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Volume 2010, Issue No.12, Dt4th December 2010 Time: 04h49m
The Astronomy Study of the Sky in the wee hours of 4th December 2010
By
Professor Dr Kotcherlakota Lakshmi Narayana
{Retd.Prof.of Phys., SU}
17-11-10, Narsimha Ashram, Official Colony, Maharanipeta.P.O.Visakhapatnam-530002
Mobile: 9491902867BSNL
ABSTRACT:
The Moon has been found to be near a necklace lace type of stars only in one image capture i.e. around 5h25m on the 4th December 2010. Our images of Venus have shown in magnified versions to have a central blob of white cloud and therefore the spectra obtained and analyzed for intensity studies are much more significant. The observation of the stars of very low brightness suggests that it would be possible to image capture of very faint objects in due course of time with digital equipment. We are successful to image capture the North East star on the Morning of 4th December around 4h 40m. The Moon has been found to be near a necklace lace type of stars only in one image capture i.e. around 5h25m on the 4th December 2010. The Visakha Nakshtra could even be a super cluster of Stars with a massive black hole in it since the Ancient Indian Calendar dates back to eons ago. Much in depth study is needed to be carried out to ascertain the identifications.
Keywords: Spica, Alpha Virginis, Moon crescent, Saturn, Virgo clusters, Necklace lace type of stars, Visakha Nakshtra of India
Introduction:
The Moon, Venus, Saturn and the stars of Virgo Constellation are particularly interesting in view that the Venus happens to be at its brightest illumination. The spectral record of it is obviously a permanent record of its value in view of Global Warming and weather changes of the 21st Century. The leading star, alpha Virgin, Spica (meaning the ear of wheat), a blue-white star of 1.0 mag. In small telescopes the pair of 4th mag and 9th mag stars of theta Virgin can be viewed. Also with small telescopes tau Virgin can be split in its 4th mag star with the unrelated 9th mag star. At low power, the 8.6-magnitude galaxy resembles an unresolved globular cluster, about 3' across and perfectly round.
CFHT/J.-C.Cuillandre gives an account of Virgo:
Virgo is a large constellation, second in size to Hydra and spanning more than 1295°. Despite its large size Virgo is not a particularly prominent constellation, with the notable exception of silver-blue Spica, magnitude +1. Spica is over twice as hot as Sirius (the brightest star in the night sky) and 100 times more luminous. However, Spica appears fainter than Sirius because of its considerably greater distance, 270 light-years. The primary telescopic draw to Virgo is the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, which spills across its northern border in Coma Berenices. A neighbor to our own Local Group, the Virgo Cluster is the richest gathering of galaxies in the Local Super cluster - a large group of associated small galaxy clusters that include the Local Group and therefore our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
Giant Elliptical Galaxy M 87
The Virgo Galaxy Cluster contains about 3000 galaxies, centered on the giant elliptical galaxy M 87, which is visible as a 9th-magnitude smudge in small telescopes or even binoculars. M 87 has a total mass of nearly 800 billion suns, making it one of the most massive galaxies known. Long-exposure photographs show a jet of luminous gas being shot out of M 87, as though the galaxy has suffered a violent event. Astronomers now believe that the activity in M 87 is due to a black hole with a mass of three billion suns, which lurks in the galaxy's nucleus. M 87 is easily located in northern Virgo, about 3° northwest of the 5th-magnitude star Rho Virginis. At low power, the 8.6-magnitude galaxy resembles an unresolved globular cluster, about 3' across and perfectly round. A very bright core, one-third of the galaxy's overall size, blazes in the center. Elliptical galaxy M 87 is likely home to a super-massive black hole with a mass of three billion suns.
