(2010 Archives)
December 26, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
December 24, 2010
We would like to wish a "Merry Christmas" to those around this planet who celebrate this occasion.
December 19, 2010
A total eclipse of the moon takes place on this coming Monday evening/Tuesday morning, December 20-21. The eclipse is best viewed from North America; meanwhile, South America, Europe, and western Africa will see the beginning stages before the moon sets, while Australia and eastern Asia will see the final stages after the moon rises. Mid-eclipse is at 8:17 UT (1:17 A.M. MST), and the duration of totality is 72 minutes.
December 13, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that the apparent main-belt asteroid (596) Scheila has recently undergone what appears to be a cometary-like outburst.
December 11, 2010
Comet 483 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
The annual Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak on Monday night/Tuesday morning (December 13-14); peak display is predicted for 11:00 UT (4:00 A.M. MST) on December 14. Up to 60 to 100 or more meteors per hour should be visible. The moon will be just past its first quarter phase, and thus the conditions for viewing the Geminids during the morning hours are quite favorable.
December 3, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that Comet Ikeya-Murakami P/2010 V1 clearly underwent an outburst shortly before its discovery in early November, and is now distinctly fading. Meanwhile, it has also been found to be traveling in a short-period orbit, and we have updated its "Countdown" entry accordingly.
November 19, 2010
We are saddened to note the passing yesterday of astronomer Brian Marsden, one of the top experts on (among many other things) asteroidal and cometary orbits in the world, and formerly Director of both the IAU's Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams and Minor Planet Center. Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale is especially grateful to Brian for all the encouragement he has received from him throughout his career.
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
November 8, 2010
Comets 481 and 482 have now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
We congratulate the team of the Deep Impact/EPOXI mission for its successful encounter with Comet 103P/Hartley 2 last week. The images taken during closest approach reveal the nucleus as a peanut-shaped object approximately 2 km long along its longest dimension, with active regions on both ends.
November 3, 2010
We wish success to the team of the Deep Impact/EPOXI mission during its encounter of Comet 103P/Hartley 2 tomorrow, November 4. Closest approach (700 km, or 435 miles) is scheduled for just after 14:00 UT (8:00 AM MDT).
October 30, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
October 17, 2010
Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale will be attending (although not speaking at) the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight that will be held in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Wednesday and Thursday, October 20 and 21, and will also be attending the runway dedication at Spaceport America on Friday, October 22.
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that Comet 103P/Hartley 2 is now just three days away from its close approach to Earth and is dimly visible to the naked eye, and also the fact that Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 is now again accessible in the morning sky (although it is currently inactive).
October 12, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. Comet 103P/Hartley 2 is now just over a week away from its close approach to Earth, and is currently near the edge of naked-eye visibility.
October 7, 2010
Comet 480 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly. This update also reflects the fact that we have a new red print comet, Comet 103P/Hartley 2, which continues to brighten as it gets ready to make its close approach to Earth later this month. In preparation for the encounter with P/Hartley 2 by the EPOXI spacecraft in early November the comet has recently been imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope, and an infrared image taken by the WISE spacecraft back in May has also been recently released.
Comet McNaught C/2009 R1, which had been expected to become visible from the southern hemisphere by now, has apparently disintegrated; details are given in an update to this object's "Countdown" entry.
September 27, 2010
The "In Our Skies" e-book available through our Earthrise Store now has columns up through the end of the third quarter of 2010. Among the columns from the past three months are: "Asteroid Belt Encounters" (July 2), "In the Heat of the Night" (July 23), "Lost in the Stars" (August 20), and "Lord of the Planets" (September 10).
September 22, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
We have updated the various links to the Minor Planet Center and the International Comet Quarterly (to reflect recent changes made on their end) throughout the various "Countdown" pages.
In early September the EPOXI spacecraft began taking images of "Countdown" Comet 103P/Hartley 2 in preparation for its encounter with that comet that takes place on November 4. As of this writing EPOXI's most recent image is available here.
September 12, 2010
Comet 479 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
September 4, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
August 20, 2010
We are pleased to announce that the Earthrise Institute and the Comet Hale-Bopp discovery site have been listed as an official site of the New Mexico Space Trail, a joint project between (among other entities) the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the New Mexico Humanities Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that Comet 2P/Encke is now visible from the southern hemisphere. This comet's 2010 return was very unfavorable for the northern hemisphere and thus it is not a formal "Countdown" comet; we have posted an update to the "Countdown" entry for the comet's 2007 return that discusses the present one.
