodies are named. -
Variable Star Section Circular No
The British Astronomical Association Variable Star Section Circular No. 176 June 2018 Office: Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0DU Contents Joint BAA-AAVSO meeting 3 From the Director 4 V392 Per (Nova Per 2018) - Gary Poyner & Robin Leadbeater 7 High-Cadence measurements of the symbiotic star V648 Car using a CMOS camera - Steve Fleming, Terry Moon and David Hoxley 9 Analysis of two semi-regular variables in Draco – Shaun Albrighton 13 V720 Cas and its close companions – David Boyd 16 Introduction to AstroImageJ photometry software – Richard Lee 20 Project Melvyn, May 2018 update – Alex Pratt 25 Eclipsing Binary news – Des Loughney 27 Summer Eclipsing Binaries – Christopher Lloyd 29 68u Herculis – David Conner 36 The BAAVSS Eclipsing Binary Programme lists – Christopher Lloyd 39 Section Publications 42 Contributing to the VSSC 42 Section Officers 43 Cover image V392 Per (Nova Per 2018) May 6.129UT iTelescope T11 120s. Martin Mobberley 2 Back to contents Joint BAA/AAVSO Meeting on Variable Stars Warwick University Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th July 2018 Following the last very successful joint meeting between the BAAVSS and the AAVSO at Cambridge in 2008, we are holding another joint meeting at Warwick University in the UK on 7-8 July 2018. This two-day meeting will include talks by Prof Giovanna Tinetti (University College London) Chemical composition of planets in our Galaxy Prof Boris Gaensicke (University of Warwick) Gaia: Transforming Stellar Astronomy Prof Tom Marsh (University of Warwick) AR Scorpii: a remarkable highly variable -
PDF (Pbcameron Thesis.Pdf)
The Formation and Evolution of Neutron Stars: Astrometry, Timing, and Transients Thesis by P. Brian Cameron In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy California Institute of Technology Pasadena, California 2009 (Defended June 2, 2008) ii c 2009 P. Brian Cameron All Rights Reserved iii Acknowledgements I have been incredibly fortunate these last five years to work with and have the support of so many amazing people. Foremost, I would like to acknowledge my enormous debt to my advisor, Shri Kulkarni. His vision and tireless dedication to astronomy were inspiring, and led to the topics in this thesis being at the forefront of astrophysics. Our styles contrasted, but his energy, open advice, and support made for a very rewarding collaboration. In this same vein, I am grateful to Matthew Britton whose ideas and open door made the last 2 years incredibly enjoyable. I have also had the privilege of working with a number talented people on a wide variety of topics. I am grateful to Bryan Jacoby, David Kaplan, Bob Rutledge, and Dale Frail for their insights and patience. I would also like to thank the NGAO crowd that got me thinking hard about astrometry: Rich Dekany, Claire Max, Jessica Lu, and Andrea Ghez. No observer could ever function with out people working tirelessly at the telescope and when you return from it. I am grateful for the patience and dedication of the Keck astronomers, especially Al Conrad, Randy Campbell and Jim Lyke, as well as those at Palomar: Jean Mueller, and Karl Dunscombe. I am indebted to the excellent staff here at Caltech for putting up with my endless questions and requests: Patrick Shopbell, Anu Mahabal, and Cheryl Southard. -
Badw · 003197966
Abhandlungen der Königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften Philosophisch - philologische und historische Klasse XXX. Band, 1. Abhandlung Antike Beobachtungen farbiger Sterne von Franz Boll Mit einem Beitrag von Carl Bezold , Vorgelegt am 1. Juli 1916 München 1916 Verlag der Königlich Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Kommission des G. Franz'schen Verlags (J. Roth) ,. j / Einleitung. Die Geschichte der antiken Astronomie beruhte bis gegen den Ausgang des vorigen Jahrhunderts auf einer Anzahl von griechischen und einigen römischen Schriftstellern, unter denen Claudius Ptolemäus mit seiner "GroElen Syntaxis" als der letzten und um- fassendsten Kodifizierung des antiken Wissens vom Sternhimmel den ersten Platz einnimmt. Auf dem Almagest fuElten einst Delambre und fast drei Menschenalter später Tannery bei ihren Gesamtdarstellungen 1). Es ist klar, daEl mit diesen Quellen auch eine ganz bestimmte Auswahl und Abgrenzung des Stoffes notwendig gegeben war. Nur neues Material konnte aus diesem Bann herausführen. Das hat sich in den letzten zwei Jahrzehnten aus zwei verschiedenen Quellen unerwartet reich eingestellt. Die babylonischen 'rafein, so sporadisch sie immer noch geblieben sind, und so schwierig oft ihre Verwertung ist, geben gute Hoffnung, einmal zu einer von vorgefaElter Meinung nach beiden Seiten unabhängigen Vorstellung von den sachlichen Unterlagen des ionischen Weltbildes im 6. und 5. Jahr- hundert zu gelangen; und die Erforschung der griechischen astrologischen Handschriften, deren überwiegender Teil zum Glück vor -
