Where is Vesta

Greenswale (Wren) · #1 25-05-2007, 10:10 PM

Today's truly grouse 'Astronomy Picture of the Day' at http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html shows stuff that we newcomers can identify - like Jupiter and the Milky Way. Also mentioned is Vesta, but I haven't a clue to identify it!

Any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #2 25-05-2007, 11:04 PM

I have marked Vesta on the APOD pic for you. Hope it helps you find it

Photo - APOD, Indicator - Me.

p.s. Tip the pics upside down for us in the Southern Hemisphere.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #3 25-05-2007, 11:21 PM

I have just been outside to check, and even with the bright moon I can just pick it up with unaided eye.

Very faint though. It is currently mag 5. But I have very dark country sky.

Greenswale (Wren) · #4 26-05-2007, 10:21 AM

Thanks, Ken. One will have a little play tonight - pretty cool that we can see stuff like this!

Greenswale (Wren) · #5 27-05-2007, 04:16 PM

I think that I have spotted 4 Vespa. The picture was a great help, but goto RA & Dec, after a bit of Google-ing, was better - unfortunately the bright sky (moon and Melbourne) made things very difficult.

Ended up with three objects in the lens, one central (the likely candidate), but all looking very similar in the conditions. Is there anything special about what we see of 4 Vesta? I'm a bit picky, and would like to be certain that what I think is 4 Vesta really is.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 28-05-2007, 07:57 PM

If you are able to image the object, take an image of what you think is Vesta. Then wait a day or two and take another image. Then see if there is any change in its location amongst the stars.

Greenswale (Wren) · #7 30-05-2007, 02:56 PM

Thanks again Ken. When the clouds and stuff go away, I'll get stuck in.

Great to get this support via this pretty marvellous site!