Radio Jove Project Updates and News

RADIO JOVE PROJECT

Hello Radio JOVE Observers,

Sorry for the late notice, but we wanted to make everyone aware of potentially good Jupiter radio storm the evening of Friday, Oct. 30th. This is an Io-A storm that is well-positioned for good activity for observers in the Eastern U.S. and those in longitudes similar to those for Eastern U.S. observers. Normally, the Earth's ionospheric conditions would make observations this early in the evening difficult or impossible, but the lack of solar activity may make it possible to successfully receive Jupiter radio emissions at these times. The western U.S. observers will probably find that even with a quiet Sun it is hard to get Jupiter while the Sun has still not set.

There is also a possible Io-B storm on the evening/early morning of Saturday/Sunday Oct. 31-Nov. 1st as well. This one is at an evening time period that should be better than the previous night's Io-A time period, but the probability of storms is a little worse. One never knows however. We will have a Coordinated Observing Teleconference in conjunction with the Io-A event and will have informal observing for the Io-B storm.

Radio JOVE Coordinated Observing Teleconference

Friday, Oct. 30th, at 2200 - 0100 UT (6:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM CDT, 4:00 PM- 7:00 PM MDT, 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM PDT, etc.)

The number to call is: 888-558-3493

password is: 113500#

The Io-B storm on the next evening/early morning, Oct. 31st-Nov. 1st has some possibilities. The telephone line above will be open for use if you care to call, but there will be no formal coordnated observing plans.

Saturday/Sunday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1st, at 0100-0230 UT (9:00 PM - 10:30 PM EDT, 8:00 PM - 9:30 PM CDT, 7:00 PM- 8:30 PM MDT, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM PDT, etc.)

We invite our international members to join the teleconference via Skype or other international dialing approaches, if they can.

You are welcome to call and ask questions if you are in need of help as well. We hope you will be able to join us for the teleconference.

Happy observing to all !!

Jim

Radio JOVE is a NASA education and outreach project involving high school and college students in solar and planetary radio astronomy. http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/

The JOVE Bulletin is published twice a year. It is a free service of the Radio JOVE Project. We hope you will find it of value. Back issues are available on the Radio JOVE Project Web site, http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/

To all Radio JOVE participants,
2009 is the International Year of Astronomy (IYA), celebrating the 400th anniversary of the first use of the telescope by Galileo(http://www.astronomy2009.org/general/). His discoveries changed our view of the universe forever.
Many events are planned worldwide for IYA and Radio JOVE will participate as well. One of these events is "100 Hours of Astronomy" taking place April 2-6, 2009   (http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/). 100 Hours of Astronomy seeks to have as many people as possible look through a telescope as Galileo did for the first time 400 years ago. Many star parties and astronomical events are planned around the world.
Radio JOVE will participate by having as many radio telescopes as possible running continuously for the 100 hours, sending out their signals on the web. However, even if you can't run continuously, we encourage you to monitor as much as possible, sharing your data with our global network of observers.Another way to participate is to take your Radio JOVE equipment to a local star party, set it up, and show others that optical astronomy is not the only way to learn about the universe.  Although Jupiter is stull close to the Sun and difficult to observe, perhaps we will get lucky and receive some solar bursts during the 100 Hours.
  I'm sure most of you read the report on Spaceweather but I'm including below the message sent yesterday about the dark spot found in Jupiter.
It appears that the dark spot may have been an impact on Jupiter from an asteriod or comet. It seems from the article that the spot wasn't there two days before July 19. That means it could have happened on or after the 17. There is no estimated time when the possible impact may have happened. I'm sure in the next few days there may be more data from other observers that may help pinpoint the date and time.
I would advise to the RJ observers that if you were observing during the period July 17-19 or even on the 16 to save the data just in case. Check that data and see if you got something unusual on those days. Even if you got nothing, it could be interesting. If Jupiter was in the beam of your antenna, the data could be more valuable.Why study the Sun? Since ancient times people have been curious about the Sun. Why does the Sun exist? It's as vital as water and as bright as gold. What is it made of? Why such a variety of planets? These questions could be answered by physics and astronomy. Humans try to understand the universe with these sciences and the scientific community of the Preparatory # 5 School helps in this study through the use of optical and radio telescopes. In 2009 we celebrate 400 years of the start of modern astronomy, since Galileo Galilei saw the sky for the first time with a telescope. Because of this fact, the Radio Observatory of high school # 5 "José Vasconcelos", Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, organized an event to commemorate it. Accompanied by the exquisite traditional Mexican piñatas, the students created a model of the solar system, using traditional materials in the preparation of figures and “papier mache” piñatas, (newspaper and paste) and explained the details of each planet, entertaining the rest of the students and guests at the event. Students from high school fused this traditional Mexican art form with science to create the planets and the Sun to be shown to a lot of high school students. These planets were on display at the school in conjunction with its description and data. For this project students consulted several books of astronomy in order to know details about each planet to present to visitors. The sun was the main attraction of the solar system, so the team sought to put their design details of the photosphere, such as sunspots, prominences etc. The team also explained to the audience the features of this bright star. The picture shows the virtual team of observers who on this day showed how they work hand in hand with technology and how the Internet helps them learn about the images from SOHO, Space Weather, etc. that are constantly monitoring the Sun. In the activities of the event, students presented the features of the antennas and made demonstrations in real time. One of these is Radio Jove, which works at 20.1 MHz. Two years ago the antenna observed a solar explosion. In the event the receiver showed the galactic background noise live to the visitors.