Experiencing Hubble
PRESCOTT ASTRONOMY CLUB PRESENTS EXPERIENCING HUBBLE John Carter August 7, 2019 GET OUT LOOK UP • When Galaxies Collide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP3x7TgvgR8 • How Hubble Images Get Color https://www.youtube.com/watch? time_continue=3&v=WSG0MnmUsEY Experiencing Hubble Sagittarius Star Cloud 1. 12,000 stars 2. ½ percent of full Moon area. 3. Not one star in the image can be seen by the naked eye. 4. Color of star reflects its surface temperature. Eagle Nebula. M 16 1. Messier 16 is a conspicuous region of active star formation, appearing in the constellation Serpens Cauda. This giant cloud of interstellar gas and dust is commonly known as the Eagle Nebula, and has already created a cluster of young stars. The nebula is also referred to the Star Queen Nebula and as IC 4703; the cluster is NGC 6611. With an overall visual magnitude of 6.4, and an apparent diameter of 7', the Eagle Nebula's star cluster is best seen with low power telescopes. The brightest star in the cluster has an apparent magnitude of +8.24, easily visible with good binoculars. A 4" scope reveals about 20 stars in an uneven background of fainter stars and nebulosity; three nebulous concentrations can be glimpsed under good conditions. Under very good conditions, suggestions of dark obscuring matter can be seen to the north of the cluster. In an 8" telescope at low power, M 16 is an impressive object. The nebula extends much farther out, to a diameter of over 30'. It is filled with dark regions and globules, including a peculiar dark column and a luminous rim around the cluster. -
Fy10 Budget by Program
AURA/NOAO FISCAL YEAR ANNUAL REPORT FY 2010 Revised Submitted to the National Science Foundation March 16, 2011 This image, aimed toward the southern celestial pole atop the CTIO Blanco 4-m telescope, shows the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, the Milky Way (Carinae Region) and the Coal Sack (dark area, close to the Southern Crux). The 33 “written” on the Schmidt Telescope dome using a green laser pointer during the two-minute exposure commemorates the rescue effort of 33 miners trapped for 69 days almost 700 m underground in the San Jose mine in northern Chile. The image was taken while the rescue was in progress on 13 October 2010, at 3:30 am Chilean Daylight Saving time. Image Credit: Arturo Gomez/CTIO/NOAO/AURA/NSF National Optical Astronomy Observatory Fiscal Year Annual Report for FY 2010 Revised (October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2010) Submitted to the National Science Foundation Pursuant to Cooperative Support Agreement No. AST-0950945 March 16, 2011 Table of Contents MISSION SYNOPSIS ............................................................................................................ IV 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ 1 2 NOAO ACCOMPLISHMENTS ....................................................................................... 2 2.1 Achievements ..................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Status of Vision and Goals ................................................................................ -
A Basic Requirement for Studying the Heavens Is Determining Where In
