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Comet 252P/LINEAR brightens much faster than expected

SpaceWeather
Wed, 16 Mar 2016 01:25 UTC

On March 21st, Comet 252P/LINEAR will make a close approach to Earth--only 0.036 AU (5.4 million km) away. This is the fifth closest cometary approach on record and, as a result, the normally dim comet could become an easy target for backyard telescopes. In fact, it is brightening much faster than expected: data. "Comet 252P/LINEAR has surpassed expectations and is now bordering on naked eye visibility for southern observers," reports Michael Mattiazzo of Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia, who took this picture on March 13th:

© Michael MattiazzoComet 252P LINEAR has surpassed expectations by showing a remarkable rate of brightening, about 0.5 magnitudes per day, over the period May 7 to 14 and is now bordering on naked eye visibility for southern observers.

The very large, diffuse coma is expanding rapidly, from 10 arcminutes on March 7 to 35 arcminutes on March 14. It may reach 1 degree across at closest approach on March 21. A dark southern sky and a good pair of binoculars is essential.

"Since March 7th, the comet has brightened about 0.5 magnitudes per day," continues Mattiazzo, "and now it is near 6th magnitude. The comet's atmosphere (coma) is expanding rapidly, too, from 10 arcminutes on March 7th to 35 arcminutes on March 14th. It may reach 1^o across by March 21st."

This is a southern hemisphere event. At closest approach on March 21st, the brightening comet will speed through the constellations Triangulum Australis and Apus. Observers south of the equator can use this ephemeris to point their telescopes. In remote places with very dark skies, it is possible that no telescope will be required; naked eyes might suffice. Stay tuned for updates as the comet approaches.

Unusual jellyfish-like clouds appear in Chile skies

Strange Sounds
Sat, 12 Mar 2016 22:25 UTC

Rare clouds in the shape of jellyfish have baffled many skywatchers after being spotted in the sky of Chile on March 12, 2016.The unusual clouds known as Altocumulus Castellanus have a unique shape complete with tentacles and may announce bad weather coming in... Or the next big quake?

Comment: Unlocking the mystery of 'Earthquake Clouds' - how they form and why - Are they accurate in prediction?

Weather-watchers were stunned when these rare but weird clouds appeared in the skies above Punitaqui, Limari, Ovalle, Coquimbo and La Serena, Chile in the evening sun.

Although these jellyfish certainly prove a stunning sight, they however signify danger up ahead and stormy weather may soon close in.

The rare clouds' unique "jellyfish" shape forms when moist air gets trapped between layers of dry air.

The top of the cloud rises into a jellyfish shape and long tentacles known as "trailing virga" form from rain drops that have evaporated.

Plasma discharge event? Mysterious glowing cloud appears near light pillars in Ukhta, Russia

Strange Sounds
Mon, 14 Mar 2016 18:43 UTC

A UFO flying down to Earth? A fireball disintegrating in the skies? A space rocket flying a satellite onto orbit?

So what's this weird light illuminating the sky on March 13, 2016 at 22:05 from Ukhta, Russia?

I have tried to contact my green friends from Mars but nobody has answered yet.

Although this could be a fireball, the flight is too hell and too slow to be a meteor.

On March 13 2016, at 21:56, a Soyuz-2.1b rocket launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome with the ExoMars Mission to Mars.
The images and video show the separation of the third stage from Ukhta, Russia, just about 10 minutes after start.

'Rare' light pillars spotted in sky over South Wales

BBC News
Sat, 12 Mar 2016 18:58 UTC

An experienced astronomer says he has caught on camera the "very rare" sight of light pillars in the night sky above south Wales. The phenomenon, caused by atmospheric ice crystals reflecting light, was captured by Allan Trow above Rhigos mountain, Rhondda Cynon Taff.

He said light pillars were more common in polar regions. Mr Trow, who has been stargazing for 20 years, said the sighting on Friday night was "spectacular". The director of astronomy education company Dark Sky Wales was on the mountain near Treherbert with two other experienced astronomers and a group of amateur stargazers when the bright lights appeared at about 21:50 GMT.

He said they lasted at least 90 seconds, long enough for the astronomers to take a number of photographs.

"Between the three astronomers there, we have 80 years experience but it was the first time we had seen anything like it," said Mr Trow.

"We immediately went onto Facebook and Twitter and consulted with our astronomy friends to see what they could be. We discounted ideas such as as aurora and a meteor. But the conditions were right for light pillars.

"We were astonished. I've seen pictures of them from Scandinavia and Alaska but nothing from the UK."

He said his fellow astronomers believed the light reflected in the light pillars - which were visible to the naked eye - could have come from the Port Talbot steelworks which are just over the other side of the mountain.

The phenomenon comes in the same week stargazers across Wales saw the Aurora Borealis - better known as the Northern Lights.

Full circle rainbow brightens skies in Cookstown, Northern Ireland

World Weather
YouTube
Wed, 09 Mar 2016 13:42 UTC

Bright rainbow in the UK March 7, 2016:

Rare undulatus asperatus clouds create stunning skies in Alabama

RT
Fri, 04 Mar 2016 11:32 UTC

It was all eyes to the sky in Alabama after a rare cloud formation known as "undulatus asperatus" formed, creating amazing wavelike formations.

