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Post by auntym on May 1, 2014 14:04:48 GMT -6
www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html?cmpid=514648_20140501_23037964 Night Sky: May 2014, Visible Planets, Moon Phases & Eventsby SPACE.com Staff May 01, 2014 The night sky is more than just the moon and stars, if you know when and where to look. Credit: Karl Tate/SPACE.com The night sky tonight and on any clear night offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects you can see, from stars and constellations to bright planets, often the moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers. Observing the night sky can be done with no special equipment, although a sky map can be very useful, and a good beginner telescope or binoculars will enhance some experiences and bring some otherwise invisible objects into view. Below, find out what’s up in the night sky tonight (Planets Visible Now, Moon Phases, Observing Highlights This Month) plus other resources (Skywatching Terms, Night Sky Observing Tips and Further Reading). Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com. Monthly skywatching information is provided to SPACE.com by Geoff Gaherty of Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @starrynightedu. Sky Events May 2014Moon Phases Tuesday, May 6, 11:15 p.m. EDT First Quarter Moon The First Quarter Moon rises around 12:15 p.m. and sets around 2:15 a.m. It dominates the evening sky. MORE INFO/ CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html?cmpid=514648_20140501_23037964
STARRY NIGHT SKY CHART: www.starrynighteducation.com/skychart/#Req=4&LatD=43&LatM=40&LatRG=N&LonD=79&LonM=24&LonRG=W&HH=09&Min=00&AmPm=2&MM=5&DD=1&YY=2014&DST=Yes&SD=Yes&LocMMA=&LabStar=Yes&Lab=Yes&Cons=Yes&Hor=Yes&SG=&PW=410&PH=358&Az=180&FOV=90&Alt=25&Elev=3&LocN=Earth&Explore=No& FREE ASTRONOMY TEACHING RESOURCES: astronomy.starrynight.com/content/free-astronomy-teaching-resources
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Post by auntym on Aug 3, 2015 13:49:18 GMT -6
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Post by auntym on Sept 2, 2015 10:26:28 GMT -6
www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html
Night Sky: Visible Planets, Moon Phases & Events, September 2015by Geoff Gaherty, Starry Night Education September 01, 2015 The night sky tonight and on any clear night offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects you can see, from stars and constellations to bright planets, often the moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers. Observing the night sky can be done with no special equipment, although a sky map can be very useful, and a good beginner telescope or binoculars will enhance some experiences and bring some otherwise invisible objects into view. You can also use astronomy accessories to make your observing easier. Below, find out what’s up in the night sky tonight (Planets Visible Now, Moon Phases, Observing Highlights This Month) plus other resources (Skywatching Terms, Night Sky Observing Tips and Further Reading). The night sky is more than just the moon and stars, if you know when and where to look. Credit: Karl Tate/SPACE.com View full size image Monthly skywatching information is provided to Space.com by Geoff Gaherty of Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @starrynightedu. Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com. [Related: 10 Must-See Stargazing Events to Look Up for in 2015]
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Post by auntym on Oct 5, 2015 11:47:01 GMT -6
WHAT'S UP IN THE OCTOBER SKY
Published on Oct 1, 2015
To celebrate the 100th episode of What's Up, here's our top ten favorite celestial targets you can view this month.
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Post by auntym on Nov 4, 2015 15:47:35 GMT -6
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Post by auntym on Jan 2, 2016 15:08:58 GMT -6
nasa.tumblr.com/post/136399594614/whats-up-for-january NASA What’s Up for January 2016? A meteor shower, a binocular comet and the winter circle of stars. Here are the details:
Quadrantid Meteor Shower: The Quadrantid meteor shower on Jan. 4 will either sizzle or fizzle for observers in the U.S. The shower may favor the U.S. or it could favor Europe depending on which prediction turns out to be correct. For viewing in the United States, observers should start at 3 a.m. EST. The peak should last about two hours with rates of 120 meteors per hour predicted in areas with a dark sky. MORE: nasa.tumblr.com/post/136399594614/whats-up-for-january
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Post by auntym on Jan 9, 2016 14:16:42 GMT -6
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Post by lois on Jan 9, 2016 19:44:54 GMT -6
Thank you auntym I wrote them down.
