Community Corner
Chabot Astronomer Captures Image of Star Cluster, Comet in Same Field of View
In the next month, Comet Garradd will be at its closest point to Earth and should be visible with binoculars or a small telescope near the cup of the Big Dipper.
Last week, Chabot Space & Science Center astronomer Conrad Jung captured an image of a globular star cluster and Comet Garradd in the same narrow field of view. The field of view is about one degree across.
Although the star cluster is much farther away — approximately 27,000 light years from Earth — the two objects appear nearby in the sky.
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Comet Garradd is only a few light minutes away from Earth and traveling very fast. In the next month, Comet Garradd will be at its closest point to Earth and should be visible with binoculars or a small telescope near the cup of the Big Dipper.
The image was taken using a 5 inch refractor telescope using a digital SLR camera, with a 10-minute exposure.
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Chabot Space & Science Center will be holding public viewing events for the following upcoming astronomical events:
Annular Solar Eclipse - Sunday, May 20, 2012
Partial Lunar Eclipse - Monday, June 4, 2012
Transit of Venus - Tuesday, June 5, 2012
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