Delta Community College Science Department

Astronomy

Delta Astronomy Photograph Published

A rare photograph of a distant supernova taken by Professors Brien Dunn and Don Wheeler of Louisiana Delta Community College was published in Understanding Our Universe, a new college level astronomy textbook released this past autumn. The supernova, an exploding star named 2005cs, occurred in galaxy Messier (M) 51 in the Big Dipper some 37 million years ago. Because of the immense distance between M51 and earth, it took that amount of time before the light from the explosion could reach our world.

Dunn and Wheeler along with Brad Farrington of the Ouachita Valley Astronomy League were fortunate enough to take the pair of pre- and post-supernova photographs so close together. The actual supernova was discovered by a German amateur astronomer, Wolfgang Kloehr, in June of 2005.

“Our photograph was taken in early August of 2005,” said Wheeler. He added, “At the time, we did not know the supernova had occurred and it was just luck we were photographing M51 that night.” Farrington had photographed the same galaxy a few months earlier in March which showed no supernova.

The two photographs were published on Delta’s science website, www.ladeltascience.com, where it was noticed by authors of the textbook. This is the second college level astronomy textbook in which Dunn and Wheeler have had a celestial photograph published.

According to Professor Dunn, "We have a blast at these viewing parties which often last into the wee hours of the morning. Numerous technical challenges require constant attention and a true team-effort. Hundreds of shots might yield only a few of this quality."

SPECTACULAR!

Four planets grouped together for this beautiful early morning show. Click on the image for a larger version.

Another Meteor - Yes!

Reports of yet another daytime meteor begain to be posted on facebook Sunday afternoon, March 14, 2010. The meteor zipped through the sky around 1:40 PM CDT and was witnessed by several people and yes, a photograph! The photo below was taken by Joseph Badeaux of Breaux Bridge while visiting in West Monroe. Joseph took the photograph while looking east.

The meteor did produce a sonic boom, just like the one produced over northern Louisiana on March 8. It was heard over a large area of central Mississippi.

Somewhat unusual to have two daytime meteors/fireballs to occur over the same area within a week's time! Thanks to Joseph Badeaux and Mary Terry (West Monroe, LA) for sharing this photograph. (Note photos below are copyrighted and have been posted with permission)

*DID YOU SEE THIS METEOR? IF SO WE NEED YOUR REPORT!

EMAIL THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO:

1. The time you observed the event.
2. Where you were (ie. the corner of 4th Ave. and Main in XX city)
3. What direction did your FIRST see it? (ie. it started out north-northwest of me, or you can provide the initial azimuth)
4. What direction did you LAST see it (ie. it ended west of me, or you can provide the final azimuth)
5. Did you hear a sonic boom? If so, approximately how many seconds after the event?

THANKS!

Mystery "Boom" Solved?

*Update: Several reports have been received at Delta of actual eyewitness sightings of the meteor as it streaked across the sky. Several from the Natchitoches area and another from Bunkie.

Monday, March 8 at approximately 5PM many residents across north Louisiana reported a loud noise that resembled a sonic boom. (Subsequent reports place most times between 4 and 5 PM) Reports began to file in to local law enforcement agencies as well as media. KNOE TV displayed a map that showed a tight cluster of reports running in a linear fashion from southeast of Shreveport to near Vidalia, Louisiana.

The initial possibilities were that a military jet caused the sonic boom or a meteor passing through the atmosphere at supersonic speeds (speed of sound is approximately 768 mph).

An email from a gentleman in Atlanta, Georgia provided excellent evidence of a meteor as being the culprit. His photo shows a "Noctilucent" cloud. This cloud is quite rare and usually requires a triggering mechanism - in this case meteor dust. Scant water vapor found some 50 to 60 miles in the mesosphere can condense on the dust particles forming the rare cloud which can be seen at great distances.

Reports were also received from news media/reporters at a CBS station in Memphis, Tennessee of witnessing the fireball. Another report from Bunkie, Louisiana near Alexandria (eastern end of the track) also reported seeing the meteor move from west to east. In the Bunkie report, the meteor lacked a light source appearing as a gray mass with a smoke trail. If this is indeed the case, the space rock may very well have reached the ground. A gentleman fishing on the northern end of Tolendo Bend Reservoir (western end of the track)just west of Zwolle/Many witnessed an object glowing with a bright white light and accompanying smoke trail moving very rapidly from west to east.