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Post by auntym on Feb 1, 2016 15:23:58 GMT -6
WHAT'S UP FOR FEBRUARY 2016
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Post by auntym on Mar 2, 2016 14:17:16 GMT -6
www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html?cmpid=514648_20160302_58851396&adbid=705037505280606212&adbpl=tw&adbpr=15431856 Night Sky: Visible Planets, Moon Phases & Events, March 2016By Geoff Gaherty, Starry Night Education March 1, 2016 The night sky tonight and on any clear night offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects you can see, from stars and constellations to bright planets, often the moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers. Observing the night sky can be done with no special equipment, although a sky map can be very useful, and a good beginner telescope or binoculars will enhance some experiences and bring some otherwise invisible objects into view. You can also use astronomy accessories to make your observing easier. Below, find out what's up in the night sky tonight (Planets Visible Now, Moon Phases, Observing Highlights This Month) plus other resources (Skywatching Terms, Night Sky Observing Tips and Further Reading). The night sky is more than just the moon and stars, if you know when and where to look. Credit: Karl Tate/SPACE.com Monthly skywatching information is provided to Space.com by Geoff Gaherty of Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @starrynightedu. Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo you'd like to share for a possible story or image gallery, please contact managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com. [Related: The 12 Must-See Stargazing Events to Look Up for in 2016] *Tuesday, March 1, 6:11 p.m. EST Last Quarter Moon, March 2016 The Last Quarter Moon rises around 12:45 a.m. and sets around 11 a.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky. This is the first of two Last Quarter Moons this month. *Tuesday, March 8, 8:54 p.m. EST New Moon, March 2016 The moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an evening or two after New Moon. *Tuesday, March 15, 1:03 p.m. EDT First Quarter Moon, March 2016 The First Quarter Moon rises around noon and sets around 3:15 a.m. It dominates the evening sky. CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/16149-night-sky.html?cmpid=514648_20160302_58851396&adbid=705037505280606212&adbpl=tw&adbpr=15431856
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Post by auntym on Apr 1, 2016 16:26:53 GMT -6
WHAT'S UP FOR APRIL, 2016
What's Up for April 2016 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Published on Mar 31, 2016
Where to look in the night sky this month for Jupiter, Mars, the Lyrid meteor shower and 2016’s best views of Mercury.
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Post by auntym on May 31, 2016 14:50:09 GMT -6
NASA @nasa May 30
Get outside to see a burnt orange Mars and a golden yellow Saturn in the night sky. Find out when and where to look: ScienceCasts: Red and Golden Planets at Opposition Mars and Saturn are getting together in the constellation Scorpius for back-to-back oppositions in May and June 2016.Published on May 20, 2016
Visit science.nasa.gov/ for more.
