| News 2009 - 2011 |
| Discovery of a NEO Asteroids 2011 YW1 and 2011 YQ1 (Dec. 18, 2011) | ||||
| On 2011 December 18.03UT, two NEO asteroids (2011 YW1 and 2011 YQ1) were discovered on images taken by Jure Skvarč in the scope of PIKA sky survey program at Črni Vrh Observatory. Discovery was announced in MPEC 2011-Y13 and MPEC 2011-Y10. According to orbital elements, the object 2011 YW1 belongs to the Amor family of NEOs, while 2011 YQ1 belongs to the Apollo family. |
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| Discovery of a NEO Asteroid 2011 XC (Dec. 2, 2011) | ||||
| On 2011 December 1.01UT, NEO asteroid 2011 XC was discovered on images taken by Jure Skvarč in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. After posting on Minor Planet Center NEO Confirmation Page, follow-up observations were collected from observers worldwide. Discovery was announced in MPEC 2011-X13. According to orbital elements, the object belongs to the Amor family of asteroids. |
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NEO Asteroid 2011 XC Animation, composed of four discovery images, obtained with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Copyright © 2011 by J. Skvarč, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. |
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| Discovery of supernova 2011ie = PSN J23005471+1850323 in anonymous galaxy (November 23, 2011) | ||||
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H. Mikuz and B. Dintinjana, Crni Vrh Observatory, report the discovery of
a supernova (mag 17.0) by Jan Vales on four unfiltered CCD images
(bandpass roughly equivalent to the R band) taken on Nov. 17.780-17.825 UT
with the 60-cm f/3.3 Cichocki reflector
in the course of the Comet and
Asteroid Search Program (PIKA) at Crni Vrh Observatory. The new object is
located at R.A. = 23h00m54s.71, Decl. = +18o50'32".3 (equinox 2000.0;
uncertainty about 0".2), which is approximately 6" east and 4" south of the
center of a nearby galaxy. Nothing is visible at this position on several
Digitized Sky Survey red and blue images from the Palomar Sky Survey.
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Discovery Image of Supernova 2011ie Composite image of supernova was made by stacking four 60 second unfiltered discovery frames taken around 2011 Nov. 17.80 UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2011 by J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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Discovery was announced in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 2915.
Spectroscopic observations, obtained on 2011 Nov. 20.85 UT by S. Valenti, A. Pastorello, S. Benetti, L. Tomasella, F. Bufano, and P.
Ochner, Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica, Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova with the 1.82-m Copernico Telescope (+ AFOSC; range 340-790 nm,
resolution 2.2 nm), shows it to be a type-Ia supernova.
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| Discovery of supernova 2011hw = PSN J22261454+3412591 in anonymous galaxy (November 22, 2011) | ||||
| B. Dintinjana and H. Mikuz, Crni Vrh Observatory, report the discovery of a supernova (mag 15.7) by H. Mikuz on four unfiltered CCD images (bandpass roughly equivalent to the R band) taken on Nov. 18.720-18.751 UT with the 60-cm f/3.3 Cichocki reflector in the course of the Comet and Asteroid Search Program (PIKA) at Crni Vrh Observatory. The new object is located at R.A. = 22h26m14s.54, Decl. = +34o12'59".1 (equinox 2000.0; uncertainty about 0".2), which is approximately 8" east and 1" north of the center of a nearby galaxy. They add that nothing is visible at this position on several Digitized Sky Survey red and blue images from the Palomar Sky Survey. |
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Discovery Image of Supernova 2011hw Composite image of supernova was made by stacking four 60 second unfiltered discovery frames taken around 2011 Nov. 18.735 UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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Discovery was announced in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 2906.
Spectroscopic observations, obtained by S. Valenti, A. Pastorello, S. Benetti, L. Tomasella, F. Bufano, and P. Ochner, Istituto Nazionale
di Astrofisica, Astronomico di Padova
on 2011 Nov. 19.76 UT with the 1.82-m Copernico Telescope (+ AFOSC; range 340-790 nm, resolution 2.2 nm), shows it to be remarkably
similar to the transitional type-IIn/Ibn supernova 2005la (Pastorello et al. 2008, MNRAS 389, 131). The spectrum is very blue and
shows prominent H and He I lines in emission. In particular, the most prominent He I lines compete in strength with H_alpha.
The FWHM velocity of H_alpha is 2700 km/s, while that of He I 587.6-nm is about 2000 km/s. The redshift deduced from the position
of the most important lines is z = 0.023.
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| Jan Vales prejel plaketo Edgarja Wilsona za odkritje kometa P/2010 H2 (Vales) (7. oktober 2011) |
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Na seznamu
letošnjih dobitnikov nagrad Edgarja Wilsona, ki jih vsako leto podeljujejo odkriteljem kometov iz
vrst amaterskih astronomov je tudi član naše opazovalne skupine
Jan Vales. Nagrado in spominsko plaketo je prejel za odkritje povratnega kometa P/2010 H2 (Vales),
16. aprila 2010. Nagrade E. Wilsona sicer Harvard Smithsonian Center podeljuje že od leta 1999. V skladu s pravili Mednarodne astronomske zveze dobijo kometi imena po njihovih odkriteljih. Čestitke Janu za odkritje! |
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Jan Vales poleg teleskopa Cichocki s katerim je odkril komet P/2010 H2 (Vales).