Google download on Virgo:
The most outstanding Virgo Super cluster of galaxies is located on the northern border of Virgo reaching into the neighboring constellation of Coma Berenices. The brightest galaxies can be located with small telescopes as faintly glowing patches of light. This super cluster is about 65 million light-years away. (Because it’s lying half in Coma Berenices it is often referred as Virgo-Coma Super cluster.) In a distance of 260 light years lies the leading star, alpha Virgin, Spica (meaning the ear of wheat), and a blue-white star of 1.0 mag. The fact that in its neighborhood nearly no other bright stars are found gives it an additional brilliance in the sky. Gamma Virgin consists of two yellow-white, nearly equal stars in brightness: one with 3.6 mag, the other with 3.7 mag. With a small telescope (about 50mm aperture) the two components can be resolved. The stars revolve around one another with a period of 177.75 years. As seen from Earth they are currently closing together. By the year 2000 AD it will require telescopes with an aperture of 100mm to split them. They will reach their closest point together (also mark: as seen from Earth!) in 2007 AD. At this time it will be impossible for amateur telescopes to resolve the components.
In small telescopes the pair of 4th mag and 9th mag stars of theta Virgin can be viewed. Also with small telescopes tau Virgin can be split in its 4th mag star with the unrelated 9th mag star. S Virgin is a long-period variable of a terrific red color. Its brightness varies with a period of 377 days during which it falls down from 6th mag to 13th mag. This star is an interesting telescopic object. Early 1997 a supernova of mag 13.5 has been reported (IAU circular 6552). SN1997X flashed up in NGC4691 (RA = 12h 48m 14.28s, DECL = -3 19'58".5). As noted above there are lots of galaxies in this constellation; most of them belonging to the Virgo-Super cluster. All other galaxies are associated with the Super cluster. Most famous is the giant galaxy M 87 in the center of the cluster. Scientists believe that a black hole dwells in the center of M 87. This galaxy is also known for its strong radio source Virgo A.
Volume 2010, Issue No.12, Dt4th December 2010 Time: 04h49m
The Astronomy Study of the Sky in the wee hours of 4th December 2010
By
Professor Dr Kotcherlakota Lakshmi Narayana
{Retd.Prof.of Phys., SU}
17-11-10, Narsimha Ashram, Official Colony, Maharanipeta.P.O.Visakhapatnam-530002
Mobile: 9491902867BSNL
ABSTRACT:
The Moon has been found to be near a necklace lace type of stars only in one image capture i.e. around 5h25m on the 4th December 2010. Our images of Venus have shown in magnified versions to have a central blob of white cloud and therefore the spectra obtained and analyzed for intensity studies are much more significant. The observation of the stars of very low brightness suggests that it would be possible to image capture of very faint objects in due course of time with digital equipment. We are successful to image capture the North East star on the Morning of 4th December around 4h 40m. The Moon has been found to be near a necklace lace type of stars only in one image capture i.e. around 5h25m on the 4th December 2010. The Visakha Nakshtra could even be a super cluster of Stars with a massive black hole in it since the Ancient Indian Calendar dates back to eons ago. Much in depth study is needed to be carried out to ascertain the identifications.
Keywords: Spica, Alpha Virginis, Moon crescent, Saturn, Virgo clusters, Necklace lace type of stars, Visakha Nakshtra of India
Introduction:
The Moon, Venus, Saturn and the stars of Virgo Constellation are particularly interesting in view that the Venus happens to be at its brightest illumination. The spectral record of it is obviously a permanent record of its value in view of Global Warming and weather changes of the 21st Century. The leading star, alpha Virgin, Spica (meaning the ear of wheat), a blue-white star of 1.0 mag. In small telescopes the pair of 4th mag and 9th mag stars of theta Virgin can be viewed. Also with small telescopes tau Virgin can be split in its 4th mag star with the unrelated 9th mag star. At low power, the 8.6-magnitude galaxy resembles an unresolved globular cluster, about 3' across and perfectly round.
