Stuart Wolpert | January 15, 2020, UCLA wrote:
Astronomers from UCLA’s Galactic Center Orbits Initiative have discovered a new class of bizarre objects at the center of our galaxy, not far from the supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A*. They published their research in the Jan. 16 issue of the journal Nature.

“These objects look like gas and behave like stars,” said co-author Andrea Ghez, UCLA’s Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Professor of Astrophysics and director of the UCLA Galactic Center Group.

The new objects look compact most of the time and stretch out when their orbits bring them closest to the black hole. Their orbits range from about 100 to 1,000 years, said lead author Anna Ciurlo, a UCLA postdoctoral researcher.

Ghez’s research group identified an unusual object at the center of our galaxy in 2005, which was later named G1. In 2012, astronomers in Germany made a puzzling discovery of a bizarre object named G2 in the center of the Milky Way that made a close approach to the supermassive black hole in 2014. Ghez and her research team believe that G2 is most likely two stars that had been orbiting the black hole in tandem and merged into an extremely large star, cloaked in unusually thick gas and dust.

“At the time of closest approach, G2 had a really strange signature,” Ghez said. “We had seen it before, but it didn’t look too peculiar until it got close to the black hole and became elongated, and much of its gas was torn apart. It went from being a pretty innocuous object when it was far from the black hole to one that was really stretched out and distorted at its closest approach and lost its outer shell, and now it’s getting more compact again.”

“One of the things that has gotten everyone excited about the G objects is that the stuff that gets pulled off of them by tidal forces as they sweep by the central black hole must inevitably fall into the black hole,” said co-author Mark Morris, UCLA professor of physics and astronomy. “When that happens, it might be able to produce an impressive fireworks show since the material eaten by the black hole will heat up and emit copious radiation before it disappears across the event horizon.”

Full press release here with additional detail :-
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/astronomy-strange-objects-galaxy-black-hole

4 minute video about Ghenz's research :-


Animation below of the orbits of the G objects, together with the orbits of stars near the supermassive black hole :-

Thanks for the post.

Argo Navis takes into account the correction for parallax error depending on where you are standing on Earth whilst observing solar system objects.

For artificial satellites in low earth-orbit you should use a reasonably accurate set of latitude longitude coordinates to compute where the satellite will appear above your local horizon.

For the Moon, a distance between observing sites of 228 miles would make a negligible difference given it is a quarter of a million miles to the Moon.

For users with exact polar aligned mounts who also use TPAS, reasonably accurate latitude and longitude can help refine the polar misalignment errors.

Hi Gordon,

Thanks for the post.

The GEM and Fork exact align settings allow for a fuller set of TPAS mount modelling error terms, including azimuth and altitude polar polar corrections, which aren't available on the equatorial table mounts.

As you are aware, there is no encoder fitted equatorial tracking axis on equatorial platforms and the ability to locate objects comes about through the innovations of the Equatorial Table Timer.

In effect the Table Timer extrapolates for that missing encoder but at the expense that the table was assumed to be accurately aligned in the first place.

Additional modelling terms would need to be added and significant enhancements made in order to support an analogous polar alignment feature for equatorial tables. The table's equatorial axis
is a third axis in a world of primarily two axis mounts which sets them distinctively apart. So unfortunately such an enhancement is not scheduled in the immediate term.

It's now 3am on the morning of January 1 2020 here in Sydney.

Wildcard Innovations wish you all a healthy, happy and prosperous 2020.

It's been a challenging year in Australia with the most widespread bushfires on record on the back of a severe drought.

Tragically lives have been lost.

It's a reminder to go safe and well wherever you are.

Version 3.0.4 fixes a bug that was introduced in version 3.0.3 and was found by pure coincidence.

Version 3.0.3 included a new implementation of planetary position calculations.

On the 28 December 2019 at around 00:00 UTC, users who powered their units on when running Version 3.0.3 would see an ENCOUNTERED BUG message a few seconds after initialisation.

By pure coincidence, Jupiter was then at conjunction, that is the opposite side of the Sun to the Earth.

A tiny, tiny rounding error as part of computing the angle associated with the positions of the Earth, Sun and Jupiter resulted in a value just slightly larger than 1 and that would consequentially cause an inverse trigonometric function to fail.

If a unit running 3.0.3 was powered on a few hours before conjunction or a few hours after conjunction, the bug would not occur.