Copyright © 2011, H. Mikuž, Observatorij Črni Vrh.
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Spominska plaketa Edgarja Wilsona za odkritje kometa P/2010 H2 (Vales).
Copyright © 2011, J. Vales, Observatorij Črni Vrh.
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| Supernova 2011fe in M101 (Aug 26, 2011) | ||||
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Young supernova 2011fe was discovered by the "Type Ia supernova science working group of the Palomar Transient
Factory" on g-band images obtained with the Oschin 1.2-m Schmidt telescope at Palomar on Aug. 24 UT.
The supernova is located at R.A. = 14h03m05s.81, Decl. = +54d16'25".4 (equinox 2000.0). A preliminary spectrum
obtained on Aug. 24 UT with FRODOSPEC on the Liverpool Telescope indicates that 2011fe is probably a very young
type-Ia supernova. The well known galaxy M101 is only about 21 million light years away, which makes it one of the
closest supernovas seen in past decades.
Further discovery details are published in CBET 2792
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Supernova 2011fe in M101 True color image (left) (supernova position signed with short lines) was recorded on 2011 Aug. 25 (19h06-19h25UT) with 60-cm Cichocki robotic telescope and standard BVR photometric filters. Exposure time was R(120s), V(120s) and B(180s). Image scale is 2.2 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuž and J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Supernova 2011fe in M101 True color image (left) (supernova position signed with short lines) was recorded on 2011 Aug. 26 (19h04-19h34UT) with 60-cm Cichocki robotic telescope and standard BVR photometric filters. Exposure time was R(3x120s), V(3x120s) and B(3x180s). Image scale is 1.86 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuž and J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Supernova 2011fe in M101 True color image (left), recorded on 2011 Sep. 6 (18h44-18h53UT) with 60-cm Cichocki robotic telescope and standard BVR photometric filters. Exposure time was R(3x30s), V(3x30s) and B(3x60s). Image scale is 1.86 arc sec/pixel. Supernova already brightened to about V=10.5. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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| Discovery of supernova 2011fc = PSN J23013638+3220069 in anonymous galaxy (July 11, 2011) | ||||
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J. Skvarč report that a possible supernova was detected by B. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory
on 4 unfiltered images taken around 2011 July 11.0 UT by a
60-cm
Cichocki telescope and CCD. The object of magnitude R=17.9 is located at R.A. = 23h01m36s.38,
Decl. =+32o20'06".9, which is 6" west and 8" north of an uncataloged galaxy. After being posted on TOCP page,
confirmation images were obtained by
Joseph Brimacombe, Cairns, Australia, Federica Luppi Varese, Italy and Xavier Bros, Anyslum Observatory, Ager, Catalonia, Spain.
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Discovery Image of Supernova 2011fc Composite image of supernova was made by stacking four 50 second unfiltered discovery frames taken around 2011 Jul. 11.0 UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope. Image scale is about 1.3 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2011 by B. Mikuž and J. Skvarč, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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Discovery was announced in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 2788.
Spectroscopic observations, obtained on Aug. 11.13UT with the Nordic Optical Telescope (+ ALFOSC; range 350-900 nm, resolution 0.8 nm) shows it to be
a type-Ia supernova at roughly a month past maximum.
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| NEO Asteroid 2011 MD Flyby (June 26, 2011) | ||||
| A small asteroid (about 10 meter wide) 2011 MD was discovered on 2011 June 22.26UT by Lincoln Near Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program in New Mexico. |
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Asteroid 2011 MD Flyby by Earth The images for this animation were taken using a 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope from the Črni Vrh Observatory on the night of 26 June 2011. Each exposure was of 15 seconds. The telescope was tracking on the asteroid, changing the rate of tracking between exposures. The entire sequence lasted about 4h40m, during which 635 exposures were made. The brightness variations due to asteroid rotation are clearly visible. At the time the asteroid was less than 200000 km from Earth. At the closest approach some 15 hours later the distance was about 20000 km. Copyright © 2011 by J. Skvarč, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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| Total Lunar Eclipse, 2011 June 15 | ||||
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Total Lunar Eclipse, 2011 June 15 Time-lapse sequence, obtained between 20h12 - 21h28UT at Črni Vrh Observatory. The sequence starts in evening twilight, with the Moon just in the mid of totality. All images are 30s exposures @ ISO 1600, obtained with Canon EOS 20D camera and 17mm, f/4 lens. Photo & Video by H. Mikuž and J. Vales.