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Post by auntym on May 31, 2016 15:51:09 GMT -6
really nice video for skywatching in june...'Finest' Double Stars, Bright Cluster and Planets In June 2016 Skywatching | VideoThe constellation of Boötes (the Herdsman) is home to double star Epsilon Boötis - also known as Izar. Through binoculars the color contrast of the stars can be amazing. Within the Hercules constellation you can find M13 globular star cluster, home to about a million stars. Also, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn are great through a telescope. [Best Telescopes For The Money] credit : Space Telescope Science Institute, Office of Public Outreach CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO: www.space.com/33033-finest-double-stars-bright-cluster-and-planets-in-june-2016-skywatching-video.html?cmpid=514648
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Post by auntym on Jun 2, 2016 15:14:23 GMT -6
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Post by auntym on Jun 18, 2016 12:47:21 GMT -6
www.space.com/33212-moon-shares-encounter-with-saturn-tonight.html?cmpid=514648 Moon Shares Encounter with Saturn TonightBy Joe Rao, SPACE.com Skywatching Columnist June 18, 2016 This sky map shows the location of Saturn and the moon on June 18, 2016 as seen at 9 p.m. local time from mid-northern latitudes. Jupiter is also visible, as shown. Credit: Starry Night Software I'm always being asked by those who have just purchased a telescope when and where they can see the planet Saturn. Saturn, of course, is one of the most impressive objects visible in a telescope, chiefly due to its magnificent ring system. It is usually stated that Saturn is the most beautiful sight in the sky and if you have ever seen a photograph of it you will find that such a judgement is difficult to argue with. There is absolutely nothing else like it to be seen anywhere. The chief problem, especially for neophytes to astronomy is making a positive identification. Certainly there is no problem in finding the moon and some of the other planets. [Sky Maps for the Best Night Sky Sights of June] www.space.com/33069-best-night-sky-events.html Case in point: Right now Jupiter can be immediately identified in the western sky after sunset, thanks chiefly to its great brilliance. And when Mars is close to Earth as it is right now and also quite brilliant in the southeast sky as darkness falls, we can immediately recognize it by its distinctive fiery orange color. And yet to the naked eye there isn't really anything distinctive about Saturn. True, it appears as a bright "star" shining with a steady, sedate yellow-white glow, but it really isn’t all that eye-catching. Indeed, many beginners may have passed over it visually without knowing exactly what it is. Some nearby benchmark would certainly help to guide one to it. Saturday (June 18) is just that night! About one hour after sunset, look toward the south-southeast sky. Roughly one-quarter up from the horizon to the point overhead will be a nearly full moon, its disk illuminated roughly 98-percent by the sun. And hovering just about 2.5 to 3 degrees to the moon's lower right you'll see a bright yellowish-white "star" shining with a steady glow. And that will be Saturn. How easy is that? Now properly identified, if you have a telescope, and have never seen the "lord of the rings," you can finally try it out on Saturn. Any telescope magnifying more than 30-power will show them. A 4-inch telescope at 100X or an 8-inch telescope at 200X will provide a memorable view. The rings consist of billions of particles ranging in size from sand grains to flying mountains, which are made of – or covered by – water ice. This would account for their very high reflectivity. The reason that "rings" is plural and not singular is that gaps of brightness differences define distinct sets of rings. Right now, the north side of the rings are tilted 26 degrees toward Earth. They haven't been this wide-open since May of 2004, so now is a good time to check them out. In fact, the rings are currently tilted almost to their maximum angle toward Earth. The rings now extend beyond both the north and south poles of Saturn, affording a clear view of their outer perimeter all around. CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/33212-moon-shares-encounter-with-saturn-tonight.html?cmpid=514648
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Post by auntym on Jul 1, 2017 11:57:50 GMT -6
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Post by auntym on Jul 2, 2017 19:04:09 GMT -6
