Time and again readers such as Anna and JJ along with others have sent me articles of space happenings and current affairs of the night sky. This is too cool, my readers are taking the time out of their busy day to do this, it means a lot to me, so what I am going to do on my Saturday post is start a new Black holes feature called "Readers Choice" or "You asked for it" haven't really decided yet, and showcase their news item in my post with a mention. If you can think of a better title you can email me or comment about it in the comment section.
Todays "Readers Choice" or "You asked for it" or "Whatever The Reader Comes Up With" post comes from Lynda, a news article about a naked eye Gamma Ray Burst, the above animation.
On March 19, 2008 astronomers using the NASA SWIFT Spacecraft's telescope noticed in the location of the constellation Bootes a Gamma Ray Burst so bright it could be seen by the naked eye, named GRB 080319B it is around 7. 5 billion light years distant. This particular GRB is roughly 2.5 million times brighter then any previously recorded Supernova.
Gamma Ray Bursts occur when large stars die, their core collapses to form Black Holes or Neutron Stars shooting off Gamma Rays and jets of particles into space. Scientists are just now looking into the reasons this ray was so bright, one reason they say is the star seemed to focus most of it's energy and particle jets directly at Earth.
Todays "Readers Choice" or "You asked for it" or "Whatever The Reader Comes Up With" post comes from Lynda, a news article about a naked eye Gamma Ray Burst, the above animation.
On March 19, 2008 astronomers using the NASA SWIFT Spacecraft's telescope noticed in the location of the constellation Bootes a Gamma Ray Burst so bright it could be seen by the naked eye, named GRB 080319B it is around 7. 5 billion light years distant. This particular GRB is roughly 2.5 million times brighter then any previously recorded Supernova.
Gamma Ray Bursts occur when large stars die, their core collapses to form Black Holes or Neutron Stars shooting off Gamma Rays and jets of particles into space. Scientists are just now looking into the reasons this ray was so bright, one reason they say is the star seemed to focus most of it's energy and particle jets directly at Earth.
The above Moon image is my 100% of full March Moon, or Worm Moon. Called the Worm Moon by Native Americans because it is the month when the ground thaws, bringing out the worms and providing food for the returning Robins. Other names for the March Full moon, "Buffalo Dropping Their Calves Moon", "Catching Fish Moon", "Noisy Goose Moon", "Long Days Moon", and "Warming Moon"
I always post The Full Moon for each month, this month I thought I would do something different, post a few pics of the Moon as the terminator crosses it's surface to show you the different features and craters of the Moon. If you want a larger view just click on the image.
94% of Full Moon
83% of Full Moon
78% of Full Moon
Half Moon
46 comments:
Bob, thanks for the blog mention. :D What a cool idea. How about *Bob's Sky Watcher's Speak* or
*Sky Watchers Want to Know* :D
Gamma Ray Bursts! I can add one more lesson to my growing knowledge of space. :D
Happy Easter!!! Great photos and post...you could give me calendar month moons names every day of the week. I love them!!!
Hugs, JJ
Great moon photos, Bob, and explanation of the gamma burst. And thanks for the acknowledgement.
I love the Native American names for the March moon--very decriptive. They were so tuned in to the changes in nature...
Very good pictures of our lunar friend. Just stopping by to offer my appreciation once again. Thanks bob.
Question: Is there anyway to get started in astrophotography without spending ridiculous amounts of money.... It seems if you are going to go for it then you have to make a pretty big investment. Any suggestions?
Hey JJ thanks for the suggestions, they're great, Happy Easter to you too.
Thanks and your welcome Lynda, They certainly called the Moon as they saw it and how it fit in with their surroundings and nature.
Thanks sherer, astrophotography, it is quite an endeavour, if you are just going to be taking images of the Moon, not too expensive, but I don't know of anyone who started taking pics of the Moon and was happy and stopped, you always strive for the next colorful image, usually of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters.
