Lots Going On in the Sky

The northeastern U.S. has had wonderful weather ever since Hurricane Irene. So I went out a couple of nights ago to check up on the celestial events that we've been covering on our website. I was delighted that all of them exceeded my expectactions.

First there's the supernova in M101. If you own a telescope, live at mid-northern latitudes, and haven't seen this yet, get out now and do it! It's little exaggeration to call this a chance of a lifetime. At magnitude 11, this is the brightest supernova since SN 1993J in M81. And it's still brightening, so it may well exceed that supernova.

I've been following Comet Garradd since the last new-Moon period, and I'm pleased to report that it's coming along nicely. It's now a rival for the northern sky's best deep-sky objects, it shares a binocular field of view with the wonderful Coathanger asterism, and it passes through the Coathanger on Friday, September 2nd.

I also checked up on asteroid 4 Vesta, which is currently being orbited by the Dawn spacecraft. It currently forms a nice "double star" with 4th-magnitude Psi Capricorni.

And if you live just a little south of me in the eastern U.S., don't forget the occultation of Delta Scorpii in the early evening of Saturday, September 3rd.