Can Herpes On Forehead

Upon obtaining MPC code

With more quiet, and once treated the good new way to comment in more detail some details of the process followed to obtain the Minor Planet code Center (MPC). Being my dedication

fundamental astrometry, it is clear that to obtain the distinction of the code is quite a motivator. It is true that I do is basically double star, as you know who read this blog with some frequency. However, this situation may change soon. As someone rightly said, getting the MPC code is not an end in itself, is the beginning of a new dedication. And so, I hope to spend a handful of nights a month to obtain measurements of minor bodies in the solar system: comets and asteroids.

First of all we must mention that the first step to this story is quite another: having a fixed place for a systematic observations. Until recently it was impossible for me. Residing in a house in a building near the center of a medium-sized city, the conditions were great, mainly: space and light pollution. The second is an inconvenience but, fortunately, nowadays even impossible astronomical practice: the emergence of CCD cameras allow interesting work despite having a sky light pollution speaking. The second was worse: years ago he tried to watch from a balcony, a window ... are possibilities, no doubt, but not satisfy me.

Just over a year everything changed. In my new home, I have a large roof terrace where I can ride my computer comfortably. Achieving this site I opened the door to systematic observation, almost daily, my dear double stars. A dream come true, come on. I can mount the equipment safely in the evening and when finished in 15 minutes is all saved and 5 later I am sleeping soundly. Also, I'm in the process of building a house that not even need to assemble or disassemble the instrument. So in recent months have seen more than several years together (and that the weather ...), although it may appear otherwise from what little I've lavished on this blog lately.

To make matters poco, tengo la fortuna de disponer de casi 360º de cielo y el lugar es medianamente oscuro, especialmente la franja de cielo que va desde el E hasta el W. La zona más polucionada es la que mira hacia el centro de la ciudad, el N. En este sentido, tengo también suerte. He conseguido ver estrellas, en noches oscuras, que rozan la 5ª magnitud a simple vista. No está mal para estar rodeado, en un radio de 60 kms., por casi 300.000 personas (y sus luces).

Echo de menos, sin duda, la tranquilidad de mi anterior lugar de observación, el patio de mi casa en el pueblo, al que en ocasiones anteriores tanto me he referido -Valencia de Alcántara, Cáceres- un oasis de tranquilidad y cielos negros, rodeado de nogales and chestnut. But as you said that saying that has become standard (and very true): the best place to observe is one that lets you see more often, and comfort, though not the best place in the world.

promise brief update information relating to the observatory and instruments that employment in the relevant section of my blog (navigation buttons on the top). Once you have

site ... the rest came alone. Rafael Benavides e I had chopped repeatedly with the issue. So, encouraged (and challenged) by him, freezing two nights, corresponding to 20 and 26 January (in the second of which the thermometer fell to -2.3 º C), I started to observe three main-belt asteroids whose number was higher than No. 400. Those elected were three that were ideally situated on the horizon S-SE and good height at the beginning of the night: (563) Suleika, (675) Ludmilla and (714) hoots.

Images of the three asteroids chosen for obtaining the MPC code,

for the second night I devoted to this task (01/26/2011).

All were quite bright, did not exceed the size 13 in any case

. This is the main belt asteroids, and none of them exceeded

the 50 km in diameter.

Thanks to having all the automated equipment, locate them on the screen SkyMap in a snap. It's something magical about making the catch with RCD and check where stars do not show a small dot of light that corresponds to a small body that orbits the sun beyond Mars. And that is moving slowly on the background of stars. Realized three sets of images each spaced about 10 minutes.

hours later, accompanied by a cup of chocolate, it was time to process the images. I confess that this happened the first night, the second I could not wait and do the process of information getting off the observatory to send the data as soon as possible to the Minor Planet Center. I could be disappointed. As is usual in these cases, I used Astrometrica (do not know what we would do without it) with the catalog UCAC-3, a marvel to see the standard report to be sent to the MPC by opening a file. Prior to shipping, I checked my measurements with ephemeris listed in the relevant section of the MPC website and saw that the waste was minimal or even nonexistent. It seemed that my method was good. So early Thursday January 26 proceeded to send the mail to the MPC. IACT Alea est! , I thought.

The truth is that the wait was too long. Some partners were notified within hours ... but in my case seemed to be made to wait. After a week, I contacted Ramon Naves to see if they had done something wrong. He asked me my measurements and in a few minutes, I responded with a reassuring "do not worry, they are Cojonudas ...". Wow, what a relief, thought she had blundered into something.

Finally, last Saturday morning I was surprised that I discussed in the previous post: I was given the code. MPC .. I84, I like the sound. The stark message of Gareth Williams kept me floating the rest of the day. A new English observatory with the MPC code. Just take a look at the official list of codes of observatories to see that the English are conspicuously numerous. Harvesting of minor bodies as observers in this country has much to do with perseverance and good teaching skills of Mr. Kite, which is none other than Ramon Naves.

The name I chose for the Observatory, Cerro del Viento, is due to the Badajoz area in which it is located. Like, well, as it sounds. And, unfortunately, lives up to its name. But thanks to him that I can have already begun to suspect that never get: a place to be under the stars.

I hope, as I said, spend part of my time observing asteroids and comets. Astrometry is exciting, either double stars or minor planets. As I said, half in jest, some years ago in another post (it has become my motto): I want to measure. For this reason, I'm going to measure more than ever!

Thanks to all who have written me emails of congratulations. Not the big lottery (what else would!), But it certainly is a real incentive to continue working with enthusiasm to this humble meter of heaven ...