Monday, February 19, 2007

Nova Over Iran


Credit & Copyright: Mohammad Rahimi
Explanation: A bright new nova is being studied by astronomers. The officially dubbed Nova Scorpii 2007 has become so bright in recent days that it is now visible to the unaided eye. Adventurous early morning sky enthusiasts should look in dark skies toward the constellation of the Scorpion, just below Jupiter and Antares. The above image may help as a sky chart. A nova this bright occurs only every few years. Novas are caused by thermonuclear explosions casting off the outer layers of a white dwarf star. Pictured above on Friday, the nova was being studied through a small telescope as it appeared over the Varzaneh Desert in Isfahan, Iran. The nova will likely fade but remain visible with binoculars for at least a few more days.

12 comments:

American Crusader said...

I'm sure that you have already heard of the asteroid nearing Earth in 2036.
A 1 in 45,000 chance of being hit.
I don't know if you get HDTV, but HD Net gives weekly updates on NASA and covers shuttle launches as well as satellite launches. Definitely worth watching.

Eyes said...

Hi AC, Cool avatar! I've heard of one coming in 2029. Is that the same one?

nanc said...

there's supposed to be one in 2016 also - wonder which will be THE one?

The Merry Widow said...

2016 may be the more likely one.
But it should be interesting...

tmw

Gayle said...

I know about the one in 2036 and am absolutely not worried about a 1 in 45,000 chance of being hit by it. Terrorism concerns me more than an asteroid. I hadn't heard about the other two though.

Eyes said...

I wonder if there's a website that list them all.....

Brooke said...

Cool!

American Crusader said...

The one in 2036 is currently being reported by all the major news outlets.
Here is a good link.

Eyes said...

Thanks ac, I think I'll post on that tomorrow so I don't lose track of it:>D

Anonymous said...

JPL has a coupla databases. Here's one, but I know there are others that will plot the orbits somewhere...

Eyes said...

Thanks FJ:>D

cube said...

I'm withe brooke...cool.