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| Supernova 2011by in NGC 3972 (May 2, 2011) | ||||
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Supernova 2011by was discovered by Zhangwei Jin, Ningbo, Zhejiang and Xing Gao, Urumqi, Xinjiang,
China on a 60-s survey image (mag approximately 14.2), taken in the
course of the Xingming Observation Sky Survey around Apr. 26.8234 UT, using a
Celestron C14 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (+ unfiltered CCD camera) at Mt. Nanshan. An optical spectrum (range 350-870 nm) of SN 2011by was obtained on Apr. 27.5 UT with the 2.16-m telescope (+ BFOSC) at the Xinglong Station of the NAOC. The spectrum is consistent with that of a type-Ia supernova, about 10 days before maximum. Further discovery details in CBET 2708
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Supernova 2011by in NGC 3972 True color image (left) was recorded on 2011 May 2 (23h02-23h09UT) with 60-cm Cichocki robotic telescope and standard BVR photometric filters. Exposure time was R(120s), V(120s) and B(180s). Image scale is 1.86 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Supernova 2011by in NGC 3972 True color image (left) was recorded on 2011 May 6 (20h40-21h19UT) with 60-cm Cichocki robotic telescope and standard BVR photometric filters. Exposure time was 5x120s(R), 5x120s(V) and 5x180sB. Image scale is 0.93 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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| Outburst of Recurrent Nova T Pyxidis (Apr. 17, 2011) | ||||
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Recurrent Nova T Pyx was discovered in eruption by M. Linnolt (Hawaii, United States) at a visual magnitude of 13.0 on
2011 April 14.3. This is the first outburst of T Pyx since 1966 December 10, almost 45 years ago, when it reached
visual magnitude 6.5. Previous outbursts occurred in 1890, 1902, 1920, and 1944. (IAUC 9205).
T Pyx coordinates (J2000.0) RA = 9h04m41.5s; Dec = -32°22'47.5".
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Recurrent Nova T Pyx True color image, composed from BVR images, obtained remotely on 2011 Apr. 17 (19h13-19h25UT) with 116 mm, f/4 lens and ST-8XMEI CCD, mounted on ACIT robotic telescope at Črni Vrh Observatory. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Recurrent Nova T Pyx True color image, composed from BVR images, obtained remotely on 2011 Apr. 18 (19h07-19h30UT) with 116 mm, f/4 lens and ST-8XMEI CCD, mounted on ACIT robotic telescope at Črni Vrh Observatory. Copyright © 2011 by H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Standard CCD photometry of Nova T Pyx was performed with 116 mm, f/4 lens, BVR filters and SBIG ST-8 CCD camera. Data set submitted to AAVSO. |
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| Fireball over Slovenia (March 30, 2011) | ||||
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Several all-sky cameras in Slovenia and Italy recorded very slow, about -6 magnitude fireball on 2011 Mar. 30 (around 23h05UT).
The fireball was recorded on two consecutive 60 second exposures with robotic
all-sky camera at Črni Vrh Observatory. The time
lapse between exposures was 3 seconds, during which the object moved only about 20 degrees on the sky.
Copyright © 2011 by PIKA project, Crni Vrh Observatory.
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| Discovery of a NEO Asteroid 2011 AB3 (Jan. 3, 2011) | ||||
| On the evening of January 3, 2011 a new asteroid with 100% NEO rating was discovered on images taken by Stanislav Matičič in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. After posting the candidate on NEO Confirmation Page, follow-up observations were collected from observers worldwide. The orbital elements revealed that the object belongs to the Aten family of asteroids. |
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NEO Asteroid 2011 AB3 The animation was composed of four discovery images of this object. Copyright © 2011 by S. Matičič, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. |
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| Bright Leonid Fireball (November 4, 2010) | ||||
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Leonid Fireball This bright fireball most probably originate from yearly Leonid meteor shower. It left a bright trail that lasted for about 15 minutes. The animation was composed from 15 consecutive 1 minute exposures, obtained on 2010 Nov. 4, between 0h56m55s and 1h11m38sUT with remote all-sky camera at Črni Vrh Observatory. Copyright © 2010 by J. Vales, Crni Vrh Observatory.
