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Observations
Posts Tagged 'binocular'
Comet 46P/Wirtanen: How to See the Christmas Comet
December 5 2018, Marcus Schenk
After quite a while, we are finally going to get another visitor…. from SPACE! The comet 46P/Wirtanen will approach Earth, becoming brighter and brighter, and will be visible to the naked eye. But, a look through binoculars or telescope truly allows you to take in the comet’s beauty. The best time to see the comet is between the beginning of December and the 25th of December.
This photo was taken with a Celestron Teleskop Astrograph S 203/400 RASA 800 OTA. © Michael Jäger. Thanks to Celestron, who made the photo available to us.
A Comet with the Naked Eye?
46P/Wirtanen is a short-period comet which takes 5.5 years to come back around for another visit. This December, however, is a special visit, since the comet will appear especially bright in the night sky. If all goes as planned, Wirtanen’s brightness could reach the 3rd class and be easily visible to the naked eye, or better yet with a pair of binos.
If you haven’t yet seen a comet, then now is the right time! A bright comet is one of the most enjoyable experiences in Astronomy.
Why will the comet be 160,000 times brighter?
So, what is so special about it? Only every few years, we have the pleasure of seeing a comet with the naked eye. The last occurrence was 2014/15, when comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2) was visible to the naked eye for a short while at the end of the year.
Wirtanen has always been a weak comet. But this year, we get a nice year-end present: excellent positioning. As a result of a course correction, after a close encounter with the gas giant Jupiter, the comet’s orbit around the sun is now significantly closer to our star. At the same time, the Earth is much closer to the comet’s orbit, making it appear brighter. As a comparison: when discovered, 46P/Wirtanen was at a brightness of 16 mag. When it passes by Earth, it will appear 160,000 times bright at 3 mag.
When and where can we see it?
Wirtanen will be visible in the evening sky throughout December. On the 12th of December, it will reach its closest position to the Sun and on the 16th its closest position to the Earth at only 11 million km, roughly 30 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. Exactly at the point, in the evening of the 16th, the comet will reach its brightest point from Earth’s perspective, the so called perigee between the Pleiades and the Hyades.
The biggest obstacle will be the Moon spoiling the party and obscuring our view of the night sky and Wirtanen. In the early morning hours, after the Moon sets, you will be able to catch a bit of the comet before it disappears below the horizon.
Find yourself a dark place
But wait, didn’t we say that the comet should be visible to the unaided eye? Stars of a similar magnitude will also be visible, even when the Moon is bright in the sky. Yes, but the magnitude of the comet is spread across a surface – the comet’s coma of roughly 0.5°. As a comparison: that means the entire diameter of the Moon. To get the best view, you should try to find a dark sport, away from man-made light, and wait until the Moon is out of the way.
Have a look first right after dusk. At the beginning of December, the comet will hug the horizon, but climb higher and higher in the sky with each day. On the 10th of December, it will arrive at the head of the Cetus or whale constellation and makes its way to Taurus.
From the 24th onward, you will be able to see the comet before the Moon rises in the sky. 46P/Wirtanen will then be found close to the star Capella in the constellation Auriga. The early evening hours will give you the best chance of seeing it. In the following days, the Moon will rise later and lunar-free periods will grow longer.
Better yet, get yourself some binoculars or a telescope
With binos or a telescope, the comet will appear much more impressive. Take the time to check out the large green coma and if you have a telescope, even the little tail. By the way: an excellent thing to have on hand is a pair of Omegon Wide-field Binoculars.
Take the chance now and check out, what some are calling “the Christmas Comet”. Clear skies and have fun!
5 Simple Ways to See and Photograph the Lunar Eclipse and the Opposition of Mars
July 13 2018, Marcus Schenk
Attention all lovers of nature, amateur astronomers and night owls: the night of the 27th of July, 2018 will be totally different. In this particular night, we will experience the Opposition of Mars and a rare Total Lunar Eclipse in Europe! It is sure to be a midnight Summer dream, in the middle of warm temperatures and mystical experiences.
In this article, you will learn about, that which you can use to observe and photograph the Total Lunar Eclipse and Mars.
Another interesting point: currently, there are a number of other planets to see. Now is the perfect opportunity to jump into Astronomy. You will be rewarded with a fireworks show of planets. Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are waiting for you to rediscover them!