Tom, thank you for the alert.

A B3.5 X-ray flare occurred near N23 E79 degrees, 0212 to 0219 UT.

I attach an enlargement of a SoHO EIT 304 ultraviolet image at 1318 UT showing interesting activity in that area.

Victor Herrero
Tucson Arizona

-------------------------------------------------------

On Thu, Mar 26, 2009 at 7:47 AM, Thomas Ashcraft <ashcraft@heliotown.com> wrote:

Heads up:

Looks like at least a little solar movement. Not sure if there have been any radio bursts as yet .

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_5m.html

Tom in New Mexico

Something new folks might like to listen in to.

SOMETHING NEW: For the new year, Spaceweather.com is pleased to announce
a new service: Space Weather Radio, broadcasting live "sounds from
space" around the clock. Today you can listen to the Air Force Space
Surveillance Radar in Texas. When a meteor passes over the
facility--ping!--there is an audible echo. (Activity should be high
during the Quadrantid meteor shower this weekend.) In the near future
we'll be adding broadcasts of solar radio bursts and VLF signals from
the ionosphere. The streams are punctuated by Daily Space Weather
Updates from Dr. Tony Phillips. Click here to begin listening:
http://SpaceweatherRadio.com

Happy New Year.

Jim Brown

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

I attach an image of a solar prominence, observed by the SOHO Solar Space Observatory today, December 31.

I wish all Participants a happy 2009, with lots of Solar and Jovian activity.

Victor Herrero Ph.D.

Prominence December 31 2008.jpg

Hi John

First Happy new year.

Whether you are living in the north hemisphere or in the south hemisphere,You should care that all celestial objects especially zodiac objects like sun and Jupiter starts from east and ends at west. At transit time object is in maximum of altitude. For our purpose it is better for us to observe it at this time because it has a high altitude. But furthermore you can observe it at the other time which the object has a high altitude. Surely you knew that. Now just care about your location.I mean your latitude. If you live near the equator,zodiac starts at your east,it will raise erectly to near to zenith and then it continues to the west. I think it is a nice idea to set up the antenna in a north to south direction so you will be able to observe zodiacal objects most during the time they are above the horizon.

But note that if location isn't near the equator,maybe it is better to set that at the normal east to west direction. For all north or south observers. I myself live so at a far latitude as UK.

It is all my own thought. I think it is right.

Hope it be useful.

