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Thursday, February 14. 2013

Details on near-Earth asteroid visible in Maldives tomorrow - މާދަމާ ދުނިޔެ ކައިރިޔަށް އަންނަ އެސްޓްރޮއިޑްއާއި ބެހޭ

މާދަމާ (15 ފެބުރުއަރީ) ދުނިޔެއާއި ވަރަށް ކައިރިން އެސްޓްރޮއިޑެއް ދާނެކަމަށް ފަލަކީ އިލްމުވެރިން ބުނަމުންދާތާ ދުވަސް ކޮޅެއްވެއްޖެއެވެ. އަދި މިފަހަރު ކަންދިމާކުރާގޮތުން މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑް ދިވެހިރާއްޖެއަށްވެސް ފެންނާނެއެވެ. ހަމަ ލޮލުން ފެންނަވަރަށްވުރެ ކުޑަ ތަންކޮޅެއް ފަނޑުކަމުގައިވިޔަސް، ދުރުމީ ނުވަތަ ޓެލެސްކޯޕެއްގެ އެހީގައި ބަލައިލެވޭނެއެވެ.

މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑް ރާއްޖެއަށް ފެންނަގޮތަށް ފެނުން މައްޗަށް އަރާނީ ގާތްގަޑަކަށް 15 ފެބުރުއަރީގެ 22:00 ޖަހާއިރު ދެކުނުންނެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ފަސޭހައިން ފެންނަފަށަށް އަރާނީ 23:00 އިންފެށިގެންނެވެ. އޭރު ހުންނާނީ ކްރަކްސް ނުވަތަ ސަދަން ކްރޮސް ކޮންސްޓެލޭޝަން ކައިރީގައެވެ. އަދި 16 ފެބުރުއަރީގެ 00:30 އާއި 01:00 އާއި ދެމެދު ހުންނާނީ ވާގޯ އާއި ލިއޯ ކޮންސްޓަލޭޝަން އާއި ދެމެދެވެ. މިވަގުތަކީ މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑްގެ ދުނިޔެއާއި އެންމެ ކައިރިވާ ވަގުތާއި ކައިރި ވަގުތެއްކަމުން އޭގެ އަލި އެންމެ ގަދަވާނެވެސް ވަގުތު ކޮޅެކެވެ. މިތަކެތި ފަސޭހައިން ހޯދުމަށް ފޯނަށް "ގޫގްލް ސްކައި މެޕް" (އެންޑްރޮއިޑް) ނުވަތަ "ސްޓާ މެޕް" (އައިއޯއެސް) ފަދަ އެޕެއް ބޭނުން ކުރެވިދާނެއެވެ.


އުޑުމަތިން "2012 DA14" އެސްޓްރޮއިޑްގެ ދަތުރު ފެންނާނެގޮތް – ހެވަންސް އެބަވްއިން


އެސްޓްރޮއިޑް މިހާރު ހުރިތަނުގެ އެންމެ ފަހުގެ މައުލޫމާތު - ނާސާ


"2012 DA14" ގެ ނަންދެވިފައިވާ މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑަކީ ދުނިޔާއި ގާތުން ދަތުރުކުރާ ދުންތަރިތަކާއި އެސްޓްރޮއިޑްތަކުގެ އާއިލާ ("ނިއާ އާތު އޮބްޖެކްސް") އަށް ނިސްބަތްވާ އެއްޗެކެވެ. މީގެ ބޮޑުމިނަކީ ގާތްގަޑަކަށް 150 ފޫޓެވެ އަދި ބަރުދަނަކީ 130000 މެޓްރިކް ޓަނެވެ. މީތި ފުރަތަމަ ހޯދިފައިވަނީ 23 ފެބުރުއަރީ 2012 ގައެވެ. ހިސާބުތަކަށް ބަލާފައި މި އެސްޓްރޮއިޑް ދުނިޔެއާއި އެންމެ ކައިރިވާނީ 16 ފެބުރުއަރީގެ (ރާއްޖެގަޑިން) 00:24ގައިކަމަށާއި އެވަގުތު އެންމެ ކައިރިވާނީ އިންޑިއާ ކަނޑުން ސުމަޓުރާ ބޭރުން ކަމަށް ސައިންސްވެރިން ވަނީ ވިދާޅުވެފައެވެ. ގައިއަކު 28100 ކިލޯމީޓަރު ނުވަތަ ސިކުންތަކު 7.82 ކިލޯމީޓަރުގެ ބާރު މިނުގައި ދުނިޔެއާއި ދިމާލަށް ދަތުރުކުރަމުންދާ މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑް ދުނިޔޭގެ ސިސްޓަމް ތެރެއިން ބޭރަށް ދާނީ 16 ފެބުރުއަރީގެ (ރާއްޖެ ގަޑިން) 17:00 ގައެވެ.