As the night slowly falls, the Moon will rise in the southeast. Our satellite will look unusual and simultaneously fascinating. Almost completely eclipsed, it will rise higher and higher. The “blood Moon”, which evoked fears and superstitions of death and destruction in earlier times, will be visible for us to witness with our knowledge and science in a relaxing manner and with a smile.
The highlight of this year: at a length of 1 hour and 44 minutes of totality, we will get to enjoy the longest Lunar Eclipse of the century! More information about this event is available below.
Now you can read on to learn about the 5 ways and effective products, to observe the Moon and the Planets. Let’s go!
1. Discover the Sky with Binoculars
The lunar eclipse is visible with the naked eye, but with a pair of binoculars, the Moon in the Earth’s shadow becomes an especially intense experience. For an great observation, we recommend the Omegon Binoculars Nightstar 20×80. These binos are a great alternative to a telescope or as an entry into Astronomy. They are bright and something that you can always carry with you. Just point the binos to the sky or mount them on a tripod. Then you will see the Moon in all its glory and innumerable craters. It is amazing with both eyes, as if you were there. But there is more. You can can even view Jupiter and its moons as well as starclusters, such as the Pleiades or the Andromeda Galaxy.
The Omegon Binoculars 20×80
2. Getting closer with a telescope
Much like a mega zoom into the cosmos: A telescope allows you to see real detail. Observe the entire Moon, singular lunar craters, Jupiter, or Saturn with its massive system of rings. However you want. The possibilities are endless! With a greater magnification, only available with telescopes, you will be able to see Mars for the planet that it is and not just the red “star” in the night sky. The Omegon AC 70/700 AZ-2 is the most budget-friendly entry point. With a 70mm aperture, it collects 100 times more light than the naked eye. The eyepieces enable a 35x and 70x magnification, or in combination with a barlow lense up to 140x. More details and more resolution is available in the Omegon AC 90/1000 EQ-2. The telescope is our tip for entry into lunar and planetary observing. With a 90mm aperture, you will be able to see many details, such as the cloud bands on Jupiter or the polar caps on Mars.
The Omegon AC 90/1000 EQ-2 – Recommendation for entry into Astronomy
3. The simplest way to your own astrophotos
A photo of the lunar eclipse? It’s possible with the simplest tools.
With a telescope, the path to your own photos is just a small step. The best camera for such a task is right in your pocket: your smartphone! Pick up a Smartphone adapter, which will keep your phone perfectly positioned above the eyepiece. We also offer the more budget-friendly Omegon Smartphone Adapter, which demands a bit of finesse or the Omegon Easypic Universal. This smartphone adapter is a self-centering and easy-to-use device. It only takes one minute and you will already have taken your own lunar photo.
Omegon Easypic Universal Smartphone adapter
4. The right eyepiece is decisive, when it comes to details
With eyepieces, you often must separate the wheat from the chaff. An eyepiece is essentially an extended arm of the telescope’s optic and you should put a lot of stock into selection, just as you would with a telescope itself. A good tip would be to replace old or standard eyepieces with high quality ones, which can provide you with a significantly better image. Excellent crispness and great contrast can be found in the Omegon LE Planetry Eyepieces for all 1,25“. The customer reviews range from “just fantastic” to “you cannot believe it”.
The Family of Omegon LE Planetary Eyepieces
5. Color filters for better contrast
Much like a chain, the planets of Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars will appear to us in a line, and all after darkness has fallen, during the most comfortable time of year. The constellation of planets is so rare, that now is the time to jump into astronomy. Amateurs can easily pinpoint the planets and see details of each. Polar caps and other structures on Mars, or the big red dot on Jupiter become more visible with the appropriate color filters. Placed into the eyepiece, filters can lead to an epiphany for any motivated observer. The Omegon Color filter set features the most important ones for all planets. Other contrast filters or our Lunar Filter are also a helpful inclusion to your collection.
Color filter set with 6 color filters
Other information about the Total Lunar Eclipse and the Mars Opposition is available here:
Infographic: Total Lunar Eclipse on the 27th of June 2018
Mars Opposition 2018: How to Observe Mars and its Details