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Post Info TOPIC: February 2011
Blobrana


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RE: February 2011
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Often called the "Dog Star," Sirius is the brightest star visible in the sky after our own sun. Sirius rules the night, outshone by only the Moon, planets Venus and Jupiter, and the rare brilliant meteor. The star is likened to a diamond in appearance due to its bluish-white hue and  sheer magnitude. Winter evenings are an excellent time to see it. The star gleams about a third of the way up in the southern sky (as seen from mid-northern latitudes), on February evenings.
You will see to the lower left of the bright constellation Orion, but Sirius really needs no pointers. There are no stars at night its equal.
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Venus is 2°20' south of Pluto on the 9th February, 2011.

23:24:13 Venus 2°20' south of Pluto


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There are several interesting celestial highlights in February if you are willing to brave the cold to enjoy the crystalline clarity of the midwinter sky. There are only three planets visible, but all three have unusual activities going on, as if they are competing for our attention.
The South Equatorial belt on Jupiter, along which the Great Red Spot travels, is continuing to return after a brief disappearance last year.
Saturn has sprung a massive new storm, which could be one of the rare Great White Spot outbreaks that occur periodically on this giant gas planet. At 36,000 miles long by the end of last year, this spot was already bigger than the circumference of the earth. The white spots usually occur about every 29 years, which corresponds to Saturn's orbital period around the sun. However, there are some exceptions, and this is one of them since the next white spot was not expected until 2018.
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The only annual meteor shower in February 2011 is the Alpha Centaurids. This meteor shower is more favorable for those observers in the southern hemisphere, and normally only produces 3 to 5 meteors per hour during the peak. Although the peak of the Alpha Centaurids occurs on February 7, these meteors can be observed for several weeks prior to and after the peak. The meteors produced in this shower are often very fast, and the occasional fireball can also be seen.
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Asteroid Events
Date    UT       #    Asteroid               RA        Dec     Mag    Sep   PA     Star    Con   Mag