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Leonid Fireball Another animation of the same event prepared by Javor Kac. |
| Unexpected Complex Behaviour in Dust Production of Periodic Comet 103P/Hartley (Dec. 15, 2010) | ||||
| Under the scope of CARA project, comet 103P/Hartley is continuously monitored by a group of dedicated observers, using small and medium size remote telescopes, now available worldwide. The plot below show the Afrho quantity data collected on comet 103P/Hartley until 2010 Dec. 15 from R band photometry, performed by Paolo Bacci, Walter Borghini, Erik Bryssink, Dario Castellano, Gianni Galli, Ernesto Guido, Bernhard Hausler, Nick Howes, Rolando Ligustri, Herman Mikuz, Giannantonio Milani, Martino Nicolini, Carmen Perrella, Jure Skvarc, Giovanni Sostero and Roberto Trabatti. |
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Periodic Comet 103P/Hartley The Afrho quantity is related to the dust production rate and shows the general behaviour of the comet. Measurements are normalized to a 10000 km radius measuring window, centerd on the comet. The data refers both to the current apparition, and to some 1997-98 data from R band images taken at the Crni Vrh Observatory. Comet 103P is showing variations in a relatively small timescale with an unexpected complex behaviour. Copyright © 2010 by CARA project. |
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| Discovery of a NEO Asteroid 2010 TC55 at Črni Vrh Observatory (Oct. 11, 2010) | ||||
| On the evening of October 11, 2010 a new asteroid with 100% NEO rating was discovered on images taken by Stanislav Matičič in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. Follow up images were obtained on Oct. 12-13 night by 106 Crni Vrh and numerous obnservers worldwide. The orbital elements revealed that this object belongs to the Amor family of asteroids. |
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| Discovery of a New Variable Star in Cepheus (Aug. 22, 2010) | ||||
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A new star-like object (R = 16.2 +/- 0.1) with coordinates ra=21h05m12s.29, dec=+69d12'55".3 (J2000) was found by B. Mikuž on
unfiltered CCD images (limiting mag 18.5) in the course of the PIKA project
with the 0.60-m f/3.3 Cichocki telescope
at Črni Vrh Observatory. The object was visible on all four images of the same region taken around 2010 Aug. 22.905-22.933 UT.
Nothing is visible at this position on PIKA archival images taken on 2004 Nov. 27 (limiting mag 17.0) and 2006
Sept. 3 (limiting mag 18.7) or on several Palomar Sky Survey and 2MASS images from the Aladin database.
Further investigation of the Simbad and VizieR databases shows no candidate object at this position.
Additional R filter photometry was obtained by B. Mikuz with 60 cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope, using comparison stars from USNO-B1 catalogue:
2010 Aug. 26.865, R = 16.5 +/- 0.1
Aug. 29.837, R = 16.8 +/- 0.1
The discovery was announced in CBET 2431
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New Variable Star in Cepheus Discovery image is a 40 second exposure obtained with 60-cm Cichocki robotic telescope. The variable star was found using software for detection of new static objects. Copyright © 2010 by B. Mikuz.
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| Perseids 2010 (August 12, 2010) | ||||
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Perseids 2010 One day before maximum activity, three bright Perseids were recorded with Črni Vrh Observatory All-Sky Camera. The animation cover the time span of half hour (2h10-2h40UT) on 2010 Aug. 12, just before dawn. Copyright © 2010 by H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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| Discovery of Supernova 2010ga at Črni Vrh Observatory (July 9, 2010) | ||||
| On images taken by Jan Vales in the course of the Črni Vrh Asteroid and Comet Search program PIKA, an apparent supernova (mag 17.3) was detected using software for automatic discovery of static objects. Supernova was found on four consecutive unfiltered CCD images taken around 2010 Jul. 9.05 UT with a 0.60-m f/3.3 Cichocki Sky Survey Robotic Telescope. |
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Discovery Image of Supernova 2010ga Composite image of supernova 2010ga was made by stacking four 50 second unfiltered discovery frames taken on 2010 Jul. 9.04-9.07 UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope. Image scale is about 2.80 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by J. Vales and H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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The new object is located at R.A. = 0h34m43s.83, Decl. = +9o54'36".1 (equinox 2000.0), which is 17" east and 2" south of the nucleus of the galaxy designated 2MASX
J00344266+0954382. Nothing is visible at this position on archival PIKA images obtained on 2008 Oct. 20.04 (limiting magnitude 18.0) or on a Palomar
Sky Survey F plate from 1990 Oct. 14 (via the Digitized Sky Survey/Aladin). Jure Skvarc, Crni Vrh Observatory, reports that a confirmation image of 2010ga
was obtained by S. Maticic at Crni Vrh Observatory on July 10.03 using a photometric R filter, from which Skvarc measured R = 18.19 +/- 0.03.
Following posting on the Central Bureau's unconfirmed-objects webpage, Vitali Nevski (Vitebsk, Belarus) reports that he obtained unfiltered CCD
images of 2010ga on July 9.958 with a 0.3-m reflector, yielding mag 17.7 and position end figures 43s.82, 36".4 (USNO-B1.0 catalogue), adding that nothing
is visible at this position on a Palomar Sky Survey DSS image obtained on 1990 Oct. 14 (via the Digitized Sky Survey; limiting red mag 21).
