* Astronomy

The SU UMa-type cataclysmic variable SW UMa is in superoutburst. The last time the star was in outburst, in October 2002, it reached visual magnitude 10.5 and was brighter than 13.5 for 17 days. The normal minimum magnitude is approxim...

The front dust covers on most telescopes have a secondary light reducing aperture. The aperture mask is used to stop down the telescope's aperture to a smaller diameter for looking at the moon, bright objects or daylight viewing. A neutral density filter is commonly used instead of using an apertur...

Meade Series 4000 and 5000 eyepieces, filters, barlows Reviews on: 6.4, 9.7, 12.4, 15, 20, 26, 32, 40, Arcturus 20/30 2" filters, 1 1/4" filter, Barlows

A polarizer is an optical filter that passes light of a specific polarization and blocks waves of other polarizations. It can convert a beam of light of undefined or mixed polarization into a beam with well-defined polarization. The common types of polarizers are linear polarizers and circular po...

Why is the study of the weather confusingly known as meteorology? We can blame Aristotle, who wrote a book on the weather describing the interplay of the elements. It covered the action of the sun causing vapours to rise up from the earth and the sea, so he entitled it Meteorology from the word meteoros...

Orbital elements: 2011 GD60 Earth MOID = 0.0622 AU Epoch 2011 Feb. 8.0 TT = JDT 2455600.5 MPC M 198.13825 (2000.0) P Q n 0.86369811 Peri. 210.76485 +0.78703034 +0.60923819 a 1.0920137 Node 111.38540 -0.54269242 +0.75851190 e 0.1664290 Incl. 5.98047 -0.29337380 +0.23127586 P 1.14 H 21.7 G...

The variable star SV Canis Minoris is in outburst. Date: 23rd February, 2011 Magnitude range: 13.0 - 17.1 V Period: ? Satellite period: 0.156 days Type: UGZ Position(2000): RA=07 31 08.40, Dec=+05°58'48.4"

Title: LkCa 15: A Young Exoplanet Caught at Formation? Authors: Adam L. Kraus (Univ. of Hawaii - IfA), Michael J. Ireland (Macquarie University) Young and directly imaged exoplanets offer critical tests of planet-formation models that are not matched by RV surveys of mature stars. These targets...

Maxima of the long period variable Y Persei (HD 21280) on the 6th August, 2010. Magnitude: 8.4-10.3 Type: Mira Position(2000): RA 03 27 42.3922, Dec +44 10 36.479

Maxima of long period variable RS Scorpii on the 12th November, 2011 Magnitude range: 7.0-12.2 Period: 319.91 days Type: Mira Position (J2000): R.A. 16 55 37.81414 | Dec. -45° 06' 10.7454'' Google earth file: RS Scorpii.kmz (1kb, kmz)

Lake Elsinore: 'Fireball' in sky was parachute team A "fireball" over southwest Riverside County Thursday evening was so startling to some residents, they called 911. Witnesses said the bright streak of light split into two or three parts as it dropped shortly after 5 p.m. [url=http:/...

Scorpus was a famous charioteer in Roman times who lived at the end of the 1st century AD. Scorpus rode for the Green faction during his lifetime and accumulated 2,048 victories. As one of the most famous drivers in Roman history, Scorpus earned extraordinarily large amounts of money; his income sur...

China launches Yaogan 12 and 1 TianXun[url=http://raumfahrer.net/news/raumfahrt/1011201...

Low levels of radioactive particles 'found in Europe' Low levels of radioactive particles have been detected in the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe, the UN nuclear agency has said. The iodine-131 particles do not pose a public health risk, the International Atomic Energy Agency said. [url...

The iPhone App for the Swift Explorer Mission, developed at the Swift Mission Operations Centre at Penn State University. Sky map shows Real-time gamma ray bursts in Galactic Coordinates. Weblink