www.space.com/37066-smartphone-astronomy-toolbox-mobile-apps.htmlTurn Your Smartphone into an Astronomy Toolbox with Mobile AppsBy Chris Vaughan, SkySafari Software June 2, 2017 With the right apps installed, your phone becomes a powerful pocket toolkit for your astronomy hobby. Its GPS, compass and gyro sensors help to level and align your telescope, apps such as Astronomy Tools Night Sky provide cloud cover maps and more, and the Observer Pro-Astronomy Planner app indicates the best times to see particular objects. Credit: SkySafari App, Observer Pro-Astronomy Planner and Astronomy Tools Night SkyThe phone in your pocket is a veritable Swiss Army knife of functionality for both casual stargazers and serious astronomers. In this edition of Mobile Astronomy, we'll look at the ways your phone, when loaded with the right apps, can enhance your astronomy hobby as you plan your observing sessions, set up your telescope, record your observations and much more. Planning your observing session on your phoneYour phone's usefulness for astronomy starts well before you pack up your telescope or cameras and leave the house. It can help you find and navigate to an observing site. It also lets you check the location's weather forecast to decide whether to make the drive. When seeking a new dark observing site, I like to consult light pollution maps. The Dark Site Finder website uses a Google Maps interface overlaid with color-coded light pollution data. White, red and orange tones indicate extremely light-polluted areas that are poor for skywatching. Yellow means moderate light pollution, and green through black indicate the darkest skies. You can pan and zoom in and out on the map to find darker skies within a reasonable driving distance (or check the skies at your upcoming vacation spot). www.space.com/35194-planet-skywatching-guide-2017.htmlState and national parks are usually good bets for pristine skies, but you should check their after-dark policies for visitors. For privately held property, you must get permission from the owner (preferably during the daytime). They'll often be happy to host you and a few friends if you are quiet, leave the area as you found it and offer to show them a few objects. If you are traveling to a remote location, be sure to file a "flight plan" with loved ones, and use your phone to confirm that you've arrived safely. Your stock Maps app will navigate you to a new observing site. But consider downloading the area as an offline map while you're still home, in case the cell coverage is spotty or nonexistent on-site. Your usual weather forecasting app will tell you whether it's cloudy or clear, as well as the temperature and the chance of rain. But for observing, other factors are important, too. How steady will the air be? Rough air makes stars twinkle and blurs the view. Will the air be heavy with moisture and hazy, or dry and transparent? Will your telescope or camera become coated with dew? The free Clear Outside app for Android and iOS provides nearly everything a skywatcher will need to know about the observing conditions. In a graphical format, it shows predicted hourly cloud-cover values, visibility (i.e., sky transparency), and the likelihood of fog, rain, wind and frost. It indicates when the sky will be fully dark after sunset and before sunrise, the contribution of moonlight, and even when the International Space Station will fly overhead! Other favorites — the free Clear Sky Droid app for Android and iCSC: Clear Sky Chart Viewer app for iOS —use the popular Clear Dark Sky website. Both let you select from a list of weather station sites throughout North America. They provide an hourly breakdown, in a graphical format, of the cloud cover, transparency, seeing, darkness, wind, humidity and temperature for the next 48 hours. Note that the information is based on future weather models that are updated only about twice per day, not in real time. CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/37066-smartphone-astronomy-toolbox-mobile-apps.html
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Post by auntym on Sept 6, 2017 22:12:59 GMT -6
nasa.tumblr.com/post/165044365319/whats-up-for-september-2017 What’s Up for September 2017?Set your sights beyond the solar system and take a late summertime road trip along the Milky Way!On September 15 the Cassini spacecraft ends its glorious Saturnian science tour by plunging into the atmosphere of Saturn, becoming forever a part of the ringed planet. Learn more about the end of mission activities HERE: www.nasa.gov/press-release/goddard/2017/public-invited-to-goddard-to-celebrate-cassini-grand-finaleThis month Saturn is the only prominent evening planet low in the southwest sky. Look for it near the constellation Sagittarius. Above and below Saturn–from a dark sky–you can’t miss the summer Milky Way spanning the sky from northeast to southwest. Grab a pair of binoculars and scan the teapot-shaped Sagittarius, where stars and some brighter clumps appear as steam from the teapot. Those bright clumps are near the center of our galaxy, which is full of gas, dust and stars. Directly overhead is the great Summer Triangle of stars. Vega, Altair and Deneb are in the pretty constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus. CONTINUE READING: nasa.tumblr.com/post/165044365319/whats-up-for-september-2017