Discovery was announced in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 2363. Spectroscopic observations (CBET No. 2364), obtained on July 11 UT with WFCCD mounted on the du Pont 2.5-m telescope at Las Campanas Observatory shows it to be a type-Ia supernova a few days after maximum light. Relevant links:
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| Discovery of Supernova 2010dw at Črni Vrh Observatory (Jun. 8, 2010) | ||||
| On images taken by Jure Skvarč in the course of the Črni Vrh Asteroid and Comet Search program PIKA, an apparent supernova (mag 17.3) was detected using software for automatic discovery of static objects. Supernova was found on four consecutive unfiltered CCD images taken around 2010 Jun. 5.96 UT with a 0.60-m f/3.3 Cichocki Sky Survey Robotic Telescope. |
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Discovery Image of Supernova 2010dw Composite image of supernova 2010dw was made by stacking four 50 second unfiltered discovery frames taken on 2010 Jun. 5.94-5.99 UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope. Image scale is about 0.93 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by J. Skvarč and H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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The new object is located at RA = 15h22m40s.31, Decl. = -5o55'15".9 (equinox 2000.0), which is 4".5 east
and 5".5 north of the galaxy designated 2MASX J15224062-0555214. The new object appears at magnitude R = 17.3
on a confirming image taken by B. Mikuz on June 6.89 with the same telescope.
Nothing is visible at this position on
archival PIKA images obtained on 2006 Apr. 4.12 (limiting mag 18.0) or on a Palomar Sky Survey image from
1955 May 20. A CCD image taken by S. Maticic with the same Crni Vrh telescope on June 7.89 yields R =
17.1 for 2010dw, as measured by Skvarc.
Discovery was announced in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 2310. Spectroscopic observations (CBET No. 2311), obtained on 2010 Jun. 8 UT with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST; range 360-760 nm), shows it to be a normal type-Ia supernova a few days before maximum light. Relevant links:
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| Imaging of planet Saturn (April 28, 2010) | ||||
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Saturn on April 28, 2010 We obtained some pretty images of planet Saturn on April 28, 2010 evening, when seeing conditions were very good. We used 150 mm, f/8 refractor, 2x Barlow lens and Imaging Source b/w video camera DMK 21AU04. Exposure time was 1/77s. Movies were processed with RegiStax image processing software. Copyright © 2010 by J. Vales and H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Discovery of an extraordinary outburst of an unidentified moving object at Črni Vrh Observatory (April 17, 2010) by Jure Skvarč |
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On images taken by J. Vales in the course of the Črni Vrh Asteroid and Comet Search program
PIKA,
on April 16, 2010 an unusually bright unknown object (mag. 12.5) was automatically detected.
The object was near opposition, in an area searched by Catalina Sky Survey (CSS) just a day before.
As it is not usual to encounter unknown objects of this magnitude in the area recently scanned by
sky surveys, a question of its nature naturally appeared. The object was placed on the
Near Earth
Object Confirmation Page
and with the help of observations from other observatories it became apparent
very soon that it is about 2 AU away. In case that this was an asteroid (as we would infer from
the stellar appearance on the discovery images) this would mean a diameter in the order of 100 km,
which is extremely unlikely. The remaining explanation within common knowledge of the Solar system
is that it is a cometary outburst of a large magnitude. Recently a similar outburst was experienced
by comet 17/P Holmes. This object has triggered massive activity of 40 observatories around the
world which contributed altogether 226 observations to the
Minor Planet Center
(MPC). The observers
from the CSS confirmed that the object is not visible on their images taken only 15 hours before the
discovery. There was a lively debate about the nature of this object on the Minor Planet Mailing
List with most plausible explanation that it is a previously unknown comet in outburst. Further
observations by several observers showed that the object has a wider profile than nearby stars and
Alain Maury detected faint coma on long exposures made from Chile. At 19:25 UT on April 17 the MPC
issued an electronic circular
MPEC 2010-H12
where the object is designated as a comet P/2010 H2. The orbit is still not very well determined, but most
likely it has a semimajor axis of 3.9 AU and eccentricity of 0.2. This is similar to the orbital
elements of the asteroids of the Hilda family. This object will undoubtedly be investigated further
in the days to come.
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Periodic Comet P/2010 H2 (Vales) Stack of four 50 second unfiltered discovery images, following comet motion. They were taken between 2010 Apr. 16.0038 - 16.0401UT with a 0.60-m f/3.3 Cichocki Sky Survey Telescope at Črni Vrh Observatory. Image scale is 1.86 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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Periodic Comet P/2010 H2 (Vales) Animation image was made from four 50 second unfiltered discovery frames, taken between 2010 Apr. 16.0038 - 16.0401UT with a 0.60-m f/3.3 Cichocki Sky Survey Telescope at Črni Vrh Observatory. Image scale is 1.86 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by J. Vales, and H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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Periodic Comet P/2010 H2 (Vales) Unfiltered false color image of comet P/2010 H2 (Vales), obtained on 2010 Apr. 16.854UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope and CCD. Exposure time was 60 seconds. Image scale is 0.93 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Periodic Comet P/2010 H2 (Vales) Filtered false color image of comet P/2010 H2 (Vales), obtained on 2010 Apr. 17 (20h02-21h40UT) with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope R filter and CCD. Image is composition of thirty 60 second exposures. Image scale is 0.93 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by J. Skvarc, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Periodic Comet P/2010 H2 (Vales) True color image of comet P/2010 H2 (Vales), obtained on 2010 Apr. 19 (20h02-21h40UT) with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope, BVR photometric filters and CCD. It was combined from 90s B, 60s R and 60s V frames. Image scale is 0.93 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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Periodic Comet P/2010 H2 (Vales) True color image of comet P/2010 H2 (Vales), obtained on 2010 May 1 (19h45-20h27UT) with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope, BVR photometric filters and CCD. Exposure time was 8 minutes in each filter with telescope tracking on comet. Image scale is 0.93 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2010 by J. Skvarč, Črni Vrh Observatory.
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| Observatorij Črni Vrh na razstavi Od Zemlje do vesolja |
| V Mednarodnem letu astronomije 2009 je bila v Jakopičevem sprehajališču v parku Tivoli postavljena razstava Od Zemlje do vesolja. Prva postavitev razstave je bila od 17. junija do 4. septembra 2009. Zaradi velikega zanimanja je bila ponovljena še od 26. novembra 2009 do 15. februarja 2010. Na 120 panojih so bile predstavljene najlepše astronomske fotografije, posnete z največjimi profesionalnimi teleskopi na Zemlji in z vesoljskim teleskopom Hubble. Vključuje tudi najboljše astronomske fotografije slovenskih astronomov. Na posebnem panoju se je predstavil tudi Astronomski observatorij Črni Vrh. Organizatorji razstave so izdali tudi katalog. |
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Pano Astronomskega observatorija Črni Vrh Predstavili smo dejavnosti astronomskega observatorija Črni Vrh s poudarkom na dosežkih programa iskanja kometov in asteroidov PIKA. Copyright © H. Mikuž, Observatorij Črni Vrh.
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Razstava Od Zemlje do vesolja Pogled na razstavo Od Zemlje do vesolja v Ljubljanskem parku Tivoli. Posneto v januarju 2010. Copyright © H. Mikuž, Observatorij Črni Vrh.
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Razstava Od Zemlje do vesolja Pogled na razstavo Od Zemlje do vesolja v Ljubljanskem parku Tivoli. Posneto v januarju 2010. Copyright © H. Mikuž, Observatorij Črni Vrh.
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| Sinoči nad Evropo vidna ločitev ameriške rakete Kentaver in vremenskega satelita (18. oktober 2009) | ||||
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Animacija iz observatorija na Črnem Vrhu Sinoči (18. oktobra 2009) nekaj po 21 uri sta bila na nebu nad Slovenijo vidna dva svetla objekta, ki sta se počasi premikala od severozahoda proti severu. Šlo je za Ameriško nosilno raketo Kentaver, ki je odvrgla nad Evropo preostanek goriva in so jo sinoči lansirali iz vojaškega oporišča Vandebergh v Kaliforniji. Njej je sledil še vojaški vremenski satelit DMSP F-18, ki ga je raketa ponesla v vesolje. Očividka, ki je dogodek opazovala iz vasi Ravnik nad Hotedršico je poročala, da je bila raketa na nebu vidna kot komet s svetlim repom. To potrjujejo tudi posnetki, ki so jih objavili na spletišču Space Weather. Dogodek je pritegnil veliko pozornost, saj so ga opazovali in posneli iz več Evropskih držav. Na animaciji, ki jo je posnela vsenebna kamera observatorija na Črnem Vrhu (levo) se lepo vidi kako se tirnici obeh objektov ločujeta. Vsenebna kamera na Črnem Vrhu snema zaporedne minutne posnetke zato sta objekta na slikah pustila daljši sledi. Animacija se začne ob 21h10 in konča ob 21h16 poletnega časa. V smeri zahoda, kjer sta se gibali raketa in satelit so prehod občasno prekrivali oblaki. Copyright © 2009 Črni Vrh Observatory.
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| Stanislav Matičič prejel prestižno nagrado Edgarja Wilsona (25. avgust 2009) |
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Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
je objavil letošnji seznam dobitnikov nagrad Edgarja Wilsona, ki jih vsako leto podeljujejo odkriteljem kometov iz
vrst amaterskih astronomov. Med letošnjimi dobitniki te prestižne nagrade je tudi član naše opazovalne skupine
Stanislav Matičič. Nagrado in spominsko plaketo je prejel za odkritje kometa C/2008 Q1 (Matičič)
18. avgusta 2008. To je bilo obenem tudi prvo odkritje kometa iz Slovenije. Nagrade E. Wilsona sicer Harvard Smithsonian Center podeljuje že enajsto leto. Tokrat pa jo je prvič prejel astronom iz Slovenije. V skladu s pravili Mednarodne astronomske zveze dobijo kometi imena po njihovih odkriteljih. Stanetu vsi skupaj želimo še veliko odkritij. |
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Stanislav Matičič s spominsko plaketo Edgarja Wilsona poleg teleskopa Cichocki na astronomskem
observatoriju Črni Vrh. Copyright © 2010, H. Mikuž, Observatorij Črni Vrh.
