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There's a new comet on the way - more about Comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura)
Two Celestron telescopes for viewing Saturn - Don't miss the ringed planet at its best for 2023
Congratulations to Andy Casely - Winner of NASA's "Astronomy Picture of the Day" (APOD) for his amazing image of Saturn
The BINTEL 2023 Astrophotographer of the Year Competition - A warm welcome to our new sponsors
Macquarie University Astronomy Open Night- 23rd of September and tickets on sale now
India's ISRO Space Agency touches down on the Moon - (but the Russian lander was not so lucky....)
BINTEL at two star parties last weekend - North Sydney Astronomical Society and QLD Astrofest 2023
There's a Blue Moon next Thursday - but it's not actually blue...
We normally like to feature customer images in this newsletter, but the recent portrait of the Ring Nebula (M57) released this week by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) team is a stunner! This "dying star" has been a long-term favourite for both amateur astrophotographers and visual observers. Read more here. -
Webb Reveals Intricate Details in the Remains of a Dying Star
To be featured, you can send us your Astro and Nature images here.
There's a new comet on the way - more about Comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura)
There's a new comet in our skies that might brighten to be visible with your eyes early next month.
Image of Comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) by Dan Bartlett to posted to Astrobin
A new comet, heading into the inner Solar System from the distant Oort Cloud, was discovered by Japanese amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura on the 12th of August 2023 with a Canon EOS 6D camera and 200mm telephoto lens.
This is the first visit of Comet Nishimura. Orbital calculations show that it will be flung out the Solar System and will not return - that's assuming it doesn't break apart during its loop around the Sun. Comets have a habit of doing that! It's also been reported in the media the Comet Nishimura might have originated from outside the Solar System like 2I/Borisov did a few years ago. The "I" in the name means Interstellar. Further calculations have shown Comet Nishimura is definitely a Solar System object.
We've talked a lot about comets in the past, including why some comets are green. This certainly looks like the case for Comet Nishimura.
The orbital path of Comet Nishimura. Image via JPL-Horizons
Comets are tricky things to predict. We'll be including more information on Comet Nishimura next week, along with possible viewing opportunities.
Two Celestron telescopes for viewing Saturn - Don't miss the ringed planet at its best for 2023
The opposition of Saturn - which we talked about in a previous newsletter - arrives this week!
This is the best time of the year to observe Saturn and its rings.
The good news is that an opposition of a planet like Saturn and Jupiter, where they line up with the Earth in our respective orbits around the Sun, are slow moving astro events. You don't have rush out a certain time to see them.
The layout of the inner Solar System this week. Image via NASA
You can spot Saturn with just your eyes. Head outside a couple of hours after dark in the next week or two and Saturn will appear as a bright, almost golden coloured "star" in the western sky. If you'd like some help locating it, we'd suggest use an app on your phone. One of our favourites is Stellarium.
You might see Saturn as a slightly elongated star through binoculars but to see the rings you will need a telescope.
Celestron NexStar 6SE - Perfect for Saturn and now just $1999
BINTEL has the fully computerised Celestron NexStar 6SE in stock for $1999
Celestron NexStar 6SE - $1999
This is the larger version of the famous Celestron NextStar 5SE telescope. It has the same basic features - a robust, computerised mount that will move the telescope to any of thousands of things in the night sky contained in its database. Once it's located an astro object, it will then track it throughout the evening.
The main difference between the 5SE and the 6SE is simply the size of the main mirror. The 6SE collects about 33% more light than the smaller 5SE.
This means brighter, sharper images and the ability to see things that are too faint to be spotted by smaller telescope. Physically, the 6SE is only slightly larger than the 5SE, meaning it's still highly portable. Extremely easy to pack up and take on trip using a Celestron 40" Telescope Bag.
The NexStar 6SE uses long focal length Celestron SCT optics which are ideal for viewing and imaging Jupiter and Saturn as well a deep-sky astro objects.
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ - Affordable way to view Saturn and Jupiter for $399 with phone guidance
Another ideal telescope for observing the Solar System's largest planets is the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ
Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ - $399
This is a classic, long focal length refractor. The 80mm main lens is larger than you typically find on telescopes in this price range, meaning brighter and more detailed views.
You'll see the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, amazing views of the Moon and deep-sky objects.
The $399 price includes the mount, tripod, eyepieces and other accessories as well as the Celestron StarSense system that lets you precisely point your telescope at astro objects using an iPhone or Android phone.
Congratulations to Andy Casely - Winner of NASA "Astronomy Picture of the Day" (APOD) for his amazing image of Saturn
A NASA APOD is regarded as one of the highest recognitions that an astrophotographer can receive.
