Casual Astronomy, Spaceflight News and Lower California Weather

The first test flight of the Antares rocket from Virginia will be easily visible from much of the Mid Atlantic coastal area. Today's launch window extends from 5PM-8PM EDT.


Map credit: Orbital Sciences Corp

Illustrations of what the rocket's track in the sky will look like from many popular landmarks in the Mid Atlantic area can be found at http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/.

Live updates and video coverage can be found at
Spaceflight Now | Antares Launch Report | Mission Status Center.

SCRUB! due to premature umbilical separation. No word yet on when the next launch attempt will be made.

Rob You're welcome.

Thanks, things are going well (mostly, heh). Just got a lot of things going at once. ;^)

Next launch attempt will be NET (No Earlier Than) Friday 5PM.

The next launch attempt of the Antares rocket is scheduled for 5PM-8PM Saturday. See comment 351 for more info on visibilty.

Upper level winds are a possible weather constraint for today's scheduled Antares rocket launch from Virginia. The launch may not occur precisely at 5PM due to weather constraints but may occur any time up to 8PM when weather permits.

For convenience I'm posting the comment 351 info again here:

The (rescheduled) first test flight of the Antares rocket from Virginia will be easily visible from much of the Mid Atlantic coastal area. Today's launch window extends from 5PM-8PM EDT.


Map credit: Orbital Sciences Corp

Illustrations of what the rocket's track in the sky will look like from many popular landmarks in the Mid Atlantic area can be found at http://www.orbital.com/Antares-Cygnus/ (scroll down).

Live updates and video coverage can be found at
Spaceflight Now | Antares Launch Report | Mission Status Center.

An announcement will made shortly of the narrower time interval for the actual attempt within the full launch window.

BTW people in Bermuda will be able to see the Antares A-ONE test pass nearly overhead.

The actual launch attempt is now scheduled for 6:10-6:25pm EDT.

... however it is not certain that upper level winds will be acceptable within that 6:10-6:25pm interval.

Today's launch attempt has been scrubbed and rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon 5PM-8PM EDT.

Skye :^) Looks like it. Forecast is for an 80% chance of favorable weather at launch time.

Looks like it will fly today. Check out the visibilty and coverage information in comment 358.

Launch sceduled in 2 minutes!

The Antares A-ONE mission was a success!

The Antares rocket launched from the Mid Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS) and demonstrated its ability to deliver the mass of its planned cargo delivery craft (Cygnus) to an orbit necessary to deliver cargo to the International Space Station (ISS).

Rob & goofy Thanks for the comments about the meteor shower. :^)


shore Wonderful video with a wonderful dog! :^) Thanks for that. I've had my eye on a Rasberry Pi computer for a while now. Much less expensive than a laptop and much more portable.


2013 Lyrid Meteor Shower Hourly Rates

Graph credit: International Meteor Organization (IMO)

Apparently there was a spike in the Lyrid meteor shower rate about 9PM EDT on April 21. Unfortunately the constellation Lyra was still below the horizon for the Eastern U.S. at that time. The most favored areas for that burst were eastern Europe and western Asia.

A handicap for all would be observers was the brightness of the ~80% illuminated moon.

A much more promising meteor shower is the η(eta)-Aquariid in the predawn hours of mornings around May 6. The maximum rate of the η(eta)-Aquariids varies from 40 to 85 per hour. The peak is broad and rates above 30 per hour have been recorded May 3 through May 10.
Source: 2013 IMO Meteor Calendar

The Moon will only be ~15% illuminated May 6 and range from 40-0% illuminated May 3-10. The η(eta)-Aquariid meteors radiate from spot over the Equator so more will be seen from the tropics.


For those who missed coverage of Orbital's Antares A-ONE test mission here is some video:

Does it seem like it starts off in slow motion? Well, the thrust to weight ratio at liftoff is only 1.04, heh. Nevertheless as it burns fuel it continues to get lighter and... you get the idea. The payload does eventually achieve orbital velocity of ~17,000 mph.


... and while we're on the subject of slow takeoffs here's a SpaceX rocket a couple days ago making a slow takeoff and landing that Country music fans should enjoy:

Rob You're welcome. I'll be observing the morning of Saturday, May 4 at my location since the forecast is for several cloudy mornings after that.


Here's a little reminder bump for everyone:

A promising meteor shower is the η(eta)-Aquariid which peaks in the predawn hours of May 6. The maximum rate of the η(eta)-Aquariids varies from 40 to 85 per hour. The peak is broad and rates above 30 per hour have been recorded May 3 through May 10.
Source: 2013 IMO Meteor Calendar

A graph of last year's activity...

2012 η(eta)-Aquariid Meteor Shower Hourly Rates

Graph credit: International Meteor Organization (IMO)

The Moon will only be ~15% illuminated May 6 and range from 40-0% illuminated May 3-10. The η(eta)-Aquariid meteors radiate from spot over the Equator the most will be seen from the tropics but meteors will be visible from farther north and south too.

Making meteors more visible, heh.

NASA BLOGS - First Observations of the 2013 Eta Aquariids

Posted on May 02, 2013 01:12:14 PM | William Cooke ....

Despite interference from the moon and clouds (and rising sun!), this morning we snagged our first observations of the 2013 Eta Aquariids. Here's an image of one from the all sky camera in Tullahoma, Tennessee. ....

Rob Good luck to you!

I may not see any meteors from here. The wind has changed direction and I'm currently looking at a smoke overcast of varying thickness from the Springs fire.

The Springs fire is about 25 miles west of us. I didn't even see a hint of smoke yesterday with the very strong wind from the NE. The wind is beginning to turn onshore and is currently almost calm.