If taking images of the Moon is all you want then getting a scope like I discuss in one of my posts, which is how I took a lot of my moon images
http://blackholesandastrostuff.blogspot.com/2007/07/buying-telescope.html
with a basic dob scope and a point and shoot camera with practice you can get good Lunar shots.
Long exposure astrophotography, I'm still working on. You'll need a computerized scope that can track the deep sky objects as they journey through the night sky, this will set you back depending on the quality and size around at least $1,000.
Then you of course need a camera, you can go with a dslr/slr, or if you have a laptop, you may want to try a made for the scope camera such as
http://www.khanscope.com/productdetails.cfm?productID=1246
This is how I do most of my imaging, just put the camera in the eyepiece, plug the camera into the laptop, and start taking pics.
No short answers for this hobby, if you have any further questions feel free to email me. Try my best to give you any help you may need.
Hi Bob, this is really nice of you :o :O :-o :-O to mention my blog. I presonally like the simple title Readers Choice. Thanks for all the info on the gamma ray burst. Your full moon is nice. However, I really like the half moon, so much detail is shown. So I noticed you got your moon on the background too \m/. BTW testing your emoticon. Thanks again and Happy Easter. Anna :)
Bob:
Wow, great post. I can't imagine the energy let loose in the Bootes Gamma Ray Burst. For once, I'm more than happy to be billions of light years away. A good choice for your first You Ask For It entry.
And the full moon, or Long Days Moon, how cool is that? Also the passing terminator pictures were great addition.
Happy star gazing.
Looking great around here Bob, that burst got me thinking quite a bit about what if we were on the other end looking at earth through a telescope with awesome power, we would be able to see back in time at early earth.
That would be cool.
I never knew the March moon is called the worm moon. Great name for it, the worms really do come out at this time of the year.
I loved the Gamma Ray Bursts. I have never seen them before. Thank you for showing them to me. So Cool!
I just stopped by to wish you a Happy Easter.
Love and Blessings,
AngelBaby
Thanks and your welcome Anna, and thanks for testing the little guys , they are very cool.
I like the half Moon as well ,love the craters as well as readers choice, simpler. Happy Easter to you and your family too Anna. \m/
Thanks swubird, glad you like the pics, Happy Easter to you and yours!
Hey Rand, thanks for dropping by, That is a good way of looking at Earth through a telescope, 7.5 billion years ago, come to think of it, Earth wasn't even around at that time, wild.
Thanks for dropping by AngelBaby, Happy Easter to you too!
Hi! Happy Easter to you and your family for a start.
Off topic a bit. I hope you don't have to sell any of your cameras for next years wedding! While I'm on that topic, are you going to be the wedding photographer?
As for your Saturday post feature, how about, "This is your life" as a title. Although "You asked for it" sounds much better. It's a fantastic idea and congratulations on the idea.
You have really opened my eyes to a lot of things where space is concerned, especially the moon.
My mind now turns to the others that have affected me during my life in regards to space and the moon etc.
Arthur C. Clarke, the author of "2001, A Space Odyssey" just passed away on the 19 March 2008. He really got me interested in the first place.
I look forward and can't wait to see your plan go into action.
Take Care,
Peter
Very nice post, as always! I like the small moon photos.
Happy Easter to you too.
Nice job Bob don't forget today is Happy Easter wish you all the best
I like your idea about the articles from your readers - and JJ has some some cool ideas for the names.
Like your moon series - great photography as usual!
Happy Easter!
Kathy
Wonderful moon photos. I would like to call it the warming moon, if it would make any difference!
Sounds dangerous to me, looking directly at a gamma ray burst!
Interesting about the worm moon. I just noticed this week that the worms are back above ground.
-Will
:greenalien: :S I hope I did that right with the code. I am coming back to life Bob sorry I haven't visited in a few days! I think that is a great idea ya got going on there! Awesome moon photos as always Bob!!
Excellent web site. Like the layout and design. Great images too. Added you to my RSS feed.
