Efekt je podoben nastanku mavrice na tankem oljnatem filmu, ki plava na vodi in je osvetljen s svetlobo. Pojavlja se na oblakih cirokumulus, altokumulus ter lečastih oblakih. V tem primeru je Hleviško hribovje že zakrivalo zahajajoče Sonce in so bile barve na oblakih bolj izrazite in žive.

Jan Vales, Idrija

Iridescentni oblaki, posneti iz Idrije 29. oktobra 2017 okoli 16h25 SEČ. Copyright © 2017, Jan Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory.

Discovery of supernova SN 2017hiq (October 13, 2017)

Supernova SN 2017hiq in host galaxy SDSS J005254.06+160654.7 was discovered by B. Mikuz on 2017 Oct. 13.921 - 13.960UT on four images taken with 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope and reported on Transient Name Server. Spectroscopic observations were performed with the Asiago 1.82 m Copernico Telescope equipped with AFOSC (range 340-820 nm; resolution 1.4 nm) on 2017 Oct. 17. The spectrum is consistent with a type-Ia supernova around maximum light, assuming a redshift z=0.091. Details are published in TNS SN 2017hiq and ATel 10863.

Discovery image of supernova SN 2017hiq Discovery images were taken on 2017 Oct. 13.921 - 13.960UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2017 by B. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory.

Fireball recorded (August 27, 2017)

	On 2017 Aug. 27 (02:48:11 UT +/-15s) the All-sky camera at Črni Vrh Observatory recorded about magnitude -12 fireball above the western horizon. The whole event with weak afterglow is recorded on this night time-lapse movie. Copyright © 2017 Črni Vrh Observatory.

Perseids 2017 (August 13, 2017)

Perseid activity observed from Črni Vrh Observatory, during the maximum activity on the night of Aug. 12-13, 2017. Since the bright moonlight interfered most of the night, only several bright Perseids were recorded. Among them also a Perseid fireball at 19h42UT, yet during the evening twilight.

	Perseid fireball on 2017 Aug. 12 Recorded on 2017 Aug. 12 (19h42UT) with b/w CCD All Sky Camera. Copyright © Črni Vrh Observatory.
	Perseid fireball on 2017 Aug. 12 Recorded on 2017 Aug. 12 (19h42UT) with Canon EOS 20D and 8mm, f/4 fisheye lens. Exposure time was 30s at ISO 3200. Copyright © Črni Vrh Observatory.
	Bright Perseid on 2017 Aug. 13 Recorded on 2017 Aug. 13 (2h00UT) with b/w CCD All Sky Camera. Copyright © Črni Vrh Observatory.

Detection of optical afterglow of GRB 170728B at Črni Vrh Observatory (July 28, 2017)

We observed the afterglow of GRB 170728B (Cenko et al., GCN Circ. 21371) with 60-cm Cichocki robotic telescope at Crni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. The series of twenty-six 60 second exposures with Rc filter started at 23:04:41UT, 81 seconds after the burst. We confirm optical afterglow at coordinates reported by D’Avanzo et al. (GCN Circ. 21372, 21373). The object was clearly detected on all 26 frames. Complete results are published in GCN 21394 Circular.

Light curve of GRB 170728B optical afterglow Photometry results obtained from our Rc photometry data. The table contains the mid time of exposure in MJD, time since the Swift GRB detection to the middle of exposure in seconds, Rc magnitude and photometric error. The magnitudes are derived using comparison stars from the APASS catalog. The 3-sigma limiting magnitude in Rc filter is around magnitude 20.2 ± 0.2. Copyright © 2017 by B. Dintinjana and H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia.

Discovery of supernova SN 2017yi (January 29, 2017)

Supernova SN 2017yi in galaxy 2MASX J02592769+1447417 was discovered by J. Vales on 2017 Jan. 29.726 - 29.772 UT on four images taken with 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope and reported on Transient Name Server. Spectroscopic observations were obtained with the 2.16-m telescope of Xinglong Station of National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) on 2017 Feb. 2.94UT. The spectrum is consistent with a type-Ia supernova and matches with SN 2003du at t = -9 days from the maximum light. Details are published in TNS SN 2017yi and ATel 10039.