02/01  04:55      241 Germania            17 22.00  -25 01.5   13.6    93  183      Theta  OPH   3.3
02/01  08:12      982 Franklina           03 55.23  +31 01.4   16.0   146  235      68909        6.8
02/01  12:04     2069 Hubble              10 43.36  +23 10.0   15.0    93  212         41  LMI   5.1
02/01  23:06     1187 Afra                00 02.54  +08 27.7   16.0    96  156         32  PSC   5.8
02/02  01:28     5142 Okutama             02 13.05  +08 48.7   15.7   132  162        Xi1  CET   4.4
02/02  17:16      932 Hooveria            16 21.20  -25 34.9   15.4    45   17      Sigma  SCO   2.9
02/02  20:38      760 Massinga            03 58.23  +34 50.8   13.3   177   47      68948        6.5
02/02  21:23     1609 Brenda              05 33.70  +20 28.9   15.2    53   57      94484        6.0
02/03  08:08     7304 Namiki              09 17.31  +23 39.0   15.6    16  218     400132        6.9
02/03  09:52      705 Erminia             01 21.14  +28 43.3   13.9    59  163         91  PSC   5.2
02/04  03:33     2323 Zverev              04 20.34  +27 19.5   15.5    96  188        Phi  TAU   6.1
02/04  04:03     1194 Aletta              17 27.62  -29 46.3   15.9   168  183     266892        6.4
02/04  04:21     6307 Maiztegui           05 55.06  +19 45.7   15.8   110   65         57  ORI   5.6
02/04  07:43      674 Rachele             16 24.13  -20 00.8   13.5    88   16     265490        4.2
02/04  08:20     3388 Tsanghinchi         05 05.90  +26 25.8   15.6     5   97      94057        6.4
02/04  17:46     3182 Shimanto            09 25.42  -05 05.5   15.9    96    8         28  HYA   5.6
02/05  08:01     1645 Waterfield          10 47.25  +06 18.2   15.7   167  201     157184        7.0
02/05  14:24      769 Tatjana             02 13.00  +15 18.7   15.1   125  337         19  ARI   5.7
02/05  22:39      221 Eos                 01 11.74  -02 15.5   13.4    27  154         34  CET   5.8
02/06  10:38      512 Taurinensis         00 30.00  -03 56.4   14.7    70  334         12  CET   5.7
02/06  11:34     1043 Beate               08 55.94  +11 38.0   14.3    30   26         60  CNC   6.7
02/06  18:23      781 Kartvelia           01 07.74  -09 46.4   15.8    54  331     183061        5.9
02/07  01:59     1645 Waterfield          10 46.15  +06 24.4   15.7   128   21     157166        6.4
02/07  06:28     1219 Britta              11 15.89  +12 35.5   14.7    88  208     128110        7.0
02/07  11:52      170 Maria               02 03.65  +25 58.8   14.3   159  357         10  ARI   6.1
02/07  12:04     4937 Lintott             09 27.78  -06 04.9   15.6    35  177     192396        5.6
02/07  12:47      718 Erida               15 11.83  -16 09.8   14.6    17  200     229881        6.8
02/07  14:32     2962 Otto                07 12.00  +43 51.8   15.0    72  350      49672        7.0
02/07  20:17     2507 Bobone              11 18.43  +12 00.0   15.8    85   50     128145        6.8
02/07  21:39      334 Chicago             08 44.72  +18 10.7   13.3    91   20      Delta  CNC   3.9
02/08  03:37      454 Mathesis            15 06.88  -16 26.6   13.8   157   21     229767        6.6
02/08  12:16     6307 Maiztegui           05 54.35  +20 16.5   15.9    32  259       Chi1  ORI   5.1
02/08  16:37     1182 Ilona               00 16.59  +08 13.7   15.9    45  155         36  PSC   7.0
02/08  16:59     4720 Tottori             08 41.32  +20 30.6   15.4   132   26      98952        7.0
02/09  02:22      243 Ida                 02 49.28  +17 28.6   15.3    44  344         Pi  ARI   5.1
02/09  04:45     5806 Archieroy           10 59.86  -18 19.6   15.9   128  143      Alpha  CRT   4.1
02/09  06:16     5995 Saint-Aignan        09 59.54  +29 38.1   15.3    60  231     100009        5.7
02/09  07:21     4930 Rephiltim           09 10.36  +22 00.0   15.2    14   35         79  CNC   6.9
02/09  16:08      406 Erna                02 42.36  +20 01.1   15.6    26  349      91916        5.7
02/09  16:09      110 Lydia               17 24.07  -23 49.0   13.3   102    7     266814        7.0
02/09  22:09     3511 Tsvetaeva           10 19.52  -05 07.3   15.4    57  196     193308        6.6
02/09  23:19      770 Bali                14 49.37  -14 06.6   15.6   148   19         Mu  LIB   5.8
02/10  00:23      815 Coppelia            04 30.65  +32 26.5   15.2    58  171      69458        6.2
02/10  01:00      225 Henrietta           08 48.00  -06 36.1   14.9   168  206     191714        6.4
02/10  05:10     1626 Sadeya              12 22.88  -39 11.4   14.9   104  114     290084        6.9
02/10  10:57      220 Stephania           18 02.86  -24 18.3   15.8    78  176          7  SGR   5.1
02/10  18:45     1121 Natascha            08 26.78  +26 54.9   14.8    69  179      98709        6.4
02/11  14:01      788 Hohensteina         01 55.93  +01 49.9   14.8    72  157     145130        6.1
02/11  16:22      286 Iclea               03 36.92  +00 23.4   14.8    58  137         10  TAU   4.3
02/11  17:12      559 Nanon               04 23.46  +16 45.8   14.6    61  142         63  TAU   6.0
02/11  22:26     1167 Dubiago             16 06.83  -20 37.8   16.0   143    6     Omega1  SCO   4.1
02/12  03:29     4967 Glia                10 11.27  +20 44.1   15.9   177   39     100144        6.8
02/12  08:51     3028 Zhangguoxi          05 15.93  +11 21.6   16.0   142  298         18  ORI   5.6
02/12  10:05     2507 Bobone              11 16.06  +12 38.5   15.6   143   46     128110        7.0
02/12  18:11      537 Pauly               15 38.67  -08 45.5   14.3   132    1     198814        6.6
02/12  18:15      537 Pauly               15 38.67  -08 45.5   14.3   114    1     198815        5.4
02/12  20:49      292 Ludovica            16 20.74  -21 49.8   14.7    43   21     265430        6.9
02/12  22:29      601 Nerthus             16 28.79  -08 05.1   15.6   158  350     199702        6.8
02/13  12:03      980 Anacostia           15 46.82  -34 38.8   13.8   139   25     294249        5.8
02/13  13:35     2645 Daphne Plane        07 46.49  +37 33.3   15.5   178  319      73096        5.2
02/13  13:38      386 Siegena             02 56.60  -03 42.2   12.5    34  330     185207        5.2
02/13  19:26      545 Messalina           18 10.00  -32 42.9   14.5    14    3     297329        6.5
02/13  21:56     3064 Zimmer              11 00.81  +06 07.7   15.7   116   31         59  LEO   5.1
02/13  23:39      571 Dulcinea            04 06.61  +27 35.5   15.4    30  177         41  TAU   5.3
02/14  03:24      284 Amalia              06 18.14  +14 24.6   14.9   104   23     122243        6.2
02/14  04:26     2650 Elinor              01 29.72  +22 48.1   16.0    94  164      90831        7.0
02/14  05:03     5565 Ukyounodaibu        05 46.91  +15 48.0   16.0   156  122        129  TAU   5.8
02/14  10:00      804 Hispania            13 17.63  -15 33.5   13.1    96  113     227073        6.9
02/14  13:29      138 Tolosa              10 07.41  +16 48.5   12.6   177   21        Eta  LEO   3.5
02/14  15:43      645 Agrippina           02 18.08  +19 56.3   15.5   141  343      Theta  ARI   5.6
02/15  06:56     4959 Niinoama            11 04.47  +12 38.4   15.4   120  217     127948        7.0
02/15  08:53     1969 Alain               07 56.99  +15 47.2   16.0    13  198          1  CNC   5.8
02/15  19:22      642 Clara               03 31.32  +27 35.5   15.5    75  355      92576        6.6
02/15  19:48      642 Clara               03 31.34  +27 35.6   15.5    76  355      92577        6.1
02/15  21:15      135 Hertha              16 00.35  -22 36.6   13.2    41   14      Delta  SCO   2.3
02/16  00:59      512 Taurinensis         00 52.99  -01 08.1   14.7    36  334         20  CET   4.8
02/16  03:27     1563 Noel                10 17.29  +23 08.2   15.4   116   22         39  LEO   6.3
02/16  07:20     1459 Magnya              04 42.82  +38 26.7   15.5    65   14      69598        6.9
02/16  07:30      839 Valborg             07 39.90  +32 00.6   14.9     4  341      73009        6.4
02/16  11:50    16592 1992 TM1            09 01.99  -00 26.2   15.0   164    7     177714        5.7
02/16  12:40      289 Nenetta             04 58.97  +14 33.3   14.4    49  334     120459        5.9
02/17  04:55     1044 Teutonia            15 30.70  -16 35.4   15.6    75   15         34  LIB   5.6
02/17  11:56      675 Ludmilla            05 29.31  +18 20.8   12.1    72  189     121011        6.6
02/17  14:40      474 Prudentia           01 48.36  +03 43.7   15.6   168  338     144998        6.9
02/17  22:23     2826 Ahti                09 20.99  +38 10.8   15.7    29  182     400137        6.1
02/18  01:41     5181 SURF                08 26.65  +24 31.4   15.7    38  192     400120        6.5
02/18  09:10     4202 Minitti             08 57.32  +15 21.2   15.8   126   29    Omicron  CNC   5.3
02/18  19:22      432 Pythia              04 19.35  +21 10.9   14.0   160  332         53  TAU   5.3
02/18  21:37     2444 Lederle             10 37.19  -11 43.1   15.5   111    0     223217        6.9