މި އެސްޓްރޮއިޑް ދުނިޔެއާއި އެންމެ ކައިރިވާ ވަގުތު މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑާއި ދުނިޔެއާއި ދެމެދު ދުރުމިނަކަށް ހުންނާނީ އެންމެ 27700 ކިލޯމީޓަރެވެ. މިއީ ދުނިޔޭގެ ވައިގެ ފަށަލައައްވުރެ މާދުރެވެ އަދި ބައިނަލް އަގުވާމީ ޖައްވީ ސްޓޭޝަނައީ ދުނިޔެއާއި ކައިރި ބުރުޖެއްގައިވާ ތަފާތު ސެޓެލައިޓްތަކަށްވުރެވެސް ދުރެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިއީ ޖީޕީއެސް އަދި ތަފާތު މުވާސަލަތީ ސެޓެލައިޓްތައް ދަތުރުކުރާ "ގިއޯ ސިންކްރޮނަސް އޯބިޓް" އޭ ކިޔާ ބުރުޖައްވުރެ ކައިރިއެވެ އަދި ހަނދަށްވުރެ ގާތްގަޑަކަށް ދިހަބައި ކުޅަ އެއްބައި ކައިރިއެވެ! އެއްވެސް ސެޓެލައިޓެއްގައި މީތި ޖެހުމުގެ ބިރެއް ނެތްކަމަށް ސައިންވެރިން ވަނީ ވިދާޅުވެފައެވެ.

މިބޮޑުމިނުގެ އެސްޓްރޮއިޑެއް ދުނިޔެއާއި މިހާކައިރިވާނެ ކަމަށް މިހާތަނަށް ހޯދިފައިވާ "ނިއާ އާތު އޮބްޖެކްސް"ގެ އަލީގައި ބެލެވޭ ފަހަރަކީ މިއެވެ. މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑް ބަލަން ރާއްޖޭގެ ހުރިހާ ހިސާބެއްހެން ކަމުދާނެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް އިރަށްވާ ރަށްތަކަށް ކުޑަކުޑަ މޮޅުކަމެއް ލިބިދާނެއެވެ.

މިފަހަރުގެ މިބައްދަލުވުމުގައި ދުނިޔޭގެ ގްރެވިޓީއާއި ހެދި މީގެ ބުރުޖަށް ބަދަލުތަކެއް އަންނާނެއެވެ. ދެން ދުނިޔެއާއި އެންމެ ކައިރިޔަށް މިއެސްޓްރޮއިޑް އަންނާނީ 15 ފެބުރުއަރީ 2046 ގައެވެ ނަމަވެސް ދަތުރުކުރާނީ މިފަހަރުހާ ގާތަކުން ނޫނެވެ.
ދުނިޔާއި ގާތުން ދަތުރުކުރާ މިފަދަ ތަކެއްޗަކީ ދުނިޔައަށް ނުރައްކާ ހުރި ތަކެތި ކަމުން ސައިންސްވެރިންނާއި ދުނިޔޭގެ ބޮޑެތި ގައުމުތަކުގެ އަސްކަރިއްޔާއިން ބަލަމުން ގެންދެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް މިފަހަރަކު ދުނިޔެއަށް މާބޮޑު ނުރައްކަލެއް ނެތްކަމަށް އެތީގެ ބުރުޖާއި ސުޕީޑާއި ތަފާތު ކަންކަމަށް ބެލުމަށްފަހު ސައިންސްވެރިންވަނީ ޔަގީންކަން ދީފައެވެ.

ދުންތަރިއާއި އެސްޓްރޮއިޑަކީ ތަފާތު ދެއެއްޗެކެވެ. މިދެއެއްޗަކީވެސް ފަޒާގެ ތެރޭގައި ދަތުރުކުރަމުންދާ އެއްޗެއްކަމުގައިވިޔަސް އެސްޓްރޮއިޑަކީ މައިގަނޑު ގޮތެއްގައި ގަލެވެ އަދި ދުންތަރިއަކީ މައިގަނޑު ގޮތެއްގައި ގަނޑުވެފައިވާ ތަފާތު ގޭހައި ފެނެވެ. އަހަރެމެންގެ ސޯލާސިސްޓަމްގައިވާ ހުރިހާ ދުނިޔެތަކެއް ފަދައިން މިސޯލާސިސްޓަމްގެ ތެރޭގައިވާ އެސްޓްރޮއިޑްތައްވެސް ދައުރުކުރަނީ އިރުގެ ގްރެވިޓީގެ ބާރާއި ހެދި ހަމަ އަހަރެމެންގެ އިރުވަށައެވެ. އެހެނިހެން ދުނިޔެތަކުގެ ގްރެވިޓީގެ ބާރާއި ހެދި އެތަކެތީގެ ބުރުޖަށް އަންނަ ބަދަލުތަކާއި ހެދި ބައެއް އެސްޓްރޮއިޑާއި ދުންތަރި ދުނިޔޭގެ ބުރުޖާއި ކައިރިވެ އަދި ބައެއް ފަހަރު ދުނިޔެއާއި ޖެހި މުޑިއަރައެވެ. މިގޮތަށް މުޑި އެރުމަކީ އަހަރެމެންނާއި ދުނިޔޭގައިވާ ދިރުމަށް ހުރި ބޮޑު ނުރައްކަލެކެވެ. ދުނިޔޭގައި އިންސާނުންގެ ކުރިން އުޅުނު ބިޔަ ޖަނަވާރުތަކެއްކަމުގައިވާ ޑައިނަސޯތައް ނެތި ދިޔައީ ވަރަށް ބޮޑު އެސްޓްރޮއިޑެއްގެ ސަބަބުންކަމަށް ސައިންސްގެ އަލީގައި އެނގެއެވެ.
Posted by Jaa at 22:55 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)
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Tuesday, May 8. 2012

