APOD 1.5

In the image below, two M objects (M31 and M33), both spiral galaxies, are being compared within the same telescopic shot. This is a very difficult image to take because of the large field of view required to capture both galaxies. These two galaxies are 14 degrees apart in the night sky and are part of the Local Group, the same group of galaxies to which our Milky Way belongs. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33; also known as the Pinwheel Galaxy) are two of the three largest galaxies in the Local Group (the Milky Way being the third) among several dozen dwarf galaxies. The Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light-years away while the Triangulum Galaxy is 3 million light-years away, however despite their large distance apart, both galaxies are locked in gravitational orbit around each other. Astronomers have made predictions that some billions of years in the future, the three largest galaxies of the Local Group (The Milky Way, M33, M31) will undergo close encounters with each other which may signal a merging. The bright spot in the center of the image is the bright star, Mirach found in the Milky Way in the constellation Andromeda. Mirach is a red giant star, a cooler, but larger version of our Sun.



Christen Sørensen Longomontanus Sources

Applebaum, Wilbur. "Severin, Christian (Christen Sorenson; Longomontanus or Langberg)."Encyclopedia of the Scientific Revolution: From Copernicus to Newton. N.p.: Garland Science, 2000. N. pag. Print.

"Christian Longomontanus (Danish Astronomer)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia       Britannica, n.d. Web. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/347617/Christian-Longomontanus.

APOD 1.4

The image below is a processed image of the planetary nebula M2-9, located an astounding 2,100 light years away from Earth. This shows the end of a low-mass star and its transition into a white dwarf star. During this point in its lifetime, the star is labeled as a planetary nebula; however, much is left unknown as to the processes of that cause this transition. Once the star's core ceases to undergo nuclear fusion, the outer layer of the star expands and quickly loses mass as the gases are swept away by stellar winds. However, before the outer gaseous layers are completely gone, they form the signature wings of a butterfly nebula (pictured below). This future white dwarf star, like other white dwarf stars, will eventually fade away over the course of thousands of years. Inside this planetary nebula, there is a pair of binary stars orbiting around each other on a gas disk.

APOD 1.3

The image below, taken in San Antonia de Areco, Argentina, shows cosmic cloud dust over the constellation Corona Australis. The clouds of dust span an estimated 15 light-years and may even be a nebula in the midst of creating a new star. There are certain features within the clouds that denote star formation, one of which is the appearance of Herbig-Haro objects. Herbig-Haro objects can be described as compact nebulae and are the first visible signs of star formation. They are ejected in pairs moving in opposite directions from proto-stars near the conclusion of the star formation. The Herbig-Haro objects can be seen in the image below as two red patches equidistant from the small, yellow curlicue.  The blue color is produced as the clouds of dust particles scatter the shorter wavelengths of the visible starlight.

APOD 1.2

The image below, taken with the Hubble Space Telescope, shows a caterpillar-shaped protostar in its early stages of star formation. The blue cloud (with a length of approximately one light-year) represents a collection of gas from which the star builds itself. For this particular protostar (IRAS 20324), however, the cloud of gas is being eroded by radiation from nearby Cygnus OB2 association, a collection of the hottest, brightest known stars, and energentic winds composed of a fast moving flow of protons, electrons, and atoms of heavier metals. The future of this star is unknown to astronomers at the moment as its formation to a star my be cut short by the erosion. If it collects enough mass, this protostar has the potential of becoming a massive star (one to ten times larger than the sun) and turning into a planetary nebula.

Observation Log 1

Date: September 1, 2013

Time:  9:00 - 10:00 PM

Place:  Clearwater Beach

Sky Conditions: Clear Sky, Limited visibility to the East/SE/SSE because of city lights

Instruments Used: None

Planets: -

Bright Stars noted: Anteres, Polaris

Constellations noted: Scorpius, Sagittarius

                                Corona Australis was not visible due to the city lights.

Binary Stars: -

Deep Sky Objects: -

Other: International Space Station moved across the south sky from West to East around 9:33 PM

Although I observed the sky near the city, I was still able to distinguish some constellations. Being able to catch the International Space Station's movements across the sky at just the right moment was more than exciting.