OT: Solar eclipse, asteriods & fireballs

[Spacehead]

Sorry about the late notice...

SOLAR ECLIPSE

On Monday, Jan. 26th, the Moon will pass in front of the sun producing an annular "ring of fire" eclipse. This is not a total eclipse; the Moon will cover only 93% of the sun's surface. Nevertheless, the Moon's dead-center transit across the solar disk will produce a sight of rare beauty for observers along the "path of annularity." Best views are to be had from islands in Indonesia where the ring of fire will appear to sink into the ocean at sunset. Meanwhile, in Australia, southeast Asia, southern parts of India and South Africa, observers will experience an off-center partial eclipse. Crescent-shaped sunbeams will dapple the ground while high overhead the Moon takes a curved bite out of the sun.

BLUE-SKY FIREBALL

Last week a meteoroid of unknown size hit Earth's atmosphere over Denmark and exploded with a flash so bright it turned the nighttime sky daytime blue. A video of the remarkable fireball and eye-witness reports may be found at Spaceweather's fireball sighting page: http://spaceweather.com/glossa...allreports_17jan09.htm

SOLAR ECLIPSE WEBCASTS

At the time this email is being sent, an annular solar eclipse is just hours away. In support of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, astronomers in the eclipse-zone have set up a network of cameras stretching from South Africa to Indonesia. Live webcasts will begin around 0600 UT on Monday, Jan. 26th. Follow the links at http://spaceweather.com .

CURIOUS ASTEROID FLYBY

Newly-discovered asteroid 2009 BD is slowly passing by Earth today only 400,000 miles away. The approximately 10 meter-wide space rock poses no significant threat, but it merits attention anyway: The orbit of 2009 BD appears to be almost identical to the orbit of Earth. 2009 BD may be a rare "co-orbital asteroid," circling the sun in near-tandem with our planet. If current measurements of the asteroid's orbit are correct, 2009 BD will remain in Earth's neighborhood for many months and possibly years to come. Visit http://spaceweather.com to view the asteroid's curious orbit.

 

[petrusbroder]

Thanks for the intesresting reads and pics!

 

[Alyx]

Very cool. I want to see a fireball now!

 

[Assimilator1]

Cool!, with all the cameras about nowadays we seem to catch any that come here!

Slightly scarey that's the 2nd significant impact/nr impact we've had in a few months or so.....