"Super moon" misconceptions

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding regarding the "super moon" event that took place on 5/6 May. A "super moon" is a non-technical term for when the elliptical orbit of the Moon brings it closest to the Earth - astronomers call that position the perigee.

However, the resultant change in size is not enough to produce much of a visually discernible difference. The awesome looking photos being spread on Facebook, news sites and elsewhere, where the Moon appears several times larger, are the result of common depth-of-field photographic techniques and/or post-editing. Also, it may help to keep in mind that the Moon appears larger when near the horizon thanks to an illusion called the "Moon illusion".

Full Moons are beautiful though :-)
Posted by Jaa at 08:50 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)
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Monday, April 16. 2012

Transit of Venus on 6th June visible in Maldives

There is an exciting and rare astronomical event occurring this coming June: Venus will be passing in front of the Sun (as viewed from Earth) on 5/6 of June. The transit can be seen in the Maldives on 6th June. The transit would have already started by the time the Sun rises over Maldives that morning, allowing us to catch the event just as Venus reaches center at 6:31 AM. Venus exits the exterior of the disc of the Sun at 9:52 AM.

Venus is the brightest star in the night sky but during the transit, when Venus' orbit around the Sun takes it in between the view of the Sun from the Earth, Venus will appear as a black spot moving across the bright disc of the Sun. Solar filters are required to watch this (otherwise, be ready for eye damage!) and so is a binocular or telescope.

The next earliest Venus transit will not occur until 2117, so if this kind of thing gets you excited you might want to wake up early in the morning on 6th June 2012! Maldivian Association for the Advancement of Science will be holding an event - details later.

More information:
- 2012 Venus Transit - Sun-Earth Day (NASA)
- 2012 Transit of Venus (NASA)
- Transit of Venus (Wikipedia)
- Find out the exact time for your location


Source: http://hemel.waarnemen.com/venus/venusovergang_2012.html
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Thursday, December 8. 2011

Total Lunar Eclipse on 10th December visible in the Maldives

There will be a total Lunar eclipse that will be visible in the Maldives taking place tomorrow, 10 December 2011. The eclipse starts at 4:34 PM, reaches mid eclipse at 7:32 PM and ends at 10:30 PM. The total phase begins at 7:06 PM and ends at 7:57 PM, which allows us to catch the eclipse not long after the sunsets at 5:54 PM.

This eclipse is reported to be not central - meaning the Moon does not pass through the center of the Earth's shadow. Hence, there will be a nice gradient visible on the Moon, with one side appearing darker and the opposite side lighter even during the total phase.

Maldives will not be seeing another Lunar eclipse until 28 November 2012, when a penumbral eclipse occurs starting at 5:15 PM. The next earliest total Lunar eclipse visible in the Maldives occurs 8 October 2014.

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Wednesday, September 7. 2011

Rare chance to witness a Supernova, right now!

The astronomy community has been abuzz lately with the discovery of a supernova, dubbed SN2011fe, in the Pinwheel spiral galaxy. This is the 136th supernova discovered this year but what makes this particular supernova special is that this one is the closest of its kind discovered since 1986 and astronomers believe it was discovered just hours after it went supernova. It also presents an exciting opportunity for the public as it is visible with the aid of binoculars or a small telescope!

The supernova was discovered by the Palomar Transient Factory survey for supernovas on 24th August. The supernova was located to the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) in the easily identifiable constellation Ursa Major (a.k.a. Great Bear), and has been brightening since discovery. It is expected to reach peak brightness on 9th September.

The fact that the supernova was located to the Pinwheel Galaxy which is about 21 million light years away, means that this event actually took place 21 million years ago! It is only now that light from the event has completed its long journey and is reaching us here on Earth.

