Sunday, June 21, 2009

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Comet P/2009 L2 (Yang--Gao)



「香港光害之嚴重」

今年6月16日,發生了一單不大不小的新聞,兩位中國業餘天文學家,發現了一顆新的短周期彗星,被命名為楊高彗星 (杭州楊睿+新疆高興),謔稱羊羔彗星。有趣的是他們沒有用望遠鏡,用的是一台數碼相機,加上一枝4吋口徑f2.8的相機鏡頭!

消息公佈後,筆者嘗試從香港觀測這顆彗星,用的是位於屯門保良局梁周順琴下午校新建成的搖控天文台,過程十分順利,筆者安坐家中,用互聯網搖控5吋口徑的望遠鏡,指向無月光無雲、但光害嚴重的屯門夜空,在羊羔彗星的所在地拍下照片,經過一小時的折騰,才勉強找得到這顆新發現彗星的痕跡(見附圖十字 mark)!

須知道,要發現一顆彗星,遠比確認困難。在光害嚴重的香港,用上更大口徑的望遠鏡(5” 對4”),確認一顆彗星巳十分困難,更遑論發現!由此可見香港光污染之嚴重。(註一)

香港即將推行334學制,中學生可以選修天文學,但在光害嚴重的香港,星座往往也因為光污染而變成「甩皮甩骨」,徒增教學之困難,但願政府立法管制光污染,令到我們的下一代,不至於成為看不見星星的一代!


註一:屯門保良局梁周順琴下午校的夜空光度約17等,比新疆的21等光四十倍。

Sunday, June 07, 2009

三顆新小行星命名-----鄧麗君、李安、唐滌生

三顆新小行星命名-----鄧麗君、李安、唐滌生

(42295) Teresateng (鄧麗君)= 2001 UG17

Teresa Teng (1953-1995) was a popular and infuential Taiwanese pop singer. It is often said that "Wherever there are Chinese people, the songs of Teresa Teng can be heard". She was known for her folk songs and romantic ballads, most of them reaching classic status during her lifetime.

(64291) Anglee (李安)= 2001 UX11

Ang Lee (b. 1954) is a Chinese-American film director, whose films include The Wedding Banquet (1993), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Brokeback Mountain (2005). This last film won him the Academy Award for Best Director.

(64295) Tangtisheng (唐滌生) = 2001 UW13

Tang Ti-sheng (1917-1959) was a Cantonese opera playwright, scriptwriter and film director. During his twenty-year career, Tang composed over 400 operas and achieved immense popularity within the Cantonese opera scene. His most famous works include Red Tears of an Aspen and The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom.