From: TerryMosel
aol.com
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 2004 19:00:51 EST
Subject: Stardust, Registax, Sunspot, ISS, LINEAR
Hi all,
IAA members will be glad to know that AT LAST "Stardust" is on its way to
them! Some of you have already got it - if you don't get a mail delivery on
Saturdays you should get it on Monday. It's an extra large issue, and in colour (I
didn't even know it was going to be in colour until it was delivered! - don't
ask....)
I hope it was worth the wait - and sincere apologies again for the delay. I'm
already working on the next issue, so if you have any articles, observations,
letters, photos, jokes, adverts, etc etc, let me have them asap.
On that subject, one of Stardust's closest rivals, Sky & Telescope (well, I
can dream....) has a very good & informative article in the latest (April)
issue about "Registax", the free image-processing software for astrophotography
with a webcam. Anyone interested in that field should try & read it.
After quite a long period of quiescence, the Sun now has another prominent
spot group, looking quite like a % sign! Peter Paice has, as usual, done an
excellent image of it. There's a very slight chance of auroral activity in the
next few days, although I haven't seen any official alerts.
The ISS is starting another series of morning passes: there's quite a good
one on Sun morning, starting at about 05.50. Up-to-date details are in the
excellent Heavens Above.
Comet T7 LINEAR is brightening gradually, and is now about mag 6.5; visible
in good binoculars. But it's also steadily sinking in the western twilight.
Coupling that with the brightening Moon, the next few days are really your last
good chance to see it
It now lies about 3 degrees below, and slightly left of Gamma, the bottom
left hand star of the Square of Pegasus. If you have a star atlas, it's about
1/3 of the way between 86 Peg and 34 Psc. Its current position is given on a
daily basis in 'Heavens Above'.
Observe just as soon as the sky gets properly dark - about 18.40 - 19.00
depending on your location.
Clear Skies,
Terry Moseley