02/19  04:06     7304 Namiki              08 59.87  +26 24.0   15.8   146  212      99216        6.7
02/19  15:45     1457 Ankara              10 06.75  +05 33.8   13.9   178  191     156524        6.2
02/19  18:15      182 Elsa                18 46.34  -22 22.3   14.8    72  356     268874        4.9
02/19  20:50      405 Thia                17 12.41  -27 43.1   12.8   160  359     266548        6.6
02/19  22:35     1059 Mussorgskia         18 54.70  -15 34.7   15.6    90  350     235210        4.8
02/20  01:49      648 Pippa               04 22.59  +25 38.5   14.6    48    9        Chi  TAU   5.4
02/20  04:02      994 Otthild             09 08.87  +33 51.4   14.5    90  171      74277        6.4
02/20  14:04      124 Alkeste             07 39.44  +17 39.0   12.4    94  200         74  GEM   6.8
02/20  22:59     1345 Potomac             09 25.59  +16 36.1   14.6    71   33     126439        6.3
02/21  05:06      803 Picka               03 27.07  +18 43.8   15.7    95  173     119087        6.6
02/21  16:50    45153 1999 XD113          08 09.02  -19 13.7   15.5    58  355         16  PUP   4.3
02/21  17:32      465 Alekto              17 12.19  -27 02.1   14.8    29    7     266542        6.9
02/22  00:56      367 Amicitia            03 27.09  +18 43.6   15.0   115  163     119087        6.6
02/22  02:54      673 Edda                17 47.76  -22 25.8   15.9   171  359     267309        6.1
02/22  10:47       69 Hesperia            15 56.55  -14 49.5   12.6    13  354     230971        6.4
02/23  02:00     1025 Riema               07 10.94  -03 53.9   15.3    97  268     190004        6.7
02/23  05:19     1999 Hirayama            06 11.37  +13 38.8   15.5    86  291     122055        6.0
02/23  06:03     1059 Mussorgskia         19 01.55  -15 16.1   15.5    55  349     235374        6.5
02/23  12:33      732 Tjilaki             04 23.91  +09 26.4   15.7    87  153         66  TAU   5.2
02/24  04:53      892 Seeligeria          15 49.69  -03 27.4   15.5   113  145         Mu  SER   3.5
02/24  06:02     3437 Kapitsa             09 30.42  +21 50.9   15.9   129   10      99624        6.9
02/24  07:18       32 Pomona              18 15.23  -20 46.4   12.7   161  174         15  SGR   5.6
02/24  14:43      160 Una                 08 57.09  +21 51.5   13.1     8  187     400129        7.0
02/25  00:08      686 Gersuind            06 50.12  +06 15.7   14.9    25   48     151346        6.9
02/25  03:01       73 Klytia              18 29.37  -25 15.4   14.6     2  353     268474        7.0
02/25  08:20     6916 Lewispearce         15 47.37  -41 01.5   15.9     8   33     321019        6.9
02/25  10:04      852 Wladilena           18 56.67  -37 20.9   14.2    16  187     298348        5.6
02/25  12:26      607 Jenny               18 08.09  -28 29.6   15.5   132  177     267912        4.6
02/25  12:42      814 Tauris              02 03.28  +00 05.9   13.6   130  146     145248        5.4
02/25  15:17      846 Lipperta            03 42.32  +19 41.5   15.6    31  167         13  TAU   5.7
02/25  17:33      754 Malabar             03 11.38  -03 50.8   14.9   141  154     185494        6.0
02/25  23:28    36284 2000 DM8            08 52.39  +05 21.1   15.9    45  342     155117        6.5
02/26  00:51      796 Sarita              14 04.24  -05 23.3   14.8    26  182     197161        6.2
02/26  01:40     4452 Ullacharles         07 25.67  +27 48.1   15.7    47  286       Iota  GEM   3.8
02/26  01:46      799 Gudula              02 12.98  +08 51.7   15.6    58  339        Xi1  CET   4.4
02/26  02:13     1212 Francette           06 42.22  +17 39.1   15.0   164  277         26  GEM   5.3
02/26  11:26     3345 Tarkovskij          15 21.41  -38 14.3   15.9    96  225     293743        6.6
02/26  18:23      220 Stephania           18 38.49  -23 28.2   15.7   125  352     268694        6.3
02/26  23:57      547 Praxedis            02 00.10  +03 08.3   14.3   154  344        112  PSC   6.2
02/27  00:21      204 Kallisto            02 24.79  +10 38.1   14.9    90  342         Xi  ARI   5.5
02/27  06:22      861 Aida                04 51.29  +18 53.1   15.6   174  336         97  TAU   5.1
02/27  14:57      590 Tomyris             17 16.27  -15 12.5   15.9    58    1     232850        6.6
02/27  15:35      217 Eudora              17 04.49  -12 39.8   14.9    46  354     232565        6.9
02/27  23:17      225 Henrietta           08 37.43  -04 56.4   15.0    29  220     191526        6.2