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Post by auntym on Oct 1, 2017 18:03:57 GMT -6
nasa.tumblr.com/post/165931972929/whats-up-october-2017 What’s Up October 2017Planet Pairs, Stellar Superstars, Observe The Moon Night!! This month, catch planet pairs, our moon near red stars, an asteroid, meteors and International Observe the Moon Night!You can’t miss bright Venus in the predawn sky. Look for fainter Mars below Venus on the 1st, really close on the 5th, and above Venus after that.Midmonth, the moon is visible near Regulus, the white starry heart of the constellation Leo.In the October 8-11 predawn sky watch the moon glide near the Pleiades star cluster and pass near the red stars Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus and Betelgeuse in Orion. CONTINUE READING: nasa.tumblr.com/post/165931972929/whats-up-october-2017
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Post by auntym on Jan 1, 2018 15:21:24 GMT -6
www.space.com/33619-visible-planets-guide.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2016twitterdlvrit The Brightest Planets in January's Night Sky: How to See them (and When)By Joe Rao, Space.com Skywatching Columnist / January 1, 2018 As the New Year opens, we find the evening sky completely devoid of any bright planets. All of the action takes place well after the witching hour of midnight, but there is a lot to be seen early in the month for those who set their alarm clocks and rise before the sun. Jupiter and Mars come up over the east-southeast horizon by 3 a.m. and are near to each other for the first half of the month; interacting closely with each other with a tight conjunction on the morning of the 7th. We must wait until after the break of dawn to catch Saturn, very low near the east-southeast horizon during the second week of January, but it too will have a companion: Mercury; interesting how the speedy messenger of the gods will have a meeting with the slow-moving god of time on the morning of the 13th. The only planet completely out of the loop is the one that usually dominates all the others: Venus. But she is in the midst of making a slow transition from the morning to the evening sky and will not return for viewing until next month. In our schedule, remember that when measuring the angular separation between two celestial objects, your clenched fist held at arm's length measures roughly 10-degrees. Here, we present a schedule below which provides some of the best planet viewing times as well directing you as to where to look to see them. On Monday, January 1, Mercury will reach its greatest angle west of the sun, when it will be visible low in the eastern sky for about an hour before sunrise. In a telescope the planet will exhibit a waxing gibbous phase. With Mercury well above a shallow morning ecliptic (green line), this apparition is a good one for northern hemisphere observers, but a poor one for observers in the southern hemisphere. Credit: SkySafari AppMercury – Mercury stands at greatest elongation (23-degrees west of the sun) on New Year's Day. During the first week of the New Year, as seen from mid-northern latitudes, this speedy zero magnitude planet rises in the southeast before morning twilight begins. This favorable circumstance will not recur until December 2018. Mercury can be easily followed with the naked eye until about the 15th (passing a dimmer Saturn along the way on the 13th) and then as it sinks back into the increasingly bright twilight glow, you can then track it with binoculars for perhaps another week. CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/33619-visible-planets-guide.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2016twitterdlvrit
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Post by auntym on Jan 12, 2018 15:52:17 GMT -6
www.space.com/39378-taurus-constellation-skywatching-guide.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2016twitterdlvrit Winter Skywatching: See Taurus, the Angry BullBy Joe Rao, Space.com Skywatching Columnist January 12, 2018 Winter Skywatching: See Taurus, the Angry Bull Taurus is the first of the bright winter constellations to rise, carried high in the southern sky by late evening every December. The bull is tilted over as if charging nearby Gemini and Orion. His triangular face features the bright-orange star Aldebaran and many easy-to-observe double stars. Credit: SkySafari AppManuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez (1917-1947), better known as Manolete, is considered by some to be the greatest bullfighter of all time. Of course, Manolete faced down his bovine opponents in a bullfighting ring with a large crowd looking on. It is a bit of a different scenario in our current night sky, where we can see another form of bullfight, this one between a charging bull and a mighty hunter. Our "Manolete of the sky" is none other than Orion, the most prominent constellation. And he is certainly doing battle with a "bullish" competitor: Taurus, the Bull. In a modern bullfight, the matador uses a special lance (a pica) and banderillas (little flags), as well as his emblematic cape. But Orion is equipped with a club, a sword and a lion's skin for a shield. [Constellations of the Night Sky: Famous Star Patterns Explained (Images)] The most powerful Taurus appears to be descended from a mythical heavenly Sumerian bull, an animal that used its great horns to open up the year and usher in spring, to plough the long furrow of the sky that was the zodiac. This association with springtime came about because the stars of Taurus became prominent in the sky around the vernal (spring) equinox from about 4500 B.C. to 2000 B.C. During this time, the equinox was the most important date in the year. For the Sumerians, it was a time of rejoicing, their equivalent of New Year's Day, when the dark and cold winter season was ending and there was a feeling of new life in the air. Thus, for a long time, Taurus was the first and most powerful of the zodiacal constellations. This week, the constellation Taurus is positioned at its highest point in the south and nearly overhead at around 9 p.m. local time. When I give shows under the sky of the "pretend universe" of a planetarium or conduct star-identification sessions under the real sky, I always identify Taurus as an angry bull. But why is he so angry?Hardly second-rate Hubble Space Telescope image of bright and beautiful cosmic clumps in the constellation Taurus, the Bull. Credit: ESA/Hubble and NASALast month, I wrote a column about how, at this time of year, stargazers seem to concentrate solely on Orion, while all the other constellations surrounding him are seemingly nothing more than celestial second-stringers or part of a supporting cast. I used the analogy of a house spangled with Christmas lights while nearby homes are more modestly decorated. Perhaps Taurus is angry because he feels he shouldn't be considered a mere second banana to Orion (and consequently wants to take his frustration out on the hunter). Indeed, that anger at second billing is justified; our Heavenly Bull contains a wealth of interesting objects to see, and among all the star patterns, should certainly be categorized as first-rate. CONTINUE READING: www.space.com/39378-taurus-constellation-skywatching-guide.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social#?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2016twitterdlvrit
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Post by auntym on Feb 2, 2018 16:59:15 GMT -6
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Post by auntym on Mar 2, 2018 17:04:47 GMT -6
nasa.tumblr.com/post/171460974154/whats-up-march-2018 What’s Up For March 2018Several Planets and the Zodiacal Light! This month, at sunset, catch elusive Mercury, bright Venus, the Zodiacal Light, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter between midnight and dawn!Both Venus and Mercury play the part of “evening stars” this month. At the beginning of the month they appear low on the western horizon. The Moon itself joins the pair from March 18th through the 20th. The Moon skims by the Pleiades star cluster and Taurus’s bright red star Aldebaran on the next few evenings, March 21 through the 23rd.Jupiter, king of the planets, rises just before midnight this month and earlier by month end.
MORE: nasa.tumblr.com/post/171460974154/whats-up-march-2018
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Post by auntym on Mar 15, 2018 14:50:11 GMT -6