Best wishes S.Mahdizadeh

On Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 4:53 AM, John W. Castle <kc8odm@hotmail.com> wrote:

A simple question which I should know the answer, but just to be correct, which way should a dipole antenna be strong for Jupiter / Io ? Far ends East to West for maximum
signal pickup North and South ? I live in extreme South West Lower Michigan, Stevensville, Berrien County. Am I correct that Jupiter transits along an East-West baseline so my antenna needs to receive from the South ? Would this work for Solar reception as well or
do I need an antenna set up for East and West signal pickup ?

Thank you !
John KC8ODM

From:

"Antonio de Morais" <ademorais1@hotmail.com>

To:

ashcraft@heliotown.com

Hi people, how do you do ?
Well, sorry for this question - it's not related to GOES.
Do you know please any new article about the influence of Jupiter's
magnetic field (B^j(r,t)) on Europa's own B^e(r,t) ?
And whether the possibly perturbed B^*e(r,t) can have its
presence sensed by RadioJove - via radio-skypipe ?

Thank you for your attention.

Best regards,
Antonio

> Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2008 07:01:59 -0700
> From: ashcraft@heliotown.com
> To: radiojove@listserv.gsfc.nasa.gov
> Subject: Sun Dec 11, 2008 _ interestng GOES activity
>
> Dec 11, 2008 : 1400 UT
>
> I wonder what is happening with the GOES xray graphs the past few hours?
> http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html
>
> There appears to be flaring but I wonder if the peaks are actually solar
> related?
>
>
> Tom in New Mexico http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html
>

-----Inline Attachment Follows-----

A new active region has appeared, designated # 1009.

It has produced 3 class A flares, and two class B, yesterday and today.

In a message dated 12/10/2008 5:11:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, ashcraft@heliotown.com writes:

Just a head's up: The Sun is making the GOES Xray traces move just a
little. This means there is some developing sunspot activity. Whether
it will create radio bursts at decametric frequencies is unknown right
now but at least there is some movement.

http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/rt_plots/xray_1m.html

Tom in New Mexico

TOM:

Saw the "wiggle" on the GOES charts & monitored @ 20 & 29MHz from 1400 till 2000 UT today - no events noticed. Maybe tomorrow!

Regards,

John Avellone

Nellysford, VA

A simple question which I should know the answer, but just to be correct, which way should a dipole antenna be strong for Jupiter / Io ? Far ends East to West for maximum signal pickup North and South ? I live in extreme South West Lower Michigan, Stevensville, Berrien County. Am I correct that Jupiter transits along an East-West baseline so my antenna needs
to receive from the South ? Would this work for Solar reception as well or do I need an antenna set up for East and West signal pickup ?

Thank you !
John KC8ODM

The Birthplace of Planetary Radio Astronomy

2005 marked the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Jupiter's natural radio emissions near Seneca, Maryland. Radio JOVE helped publicize this milestone with a variety of events and presentations.

Dr. Ron Parise - Co-Founder of Radio JOVE. Dr. Ronald A. Parise, one of the original Radio JOVE Project team members and a long-time friend and colleague of many of those on the Project, lost his battle with cancer on May 9, 2008. Ron helped guide Radio JOVE in its early years and developed the first dedicated software for it.It was primarily Ron who recognized the merits of using the soundcard approach to data acquisition vs the more expensive hardware approach of an analog to digital converter in the receiver. His insight into the best technique and his ability to make this approach work set the direction for Jove data acquisition - as implemented in his excellent JoveChart software. This software allowed the emulation of a chart recorder on the computer as a very inexpensive method of acquiring the data. This was one of the reasons why our first kits could be sold for $100. JoveChart and an accompanying spectrum viewing program influenced the "Radio-SkyPipe" software used today. Ron also helped answer the questions that we had about what equipment might be best for the radio design.Ron Parise was - and continues to be - an inspiration to countless students, ham radio operators, and friends the world over.His accomplishments were many, including: space explorer, pioneer, astrophysicist, pilot, ham radio operator, avionics and software expert, inspirational speaker and motivator, student satellite mentor, husband, father, and friend. While he certainly did some truly extraordinary things in his lifetime, Ron Parise is best known and cherished for keeping family and friends first.. and for this, we will miss him most.