Rob Yep, good progress toward full containment is being made on the Springs fire. Also as you say we now have a smoke blanket.

I went outside before sunset to check sky conditions. There was a 100% thin overcast of smoke. Unlike earlier in the day there was a distinct smell of smoke and a fall of fine ash. The ash was unlike the large "snowflakes" identifiable as parts of vegetation that occur when a fire is close. Last evening's ash was a fine gritty powder most noticeable coating cars parked outdoors.

I got up two hours before sunrise to check sky conditions again. Only the brightest stars and a yellow-orange crescent moon were visible so I went right back to bed.

This morning there was a slight smokey smell outdoors and a slight haze with a brownish tint indicative of smoke. The dogs will get the shortest possible walks this weekend and all other outdoor activities are cancelled. (See the comment 382.)


goofy Thanks for your obs. :^) Sounds like a pretty good catch. Good luck tonight.

For the locals:

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

SMOKE ADVISORY

Valid Saturday, May 04, 2013

Brush fires continue to burn in southern California today. Improved weather conditions are expected to increase containment today.

The Springs Fire in Ventura County has burned 28,000 acres and is 30% contained as of 7:00 AM. Smoke from this fire is expected to come onshore with the sea breeze today and smoke impacts will continue to be seen downwind of the fire in portions of the South Coast Air Basin. In areas directly impacted by smoke, air quality can reach Unhealthy, or higher levels. Areas further downwind may experience air quality in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category, or higher, depending on fire and weather conditions.

Areas of likely smoke impacts and the potential for air quality in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category, or higher, include:

· the West San Fernando Valley (Forecast Area 6);

· the East San Fernando Valley (Forecast Area 7);

· Northwest Coastal Los Angeles County (Forecast Area 2);

· Santa Clarita Valley (Forecast Area 13);

· Portions of the San Gabriel Mountains (Forecast Area 15).

The Summit Fire, in Riverside County near Banning and Beaumont (Forecast Area 29), has burned approximately 3166 acres and is 85 percent contained. Visible smoke in the Basin from this fire has been minimal. At this time the most immediate smoke impacts are in Forecast Area 29 in the immediate vicinity of the fire, where Unhealthy air quality levels may still be possible.

Other areas in the Basin may also experience smoke as wind and fire conditions evolve.

In any area impacted by smoke: Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should remain indoors. Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if you have one. Keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. Avoid smoking and the use of wood-burning fireplaces.

To subscribe to air quality alerts, advisories and forecasts by email, go to AirAlerts.org

To view current air quality conditions by region in an interactive map, see http://www3.aqmd.gov/webappl/gisaqi2/home.aspx

For more tips on avoiding health impacts from smoke, see http://www.aqmd.gov/ej/CAC/wildfire_safety_tips.ht m on AQMD’s website

Current AQMD Air Quality Measurements, Forecasts and Advisories can also be obtained from the AQMD Web Site: http://www.aqmd.gov/ or by Telephone with our Interactive Voice Response System: 1-800-CUT-SMOG (1-800-288-7664).

Contact AQMD: 1-800-CUT-SMOG or (909) 396-2000
Do not reply directly to this email. If you want more information on the air quality forecast, or other aspects of the local air quality program, please contact your local air quality agency using the information above. For more information on the U.S. EPA's AIRNow Program, visit http://www.airnow.gov.

sp The degree of smokey smell varied all day but tonight it has came indoors, ugh! I hope that cutoff low does deliver some rain in the next couple days and not wander "off course" as cut off lows are prone to do.

Great surprise! Last thing you're expecting when gazing intently, trying to glean all possible detail. Would have loved to see the reaction of the person at the eyepiece.

Rob Thanks. The conditions are part of what's expected here from time to time much like Florida peninsula I think.

Karen That marine layer should help any rain kicked off by the cutoff low to easily reach the ground. If the cutoff low stays "on course" we should have some nice clean air early next week.

Locally

It rained most of last night and this morning, air quality is good and 100% containment of the Springs fire is anticipated later today. Rain is forecast off and on through tomorrow.

Celestially

The η(eta)-Aquariid meteor shower has made a strong showing so far this year

2013 η(eta)-Aquariid Meteor Shower Hourly Rates

Graph credit: International Meteor Organization (IMO)

with several more mornings of predawn meteors still to come. See comment 372 for more details.

Rob Not bad for 15 minutes. An even better time for a short observing session would be about 2 hours before sunrise.

The rain here is good even if does cloud out the meteor show. The rain will put a pause in this unusually early start to the fire season. To quote one CAL FIRE official, "The fuels we're seeing now are usually what we see in August."

Rob Hope you had better luck than I did. This morning was the first morning I wasn't up at 4AM to check the sky conditions and you guessed it... after sunrise when I did it was mostly clear. I very likely missed my one opportunity. :^\


goofy Obviously you should be the expedition leader! LOL

Rob Hope you got a look or had a good night's sleep.

goofy Thanks for checking in. I woke up too early yesterday morning (couple of restless dogs) and ended up falling asleep too early to see if I could catch the any of the fading activity.

The next good meteor shower for the casual observer is the Perseids occuring after the midnights of August 10-15. Visibility will be better toward dawn (about 1½-2 hours before sunrise). The peak of the shower will occur the night of August 12/13.

A graph of last year's activity...

2012 Perseid Meteor Shower Hourly Rates
Graph credit: International Meteor Organization (IMO)

For more info see the 2013 IMO Meteor Shower Calendar.

Quoting goofyrider:
nice shots:

... and a performance that made me smile. :^)

Thanks for that.