With star party season now in full swing many observers are in search of galaxies, nebula and perhaps a comet of their own. But don’t forget to take a look at Comet Petriew this August as it peaks in brightness around mid-month marking the 2nd anniversary of it's discovery. Recently we caught up with Vance at his observatory: Vance Petriew Interview (YouTube video).

I was recently listening to some vintage country music by Glen Campbell. He was singing “Southern Nights” which is one of my favourites. This song was a big hit for him in March 1977 as the it held the number 1 position in Billboard magazine for two straight weeks. Midway through the song we hear the lyrics “Southern Skies, have you ever noticed Southern Skies. Its precious beauty, lies just beyond the eye …..” and this is so true. As we venture outdoors on these warm July nights, we cast our eyes and telescopes south to the center of our home galaxy called the Milky Way.

The Great 2012 Venus Transit

More Galaxies and A Daytime Planet

Teaching Tools In The Sky

It is comforting to know that some people other than backyard astronomers still take the time to look up on a clear night and ponder many questions. After all, the twinkling sky was nightly entertainment for many early civilizations. But even at this stage of technology where satellite TV with its bazillion channels, smart phones, iPads and the internet, observing those distant points of lights high above is not a thing of the past.

When Beacons Meet

Winter Wonderland

It is great to see our parent star - the Sun making the news once again. It started with an active region labeled sunspot 1402 and the M-9 solar flare that blasted off the sun’s surface on January 22^nd at 10:59 p.m. EST. From that point on, the explosion and expected grand aurora displays was talk on TV, radio and water coolers around the world. An astronomical event like this is a good catalyst on motivating people to learn more about the night sky.

Weather permitting, astronomers from different parts around the world will be broadcasting the moon, Jupiter and other celestial objects from their observatories over the internet. The WorldWide Star party 2008 will take place on Saturday September 6, 2008. I am scheduled to start broadcasting at 8 p.m. eastern time. Other time zones include a few stations across the USA as well as Australia to name a few. Looks like Sweden will be clouded out. In fact a few of the stations might suffer the same cloudy fate. Come join us in this unique event at:

http://www.deepsky.dk/WorldwideStarparty.asp

The FAQ with the list of asteroid names with Canadian connections has been updated and can be seen at http://www.rasc.ca/faq/asteroids/home.htm. There are almost 200 asteroids on the list now!

Ajai Sehgal, Robert Gagliano and Tim Puckett, report the discovery of an apparent supernova (mag 17.8) (limiting mag 19.5) on CCD images taken with a 0.50-m reflector, Osoyoos , BC. On Apr. 28.36 UT. in the course of the Puckett Observatory Supernova Search. The new object was confirmed at mag 17.8 (limiting mag 19.3) by Puckett on Apr. 29.08, Ellijay, GA. 0.60-m reflector. The object is located at R.A. = 12h41m01s.55, Decl. = +63°31'11".6 (equinox 2000.0), which is 28".36 east and 0".6 south of UGC 7848. Nothing is visible at this location on images taken by Principal Investigator Tim Puckett on Apr. 5 (limiting mag 19.5).