Ron flew as a payload specialist on two Space Shuttle missions: STS-35 on the Space Shuttle Columbia in December 1990 and STS-67 on the Space Shuttle Endeavour in March 1995. These two missions, called ASTRO-1 & 2 respectively, carried out Ultraviolet and X-ray astronomy observations. He logged over 614 hours and 10.6 million miles in space. Ron and his crew members on ASTRO-1 became the first astronomers to operate a telescope from space, making hundreds of observations during the mission. His personal contributions to these two missions have provided scientists with an unprecedented view of our universe, expanding our understanding of the birth, life and death of stars and galaxies. http://radiojove.gsfc.nasa.gov/library/newsletters/2008Jun/

Jove Radio Astronomy in Australia
by Mihai Dumitru,(Eric Dodge Radio Observatory (EDRO), Melbourne, Victoria, Australia)

Mihai Dumitru and his Jove antenna. Mihai has compiled the following account of Jove radio astronomy projects in Australia. Perhaps not all inclusive - but certainly giving us a glimpse of many exciting programs

SPACE WEATHER RADIO: For a change of pace, why not listen to today's space weather news? Geomagnetic storm forecasts, backyard astronomy tips, and live sounds from space are a few of the things you can hear on Space Weather Radio.

QUADRANTID SIGHTS AND SOUNDS: The Quadrantid meteor shower peaked on Jan. 3rd and it was a doozy. According to the International Meteor Organization, the shower produced as many as 145 meteors per hour, mainly over North America. "I aimed my Canon 30D at the western sky and caught a good number of them," says Pierre Martin of Ottawa, Ontario. "This image is a composite of the best frames."

"The most active hour shortly before dawn had 107 Quadrantids," says Martin. "It was a great show!"

In New Mexico, amateur radio astronomer Thomas Ashcraft recorded the reflections of TV signals off the many Quadrantids that passed over his facility. There were so many meteors, all of the reflections ran together and overlapped to produce an eerie-sounding mix. A complete collection of Ashcraft's sono-Quadrantids may be found here.

Quadrantid Meteor Gallery
[Listen to the meteor radar!]

STRANGE DIP: "The last night of 2008 was exceptionally clear here in southwestern Turkey, thanks to cold and strong northerly winds," says Tunç Tezel of Kumluova, Fethiye. "I watched the Moon and Venus take a strange dip into the Mediterranean. They were heavily distorted by air layers above the sea."
"Venus became double, and the Moon looked even more strange," he says. "After the bright crescent finally went down, Earthshine remained for more than another minute. I lost sight of the faint glow before it actually disappeared, but my camera (a Canon 5D) caught the Earthshine sinking beneath the waves."

more images: from Sam Cole of Austin, Texas; from Pete Lawrence of Selsey, West Sussex, UK

UPDATED: Jan. 2009 Aurora Gallery
[Previous Januaries: 2008, 2007, 2005, 2004, 20 01]

Near-Earth Asteroids

Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs) are space rocks larger than approximately 100m that can come closer to Earth than 0.05 AU. None of the known PHAs is on a collision course with our planet, although astronomers are finding new ones all the time.

On January 5, 2009 there were 1014 potentially hazardous asteroids.

Jan. 2009 Earth-asteroid encounters:

Asteroid	Date(UT)	Miss Distance	Mag.	Size
2008 YC29	Jan. 2	3.4 LD	18	35 m
2008 YY32	Jan. 3	6.2 LD	18	40 m
2008 YG30	Jan. 4	3.6 LD	16	50 m
2008 YV32	Jan. 9	2.7 LD	19	25 m
2008 YF29	Jan. 11	9.7 LD	18	65 m
2002 AO11	Jan. 15	7.7 LD	17	120 m
1998 CS1	Jan. 17	11 LD	12	1.3 km

Notes: LD means "Lunar Distance." 1 LD = 384,401 km, the distance between Earth and the Moon. 1 LD also equals 0.00256 AU. MAG is the visual magnitude of the asteroid on the date of closest approach.