We had reports from three users who reported the bug who just happened to have upgraded to 3.0.3 and powered on their units at the moment of conjunction.

Special thank you to those who reported it.

The bug was fixed in 3.0.4 and made available with 16 hours of it being first reported on a weekend.

Apologies to all for the inconvenience caused. The timing of the conjunction was both unfortunate and fortunate at the same time!

Wildcard Innovations is pleased to announce Argo Navis Firmware Version 3.0.4.

To show our appreciation of your support, Wildcard are providing a free license (subject to your acceptance of our End User Licence Agreement) to Version 3.0.4 to you as a gift.

Version 3.0.4 is now available for download -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/firmware_download.html

The End User Licence Agreement can be found here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/EULA.html

To download the firmware, you will need to have registered and have a copy of your Registration Code.
If you registered in the past, you will receive a reminder of your registration code by email in due course.

If you have not registered before, you will find the registration link on this page :-
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/firmware_download.html

We highly recommend that you also download the following -

* Argo Navis User Manual Edition 11.
See http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/documentation.html
This edition of the User Manual includes a description of how to install and use the latest Argonaut Version 2.0 software utility for Windows (page 160).

* Argonaut Version 2.0 software utility for Windows.
See https://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/utilities.html
A similar utility for Linux are available from the same URL.

To perform the firmware download to your unit, you will require the following additional components -

* Argonaut for Windows or sgzload for Linux.
These can be downloaded from here -
https://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/utilities.html

* A serial cable for connection to your Argo Navis from your PC, Wildcard Innovations part number pn-ser-cbl.
If you do not have a serial cable and would like to purchase one, we can supply it for AUD17.27 (approx. USD11.74) plus an additional low cost Airmail shipping rate that differs according to your region).

(Residents in Australia only, cable + GST = AUD19.00)

If your computer does not have an RS-232 serial port, we recommend you use the serial cable in conjunction with the Keyspan USA-19HS USB Serial Adapter.
Wildcard Innovations also stock these as their part number pn-usb and can supply it for AUD64.00 (approx. USD43.90) plus an additional low cost Airmail shipping rate that differs according to your region.

(Residents in Australia only, USB Serial Adapter + GST = AUD70.40)

To purchase either or both of the above you can pay securely online using MasterCard, Visa or AMEX using this URL -
https://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/purchase.html

Start by selecting your country in the pulldown menu. Australian residents will also be prompted to enter a Postcode.

The cable options appear beneath the heading "Communication and Power Cable options".

If you require a serial cable, enter a Qty of 1 in the pn-ser-cbl row.

If you require a USB Serial Adapter, enter a Qty of 1 in the pn-usb row.

Enter your name, email address, phone number, shipping address.

Then press Pay Now. This will then connect you to a secure server at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where you can enter your credit card details.

To install Argonaut Version 2.0, refer to the step-by-step instructions starting on page 161.

To determine which version of firmware your unit currently has loaded, dial up MODE STATUS, STATUS VERSION.

We recommend you use Argonaut Version 2.0 to save your existing Argo Navis setups onto your PC. See page 182 on "Transferring setups".

If you are migrating from firmware version 3.0.0 or later, Argo Navis firmware Version 3.0.4 will preserve your setups.

However, if you are migrating from an earlier version than 3.0.0, then version 3.0.4 will restore your setups to factory defaults so we highly recommend you use Argonaut to save the setups so you can restore them later.

Please note that loading Argo Navis firmware version 3.0.4 will clear any existing asteroid, comet, satellite or user catalogs you already have loaded.
You should ensure you have the original data for any catalogs you may have loaded stored on your PC so that you can reload it after performing the upgrade.

To download a firmware file from your PC to Argo Navis, please refer to page 187.

Version 3.0.4 contains the following improvements :-

* Improved solution for some comet and asteroid orbits.
* More reliable first-time power-up when real-time clock coin cell battery becomes depleted or is replaced.
* Fix to bug that occurred in Version 3.0.3 at the exact moment Jupiter was at conjunction


Should you experience any difficulties, simply email sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au for assistance.

We thank you again for your support and we hope you enjoy Version 3.0.4.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
wildcard@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

With apologies we have withdrawn Version 3.0.3 and will replace it with Version 3.0.4 shortly.

If you have already downloaded Version 3.0.3. we recommend you do not download it into your unit.

If you have already downloaded, we recommend you "roll-back" to version 3.0.2 which is on the web site.

With Version 3.0.3 we had made significant changes as well as to how the positions of planets are computed.
Like all solar system objects, their positions are a function of time.

As it transpires, there appears to be a bug which is a function of time in Version 3.0.3 that only happened for the first time today.
That bug will result in an ENCOUNTERED BUG error .

The firmware had been previously tested over the past couple of weeks so it is both unfortunate and fortunate that it was uncovered today.

We apologize for the inconvenience.

Seldom wrote:I'm not having any luck installing 3.0.3 firmware. Firmware update seemed to be working fine through load to 100%, but I'm getting an "Encountered Bug" message about 2 seconds after power up.

Have emailed Gary.

Hi Seldom,

We have received several reports of a successful upgrade including during beta test and now and three thus far of a problem similar to yours.

I have emailed you directly with he hope we can narrow it down.

astroal wrote:Have downloaded the Argonaut version 2 as well as the user manual. However, after reading the procedure in the manual to upgrade the Firmware, I am hesitant to monkey around with the unit that is giving me satisfactory performance. It seems to me that the advantages of the new firmware do not outweigh the hoops to jump through to reset Setups, Locations, user catalogues, etc. I am a person who does not dream in binary codes, so this is a bit of foreign territory to me.
Al

Hi Al,

Thanks for the post and welcome to the Group.

Coming from version 3.0.1 or 3.0.2, the latest firmware is primarily about a fix to the computation of the orbits for some asteroids and comets. Not all, just some.

If coming from a version prior to 3.0.0, the enhancements are significant.

I can relate to the penchant of "if it ain't broken, don't fix it".

But in providing version 3.0.3 we hope to have provided user's with a choice of whether they upgrade or not either now or at any point in the future.
Plus we are here to assist if need be.

Wishing you all the best for the New Year!

Hi Robert,

Merry Christmas, thanks for the post and welcome to the Group.

Argo Navis allows you to align on any object at any time, including as the initial alignment stars.

For example, to align on Jupiter, dial up MODE CATALOG, PLANETS, JUPITER.
Ignore any NOT ALIGNED warning.
Press EXIT.
Dial up MODE ALIGN.
Press ENTER.
The display will show ALIGN JUPITER.
Centre Jupiter in the eyepiece and press ENTER.

Likewise you could also select any of the thousands of stars in the BRIGHT STAR catalog and use it in conjunction with MODE ALIGN in precisely the same way.

You can also create your own user catalog of bright stars, load them into the unit and then use MODE CATALOG, USER OBJECT, then use a combination of the dial and the ENTER button to access your star.
Press EXIT.
MODE ALIGN. Press ENTER.
Align on your star.

By comparison, the MODE ALIGN STAR catalog is simply a convenient list whose brevity is designed for rapid access.

In a 20 Dec 2019 press release, the Planetary Science Institute describe how some 3,500 citizen scientist helped map asteroid Bennu.

PSI wrote:
When NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission spacecraft arrived at the asteroid Bennu, it discovered more rocks and boulders than envisioned. Mapping all these potential hazards was necessary to select a location to collect a sample of the surface for return to Earth. This effort was the work of multiple teams around the globe. One of those teams consisted of more than 3,500 citizen scientists who used CosmoQuest’s Bennu Mappers project to mark rocks, measure boulders, and map craters. Together, they made more than 14 million annotations of features on a global map of Bennu. CosmoQuest is a project that is based at the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Ariz. (CosmoQuest.org).

These volunteers had no way of knowing in advance if the sites they studied and mapped would be the one selected as the final sampling site for the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Folks who saw images with fewer rocks could hope “This is it!” But first, they had to first mark all the photos with hundreds of rocks and dozens of boulders so mission scientists could choose the images critical to site selection.

“It is amazing that more than 3,500 citizen scientists participated in CosmoQuest’s project to map Bennu and help mission scientists find the best place for OSIRIS-REx to collect a sample,” said Pamela L. Gay, Senior Scientist and Senior Education and Communication Specialist at PSI. “This kind of a volunteer effort makes it easier to find safe places to sample and scientifically interesting places to explore."

While the majority of people marked fewer than 10 images from the global mosaic, 68 volunteers marked 100 to 500 images, and 23 marked more than 500 pictures! Each image took as much as 45 minutes to complete, and these people put in weeks of individual effort during the four months it took to map this world.

Full press release here :-
https://www.psi.edu/news/bennusite

erick wrote:Looks like I'm running out of excuses to TPAS my SDM! Thanks Gary, next quiet evening that I am setup under a clear sky. Cheers, Eric

Hi Eric,

Welcome to the Group.

All the best for the New Year!

PLEASE NOTE THIS FIRMWARE RELEASE HAS BEEN WITHDRAWN PENDING A BUG FIX.

Wildcard Innovations is pleased to announce Argo Navis Firmware Version 3.0.3.

To show our appreciation of your support, Wildcard are providing a free license (subject to your acceptance of our End User Licence Agreement) to Version 3.0.3 to you as a gift.

Version 3.0.3 is now available for download -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/firmware_download.html

The End User Licence Agreement can be found here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/EULA.html

To download the firmware, you will need to have registered and have a copy of your Registration Code.
If you registered in the past, you will receive a reminder of your registration code by email in due course.

If you have not registered before, you will find the registration link on this page :-
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/firmware_download.html

We highly recommend that you also download the following -

* Argo Navis User Manual Edition 11.
See http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/documentation.html
This edition of the User Manual includes a description of how to install and use the latest Argonaut Version 2.0 software utility for Windows (page 160).

* Argonaut Version 2.0 software utility for Windows.
See https://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/utilities.html
A similar utility for Linux are available from the same URL.

To perform the firmware download to your unit, you will require the following additional components -

* Argonaut for Windows or sgzload for Linux.
These can be downloaded from here -
https://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/utilities.html

* A serial cable for connection to your Argo Navis from your PC, Wildcard Innovations part number pn-ser-cbl.
If you do not have a serial cable and would like to purchase one, we can supply it for AUD17.27 (approx. USD11.74) plus an additional low cost Airmail shipping rate that differs according to your region).

(Residents in Australia only, cable + GST = AUD19.00)

If your computer does not have an RS-232 serial port, we recommend you use the serial cable in conjunction with the Keyspan USA-19HS USB Serial Adapter.
Wildcard Innovations also stock these as their part number pn-usb and can supply it for AUD64.00 (approx. USD43.90) plus an additional low cost Airmail shipping rate that differs according to your region.

(Residents in Australia only, USB Serial Adapter + GST = AUD70.40)

To purchase either or both of the above you can pay securely online using MasterCard, Visa or AMEX using this URL -
https://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/purchase.html

Start by selecting your country in the pulldown menu. Australian residents will also be prompted to enter a Postcode.

The cable options appear beneath the heading "Communication and Power Cable options".

If you require a serial cable, enter a Qty of 1 in the pn-ser-cbl row.

If you require a USB Serial Adapter, enter a Qty of 1 in the pn-usb row.

Enter your name, email address, phone number, shipping address.

Then press Pay Now. This will then connect you to a secure server at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where you can enter your credit card details.

To install Argonaut Version 2.0, refer to the step-by-step instructions starting on page 161.

To determine which version of firmware your unit currently has loaded, dial up MODE STATUS, STATUS VERSION.

We recommend you use Argonaut Version 2.0 to save your existing Argo Navis setups onto your PC. See page 182 on "Transferring setups".

If you are migrating from firmware version 3.0.0 or later, Argo Navis firmware Version 3.0.3 will preserve your setups.

However, if you are migrating from an earlier version than 3.0.0, then version 3.0.3 will restore your setups to factory defaults so we highly recommend you use Argonaut to save the setups so you can restore them later.

Please note that loading Argo Navis firmware version 3.0.3 will clear any existing asteroid, comet, satellite or user catalogs you already have loaded.
You should ensure you have the original data for any catalogs you may have loaded stored on your PC so that you can reload it after performing the upgrade.

To download a firmware file from your PC to Argo Navis, please refer to page 187.

Version 3.0.3 contains the following improvements :-

* Improved solution for some comet and asteroid orbits.
* More reliable first-time power-up when real-time clock coin cell battery becomes depleted or is replaced.


Should you experience any difficulties, simply email sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au for assistance.

We thank you again for your support and we hope you enjoy Version 3.0.3.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
wildcard@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the post.

All Argo Navis units are fully compatible with the latest version of the firmware.

A new firmware version is being Beta tested at the moment and we hope to have it available very shortly.

Multiple Star System Observing Program developed by the Astronomical League

Special thanks to Al Lamperti for forwarding this Argo Navis user catalog.

Al says, it's "quite an assortment of very interesting objects".