Virtual Star Party - Feb. 24, 2013 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

A group of astronomers discuss and showcase live views of various celestial objects, including Jupiter and the Moon.

Key Insights

• 🙂 The Moon's bright light and the almost full Moon are challenging for viewing deep sky objects.
• 🩵 Reflection nebulae, such as M78, appear blue due to the scattering of blue light.
• ⌛ The Crab Nebula is a remnant of a supernova explosion that occurred within historical times.
• ⌛ Astrophotography often requires long exposure times and stacking multiple images for better detail and clarity.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: Why do deep sky objects appear faint when viewing through a telescope?

Deep sky objects appear faint because they emit low amounts of light and require long exposure times to capture their details.

Q: What causes the red color in the Crab Nebula?

The red color in the Crab Nebula is caused by the emission of hydrogen alpha light, which is a specific shade of red.

Q: How do astronomers determine the mass of a cloud of expanding gas, such as in the Crab Nebula?

Astronomers estimate the mass of a cloud of expanding gas by measuring its density, size, and volume. However, in the case of the Crab Nebula, there is a discrepancy between the estimated mass and the observed mass.

Q: What is the purpose of using wavelets in astrophotography?

Wavelets are used in astrophotography to isolate and enhance features of different scales in an image, allowing for more precise sharpening and enhancement.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The astronomers set up a live Google+ hangout to show viewers live views of the night sky, including Jupiter, the Moon, and various deep sky objects.

• Despite the almost full Moon causing some difficulty in viewing deep sky objects, the astronomers are still able to capture and showcase the beauty of the night sky.

• The participants also discuss various techniques and equipment used in astrophotography.