Long time BINTEL customer and supporter Andy Casely was featured in today's APOD for his portrait of the changing rings of Saturn, composed of images taken over a number of years.
You can read full details of the image via the link to the NASA page below. In his recent post to the BINTEL Society Facebook Group, Andy commented that all the gear for this APOD was from BINTEL as well.
Well done Andy!
The BINTEL 2023 Astrophotographer of the Year Competition - A warm welcome to our new sponsors
The annual BINTEL Astrophotographer of the year competition has kicked off.
This is open to everyone in Australia and New Zealand with a passion to photograph the wonders of the night sky. This is the competition for everyone, whether you like to capture the ghostly Milky Way as it stretches above us on a dark night, the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter or deep-sky nebulae, star clusters or even galaxies.
Special attention will be given to entries that stretch the limits of their equipment and techniques as well as novel approaches to presenting images.
Don't worry if you're just starting out on your astro imaging journey. We have lots of beginners entering this competition and it's a great way to obtain expert feedback on your pictures.
BINTEL would like to thank our new sponsors for 2023, including Australian Geographic, the Macquarie University Association for Astronomy, DWARF Labs, ZWO, and ZEISS
To learn more and enter the competition, click on the link below
Macquarie University Astronomy Open Night- 23rd of September and tickets on sale now
Tickets for one of most popular events on the Astronomy calendar - the Macquarie University Astronomy Open Night - are now on sale.
This evening is a wonderful chance to observe through telescopes, listen to informative talks and see interesting displays and products. A real astro night out! BINTEL will be there with telescopes and looking forward to having a chat.
The event is super popular and usually sells out quickly. If you're interested in heading along, we suggest grabbing tickets from the link below.
India's ISRO Space Agency touches down on the Moon - (Russian lander not so lucky....)
India's ISRO Chandrayaan-3 Moon rover successfully touched down on the Moon this week.
India becomes the fourth country to land a probe on the Moon, the others being the USA, China and Russia. It's also the first time a successful landing has been made on the Lunar South Pole. Part of the reason for exploring the polar region on the Moon is to search for water ice, which could be extremely useful for future missions.
As we're sending this out, IRSO have confirmed the Chandrayaan-3 rover has already travelled a few metres and all systems have been tested and performing well.
The unsuccessful Russian Luna 25 mission lifts off
The Russian Luna 25 mission - the first time Russia had headed to the Moon in over 50 years - was not so lucky. The spacecraft spun out of control and crashed into the Lunar surface. Another reminder that space travel is far from routine.
One question we're often asked at BINTEL is "Can I see spacecraft on the Moon such as the Apollo Lunar Modules through my telescope?"
The answer is no. There isn't a telescope large enough to observe any of the robotic Lunar missions or the remains of the Apollo Lunar Modules. However, they have been spotted from space from Lunar orbiters, along with astronaut's footprint and the tracks left by the Apollo Lunar Rovers.
BINTEL at two star parties last weekend - North Sydney Astronomical Society and QLD Astrofest 2023
A busy time for the BINTEL crew - attending two star parties in different states last weekend.
BINTEL at the NSAS Star party at the Hunter Valley
First up the was Northern Sydney Astronomical (NSAA) Society Star Party held at Grape Vines Estate. You can connect with the NSAA to get involved in future events via the link below:
BINTEL were also at the QLD Astrofest held at the Lions Club "Camp Duckadang" a few hours northwest of Brisbane.
Telescopes of all sizes at QLD Astrofest last weekend
BINTEL has been a supporter of QLD Astrofest since its inception in 1993 and we look forward to many more years of being involved. You can learn more about QLD Astrofest from the link below:
There's a Blue Moon next Thursday - but it's not blue...
You might see some mentions online and in the media of a "Blue Moon" next week.
Blue Moons aren't like this!
A Blue Moon refers to when there's two Full Moons in the same calendar month. In the case of August 2023, there was a Full Moon right at the start of the month and another on the 31st. It's also where the expression "once in a blue moon" comes from. Something that doesn't happen very often but does occur now and then.
The Moon will not be blue on the 31st of August. It will be its usual silvery self - enough of a reason to head outside and enjoy it, even through a beginner's telescope. It is a "Supermoon" however- a phrased coined in 1979 to indicate a Full Moon that happens when the Earth and Moon are close to each other during their elliptical orbit. As the Earth and the Moon are slightly closer, the Moon appear a bit bigger in the night sky.
Afterpay at BINTEL for Father's Day- available online or in-store
Next week - Taking the hassle out of backspacing
