Faulkes Telescope Observations
Comet 67P(Churyumov-Gerasimenko)
Comet 67P is the target of the Rosetta mission. Image obtained using the
Faulkes Telescope North at Haleakala, operated by Las Cumbres Observatory.
Click on image to enlarge.
Using the Faulkes telescope we observed comet 67P from the 2m telescope in
the Haleakala observatory in Hawaii. We obtained various photographs of 67P
as it passed over the observatory, tracking its movement as it followed its
arc in the sky. The comet was moving at a speed of 0.96"/minute. We saw a
gradual increase in right ascension of 0.12 seconds every 2 minutes and a
gradual decrease in the declination of 0.5" every 2 minutes.
We also researched the Rosetta mission:
The mission was first considered in the late 1970's but wasn't approved until
1993. The Rosetta spacecraft was launched from Kourou in French Guiana
onboard an Ariane rocket on 2nd March 2004.
On 12th November 2015 ESA's Rosetta's mission landed the Philae probe on comet
67P. On the 10 year journey it passed two asteroids and landed on the Agilkia
region as planned but did not secure itself and bounced off to a new location
in Abydos. There were three methods to secure it after landing: ice screws,
harpoons and a small thruster. The mission cost бё1 billion to build and
construct the instrument required to chase, orbit and land on the comet. The
comet is a part of the Jupiter family of comets, it is one of roughly 400
known Jupiter comets. The predicted life span of the probe is 12 years
meaning the mission will end in December 2015. There could be a 6 month
extension on the mission if there is enough fuel leftover.
Messier 41 (M41) is an open cluster of stars. 3 colour images obtained using
1 meter telescope at Siding Spring, operated by Las Cumbres Observatory.
The Beehive Cluster (M44) is an open cluster of stars. 3 colour images
obtained using 1 meter telescope at Siding Spring, operated by Las Cumbres
Observatory.
We also obtained images of Messier objects in the Siding Spring Observatory
in Australia. Messier 41 is an open cluster of stars in the Canis Major
constellation and lies about 4 degrees almost exactly south of Sirius, and
forms a triangle with it and Nu2 Canis Majoris. The cluster covers an area
around the size of the full moon. It contains about 100 stars including
several red giants. The Beehive Cluster (Messier 44) is another open cluster.
We are very grateful to
Las Cumbres Observatory and the
Faulkes Telescope Project
for their kind generosity in allowing our use of their fantastic telecopes.
- Andrew Adair, Orla Donnelly, Suzanne Hoey & Jacqui Hawthorne
2015 December 2nd
More astronomical projects with the Faulkes Telescopes
Last Revised: 2015 December 2nd
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