Discovery image of supernova SN 2017yi Discovery images were taken on 2017 Jan. 29.726 - 29.772UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2017 by J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory.

Discovery of supernova SN 2017nx (January 23, 2017)

Supernova SN 2017nx was discovered by S. Matičič on 2017 Jan. 23.890 - 23.920 UT on four images taken with 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope and reported on Transient Name Server. Spectroscopic observations were obtained by The Asiago Transient Classification Program, using the 1.80-m telescope on 2017 Jan. 24.87UT. The spectrum is consistent with a type-Ia supernova one week before maximum light. Details are published in TNS SN 2017nx and ATel 9996.

Discovery image of supernova SN 2017nx Discovery images were taken on 2017 Jan. 23.890 - 23.920UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.5 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2017 by S. Matičič, Črni Vrh Observatory.

Discovery of supernova SN 2016hhh (October 30, 2016)

Supernova SN 2016hhh was discovered by B. Mikuž on 2016 Oct. 30.894UT on four images taken with 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocku telescope and reported on Transient Name Server. Spectroscopic observations were obtained by iPTF (Intermediate Palomar Transient Factory) The spectrum is consistent with a type-Ia supernova. Details are published in TNS SN 2016hhh.

Discovery image of supernova SN 2016hhh Discovery images were taken around 2016 Oct. 30.894UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2016 by B. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.

Odkritje transneptunskega objekta na Observatoriju Črni Vrh (14. avgust 2016)

Objekt 2016 PN66 je 14. avgusta 2016 odkril Jure Skvarč na Observatoriju Črni Vrh. Gre za transneptunski objekt, ki ima orbito z veliko polosjo 31,64 astronomske enote (a.e), kar je le malo več od Neptunove velike polosi. Obhodni čas je 179 let, kar je približno 15 let več od obhodnega časa Neptuna. V družino transneptunskih objektov spadajo objekti, ki so v orbiti okoli Sonca na večji povprečni razdalji od Neptuna (30,1 a.e.). Prvi odkriti transneptunski objekt je bil Pluton že leta 1930. Naslednji (1992 QB1) je bil odkrit šele leta 1992. Danes jih je na seznamu Centra za male planete preko 1750. Največji med njimi je Pluton, ki mu sledijo Eris, Makemake in Haumea. 2016 PN66 je nebesno telo velikosti okrog 10 km, ki se je ob odkritju nahajalo na razdalji 2,88 a.e. od Zemlje. Objekt je pritegnil pozornost zaradi neobičajno velike inklinacije (i=105,1°), to je kota med njegovo ravnino gibanja in ekliptično ravnino. Inklinacija, večja od 90° pomeni, da se objekt giblje retrogradno. Med vsemi znanimi telesi v Osončju (planeti, lune, pritlikavi planeti, asteroidi, itd.), razen kometov, kroži 99,986% vseh teles v isti smeri okrog Sonca, zato so objekti z nasprotno smerjo kroženja oziroma retrogradnim gibanjem izjemno redki. Objekt 2016 PN66 ob odkritju ni kazal kometne aktivnosti (koma, rep). Glede na to, da se je takrat šele bližal prisončju (13. oktober 2016), bi se kometna aktivnost lahko še pojavila. Zato smo ga skrbno opazovali vsako jasno noč in analizirali njegov svetlobni profil. Dne 1. septembra 2016 ga je posnel Robert Holmes z 1,3-m f/4 astrografom na Astronomical Research Institute (ARI) v Illinoisu, ZDA. Tudi to opazovanje z večjim teleskopom ni pokazalo sledov kometne aktivnosti.

TNO 2016 PN66 Objekt 2016 PN66, posnet 9. septembra 2016 (1h20-1h35UT) s 60-cm, f/3,3 teleskopom Cichocki na observatoriju Črni Vrh. Slika je sestavljena iz desetih 90-sekundnih posnetkov in sešteta z upoštevanjem premika objekta. Copyright © 2016 J. Vales in H. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory.