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Spominska plaketa Edgarja Wilsona s posvetilom Stanislavu Matičiču.
Copyright © 2010, H. Mikuž, Observatorij Črni Vrh.
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| Discovery of a NEO Asteroid 2009 QO at Črni Vrh Observatory (Aug. 17, 2009) | ||||
| On the evening of August 15, 2009 a new asteroid was discovered on images taken by Jure Skvarč in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. Follow up images, obtained on Aug. 16 evening showed that NEO rating increased from 29 % (Aug. 15) to 59 %, after which it was posted on NEOCP and later confirmed by another observation from H06 RAS Observatory in New Mexico. The orbital elements revealed that this object belongs to the Amor family of asteroids. |
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NEO Asteroid 2009 QO The animation shows discovery images of this object. Copyright © 2009 by J. Skvarč, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. |
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| Nova Sagittarii 2009 No. 3 (August 8, 2009) | ||||
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Nova Sagittarii 2009 No. 3 Discovered on two 60-s frames on Aug. 6.494 and 6.495 UT by Koichi Nishiyama, Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan; and Fujio Kabashima, Miyaki-cho, Saga-ken, Japan, using 105-mm f/4 lens + unfiltered CCD (limiting magnitude 13.3). Nova was at magnitude 7.7 and has the following precise position: R.A. = 18h07m07s.67, Decl. = -33d46'33".9 (equinox J2000.0). Discovery was announced in CBET No. 1899 This true color image of nova (in field center) was obtained on 2008 Aug. 8.80UT with 19-cm, f/4 flat filed S-C robotic telescope, BVR photometric filters and CCD. Color image was composed from two series of exposures (B=30s, R=20s, V=20s). Image scale is 3.50 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2009 by H. Mikuz, Crni Vrh Observatory.
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| Detection of optical counterpart of GRB 090726 at Črni Vrh Observatory (July 27, 2009) | ||||
| We observed optical counterpart of Gamma Ray Burst GRB 090726 (Swift trigger 358422) using 60 cm Cichocki robotic telescope at Črni Vrh Observatory. A new object was detected at RA=16:34:43.04, DEC=+72:53:04.82 (J2000). Series of twenty connsecutive Rc filter exposures were taken, starting on 2009 July 26 at 22:44:31UT, 58 seconds after the GCN notice time. We confirm the presence of variable source, identified by A. Moskvitin, T. Fatkhullin & A. Valeev (GCN Circ. 9709). The object was clearly detected on all 20 frames. Complete results are published in GCN 9715 Circular. |
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Detection of optical counterpart of GRB 090726 Image show GRB 090726 in maximum outburst at mag. 17.7, 367 seconds after the Swift GRB detection. One minute exposures with R filter was obtained on 2009 July 26 (22h48m04s-22h49m04sUT). Copyright © 2009 by S. Maticic and J. Skvarc, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. |
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| Komet C/2008 Q1 (Matičič) na znamki Pošte Slovenije (29. maj 2009) |
| V počastitev Mednarodnega leta astronomije 2009 je Pošta Slovenije izdala priložnostni znamki z motivom kometa C/2008 Q1 (Matičič), ki je bil odkrit 18. avgusta 2008 na Astronomskem observatoriju Črni Vrh ter motivom Astronomskega observatorija na Golovcu, ki letos praznuje 50. letnico delovanja. Na znamki komet C/2008 Q1 (Matičič) je stilizirano prikazan medsebojni položaj Sonca, Merkurja, Venere, Zemlje, Marsa in kometa C/2008 Q1 Matičič v trenutku odkritja. Izdana je bila tudi ovojnica "Prvi dan". |
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Komet C/2008 Q1 (Matičič) Znamka Pošte Slovenije s stiliziranim motivom kometa C/2008 Q1 (Matičič). Prikazan je medsebojni položaj Sonca, Merkurja, Venere, Zemlje, Marsa in kometa C/2008 Q1 Matičič v trenutku odkritja. |
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50-letnica observatorija na Golovcu Znamka Pošte Slovenije s stiliziranim motivom Astronomskega observatorija na Golovcu, izdana ob 50-letnici njegovega delovanja. |
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Ovojnica "Prvi dan" Ovojnica "Prvi dan" z obema znamkama ter stiliziranima motivoma Astronomskega observatorija na Golovcu in kometa C/2008 Q1 (Matičič) ob odkritju. |
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| Discovery of Supernova 2009er in anonymous galaxy at Črni Vrh Observatory (May 22, 2009) | ||||
| On images taken by S. Matičič in the course of the Črni Vrh Asteroid and Comet Search program PIKA, an apparent supernova (mag 17.7) was detected using software for automatic discovery of static objects. Supernova was found on four consecutive unfiltered CCD images taken around 2009 May 22.99 UT with a 0.60-m f/3.3 Cichocki Sky Survey Robotic Telescope. |
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Discovery Image of Supernova 2009er Composite image of supernova 2009er was made by stacking four 40 second unfiltered discovery frames taken around 2009 May 22.99UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope. Image scale is about 1.86 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2008 by S. Matičič and H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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The new object is located at RA=15h39m29s.84, Decl.=+24o26'05".3 (equinox 2000.0; uncertainty about 0".2),
which is approximately 8" west and 9" south of the center of a nearby galaxy.