The clouds caught the attention of early risers, who posted images on social media sites, with many simply describing them as "stunning".

Timelapse

One YouTube user even managed to capture the clouds as they moved overhead, creating this mesmerizing time-lapse.

There is an ongoing argument among cloud fanatics as to whether these so called "undulatus asperatus" clouds should be recognized as a separate formation or just a subset of "undulatus" clouds, which look very similar.

The World Meteorological Organization is currently collecting evidence to decide on the matter as part of its revision of the International Cloud Atlas.

Comment: More evidence of our changing atmosphere.

See also:

Total eclipse of the sun on March 9th

Shadow & Substance
Fri, 04 Mar 2016 02:19 UTC

A total eclipse of the Sun on March 9, 2016. Alaska and Hawaii will be the only two states that will be able to view it (as a partial). As you can see, this eclipse crosses the Pacific beginning in the eastern portion of the Indian Ocean. There are many tour ships and planes ready to view this event from many of the Indonesian islands.

Greatest eclipse will occur at 01:57:12 over the Pacific with the greatest duration lasting four minutes and ten seconds. Greatest duration will occur at 01:56:52. The frame rate is 3 frames per minutes which comes to 1080 frames for this video.

Mesmerizing von Karman vortices appear near South Korea

Jason Samenow
Washington Post
Fri, 26 Feb 2016 18:53 UTC

Von Karman vortices captured via satellite on Feb. 25, 2016, south of Jeju Island.

Winds blowing over South Korea's Jeju island Thursday gave rise to a chain of magnificent swirling clouds known as von Karman vortex streets.

Satellite images show beautiful whirlpool-shaped cloud formations downwind of the island in the East China Sea. The swirls are lined up one after another comprising the so-called "street" in the sky.

"[W]hen fluids encounter obstacles, they can form spiral eddies," wrote NASA, in an explanation as to how these vortices form.

The obstacle in this case is the volcanic high terrain on Jeju Island which the air flows around, leaving behind an area of low pressure downwind on the island's opposite side, where the air begins spinning counterclockwise forming a vortex. As one vortex forms and moves off to the south, another follows in its wake forming the vortex street.

Symbolic? Northern Lights take the form of a phoenix over Iceland

Toby Meyjes
Metro.co.uk
Tue, 23 Feb 2016 20:35 UTC

What do you reckon? Is this mesmerising image up there with the best recent pictures taken of the Northern Lights?

Shot in Iceland, it shows what looks like a huge phoenix with wings outstretched rising in to the night's sky.

It was captured by photographer Hallgrimur P. Helgason in Kaldársel, who said he had been shooting for an hour when the mythical creature appeared.

'It's really a thrill shooting the aurora, especially when they are so playful like they were that night,' said the 64-year-old.

Sea of clouds cascading over mountain like a waterfall filmed in China

Ross Logan
Daily Mirror
Thu, 25 Feb 2016 19:05 UTC

Phenomenon: The formation danced around the mountain top for several hours

Nature lovers were given a treat when this sea of clouds rose majestically over a mountain before sliding down the side like a waterfall .

This breathtaking video shows the fast-moving clouds sweeping over the landscape as the sun rises on the horizon.

The stunning spectacle took place early on Wednesday morning over Mount Lu, in China's Jiangxi Province.

CCTV News reports that the incredible formation danced around the mountain top for several hours, attracting a large number of people with cameras.

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Quote of the Day

Today as never before we need to comprehend the course, logic, and path of the process of history. Every day we need to make decisions that will affect future generations. It has become obvious that no single nation, confession, social class or even civilization can solve these problems on its own. We increasingly have to listen to one another: Europe and Asia, Christians and Muslims, White and Black peoples, citizens of modern democratic states and places where traditional society survives. The key is to understand one another correctly, avoid hasty conclusions, and acquire the true spirit of tolerance and respect toward those with different value systems, habits, and norms.

- Alexander Dugin

”

The Israeli deal is to "suspend" the rafah attack. Think of a suspended player or student. They get to return to playing or to school. This deal...

sbc

I repeat Modern warfare kills all partakers. There are so many ways to attack that do not involve armies of soldiers. I am not sure most would...

Awordinyourear

More delusional bullshit from someone who refuses to see the oligarchy. He’s getting harder and harder to read.

JohnDukes

Richer · Great link. best 8 minutes today! +1

Awordinyourear

Of course Israel would release Palestinian prisoners. They are just gonna bomb and kill them once they get back to the strip.

sbc

Strange Skies
S

Comet 252P/LINEAR brightens much faster than expected

Unusual jellyfish-like clouds appear in Chile skies

Plasma discharge event? Mysterious glowing cloud appears near light pillars in Ukhta, Russia

'Rare' light pillars spotted in sky over South Wales

Full circle rainbow brightens skies in Cookstown, Northern Ireland

Rare undulatus asperatus clouds create stunning skies in Alabama

Total eclipse of the sun on March 9th

Mesmerizing von Karman vortices appear near South Korea

Symbolic? Northern Lights take the form of a phoenix over Iceland

Sea of clouds cascading over mountain like a waterfall filmed in China

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