Abasic requirement for studying the heavens is determining where in the sky things are. To specify sky positions, astronomers have developed several coordinate systems. Each uses a coordinate grid projected on to the celestial sphere, in analogy to the geographic coordinate system used on the surface of the Earth. The coordinate systems differ only in their choice of the fundamental plane, which divides the sky into two equal hemispheres along a great circle (the fundamental plane of the geographic system is the Earth's equator) . Each coordinate system is named for its choice of fundamental plane. The equatorial coordinate system is probably the most widely used celestial coordinate system. It is also the one most closely related to the geographic coordinate system, because they use the same fun damental plane and the same poles. The projection of the Earth's equator onto the celestial sphere is called the celestial equator. Similarly, projecting the geographic poles on to the celest ial sphere defines the north and south celestial poles. However, there is an important difference between the equatorial and geographic coordinate systems: the geographic system is fixed to the Earth; it rotates as the Earth does . The equatorial system is fixed to the stars, so it appears to rotate across the sky with the stars, but of course it's really the Earth rotating under the fixed sky. The latitudinal (latitude-like) angle of the equatorial system is called declination (Dec for short) . It measures the angle of an object above or below the celestial equator. The longitud inal angle is called the right ascension (RA for short). -
1 Director's Message
1 Director’s Message Markus Kissler-Patig 3 Weighing the Black Hole in M101 ULX-1 Stephen Justham and Jifeng Liu 8 World’s Most Powerful Planet Finder Turns its Eye to the Sky: First Light with the Gemini Planet Imager Bruce Macintosh and Peter Michaud 12 Science Highlights Nancy A. Levenson 15 Operations Corner: Update and 2013 Review Andy Adamson 20 Instrumentation Development: Update and 2013 Review Scot Kleinman ON THE COVER: GeminiFocus January 2014 The cover of this issue GeminiFocus is a quarterly publication of Gemini Observatory features first light images from the Gemini 670 N. A‘ohoku Place, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 USA Planet Imager that Phone: (808) 974-2500 Fax: (808) 974-2589 were released at the Online viewing address: January 2014 meeting www.gemini.edu/geminifocus of the American Managing Editor: Peter Michaud Astronomical Society Science Editor: Nancy A. Levenson held in Washington, D.C. Associate Editor: Stephen James O’Meara See the press release Designer: Eve Furchgott / Blue Heron Multimedia that accompanied the images starting on Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations page 8 of this issue. expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Markus Kissler-Patig Director’s Message 2013: A Successful Year for Gemini! As 2013 comes to an end, we can look back at 12 very successful months for Gemini despite strong budget constraints. Indeed, 2013 was the first stage of our three-year transition to a reduced opera- tions budget, and it was marked by a roughly 20 percent cut in contributions from Gemini’s partner countries. -
Information Bulletin on Variable Stars
COMMISSIONS AND OF THE I A U INFORMATION BULLETIN ON VARIABLE STARS Nos November July EDITORS L SZABADOS K OLAH TECHNICAL EDITOR A HOLL TYPESETTING K ORI ADMINISTRATION Zs KOVARI EDITORIAL BOARD L A BALONA M BREGER E BUDDING M deGROOT E GUINAN D S HALL P HARMANEC M JERZYKIEWICZ K C LEUNG M RODONO N N SAMUS J SMAK C STERKEN Chair H BUDAPEST XI I Box HUNGARY URL httpwwwkonkolyhuIBVSIBVShtml HU ISSN COPYRIGHT NOTICE IBVS is published on b ehalf of the th and nd Commissions of the IAU by the Konkoly Observatory Budap est Hungary Individual issues could b e downloaded for scientic and educational purp oses free of charge Bibliographic information of the recent issues could b e entered to indexing sys tems No IBVS issues may b e stored in a public retrieval system in any form or by any means electronic or otherwise without the prior written p ermission of the publishers Prior written p ermission of the publishers is required for entering IBVS issues to an electronic indexing or bibliographic system to o CONTENTS C STERKEN A JONES B VOS I ZEGELAAR AM van GENDEREN M de GROOT On the Cyclicity of the S Dor Phases in AG Carinae ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: : J BOROVICKA L SAROUNOVA The Period and Lightcurve of NSV ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::: W LILLER AF JONES A New Very Long Period Variable Star in Norma ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :::::::::::::::: EA KARITSKAYA VP GORANSKIJ Unusual Fading of V Cygni Cyg X in Early November :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::