Nothing is visible at this location on archival unfiltered PIKA images obtained on 2005 June 16 (limiting mag
approximately 18.5) and 2009 Mar. 22 (limiting mag approximately 19.5). Also, nothing is visible at this
position on several Digitized Sky Survey red and blue images from the Palomar Sky Survey, listed here with
approximate limiting magnitudes: 1954 July 2, blue, [20.5; 1954 July 2, red, [20.0; 1990 May 17, J plate, [20.5; 1992
June 26, F plate, [20.0. The variable was confirmed on images obtained with the discovery telescope on
2009 May 23.838 at blue mag 17.6 and red mag 17.3.
Discovery was announced in CBET Electronic Telegram No. 1811. R. J. Foley and P. Challis, CfA, on behalf of the CfA Supernova Group, reports that spectroscopic observations (CBET No. 1818), obtained on May 27 UT by T. Groner with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-Ib supernova. J. M. Silverman, S. B. Cenko, A. V. Filippenko, and W. Li, University of California, Berkeley, report that inspection of CCD spectra (range 340-1000 nm), obtained on May 28 UT with the 3-m Shane reflector (+ Kast) at Lick Observatory, shows that a spectrum of the galaxy near SN 2009er (CBET 1811) reveals a recession velocity of 10200 km/s. The spectrum of 2009er is very unusual: there are no conspicuous H Balmer lines or obvious Si II lines, and it bears some resemblance to the peculiar type-Ib/c supernova 2006jc (Foley et al. 2007, Ap.J. 657, 105), but with no obvious He I lines; the exact nature of the supernova is unclear, and follow-up observations are encouraged Relevant links:
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| Bright Fireball Over Slovenia (April 9, 2009) | ||||
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Fireball Over Slovenia Robotic allsky camera at Crni Vrh Observatory recorded a bright fireball over the northern part of the sky. Event occured on 2009 Apr. 9, between 0h59m13s and 1h00m13s UT and was clearly detected in spite of nearly full Moon and clouds that covered most of the sky. Otherwise, only part of the fireball trail was recorded. One eye witness (located in village Prelska near Velenje, Slovenia) reported that the fireball "was bright like a full Moon". Copyright © 2009, Crni Vrh Observatory. Relevant links:
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| Discovery of Supernova 2009bv in galaxy IC4199 at Črni Vrh Observatory (Mar. 27, 2009) |
| On images taken by Jan Vales in the course of the Črni Vrh Asteroid and Comet Search program PIKA, an apparent supernova (mag 18.1) was detected using software for automatic discovery of static objects. Supernova was found on four consecutive unfiltered CCD images taken around 2009 Mar. 27.00 UT with a 0.60-m f/3.3 Cichocki Sky Survey Robotic Telescope. |
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Discovery Image of Supernova 2009bv Composite image of supernova 2009bv was made by stacking four 40 second unfiltered discovery frames taken around 2009 Mar. 27.00UT with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope. Image scale is about 2 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2008 by J. Vales and H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory. |
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The new object is located at RA = 13h07m20s.47, Decl. = +35o47'03".8 (equinox 2000.0; uncertainty about 0".2),
which is approximately 17" south of the center of IC4199.
Nothing is visible at this location on archival PIKA images obtained during 2005-2009, the most recent ones being on
2008 Apr. 27 (limiting unfiltered mag 19.5) and 2009 Jan. 10 (limiting R magnitude 18). Also, nothing is
visible at this position on several Digitized Sky Survey red and blue images from the Palomar Sky Survey.
Discovery was announced in CBAT Electronic Telegram No. 1741. Spectroscopic observations (CBET No. 1742), obtained on Mar. 27 UT by M. Calkins with the F. L. Whipple Observatory 1.5-m telescope (+ FAST), shows it to be a type-Ia supernova about one week before maximum brightness. Relevant links:
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| Discovery of a NEO Asteroids 2009 CN5 and 2009 CT5 at Črni Vrh Observatory (Feb. 13-14, 2009) |
| On the night of 13. and 14. February 2009, two NEO asteroids were discovered on images taken by Stanislav Matičič (Feb. 13) and Jure Skvarč (Feb. 14) in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. Both newly discovered NEOs belong to the Apollo family. Object 2009 CN5 is classified also as a PHAs - Potentially Hazardous Asteroid. |
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PHA NEO Asteroid 2009 CN5 The animation shows discovery images of this object. Copyright © 2009 by S. Matičič, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. NEODyS summary data for 2009 CN5. |
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NEO Asteroid 2009 CT5 The animation shows discovery images of this object. Copyright © 2009 by J. Skvarč, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. NEODyS summary data for 2009 CT5. |
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