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Blobrana


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Highlights

Objects of the Heart for Valentine's Day.
On February 14, many areas of the world will celebrate love with Valentine's Day. For those of you lucky enough to have a loved one of your own, consider the following objects provided in the Heavens: The first and most obvious is the planet of Venus, named after the Greek Goddess of love. Now, go over to the constellation of Cassiopeia, and you will find The Heart Nebula. Officially called by the decidedly less romantic "IC1805", the Heart Nebula glows a reddish hue (naturally!) at magnitude 6. Surrounding the delicate splash of diamonds, is the star cluster Mel-15. Next is the Rosette Nebula ,NGC2237. Located in Monoceros, this delicate planetary nebula is perhaps one of the prettiest in the sky. Zoom in with a field of view of 4 degrees, you will see beauty gracefully bloom on your screen unlike anything you're seen before. If the roses have done their job, you may at last want to consider the Ring Nebula, M57. Rising in the early morning hours during the winter, M57 is one of the easiest to locate deep-sky objects and one of the most aptly named, nestled gently in the side of Lyra, the Lyre. Low power telescope views show a very small blue/green disk, not much bigger than a star. Medium to high power will magnify the size of the nebula while leaving the surrounding stars the same size, confirming you have found it. Can be seen in binoculars as a faint star like point of light.



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Blobrana


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Meteor Showers

February has no major meteor showers but there are a couple of minor showers for Southern hemisphere observers, the Alpha and Beta Centaurids. Although the Alpha Centaurids is considered a minor shower, in some years the number of meteors rises enough to reach the level of a major shower. While Alpha & Beta Centaurids can occasionally be seen during most of the month, their peaks occur on the same night, in the early morning hours of February 8.

Shower Activity Period Maximum Radiant Velocity ZHR
Date R.A. Dec. km/s
Beta Centaurids 1- 25 February 9 February 13.9h -58.1° 58.9 13.2
Alpha Centaurids 9 February 14.5h -59.8° 58.2 7.0
Pi Virginids Feb.- 9 March 12 February
Beta Leonids Feb.- 25 March 13 February
Delta Velids Jan 22-Feb 21 14 February 08:44 -52° 35 1
Omicron Centaurids Jan 31-Feb 19 14 February 11:48 -56° 51 2
Delta Leonids Feb 15-Mar 10 22 February 11:12 +16° 23 2
Sigma Leonids 25 February 176° +9° 2


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