August 12, 2010
The annual Perseid meteor shower is expected to reach its maximum on Thursday night/Friday morning, August 12-13. The predicted time of maximum is around 0:00 Universal Time August 13 (6:00 P.M. August 12 MDT), and the shower may produce up to 60-100 meteors per hour as viewed from dark rural sites. The moon is three days past its new phase and thus will not interfere with this year's shower.
August 8, 2010
Comet 478 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
August 6, 2010
Comet 477 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
July 24, 2010
We congratulate Earthrise Board of Advisors member George Whitesides and his wife Loretta Hidalgo Whitesides on the birth of their son, George Alexander Montalvo Whitesides, on July 13, 2010.
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
July 16, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that we have a new red print comet, Comet 10P/Tempel 2.
We congratulate the team of the Rosetta mission for its successful encounter with the asteroid (21) Lutetia last weekend.
July 9, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
A total solar eclipse will be visible on this coming Sunday, July 11. The path of totality is primarily over open waters of the southern Pacific Ocean; it does pass over a few of the southern Cook Islands and some atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago (passing just south of Tahiti), and then directly over Rapa Nui (better known as Easter Island) before passing over portions of very southern Chile and southwestern Argentina at sunset. Interestingly, Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 will be located 10 degrees directly east of the sun during totality and may be bright enough to be detected.
We wish success to the team of the Rosetta mission during its encounter with the main-belt asteroid (21) Lutetia on Saturday, July 10.
Comet Hale-Bopp C/1995 O1 was imaged in the infrared by the Herschel Space Observatory on this past June 10, and these images are featured on the Herschel Image of the Day. At the time these images were taken Comet Hale-Bopp was located 29.95 AU from the sun (slightly less than Neptune's average distance), the largest heliocentric distance at which a comet has ever been observed.
June 27, 2010
The "In Our Skies" e-book available through our Earthrise Store now has columns up through the end of the second quarter of 2010. Among the columns from the past three months are: "Universe Machine" (April 16), "A Timely Look at the Sun" (April 30), "Journeys, Continuing" (May 28), and "Hayabusa's Odyssey" (June 18).
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 has now moved over into the evening sky but is close to the sun and difficult to observe.
June 25, 2010
There is a partial lunar eclipse tomorrow, June 26. Mid-eclipse is at 11:38 UT (5:38 AM MDT), when 54% of the moon's diameter will be immersed in the Earth's umbra. The eclipse will be visible from the western half of North and South America, eastern Asia, and all of Australia and the Pacific Ocean region.
June 18, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 has now brightened to the point where it is visible to the unaided eye, however it is starting to become more difficult to observe as it sinks closer to the northeastern horizon during twilight.
June 12, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 is now at the threshold of naked-eye visibility.
June 7, 2010
Under contract with the New Mexico Museum of Space History, the Earthrise Institute will be conducting astronomy-themed programs and activities as part of the Museum's New Mexico Space Academy Summer Science Camps that begin this week. The Science Camps are for students of all school grades, and run on a weekly basis through early August. A Camp schedule and a registration form are available here.
June 5, 2010
Due to financial and other considerations, Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale has purchased the Earthrise dark-sky site from the Institute. As a result of this, we are no longer offering the naming of the site as a sponsorship opportunity, although several other sponsorship opportunities remain.
The site remains excellent for astronomical observations, and over the coming months the Earthrise Board and team members will continue with planning and development of the site as we work to fulfill our overall mission. Stay tuned!
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 is now approaching naked-eye visibility in the morning sky.
May 29, 2010
The Earthrise Institute's new telephone number -- +1 (575) 687-2559 -- that is listed on our home page is now operational.
We congratulate Tyler Hale, son of Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale, on the occasion of his graduation from Cloudcroft High School.
May 23, 2010
Comet 476 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
May 20, 2010
We congratulate Mieczyslaw Paradowski of Lublin, Poland, for being the newest recipient of our comet observing award, given to those who successfully observe ten or more comets in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. (We are still seeking a sponsor for this award.)
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that we have a new red print comet, Comet McNaught C/2009 R1, which continues to show encouraging signs that it might reach naked-eye visibility during June.
May 9, 2010
We congratulate Jakub Cerny of Senohraby, Czech Republic, for being the newest recipient of our comet observing award, given to those who successfully observe ten or more comets in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. (We are still seeking a sponsor for this award.)
