HAA Skywatch

In case anyone is planning a trip to the Cleveland Ohio area, you might be interested in knowing that NASA's Glenn Research Center is holding an open house on Sat May 17 and Sun May 18.

From their website:
Facility Tours - Walk through a wind tunnel, enter the "Dome of Silence," explore "NASA's Drop Zone" and more on this walking tour of Glenn's world-class research facilities.

Educational Activities - Education specialists and friendly volunteers will lead a variety of hands-on, minds-on activities to inspire the next generation of explorers. Plus, teachers can learn about valuable resources to enhance their classroom activities.

Their website and more info including maps and directions, can be found at:
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/events/grc_openhouse_main.html

Be sure to read the section and links about "Preparing for your visit". There are some security restrictions and you will need ID such as a passport.

Between the Visitor center, the open facilities and the extra tours, this will be a full day. If you go, be sure to let us know and post a report.

LAST CHANCE FOR 2008 MESSIER MARATHON

What a beautiful Last Quarter Moon this morning low in the S before dawn! The sky was beautifully clear and the air was not too cold for catching all those morning Messier objects. These are the last few days before the Marathon ends for 2008. How long is your list of Objects Seen?

BRIGHT NOVA DISCOVERED IN SAGITTARIUS, 18 April 2008

Up before the Sun to observe Jupiter low in the pre-dawn SE sky? Catching a view of the spectacular deep-sky objects in Sagittarius and Scutum before the summer haze threatens them? Looking for Pluto?

Why not have a look at the most recent Nova in Sagittarius, discovered just last week, 18 April at RA 18h 06m Dec -27.2 degrees,
just above the spout of the famous "teapot" asterism:

The Nova is getting brighter by half a magnitude per day and is now visible to the naked eye (ie: use binoculars in the city). If you have a go-to scope you can just go to open cluster NGC6540 and then move 1 degree north. The Nova is at the moment, the brightest star in the area shown by the chart below which has a 2 degree field of view:

Here is the discovery image, with stars to about magnitude 13... it pays to use a desert-based rent-a-scope to get a really clear image:

You can read more about this Nova at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/resources/proamcollab/astroalert/18063819.html or you can get (or post) up-to-date A.A.V.S.O. observational information at http://www.aavso.org/cgi-bin/newlcg.pl?name=Nova%20Sgr%202008&lastdays=400&obstotals=on&type=ps&width=600&height=450&style=points&mag1=&mag2=&visualunvalidated=on&visualvalidated=on&fainterthan=on&v=on

MINOR PLANET CERES IN TAURUS, May 11-12

The evening of May 11th Minor Planet (formerly "Asteroid") Ceres, magnitude 8, will appear to enter NGC 1746, a bright open cluster midway between 1st magnitude stars Aldebaran and El Nath in the constellation Taurus. Both the cluster and the planet are visible in binoculars. Here's a chart:

The cluster contains a dozen stars brighter than Ceres. It's an excellent opportunity to catch the movement of the planet over the course of an hour or two. Ceres leaves the cluster moving E through Taurus late on May 12th. Both nights are excellent imaging opportunities. Enjoy!

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN AN ASTEROID...

...this spring you have an opportunity to watch 10th magnitude asteroid Kalliope as it moves through the constellation Virgo.

If you are an imager, Kalliope does some excellent galaxy fly-bys:

- this weekend (12-13 April) it is 4' S of M91l
- April 17th the asteroid is just 1' S of M88;
- May 4th it is 1/2 way between M99 and M84-86;
- from June 25-29 it is 40' SW of M49

Here is a chart showing Kalliope's position May 5th: