Asteroid 2012 QG42: where to find it in the sky
All around, there is a great interest for this asteroid. 2012 QG42 is going to have a close encounter with our planet, touching a minimum distance of about 7.5 times the distance of the...
The Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 Blog
Asteroid 2012 QG42 update: 8 Sept. 2012
Early on Sept. 8, the Virtual Telescope was remotely used to get more data on this potentially hazardous asteroid. Among others, we took a single image with our Planewave 17″ robotic unit, leaving the...
The Moon, Jupiter and Aldebaran: 8 Sept. 2012
Early on 8 Sept. 2012, the Moon was meeting a few very beautiful objects, like Jupiter and the bright, orange star Aldebaran. All around the Iades, the well-known open cluster in Taurus. It was...
The Moon, Jupiter and Taurus meet in the sky: 8 Sept. 2012
Moon, Jupiter and Taurus: 8 Sept. 2012, 02:30UT It is not rare that, with all the beauties up there, something more special than usual happens in the sky. Early on Sept. 8, 2012, observers...
Asteroid 2012 QG42 update: 6 Sept. 2012
While waiting for the live, online event on this asteroid, at Virtual Telescope we are tracking 2012 QG42 while approaching our planet. We grabbed a few images on Sept.6 around 23:35 UT, while it...
M 57 – Lyr
With no doubts, Messier 57 is the most famous planetary nebula in the sky. It is often called the “Ring” nebula, for obvious reasons. It was discovered by A. D. de Pellepoix in...
Monthly Skies: September 2012 (North)
The short description below is valid for a latitude of +42 deg. September is a very interesting month for northern observers. Summer is approaching its astronomical end, but the stars visible at the beginning...
NGC 2392 – Gem
NGC 2392 is a well-known planetary nebula in Gemini, also because of its funny shape, resembling the face of an “eskimo”, hence its nickname. A dying star, evolving now as a white dwarf, is...
The Virtual Telescope: six years of stars, for all!
There are things which are unpredictable by nature. This is particularly true for those having the spirit of a pioneering adventure. These are the first considerations coming in my mind while I’m writing these...
Venus transit: 6 June 2012
The Transit of Venus in front of the Sun is a very rare event. The last one for our generation was on June 6, 2012. In Italy, it was only visible the very end...
The “Blue” Moon: 31 Aug. 2012
The “blue” Moon: 31 Aug. 2012 The Moon is the only known natural satellite of our planet. With its distance of less than 400.000 km from the Earth, it is also the first step...
The “Blue” Moon: 31 Aug. 2012
The Moon is the only known natural satellite of our planet. With its distance of less than 400.000 km from the Earth, it is also the first step when climbing the cosmic ladder...
EG Aquarii: discovery of its SU UMa nature
The International Astronomical Union published CBET 736 with the following findings! On Nov. 8.44, 2006 R. Stubbing (AU) spotted this star at mag. 12.4, that is clearly in a bright outburst. The historical record...
NGC 7009 – Aqr
NGC 7009 is a small planetary nebula with the nickname of “Saturn Nebula” because of its shape. It was discovered by W. Herschel on 1782, while Lord Rosse gave it its nickname in the...