Ob prihodu v prisončje sredi oktobra mu je sij narastel na okoli 17,5m, vendar je njegov profil ostal točkast, kot pri asteroidih ali zvezdah. Sredi novembra je bil objekt že na deklinaciji -25° in se pomika še južneje, zato ga je čedalje težje opazovati iz severne poloble. Seveda ga bo še vedno zanimivo spremljati s teleskopi na južni polobli. Če je objekt v resnici komet, izbruh prahu in plinov še vedno ni povsem izključen. Zbrane meritve so objekt 2016 PN66 zaenkrat uvrstile v skupino Damokleidov, ki imajo periodično kometno orbito, vendar ne kažejo znakov kometne aktivnosti, ker so izgubili hlapno snov. Pripravili: B. Mikuž, H. Mikuž in J. Skvarč

Relevant links: JPL's interactive orbit diagram MPC orbital elements and complete list of observations

Perseids 2016 (August 13, 2016)

Report on Perseid activity observed from Črni Vrh Observatory, during the nights of maximum activity in August 2016. Several fireballs and many meteors were recorded with newly set up Canon EOS 20D color All Sky Camera, comprising Peleng 3.5/8 mm fisheye lens. The camera lens was stopped to f/4 to give sharper images on standard 30 second exposures. Because the EOS camera is taking images at 2 minute intervals, the omitted observing time was covered with Canon EOS 6D + 8mm fisheye lens and with b/w CCD All Sky Camera that we use since 2004. Occasional cloud passages slightly affected observations. Full Report Perseids 2016 from Črni Vrh Observatory

Perseid meteors on 2016 Aug. 11 Time-lapse video sequence of Perseid meteor shower recorded on 2016 Aug. 11 (23h18UT - 23h43UT), with Canon EOS 650D + 18mm lens. Animation was composed from a series of 30 seconds exposures, set to ISO 6400. Six meteors and fireball with afterglow were recorded during the 25 minute time interval. Copyright © J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory.

Oblaki mammatus - redek tip nevihtnih oblakov nad observatorijem Črni Vrh (5. avgust 2016)

Ob prehodu nevihtne fronte 5. avgusta 2016 v večernih urah, so se za kratek čas nad observatorijem pojavili oblaki mammatus. Gre za redek tip oblakov v obliki navzdol obrnjenih izboklin, ki se pojavijo ob prehodih hladne fronte v pogrezajočem se zraku. Razvijejo se na spodnjem delu frontalne površine in imajo lahko zelo nenavaden izgled, posebno če so osvetljeni od Sonca. Kljub zloveščemu izgledu ne napovedujejo nastanek tornada, kot se pogosto domneva. Pravzaprav se običajno pojavijo, ko je najintenzivnejše dogajanje v fronti že mimo. Dvigajoči tokovi nosijo s padavinami obogaten zrak proti vrhu oblaka, kjer se dviganje ustavi. Zrak se začne razlivati v horizontalni smeri in postane del frontalnega oblaka. Ker je v njem visoka koncentracija padavinskih delcev (ledeni kristali in vodne kapljice), je nasičen zrak težji od okoliškega, zato se začne spuščati nazaj proti tlom. Oblaki mammatus trajajo dlje časa, če vsebuje pogrezajoči zrak velike kapljice vode in ledenih kristalov. Slednje porabijo za izhlapevanje več energije in razpad oblaka lahko traja dlje časa. V konkretnem primeru je pojav trajal približno 20 minut. Oblaki mammatus v smeri jugovzhod, posneti ob 20h05 SEPČ. Copyright © 2016 Črni Vrh Observatory. Oblaki mammatus v smeri sever-severozahod, posneti ob 20h14 SEPČ. Copyright © 2016 Črni Vrh Observatory. Oblaki mammatus v smeri sever-severozahod, posneti ob 20h15 SEPČ. Copyright © 2016 Črni Vrh Observatory. Oblake mammatus je iz Idrije v smeri sever ob 20h23 SEPČ posnel Jan Vales. Copyright © J. Vales, 2016 Črni Vrh Observatory. Discovery of supernova PSN J12080010+1944267 (December 28, 2015) Supernova PSN J12080010+1944267 was discovered by B. Mikuž on 2015 Dec. 28.091-28.118UT and reported in TOCP. It was confirmed on 2015 Dec. 29.092UT by S. Matičič using the same telescope. Spectroscopic observations were conducted on 2015 Dec. 31 by PESSTO, the Public ESO Spectroscopic Survey for Transient Objects, using ESO New Technology Telescope at La Silla, EFOSC2 and Grism 13 (3985-9315A, 18A resolution). The spectrum is consistent with a type-II supernova around maximum light. Details are published in ATel 8498. Discovery image of supernova PSN J12080010+1944267 Discovery images were taken on 2015 Dec. 28.091-28.118UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2015 by B. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory. Discovery of a NEO Asteroid 2015 YA1 (December 16, 2015) NEO asteroid 2015 YA1 was discovered on 2015 Dec. 16.95 - 16.97UT by S. Matičič on images taken in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. At the time of discovery, the object already moved away from Earth and fading rapidly. Anyway, follow-up observations on Dec. 17.90 and 19.0UT at 106 were successful and together with other observers secured enough astrometry for precise determination of orbit. Discovery was announced in MPEC 2015-Y39. According to orbital elements, the object belongs to the Apollo family of asteroids. NEO Asteroid 2015 YA1 Discovery image, obtained on 2015 Dec. 16.95UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Copyright © 2015 by S. Matičič, Črni Vrh Observatory. Relevant links: JPL's interactive orbit diagram MPC List of Apollo Minor Planets Discovery of supernova SN 2015bg = PSN J02473451+3454336 (December 16, 2015) Supernova 2015bg was discovered by S. Matičič on 2015 Dec. 16.805 UT and reported in TOCP. It was confirmed on 2015 Dec. 17.77UT by G. Masi (Virtual Telescope Project). Spectroscopic observations were conducted on Dec. 17.6 UT with the 2.16-m telescope (+ OMR) at the Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC). The spectrum is consistent with a type-Ia supernova around maximum light. Details are published in ATel 8432 and CBET 4226. Discovery image of supernova 2015bg Discovery images were taken on 2015 Dec. 16.805-16.830UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2015 by S. Matičič, Črni Vrh Observatory. Discovery of supernovae PSN J00545681+1048036 and PSN J07051005+2102327 (November 5 and 12, 2015) PSN J00545681+1048036 was discovered by J. Vales on 2015 November 05.83 UT and reported in TOCP. It was confirmed on 2015 Nov. 7.77239UT by G. Masi (Virtual Telescope Project). Spectroscopic observations of PSN J00545681+1048036 were conducted on 2015 Nov. 8.95 UT by Asiago Transient Classification Program, using Asiago 1.82 m Copernico Telescope (+AFOSC; range 340-820 nm; resolution 1.4 nm). Classification of SN spectra indicates it is a type Ia supernova few days before B-band maximum light. Details are published in ATel 8259 Discovery image of supernova PSN J00545681+1048036 Discovery images were taken on 2015 Nov. 5.83-5.88 UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2015 by J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory. PSN J07051005+2102327 was discovered by S. Maticic on 2015 Nov. 12.092 UT and reported in TOCP. Spectroscopic observations of PSN J07051005+2102327 were conducted on 2015 Nov. 17.46 UT with the Shane 3-m reflector (+ Kast spectrograph, range 350-1050 nm) at Lick Observatory. Classification of SN spectra indicates it is a normal Type Ia supernova within a few days of maximum brightness. Details are published in ATel 8295 Discovery image of supernova PSN J07051005+2102327 Discovery images were taken on 2015 Nov. 12.092-12.126 UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 2.5 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2015 by S. Maticic, Črni Vrh Observatory. Flyby of NEO Asteroid 2015 TB145 (Oct. 31, 2015) 2015 TB145 was discovered on 2015 Oct. 10 by Pan-STARRS1 telescope on Mt. Haleakala, operated by the Institute for Astronomy at the University of Hawaii. It passed 1.27 lunar distances from Earth on 31. October 2015 at 17:01 UTC. Since the closest approach to Earth was best visible from the far east locations, we observed this object a day before, on Oct. 30/31, with 60-cm Cichocki telescope at Črni Vrh Observatory. Flyby of NEO 2015 TB145 Trace of NEO 2015 TB145, approaching to Earth on 2015 Oct. 31. Image was made from a series of 5 second exposures, obtained in strong moonlight conditions during 0h03-0h39UT, with 60-cm Cichocki telescope at Črni Vrh Observatory. Copyright © 2015 by H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory. Time-lapse animation of 2015 TB145 flyby. Total Lunar Eclipse (Sep. 28, 2015) Total Lunar Eclipse on 2015 Sep. 28 The sky has cleared just before the start of eclipse and the all-sky camera at Črni Vrh Observatory recorded this time-lapse sequence of total Lunar eclipse on 2015 Sep. 28 early morning. The animation is composed of total 162 one minute exposures, taken between 01h04 - 3h52UT. Copyright © 2015 Črni Vrh Observatory. Light curve of sky brightness and extinction during the total Lunar eclipse The sky became very dark during the eclipse, reaching magnitude 21,5 magnitude at total phase and then slowly rising toward the end of eclipse. Copyright © 2015 Črni Vrh Observatory. Total Lunar Eclipse on 2015 Sep. 28 Time-lapse video with 1-minute intervals, obtained from Kolovrat mountain on 2015 Sep. 28 (0h54-4h35UT) with 18mm, f/3.5 lens and 0.5s exposures with Canon EOS 650D at ISO 800. Copyright © 2015 by J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory. Total Lunar Eclipse on 2015 Sep. 28 Time-lapse sequence with 4-minute intervals, obtained from Kolovrat mountain on 2015 Sep. 28 (0h57-4h06UT) with 18mm, f/3.5 lens and 0.5s exposures with Canon EOS 650D at ISO 800. Copyright © 2015 by J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory. Discovery of a horseshoe type NEO asteroid 2015 SO2 (Sep. 21, 2015, updated Oct. 22, 2015) In the early morning hours of 21. September 2015, a fast moving object has been detected on images taken by B. Mikuz with 60-cm Cichocki telescope. After posting the measurements on NEOCP, the object has been confirmed as NEO by observers from Japan, Czech Republic, Spain, Russia and USA. Astrometric measurements revealed an interesting orbit with a semimajor axis distance similar to that of the Earth, slightly larger eccentricity (e=0.11) and inclination of about 9.2°. The semimajor axis is very close to a=1AU and the asteroid 2015 SO2 was initially classified as Apollo type NEO (a>1AU). However, the latest measurements obtained during the last approach showed that it became the Aten type (i.e. a<1AU). Furthermore, the asteroid 2015 SO2 has nearly the same orbital period than the Earth, i.e. 365.7 days. It became evident that the asteroid 2015 SO2 is an Earths co-orbital asteroid, i.e. in a 1:1 mean-motion resonance with the Earth. Consequently, the path of the asteroid appears to have a horseshoe shape in a rotating reference frame, which is circulating aroud the Sun with the angular velocity of the Earth. NEO asteroid 2015 SO2 Trace of NEO asteroid 2015 SO2 on one of discovery images, obtained on 2015 Sep. 21 with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Copyright © 2015 by B. Mikuž, Črni Vrh Observatory. NEO asteroid 2015 SO2 Position and orbits of Earth and NEO asteroid 2015 SO2 at the time of discovery on 2015 Sep. 21. Source: http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/orbits/ NEO asteroid 2015 SO2 Motion of planets and asteroid 2015 SO2 in the system that is rotating around the Sun with orbital velocity of Earth. Source: http://obitsimulator.com Simulations have shown, that approximately every 1500 years the asteroid 2015 SO2 becomes a natural satellite of the Earth, remaining in this orbit for 100-200 years and then returning back to its horseshoe orbit again. This "Sky Dance" of the Earth and asteroid 2015 SO2 is recurring and may last for several 10.000 years. Asteroid 2015 SO2 will remain in the Earth neighborhood for at least 100.000 years. After that, it will most probably lose connection with the Earth due to perturbations of other planets and will choose its own way around the Sun. Relevant links: JPL's interactive orbit diagram Minor Planet Electronic Circular MPEC 2015-S69 Gravity Simulator's interactive orbit diagram Gravity Simulator's interactive orbit in a rotating frame (horseshoe orbit) C. de la Fuente Marcos, R. de la Fuente Marcos; From horseshoe to quasi-satellite and back again: the curious dynamics of Earth co-orbital asteroid 2015 SO2; Astrophysics and Space Science, Volume 361, Issue 1, January 2016. Discovery of a Outer Main-belt Asteroid 2015 PT (Aug. 10, 2015) Unusual asteroid 2015 PT was discovered on images taken by J. Vales on 2015 Aug. 6.90 - 6.94UT, in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. Discovery was announced in MPEC 2015-P20 According to orbital elements (3.2 AU < a < 4.6 AU), the object was classified as Outer Main-belt Asteroid. Outer Main-belt Asteroid 2015 PT Animation, composed of four discovery images, obtained with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Copyright © 2015 by J. Vales, Črni Vrh Observatory. Outer Main-belt Asteroid 2015 PT False color image on left is a composition of 5x120 second unfiltered exposures, obtained with 60-cm, f/3.3 Deltagraph telescope, on 2015 Aug. 11 (23h47-23h56UT). Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2015 by H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory. Relevant links: JPL's interactive orbit diagram Minor Planet Electronic Circular MPEC 2015-P20 Discovery of supernovae PSN J17520838+1314252 and PSN J16303221+0913530 (August 8, 2015) PSN J17520838+1314252 was discovered by S. Maticic from Crni Vrh Observatory on 2015 July 06.976 UT and reported on TOCP. It was confirmed on 2015 July 7.88688UT by G. Masi and P. Catalano (Virtual Telescope Project). Another follow-up observation was made by J. Zakrajsek (Crni Vrh Observatory) on 2015 July 7.9028 UT. Spectroscopic observations of PSN J17520838+1314252 were conducted on 2015 July 10T22:21:26 UT. A spectrum was obtained in the visible, 400-800nm, with resolution R~350, using the SPRAT spectrograph on the Liverpool Telescope located at Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma. Classification of SN spectra indicates it is a type Ia supernova with close match with SN2007bd at -1 day before maximum. Details are published in ATel 7794 PSN J16303221+0913530 was discovered by B. Dintinjana from Crni Vrh Observatory on 2015 Aug. 5.85 UT and reported on TOCP. Spectroscopic observations of PSN J16303221+0913530 were conducted on 2015 Aug 07T21:08:52 UT. A spectrum was obtained in the visible, 400-800nm, with resolution R~350, using the SPRAT spectrograph on the Liverpool Telescope located at Roque de los Muchachos on La Palma. Classification of SN spectra indicates it is a type Ia supernova with close match with SN1999ee at maximum. Details are published in ATel 7893 Discovery image of supernova PSN J16303221+0913530 Discovery images were taken on 2015 Aug. 5.829-5.868 UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2015 by J. Skvarč and B. Dintinjana. Discovery of supernova PSN J13332289+5843315 (April 1, 2015) Apparent supernova was discovered by S. Maticic (mag. 17.1) on four R filter CCD images, taken on 2015 Apr. 1.925 - 1.956UT with the 60-cm f/3.3 Cichocki reflector in the course of the Comet and Asteroid Search Program (PIKA). The object is at R.A. = 13h33m22s.89, Decl. = +58d43'31".5 (equinox J2000), which is 27" W and 11" N from the center of the apparent host galaxy, catalogued as NPM1G +58.0138. Nothing is visible at this position on several Digitized Sky Survey red and blue images from the Palomar Sky Survey. The object received designation PSN J13332289+5843315 after being posted