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Ursa Astronomical Association

Comet ZTF is visible barely with the naked eye

29.1 . Ten observers have reported C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the "head of the comet with the naked eye" category. "With eyes the comet's head stood out with difficulty after a long time of adaptation," says Aleksi Ruotsila from Äänekoski (photo). The comet may still brighten, but the best viewing window is closing due to the Moon. In the next two nights, the Moon will set in southern Finland while the sky is still completely dark, but after this it will disturb the whole night.

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) observations starting 1 Jan »

A good period of PSCs going on

29.1. The nacreous clouds seen on Saturday were already the sixth consecutive day since the streak began on January 23. As such, it is typical for PSCs to appear consecutively. The longest continuous period in Finland can be found from 2012, when they were seen in December for 10 days straight. The next longest unbroken records are the six days long, during the mighty PSC winter of 2019-20 there were no less than three of them. Pictured are the PSCs in Kurikka on 28 Jan, photographed by Marko Myllyniemi .

PSCs 23.1. from »

Comet ZTF is starting to hit its prime

24.1. Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is approaching its predicted maximum brightness. Based on the observations, the object is now at magnitude 5.5, and forecasts suggest that it will increase by about one magnitude by the end of the month. In principle, in good conditions, it could already be seen with the naked eye. The comet can be found in the constellation Dragon near the star Edasich and will be above the horizon in Finland throughout the night. The best time is before dawn, when it is near the zenith and the growing Moon has sunk behind the horizon. The picture was taken by Ville Puoskari on 21.1.

C/2022 E3 (ZTF) observations »

Good PSCs in Lapland

24.1. The winter has been subdued what comes to polar stratospheric clouds, but now there are pictures from Lapland of a quality show on Monday. "For a couple of days I had been waiting for mother of pearls while walking with my camera, but they still came as a surprise when I saw a glowing cloud from the window," writes Tarja Kouvo from Karigasniemi, who took the attached photo. Two other observations are from Kilpisjärvi and Kittilä.

PSCs this winter »

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ERS 1

ERS 1

23.1.2023 at 04.46 - Kokkola (III)
Pentti Ketola, Ursa (Länsi-Suomi)

23.1.2023 Kokkola in the morning At 4:46 an almost round ball of fire was visible on the camera, in only one photo taken with the timer every 20 seconds. Here, the meteor must have come almost perpendicular to the camera, as the shape is such that you rarely see it.

Images: 2 pcs • Comments: 1 pcs

Observation information »

Pearl clouds

Pearl clouds

29.1.2023 at 16.15 - Kurikka ja Jurva (III)
Timo Alanko, Vaasan Andromeda

We went to visit the graves in Kurika. On the way back, Viinatie even got a job. A single pastel red water ice cloud was hidden almost directly overhead behind the low clouds. Car to the side of the road and waiting for the clouds to give even a little mercy. It was awkward. After reaching Jurva, it looked like there was possibly an acid cloud in the direction of Teuvan-Karijoki. It's a shame that the helicopters are limited to 120 meters. I would have liked to lift Mavicci above that cloud to take a peek at the views :(

Images: 3 pcs • Comments: 4 pcs

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A fireball at night, as bright as a full moon

29.1.2023 at 07.02 - Kajaani (III)
Kari Nissinen

This fireball was unusually bright because it caused a "crown" on the camera lens to flash (a similar crown is also visible on the Moon - the lens is apparently dirty). A fireball was visible above the star Izar. It appears to come from below the star Delta Bootis, pass towards Rho Boot, and extinguish just before Rho Boot. In the video, the flight direction of the fireball appears to be more vertical than it actually was, because the camera has a wide-angle lens. It was south in the direction of approx. 195 degrees and at an altitude of approx. 57 degrees. The brightest star visible in the vi...

Comments: 1 pcs

Observation information »

M42

M42

28.1.2023 at 22.18 - 22.49 - Rautalampi (III)
Vesa Vauhkonen, Sisä-Savon Ursa

Again, try to hold on. The intention was to photograph the comet, but those clouds... It became clear later. I chose a safe target. I only got light for 27 x 1 min, then it got cloudy again. I tried to bring out the surrounding 'fringes', but it was a bit dull. Too little data.

Comments: 2 pcs

Observation information »

Pearl clouds

Pearl clouds

28.1.2023 at 17.00 - Kurikka (V)
Marko Myllyniemi, Lakeuden Ursa

I was closing the blinds on the kitchen window when I noticed bright clouds curling up on the western horizon and went to the other end of the house to make sure from the fireplace room window: pearls could be seen there. All you have to do is put on your clothes, take your bag and go to the back of the plot. The first picture was converted from a RAW file, so the tones are roughly correct, but they were shot directly as a jpg, so there wasn't much room for adjustment... A handsome spectacle with both water ice and acid clouds. It just took a little too late to shoot, half an hour earlier ...

Images: 7 pcs • Comments: 2 pcs

Observation information »

Pearl clouds

Pearl clouds

28.1.2023 at 16.50 - 17.12 - Pori, Noormarkku (IV)
Kristian Rastas, Tampereen Ursa

After a spectacular sunset, a handsome pearly cloud appeared in the western sky against a darker cloud layer. This biggest one was visible for about 25 minutes. Smaller gauzes were visible after this.

Images: 3 pcs • Comments: 1 pcs

Observation information »

Pearl clouds

Pearl clouds

28.1.2023 at 17.02 - 17.33 - Pori (IV)
Jaakko Alakopsa, Porin Karhunvartijat

After waking up from a nap, I opened the blackout curtain and the first sight was a very bright and colorful nacreous cloud. You couldn't take pictures with a cell phone without burning the bulb. So a few snaps with the Sony RX10, put on a jacket and look for a better observation spot. There are two bridges on the bank of Kokemäenjoki, from which I got better shots. The city's silhouette can be seen in the pictures, while I couldn't get a view of the horizon anywhere. It occurred to me that I wish I had been in Yyteri right then.

Images: 7 pcs • Comments: 4 pcs

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Pearl clouds

Pearl clouds

28.1.2023 at 17.00 - Vaasa (V)
Timo Alanko, Vaasan Andromeda

Now the pearlers were able to surprise badly. The coldness of the upper atmosphere really shouldn't be enough. Perhaps the prettiest pearls I've seen, though. And on a shopping trip, only take the helicopter with you. A wonderful splendor of pastel colors that the helicopter's camera could not capture. Especially the blue tones are exhausting in the pictures. It would definitely have been the coolest place :(

Images: 6 pcs • Comments: 4 pcs

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Binocular comet ZTF

Binocular comet ZTF

27.1.2023 at 02.35 - 04.25 - Mänttä-Vilppula (IV)
Jukka Laakso

In the end, it was moderately clear here as well for photographing the comet. Even with binoculars, the thud stood out. A good 100 minutes of exposures from the front (minus cloud fines) were accumulated with the 135-millimeter. Sum and median stack images and a star-locked median stack with the Little Bear's Pherkad and Pherkad minor vas. in the upper corner.

Images: 3 pcs • Comments: 1 pcs

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A fireball at night, brighter than the venus

27.1.2023 at 18.05 - Ulvila (III)
Vesa Puistovaara, Porin Karhunvartijat

Video clip of the fireball.

Comments: 2 pcs

Observation information »