CFHT/J.-C.Cuillandre gives an account of Virgo:
Virgo is a large constellation, second in size to Hydra and spanning more than 1295°. Despite its large size Virgo is not a particularly prominent constellation, with the notable exception of silver-blue Spica, magnitude +1. Spica is over twice as hot as Sirius (the brightest star in the night sky) and 100 times more luminous. However, Spica appears fainter than Sirius because of its considerably greater distance, 270 light-years. The primary telescopic draw to Virgo is the Virgo Galaxy Cluster, which spills across its northern border in Coma Berenices. A neighbor to our own Local Group, the Virgo Cluster is the richest gathering of galaxies in the Local Super cluster - a large group of associated small galaxy clusters that include the Local Group and therefore our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
Giant Elliptical Galaxy M 87
The Virgo Galaxy Cluster contains about 3000 galaxies, centered on the giant elliptical galaxy M 87, which is visible as a 9th-magnitude smudge in small telescopes or even binoculars. M 87 has a total mass of nearly 800 billion suns, making it one of the most massive galaxies known. Long-exposure photographs show a jet of luminous gas being shot out of M 87, as though the galaxy has suffered a violent event. Astronomers now believe that the activity in M 87 is due to a black hole with a mass of three billion suns, which lurks in the galaxy's nucleus. M 87 is easily located in northern Virgo, about 3° northwest of the 5th-magnitude star Rho Virginis. At low power, the 8.6-magnitude galaxy resembles an unresolved globular cluster, about 3' across and perfectly round. A very bright core, one-third of the galaxy's overall size, blazes in the center. Elliptical galaxy M 87 is likely home to a super-massive black hole with a mass of three billion suns.
Google download on Virgo:
The most outstanding Virgo Super cluster of galaxies is located on the northern border of Virgo reaching into the neighboring constellation of Coma Berenices. The brightest galaxies can be located with small telescopes as faintly glowing patches of light. This super cluster is about 65 million light-years away. (Because it’s lying half in Coma Berenices it is often referred as Virgo-Coma Super cluster.) In a distance of 260 light years lies the leading star, alpha Virgin, Spica (meaning the ear of wheat), and a blue-white star of 1.0 mag. The fact that in its neighborhood nearly no other bright stars are found gives it an additional brilliance in the sky. Gamma Virgin consists of two yellow-white, nearly equal stars in brightness: one with 3.6 mag, the other with 3.7 mag. With a small telescope (about 50mm aperture) the two components can be resolved. The stars revolve around one another with a period of 177.75 years. As seen from Earth they are currently closing together. By the year 2000 AD it will require telescopes with an aperture of 100mm to split them. They will reach their closest point together (also mark: as seen from Earth!) in 2007 AD. At this time it will be impossible for amateur telescopes to resolve the components.
In small telescopes the pair of 4th mag and 9th mag stars of theta Virgin can be viewed. Also with small telescopes tau Virgin can be split in its 4th mag star with the unrelated 9th mag star. S Virgin is a long-period variable of a terrific red color. Its brightness varies with a period of 377 days during which it falls down from 6th mag to 13th mag. This star is an interesting telescopic object. Early 1997 a supernova of mag 13.5 has been reported (IAU circular 6552). SN1997X flashed up in NGC4691 (RA = 12h 48m 14.28s, DECL = -3 19'58".5). As noted above there are lots of galaxies in this constellation; most of them belonging to the Virgo-Super cluster. All other galaxies are associated with the Super cluster. Most famous is the giant galaxy M 87 in the center of the cluster. Scientists believe that a black hole dwells in the center of M 87. This galaxy is also known for its strong radio source Virgo A.
Venus:
Venus passed in front of the Sun (inferior conjunction) at the end of October, and is now a pre-dawn object shining at its peak magnitude of -4.9 at the beginning of the month. It rises at about 4 am, some three hours before sunrise, and, as the ecliptic at dawn makes a steep angle with the horizon at this time of the year, it is rapidly rising into the sky. At the beginning of the month, its angular size is 42 arc seconds across and 25% illuminated but this reduces to 27 arc seconds by month's end but, at the same time, its illumination increases to 45%. This is why Venus stays at much the same brightness (-4 to -4.5) for much of its apparition as when it is further from us and so has a smaller angular size, more of its disk is illuminated giving a roughly constant illuminated area.
Saturn, Spica and Arcturus: Stellarium/IM
Dec2 Image Stellarium/IM before dawn 2010: The thin, waning crescent Moon to the right of Venus - shining at its maximum brightness of -4.9. The Moon will lie a little below Spica, Alpha Virginis, whilst above Spica (1.21) is the planet Saturn at magnitude +0.9. Saturday. December 4, dawn Venus greatest illuminated. This morning Venus will be at its most brilliant, exposing the largest area of sunlit clouds of the current apparition. Two things are going on. The illuminated crescent of Venus is getting larger, percentage wise, as the planet moves towards full sunshine. At the same time, Venus is receding from the Earth, and so getting smaller in diameter. On this date the two balances out, giving Venus its greatest illuminated, and making it appear at its brightest, magnitude –4.9.
OUR OBSERVATIONS OF VENUS, SATURN, SPICA AND THE VIRGO STARS:
The Indian Calendar specifies that the 4th December Morning of 2010 is of thidhi Chaturdasha, with Visakha Nakshtra that lasts up to 7h17mPM of the same day. Some people identify it as the star of Libra. The 3rd December 2010 is given to have the Nakshtra Swathi identified as Arcturus (1.22mag) of Bootis lasting up to 8h12mPM of the same day. The Visakha has been pictured as a semi necklace of five stars of which the Visakha has been identified by some as the Alpha of Libra a single star.
IMAGES:
Fig 1 IMG_0925kln Venus, Moon, Spica and Virgo M87 Study 
Fig 2 Venus Spectrum Amazing the Brightest at Visakhapatnam 4thDec2010 at 05h22m KLN0930
Fig 3 IMG_0930kln Sequence of Venus Spectra 4thDec2010 before Dawn
Fig 4 IMG_0932kln Venus Moon Saturn Spica Virgo Stars and Libra Stars
Fig 5 IMG_0935kln Visakha Nakshtra
Fig 6 IMG_0962kln Venus spectrum and Moon near stars
Fig 7 Venus spectrum profile 4h51m 4Dec2010KLN IMG_0898
Fig 8 Venus spectrum profile 4h53m 4Dec2010KLN IMG_0900
RESULTS
Our images of Venus have shown in magnified versions to have a central blob of white cloud and therefore the spectra obtained and analyzed for intensity studies are much more significant. The Spica the Alpha-Virginis is found to be as bright as the Saturn itself. Also the Spica in our Images has been capturedlcated as above the Moon and as well above the Venus and somewhat nearer to it. The identification of Venus, Saturn, Spica and a distant bright star of the North East seem to be an easy job. The Moon at different times offered the crescent view even at about 5h58m on the morning of 4th December 2010. The Moon has been found to be near a necklace lace type of stars only in one image capture i.e. around 5h25m on the 4th December 2010. The Visakha Nakshtra could even be a super cluster of Stars with a massive black hole in it since the Ancient Indian Calendar dates back to eons ago. Much in depth study is needed to be carried out to ascertain the identifications.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The author is deeply indebted to late Prof. K.Rangadhama Rao D.Sc. (Madras) D.Sc. (London) for initiating him for research Endeavour in Science & Technology and for his constant encouragement and support.
ADDENDUM:
“Chitti Muthyamu Putti Sita Garbhana
Swathi Vanalu Gurisi Sandrala Meedha”
Implies that when the golden Lady sita devi delivered a baby that momentous event spontaneously stimulated the fall of Swathi Nakshtra (Moon near Bootis Constellation star) rain shower drops fell on Pearl production shells to become transformed in to Pearls. That is the “environment gets enchanted “ by the pregnant delivery of the baby by Goddess Sita. “ Thus the Indian Tradition suggests that the good deeds of humans would even appease the environment.” If one light is kindled several lights lit up to the heaven glory. This is just an ordinary rendering by peasants by folklore in India. Most of them are very intelligent and love to live with nature.
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