Observing


If you have a good set of binoculars or a telescope, you can attempt to view the supernova yourself. For Maldives, the Pinwheel Galaxy is currently located very low on the horizon at sunset and sinks below the horizon around 9pm.

If you have a computerised telescope, get it to locate the Messier object M101 for you. Or you can use your choice of stargazing application on a smartphone or tablet device to locate the Pinwheel galaxy.

If you don't have either of those, locate the "handle" of the Big Dipper asterism in Ursa Major and extend an imaginary line from the last two stars to form an equilateral triangle - you should find yourself looking at the Pinwheel Galaxy and the supernova SN2011fe as a bright point.


Locating the Pinwheel Galaxy


What is a Supernova?


A supernova is the violent explosion of star, which results in a burst of radiation that could outshine the star's host galaxy and could radiate as much energy as our Sun emits in its entire lifespan. The SN2011fe supernova is classed as a Type 1a supernova, which is thought to occur when a white dwarf star starts to siphon off material from a nearby star and accretes enough material, increasing temperature and density, that nuclear fusion is triggered. Supernovae happen all the time and astronomers have observed many a supernovae over the years but there is still much to be understood about them.


The supernova as visible on 23, 24 and 25 August.
Credit: Palomar Transient Factory (http://www.astro.caltech.edu/ptf/)
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Friday, June 3. 2011

Total Lunar Eclipse on 15th June visible in the Maldives

As I had mentioned in a post sometime ago, there is a total lunar eclipse taking place on 15th June 2011 and it will be visible in the Maldives. The (nearly) full Moon on the night will go very dark and undergo dramatic color changes.

The lunar eclipse taking place on 15th June will be a central eclipse, with the Moon passing through the center of the Earth's shadow, which will make the Moon appear very dark during the umbral (total) phase. Moreover, with the umbral phase lasting 100 minutes, this eclipse is among the longest eclipses that we will be seeing this century! By comparison, the longest lunar eclipse of this century happening on 27th July 2018 will be central and 103 minutes long (which, Maldives will be able to see in totality as well!).

The penumbral phase of the eclipse starts at 10:25 PM and partial eclipse starts at 11:23 PM on 15th June. The Moon will loose its bright white color and slowly turn into a reddish/orangish color during this period. Total eclipse begins at 12:22 AM of the next day, 16th June. The whole Moon will be very dark and will likely appear a coppery red color for the 1 hour 40 minutes that the total phase lasts. Mid eclipse is reached at 1:13 AM and the eclipse ends at 4:01 AM on 16th June.

The weather forecast is looking promising with only very little rain predicted. Hopefully there will be clear skies for the whole night. Unlike for solar eclipses, you will be able to view it directly with the naked eye. If you are a photographer, you might want to get your gear out and ready!

There is another lunar eclipse that will be visible in the Maldives taking place at the end of the year on 10 December 2011. That eclipse starts at 4:34 PM and reaches mid eclipse at 7:32 PM, which doesn't make for as good viewing as the one this month.

More info:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2011.html#LE2011Jun15T
http://eclipsegeeks.com/MapTotalLunarEclipse15June2011.aspx



Visibility of the 2011-06-15 lunar eclipse - NASA
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Thursday, June 2. 2011

Milky Way Galaxy from the Maldives

Nishan has posted a really gorgeous photo of the night sky he recently took from the island of Guraidhoo. His long exposure photo, directed South at a low angle above a nearby uninhabited island, shows the nice circular star trail left by the rotation of the Earth against the canopy of the night sky.

There are a couple of bright star (trails) in the photo. The first bright star from the left of the photo is Alpha Centauri. It is the fourth brightest star in the sky and is the closest star system to Earth. Although it appears as a single star unmagnified, is actually a binary star system (two stars orbiting around each other). The bright blueish star trail next to that of Alpha Centauri is left by Beta Centauri, again a single star to us that actually is composed of three distinct stars. A line through Alpha Centauri and Hadar point to the top star of the Crux (Southern Cross) constellation. The five stars of the Southern Cross appear in the middle of the photo, with the four bright ones visible in a distinct cross pattern. The Southern Cross is called so because the top and bottom stars point very close to the (celestial) South.

However, what I really liked about Nishan's photo is that it is the first picture of the Maldivian night sky posted online that I've seen that shows clearly our galaxy, the Milky Way. You can see the Milky Way in the picture as a faint haze extending across the trail of stars. That haze is, trivially said, because of the increased concentration of stars towards the galactic center. Our Solar System is very far from the galactic center that affords us this beautiful scene of the busy and bustling center of the galaxy!


"Startrails in the tropical islands" by Millzero.


View of the same patch of sky as seen in Stellarium (simulation).
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