What a cool event! A competition was recently held for high school and college students, but it seemed more like fun than anything else. The competition was to design, build and race a “moonbuggy” across the simulated lunar terrain. Teams of two, from around the world, attend the competition in Huntsville, Alabama, USA on April 04 and 05, 2008.
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For observers who have fair to good weather, another chance to view the Moon passing in front of the Pleiades Star Cluster occurs on Tuesday, April 08. This is a naked-eye event, but viewing through a telescope provides more stimulating events. The Moon is a fairly thin crescent, so more of the fainter members of the star cluster may be visible.
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What first comes to mind when you hear the name Saturn? Rings, right? If the rings are what you want to view, you should do it soon. In September of next year you won’t see them, at least for awhile.
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Last night (25 March) I was outside watching the triple pass of ATV, ISS, and the Shuttle as they crossed the southern sky. The night was warm and still enough, and I enjoyed the evening. I felt rejuvenated at the thought of warmer temperatures in which to open my observatory and do some casual observing. I missed observing this winter.
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Jules Verne is the name of a cargo carrier that was sent into orbit to carry supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). Named after the famous French science-fiction author, the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) will carry materials to the space station, stay docked for an extended time, then after astronauts fill it with “unneeded materials” (trash) it will come back through the atmosphere. Upon reentry it will burn, destroying itself and the material inside.
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Barry Armstead is an amateur astronomer who observes from his home built observatory in Eastern Australia. He has regularly posted his images on our forum and in recognition of the contribution he has made (not to mention the quality of his work) we’re posting a few of his images up here for general consumption: enjoy! More images after the jump and in our CCD Imaging section. Read more …

This post is not for religious purposes, but to help those of you who are asked if you know why Easter is so early this year. My own dad told me that I was “full of hooey” when I told him the answer. But here it is, folks:
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The nights around the Vernal Equinox are prime for aurora spotting. Why Spring? No one really knows, but groups of aurora watchers are geared up and ready for the spectacular colours in the northern skies. I am one of these people, and I am set.

Spring is the time that favours the magnetic link between the Sun and Earth. During the Vernal Equnox Earth’s magnetic field is positioned for the best magnetic connection with the Sun. During this time the energy from the Sun causes bursts of activity in the rarefied gases in our atmosphere. Voila! Aurora. It is more complex than that, but that is the jist of it. Let me know if you want more information on aurorae. They are one of my fields of research.

You can also go to NASA aurora info.

Northern Hemisphere: Smooth / Southern Hemisphere: Rough

During a recent conference, planetary scientists discussed ideas as to why Mars has different types of terrain in the northern and southern hemispheres. Two schools of thought have been discussed over the past couple of years as to why the difference. One idea is that something huge crashed into the planet and disrupted the “normal” surface. Another idea is that molten material inside the planet “bubbled” up to cause the smooth area.
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Comet Holmes was quite the sight a few months ago. It grew in brightness extremely fast, making it a real treat for comet observers. Astronomers observed and photographed the quick-growing, and quick-dimming, coma for a long time. Comet Holmes is still visible, if you know where to look. Holmes now lies (line of sight) close to the California Nebula in the constellation Perseus.
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