Beautiful shots of the moon Bob. Worm Moon huh? I had no idea. All I can conjure up in my fertile imagination is zombie corpses coming out of the ground ...
I like your idea of a weekly column...run with it.
I hope you had a grande Easter and I hope the Easter bunny left you a few extra toys as well.
Take care.
~JD
Lol, Peter, not at all, we do have a year to save up, my daughter is an actual phtographer, she and I will probably take lots of pics.
Good suggestions for the title of the new feature, Arthur C Clarke, had a termendous impact on my life as well, he will be greatly missed, writer, visionary, futurist, he was everything.
Thanks Susanne, hope you had a great Easter too.
Thanks Franx, hope you had a good Easter too
Hey Kathy thanks a lot, like her names too, hope you had a great Easter. \m/
Hey Ruth, thanks so much, I like the name warming moon as well, very fitting, hope you had a great Easter. \m/
Hi Will, cool about the worms coming out, spring is here. \m/
lol, good to see your getting better, and thanks, hope you had a great Easter. :candy:
Wow, thanks John, glad you like the site \m/ :greenalien:
Thanks JD, lol zombies, hope you had a great Easter! \m/
Thanks for the answer. I think for now I will just stick to my scope and binocs (i love the binocs) However, in the future maybe.... Being able to capture the color from the night sky on the long exposures seems like it would be amazing. I have have more questions, you will be the first person I ask.
Your welcome sherer, binocs are excellent as well, feel free to ask any questions you want in the future. \m/
Those moon shots are awesome Bob. Terrific detail and exposure.
Hey oswegan, thanks a lot, glad you like them.
Thanks for the Gamma ray burst, I heard about it a few days ago and have been looking for the shot. Excellent JJ and Lynda for assisting my friend Bob with information and content, so we may all enjoy this wonderful blog. Keep up the great work and I'll be watching the sky as you all will too.
Hey Charles thanks very much for the kind words, glad you like the blog. \m/
Wow - Bob the moon man!
I'm going to spend some time here and find a 'photographing the moon 101' type post :)
Thanks priyank, appreciate the kind words, ever need any help photographing the Moon just email.
Hey Bob,
The new feature is a great idea! Let me see if I can come with a title for you...."Your corner at Blackholes" or "Your space at Blackholes" - that way people can feel even closer to your blog by knowing that they can participate in it :D!
Lynda's contribution was magnificent: I didn't know about Gamma Ray Bursts; and this is one of the reasons why I like your blog so much, Bob - I always learn something new :)!
Native Americans gave the full moon some gorgeous names; my faves are: "Catching fish moon", Long Days Moon" and "warming moon".
Fantastic Moon photos!!! So romantic, so powerful and magical at the same time...amazing!
Cheers, my friend
Hey thanks max, glad you like the new feature and thanks for some ideas. I've always love the Native American names for the Moon, so self explanatory.
Hi Bob;
The Gamma Ray Burst in the animation reminds me of when I was a kid and Hockey Night in Canada would have technical difficulties, the left one is Lafleur and the right one is Sittler, even with the Canucks we are almost always stuck watching those foreign teams…. (Anyways I digress, not digest, but I am sure you have similar memories)
I know I talk about sex on my blog Bob but really do you need to bring up naked eyes? Well as Max says “sex sells” LOL
I love your new feature, I can think of about a dozen questions etc….
This was very interesting and informative, it is nice to know we are in the path of these “jet” streams….
Great Moon images!!!! I like the “Noisy Goose” Moon”, although “Swiss Cheese Moon” would also be nice….
Seriously though Bob great images, I liked seeing the progression… Always Bob always good…
Lol the good ole hockey days when Lafleur played, livingsword, I love your comments so much, naked eyes, kills,lol \m/
If you have anything at all you want a readers choice on just let me know, any thing that is but naked eyes,lol \m/
Hey Bob;
LOL
You know Naked Eyes was an 80’s band!!!!
Here’s a bad video of them…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ExVRfKHHRw
LOL
I love naked eyes.lol \m/
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