Posted on 12/15/2023 1:29:35 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: Asteroid 319 Leona cast a shadow across planet Earth on December 12, as it passed in front of bright star Betelgeuse. But to see everyone's favorite red giant star fade this time, you had to stand near the center line of the narrow shadow path starting in central Mexico and extending eastward across southern Florida, the Atlantic Ocean, southern Europe, and Eurasia. The geocentric celestial event was captured in these two panels taken at Almodovar del Rio, Spain from before (left) and during the asteroid-star occultation. In both panels Betelgeuse is seen above and left, at the shoulder of the familiar constellation Orion. Its brightness diminishes noticeably during the exceedingly rare occultation when, for several seconds, the giant star was briefly eclipsed by a roughly 60 kilometer diameter main-belt asteroid.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Betelgeuse Betelgeuse Betelgeuse!
I tried to watch, even though I am about 60 miles north of the line, but, the clouds were a problem.
With events like that, if there is a small error in the calculations, you MIGHT get lucky. It’s not so big a problem now, but, back in the 80s, you had to spread folks out over miles to maybe catch an event.
You have to be prepared for things like that.
Clouds and trees were a problem for me. At least there is a photographic record of it. Pretty cool!
That one is pretty subtle.
I wonder if Lauren Boebert watched it.
Cheap shot, I know, but I couldn’t resist. :)
Betelgeuse .... French rendering of "Bet El Jabbar", the shoulder of the Giant. (Kareem Abdul Jabbar = Kareem Abdul "The Giant") Orion would not look right without its shoulder if it ever went supernova and disappeared. (Could have already happened and the light has yet to arrive!)
Slide!!!! If you magnify the image you will see an asterism directly to the right of Betelgeuse that I propose naming "The Patio Chair"!
Since every asterism has its own myth, I suggest that the story associated with this asterism be of "Lawnchair "Larry Walters.
"Lawrence Richard "Larry" Walters had often dreamed of flying, but was unable to become a pilot in the United States Air Force because of his poor eyesight. Instead, he became a truck driver.[2] He first thought of using weather balloons to fly at age 13, after seeing them hanging from the ceiling of a military surplus store."
"In 1982, he decided to try his flying idea. His intention was to float over the Mojave Desert and then use a pellet gun to burst some of the balloons in order to land."[3] ."In mid-1982, Walters and his girlfriend at the time, Carol Van Deusen, purchased 45 eight-foot (2.4 m) weather balloons and obtained helium tanks from California Toy Time Balloons. They used a forged requisition from his employer, FilmFair Studios, saying the balloons were for a television commercial." "On July 2, 1982, Walters attached 43 of the balloons[3] to his lawn chair, filled them with helium, put on a parachute, and strapped himself into the chair in the backyard of a home at 1633 West 7th Street in San Pedro. He took his pellet gun, a CB radio, sandwiches, beer, and a camera.[4] When the cord that tied his lawn chair to his Jeep broke prematurely, before a planned delay to notify authorities, Walters's lawn chair rose rapidly to a height of about 16,000 feet (4,900 m) and was spotted from two commercial airliners.[3] He slowly drifted over Long Beach and crossed the primary approach corridor of Long Beach Airport."
"He was in contact with REACT, a citizens band radio monitoring organization, who recorded their conversation:"
REACT: What information do you wish me to tell [the airport] at this time as to your location and your difficulty?
Larry: "Ah, the difficulty is, ah, this was an unauthorized balloon launch, and, uh, I know I'm in a federal airspace, and, uh, I'm sure my ground crew has alerted the proper authority. But, uh, just call them and tell them I'm okay."
REACT: "Well, ah, stay safe and try not to chud it up."
"After 45 minutes in the sky, Walters shot several balloons, taking care not to unbalance the load. He then accidentally dropped his pellet gun overboard. He descended slowly, until the balloons' dangling cables got caught in a power line at 423 E 44th Way in Long Beach. The power line broke, causing a 20-minute electricity blackout. He landed unharmed on the ground." ...Snip....(Additional interesting information at link including copycats and police and FAA Case Disposition!)
/SLIDE!
It worked! It worked!
You are right. The asterism should be named for his flight!
Interesting.
I guess the eclipse was not total. Betelgeuse is very large star, so big that it can be observed as a disk in special telescopes. Because of that, the star did not disappeared 100%.
(Wonder if we can find an asterism for the Nuclear Boy Scout!)
New Frasier tv show.
Frasier upon seeing his ex-wife: Who is this lovely serpent....?!
Lilith, Dear God, who looked into the mirror and said your name 3 times?!
If your here then who is minding the children you lured to your gingerbread house?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR3YazCINCs
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