ABU DHABI ASTRONOMY PHOTO OF THE WEEK

The whirlpool galaxy (M51), taken from Abu Dhabi desert on 24/04/2015. The temperature was too high for my camera. The image processing was very tricky! - David Attie

Telescope: C11+focal reducer 0.63x (focal length=1764mm

Camera: EOS 450d modified +CLS-CCD filter

Exposures : 10x5 minutes (800 iso)

11 darks

11 flats

50 bias

The Whirlpool Galaxy (also known as Messier 51a, M51a, or NGC 5194) is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. Recently it was estimated to be 23 ± 4 million light-years from the Milky Way, but different methods yield distances between 15 and 35 million LY. Messier 51 is one of the best known galaxies in the sky. The galaxy and its companion (NGC 5195) are easily observed by amateur astronomers, and the two galaxies may even be seen with binoculars. The Whirlpool Galaxy is also a popular target for professional astronomers, who study it to further understand galaxy structure (particularly structure associated with the spiral arms) and galaxy interactions.

WEEK END STARGAZING WITH GAA

May 21, 2015 at Al Wathba, Al Qaissieh private farm, Abu Dhabi Astronomy and GEMS American Academy joint together and spent a Thursday night with Faculty and Students. The weather favored us and allowed us to enjoy the trip. Two students amazed to see the moon in real for the first time and added their excitement when they saw planet Venus through telescopes.  

We are lucky to have the crescent moon, Planet Venus, Jupiter and its moons, Saturn and its moons and Binary Stars right through the eye piece. The experience was great and what makes it more wonderful is to have the two groups tightened it's relationship to promote Astronomy to the people of Abu Dhabi.

PLANETARIUM SHOWS AT GEMS AMERICAN ACADEMY

A correction for the last time posted for the Planetarium shows on 

MAY 2, 20015

the timing are

2:pm and 4:00pm ONLY

there will be no 6:00 pm show, 

WE ARE SORRY FOR THE MISTAKE

and please email the planetarium director FIRST  if you wish to attend because of

the seating capacity is limited

j.walker_gaa@gemsedu.com

ASTRONOMY DAY

By history Astronomy day started in 1973 by Dough Berger, the president of Astronomical Association of Northern California, his intent was to set up various telescope in busy urban locations so that passersby can enjoy viewing the sky. since then the events has expanded and celebrated by numerous number of organizations associated with astronomy.

Astronomy day originally occurred on Saturdays between Mid-April and Mid-May, and was scheduled closest to the first quarter moon. In 2007, an Autumn celebration of Astronomy Day was added and was scheduled on Saturdays between Mid-September and Mid-October.

This year, the Astronomy Day Celebration falls on April 25 and September 19.

Abu Dhabi Astronomy will join the international astronomy community in celebration to this heavenly event. In cooperation with GEMS American Academy, Abu Dhabi which also celebrating the 25th Year Anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope.

GEMS American Academy will invite you to visit their planetarium shows on

Monday, April 20 at 6:00pm

Tuesday April 21 at 6:00pm

Sunday April 26 at 6:00 pm

Monday April 27 at 6:00 pm

Tuesday April 28 at 6:00 pm

Saturday May 2 at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm

On Saturday April 25, Abu Dhabi Astronomy and GEMS American Academy created an Special planetarium shows, ISS tracking show and sky viewing afterwards.

Bring your Telescope!!!

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY MEETUP REGISTER NOW

Space Capsule the New Social Network

The First Social Network in Space aboard a new satellite'

Take a moment to check it out the project and also share it with others and feel free to share it with your family and friends. All the tools are there.  Get rewards, make a contribution, or simply follow updates.  If enough of us get behind it, we can make 'SpaceCapsule1' happen. (Besides, you can track where SpaceCapsule1 is all the time through your smartphone or Pc, take your own Earth's photographs or videos from space, tweet from space, send messages to outer space, like Mars or get your personal time capsule with your favorite digital content -photos, documents, videos or songs- travelling across the space and track it or host your web site in the first server in space) check with the link below.

http://www.indiegogo.com/spacecapsule1

FEBRUARY MEET UP

GREETINGS FROM ABU DHABI ASTRONOMY

GEMINIDS METEOR SHOWER WITH DUBAI ASTRONOMY GROUP

One Nation One Sky let us meet and look on the sky.

Dubai Astronomy Group inviting the public to count the lights from the sky as the Geminids Meteor Shower will rise.

If interested please coordinate with 

Dubai Astronomy Group

dubaiastronomy.com

+971 4 441 0775

LEONIDS METEOR SHOWER NOVEMBER 17-18, 2014

METEOR SHOWER LEONIDS

The Leonids is an average shower, producing an avarage of up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. That last of these occurred in 2001. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tampel-Turttle, which was discovered in 1865. The shower runs annually from November 6-30. It peaks this year on the night of 17th and morning of 18th. The waning crescent moon will not be much of a problem this year.  Skies should be dark enough for a good show. Best viewing will be from dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can appear anywhere in the sky

STARGAZING NIGHT with NEBULAE AND GALAXIES

It was an awesome experience going out in the desert once again after a months of very hot summer. Abu Dhabi Astronomy went the Southern part of Abu Dhabi near Al Khazna Palace to travel with time after chasing for Nebulae and Galaxies.

sand dunes and windy weather

set-up time

Photo Credit: David Attie

M27 (Dumbbell Nebula): Telescope Celestron C11, 10 shoots, 30s, 1600 ISO, CANON EOS 450D modified ("Astrodon Inside"), F/D=10

wit

M57 (Ring Nebula): Telescope Celestron C11, 9 shoots, 30s, 1600 ISO, CANON EOS 450D modified ("Astrodon Inside"), F/D=10

M33 (Triangulum Galaxy): Telescope Celestron C11, 14 shoots, 60s, 1600 ISO, CANON EOS 450D modified ("Astrodon Inside"), F/D=6.

These pictures are the proof that we can travel with time if only we can move faster than speed of light. Photos are from hundreds of light years away which only means that we took the picture of these nebula and galaxy hundred of light years away.

photos Credit to Nikil Kuruvilla

 The Dumbell Nebula

 The Lagoon Nebula

The Open Cluster Nebula