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. Comet McNaught C/2009 R1 continues to brighten nicely, and so far the prospects of a bright display in June continue to look good.
We have now begun a "What's New" archive page for the 2010 entries.
April 29, 2010
Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale will be attending, and possibly speaking at, the second annual Student Rocket Launch that will be held at Spaceport America on Tuesday, May 4.
Comet 475 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
We have updated Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale's biography to reflect recent changes and developments.
April 23, 2010
Comets 473 and 474 have now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly. The latter comet has recently been listed in the "Southern Hemisphere Only" section of our update page, and has the potential to be a naked-eye object during June.
April 13, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that we have a new red print comet, Comet McNaught C/2009 K5, and also includes Comet McNaught C/2009 R1, at present primarily visible from the southern hemisphere but which should become a "Countdown" comet before long, and which may become a naked-eye object in a couple of months.
April 8, 2010
Comet 472 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
April 4, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that the disintegration process that Comet Catalina C/2009 O2 began a month ago now seems to be complete.
We wish a Happy Easter to all those around the world who celebrate this holiday.
March 29, 2010
Comet 471 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
The "In Our Skies" e-book available through our Earthrise Store now has columns up through the end of the first quarter of 2010. Among the columns from the past three months are: "Second Odyssey" (January 8), "A WISE Look at the Universe" (January 29), "Asteroid Belt Smackdown" (February 12), and "Feeling the Earth Move" (March 12).
March 22, 2010
We are currently in the process of moving the main office for the Earthrise Institute to a new address: 891 16 Springs Canyon Road, Cloudcroft, NM 88317, USA. Our new telephone number (which is not yet effective -- we will announce on this page when that occurs) is +1 (575) 687-2559. We have updated the address information on our home page to reflect these changes.
Comet 470 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly.
We wish a Happy Norouz (Persian New Year) to all of our Iranian friends and colleagues.
March 13, 2010
Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale will be speaking at the worldwide premiere of the new IMAX film "Hubble" that will be held at the New Mexico Museum of Space History in Alamogordo, New Mexico on Friday evening, March 19.
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that Comet Christensen C/2006 W3 is now visible from the northern hemisphere, that Comet 65P/Gunn has now emerged into the morning sky, and that Comet Catalina C/2009 O2 appears to be disintegrating as it approaches perihelion.
March 6, 2010
Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale will be attending the Grand Opening of the New Mexico Challenger Learning Center (hosted by the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque) on Saturday evening, March 6. We look forward to future collaborative programs and activities with this new center.
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that Comet Christensen C/2006 W3 has now emerged into the morning sky, although for the time being it is primarily accessible only from the southern hemisphere.
February 22, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
One of our current "Countdown" comets, Comet Siding Spring C/2007 Q3, is featured among the initial set of images taken by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) spacecraft that was released earlier this month.
February 14, 2010
Comet 469 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly. This update also reflects the fact that Comet 169P/NEAT is again (and surprisingly) visible, albeit probably only briefly.
February 6, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program. This update reflects the fact that Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 has undergone yet another new outburst.
Italian amateur astronomer Danilo Pivato has recently released a striking gallery of reprocessed photographs taken of Comet Hale-Bopp during its period of maximum brightness in early 1997.
January 29, 2010
Comet 468 has now been added to the "Countdown to 500 Comets" program, and our comet update page has been updated accordingly. This update also reflects the fact that Comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 has recently undergone a new outburst.
January 13, 2010
An annular solar eclipse takes place on Friday, January 15. The path of annularity crosses some of the nations in central Africa (including northern D.R. Congo and central Kenya), the northwestern Indian Ocean (including the Maldive Islands), the southern tip of India and northern Sri Lanka, then across Myanmar and southeastern China. The partial phases of the eclipse will be visible from most of southern and eastern Africa, southern Asia, the Middle East, southeastern Europe, and the western islands of Indonesia. The maximum duration of annularity (11 minutes, 8 seconds) will be seen at a location in the Indian Ocean 1200 km southwest of the tip of India; this happens to be the longest annular eclipse of the entire 3rd Millennium, and won't be exceeded until the year 3043.
Earthrise Institute President Alan Hale will be a featured guest on the morning show of KLAQ-FM (95.5 MHz, in El Paso, Texas) on Thursday morning, January 14. His interview should start sometime between 7:30 and 8:00 A.M. MST (14:30 to 15:00 UT).
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
January 9, 2010
We have posted a new update to our comet update page in our "Countdown to 500 Comets" program.
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