on IAU TOCP page. The transient was observed on 2015 Apr. 2.8612UT by G. Masi and P. Catalano, remotely using the 17"-f/6.8 robotic unit part of the Virtual Telescope Project facility, at Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Ceccano, Italy. A 180-seconds unfiltered exposure show the source at mag. 16.9. Th eobject was also confirmed on 2015 Apr. 2.9043UT by Massimiliano Martignoni - Observatory: Stazione Astronomica Betelgeuse (B75) in Magnago, Italy with 0.25-m, f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. Discovery image of supernova PSN J13332289+5843315 Discovery images were taken on 2015 Apr. 1.925 - 1.956UT with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Image scale is 1.25 arc sec/pixel. Copyright © 2015 by S. Maticic. The supernova was confirmed in Astronomer's Telegram 7403 by A. Piascik, I. A. Steele and D. Kopač (Liverpool John Moores University) and A. Gomboc (University of Ljubljana). They used a 2-m Liverpool Telescope (+ SPRAT spectroscope) on La Palma and on 2015 Apr. 16 (1:24UT) obtained a low resolution spectrum in visible 400-800nm wavelength. Classification using SNID indicates that it is a normal type Ia supernova with a close match to the spectrum of SN2004er. Age was estimated at +19 days post maximum. Further CCD photometry of PSN J13332289+5843315 by J. Japelj (University of Ljubljana), using data from the Liverpool Telescope, obtained in Sloan g,r,i,z photometric system. #filter t [mjd] Date (UT) mag [AB] dmag #g 57127.045219 2015 Apr. 15.045 18.40 0.02 57127.981874 15.981 18.51 0.02 57128.984119 16.984 18.64 0.02 #r 57127.046509 Apr. 15.046 17.58 0.02 57127.983160 15.983 17.61 0.02 57128.985394 16.985 17.67 0.02 #i 57127.047759 Apr. 15.047 18.01 0.02 57127.984414 15.984 17.97 0.02 57128.986639 16.986 18.03 0.02 #z 57127.049020 Apr. 15.049 17.94 0.04 57127.985720 15.985 17.88 0.04 57128.987901 16.988 17.82 0.04 Discovery of a NEO Asteroid 2015 EC7 (Mar. 13, 2015) On 2015 Mar. 13.88 - 13.92UT, NEO asteroid 2015 EC7 was discovered on images taken by H. Mikuz in the scope of Comet and Asteroid Search Program PIKA at Črni Vrh Observatory. The first follow-up observations were collected on the evening of Mar. 14 in rather difficult weather conditions, through the gap in clouds by Jure Skvarč at Črni Vrh Observatory. After posting on Minor Planet Center NEO Confirmation Page, additional follow-up observations were collected from observers worldwide. Discovery was announced in MPEC 2015-F05 According to orbital elements, the object belongs to the Apollo family of asteroids. NEO Asteroid 2015 EC7 Animation, composed of four discovery images, obtained with the 60-cm, f/3.3 Cichocki telescope. Copyright © 2015 by H. Mikuz, Črni Vrh Observatory, Slovenia. Relevant links: JPL's interactive orbit diagram Minor Planet Electronic Circular MPEC 2015-F05 MPC List Of Apollo Minor Planets Fly-by of asteroid WEBF312 = 2015 EO6 (March 11-12, 2015) On the night between the 11th and 12th of March 2015 a small asteroid has flown past the Earth at the distance of only 100000 kilometres. It was discovered by Mt. Lemmon Survey on 2015 Mar. 11.40476UT. In only few hours it has accelerated and brightened significantly, just to get into obscurity, possibly for ever. The asteroid was tracked from the Črni Vrh Observatory in Slovenia over the time interval 20h10-1h32UT, using a 60-cm f/3.3 Cichocki reflector and CCD camera. The video contains synchronised images from the all-sky camera (left) and the asteroid. There are two telescopes in all-sky camera images - the one in the front is minding own business while the one to the right is the 60-cm telescope. Asteroid 2015 EO6 was about 5-meter diameter rock, presumably belonging to Apollo family of NEOs. Observations and orbital elements are published in MPEC 2015-E54 Fly-by of asteroid WEBF312 The asteroid starts as tiny dot just below the centre of the right image and drifts gradually downwards. Due to a software glitch, a correction which was meant to bring it back to the centre was not applied and the asteroid was subsequently lost. Nevertheless, the telescope kept tracking at the rate of the asteroid movement, just to illustrate the effect of sky motion. Towards the end, when the asteroid would be too faint again, the clouds rolled in and the observations were terminated. Copyright © 2015 by J. Skvarč, Črni Vrh Observatory. Switch to YouTube News Archive 2002-2020 2018 - 2020 2015 - 2017 2012 - 2014 2009 - 2011 2006 - 2008 2002 - 2005 Home | Copyrights © 2015-2017