www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2018/03/the-sky-this-week-for-march-9-to-18 The sky this week for March 9 to 18Mars and Saturn flank the Moon, Jupiter shines in Libra, and Mercury reaches peak altitude in the sky this week.By Richard Talcott / www.astronomy.com/authors/richard-talcott Published: Friday, March 9, 2018 Thursday, March 15Mercury reaches greatest elongation at 11 a.m. EDT, and tonight marks the peak of its best evening apparition of 2018 for Northern Hemisphere observers. The innermost planet lies 18° east of the Sun and stands 12° high in the west a half-hour after sunset. It shines at magnitude –0.4 and shows up well against the darkening sky. But the easiest way to find it is to locate brilliant Venus and then look 4° to the upper right. The two inner planets fit nicely in a single binocular field of view. A view of Mercury through a telescope reveals an 7"-diameter disk that appears slightly less than half-lit. (Venus spans 10" and is nearly full.) Use brilliant Venus as a guide to locating Mercury as it reaches its peak altitude for the year in mid-March. Astronomy: Roen Kelly Friday, March 16One of the sky’s largest asterisms — a recognizable pattern of stars separate from a constellation’s form — occupies center stage after darkness falls on March evenings. To trace the so-called Winter Hexagon, start with southern Orion’s luminary, Rigel. From there, the hexagon makes a clockwise loop. The second stop is brilliant Sirius in Canis Major. Next, pick up Procyon in the faint constellation Canis Minor, then the twins Castor and Pollux in Gemini, followed by Capella in Auriga, Aldebaran in Taurus, and finally back to Rigel. Saturday, March 17New Moon occurs at 9:12 a.m. EDT. At its New phase, the Moon crosses the sky with the Sun and so remains hidden in our star’s glare. Mercury and Venus have their second close conjunction of March this evening. Innermost Mercury passes 4° due north (upper right) of its neighbor at 9 p.m. EDT. Sunday, March 18With an age of 4.5 billion years, “young” might not seem an appropriate word to describe our Moon. But tonight, you have an exceptional opportunity to see what astronomers call a “young Moon” — a slender crescent visible in the early evening sky. With New Moon having occurred yesterday morning, only 2 percent of our satellite’s disk appears illuminated after sunset tonight. It forms a spectacular trio with Venus 4° to its right and Mercury 4° farther away. You should notice an ashen light faintly illuminating the Moon’s dark side. This is “earthshine,” sunlight reflected by Earth that reaches the Moon and then reflects back to our waiting eyes. www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2018/03/the-sky-this-week-for-march-9-to-18
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Post by auntym on Mar 26, 2018 15:35:47 GMT -6
www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2018/03/the-sky-this-week-for-march-23-to-april-4
The sky this week for March 23 to April 1 Venus and Jupiter shine brightly, Orion the Hunter stands out, and Mercury reaches inferior conjunction, all in the sky this week.By Richard Talcott / www.astronomy.com/authors/richard-talcott Published: Friday, March 23, 2018 Wikimedia Commons Friday, March 23Brilliant Venus appears low in evening twilight all week. Look for the blazing point of light about 10° above the western horizon starting 30 minutes after sunset. The planet shines at magnitude –3.9 and is by far the brightest object in the night sky after the Moon. If you target the planet through binoculars this evening, you’ll likely receive a bonus with your final sighting of Mercury during its current apparition. The innermost planet lies 6° (about one binocular field) to Venus’ lower right. Mercury glows at 2nd magnitude and just barely shines through the bright twilight. Saturday, March 24First Quarter Moon arrives at 11:35 a.m. EDT. Although our satellite rises around noon local daylight time, it becomes much more prominent as darkness falls. It then lies due south and some 70° above the horizon. The Moon spends the night at the feet of Gemini the Twins, above the more familiar shape of Orion the Hunter, and sets around 3 a.m. local daylight time. Sunday, March 25Head outside during the morning hours and you can’t miss Jupiter. The giant planet rises shortly after 11 p.m. local daylight time and climbs highest in the south around 4 a.m. Jupiter shines at magnitude –2.3, which makes it the brightest point of light in the predawn sky, and resides among the much dimmer stars of the constellation Libra. A telescope reveals the planet’s 42"-diameter disk and four bright moons. This morning, all four satellites line up west of the gas giant. This color-enhanced image from NASA’s Juno spacecraft captures the details of Jupiter’s many swirling cyclones scattered around the gas giant. NASA/SWRI/MSSS Monday, March 26Saturn rises a little before 3 a.m. local daylight time and climbs some 20° high in the southeast by 5 a.m. The ringed planet shines at magnitude 0.5 and lies in northern Sagittarius the Archer, some 4° east of similarly bright Mars. When viewed through a telescope, Saturn shows a 17"-diameter disk surrounded by a stunning ring system that spans 37" and tilts 26° to our line of sight. The Moon reaches perigee, the closest point in its orbit around Earth, at 1:17 p.m. EDT. It then lies 229,352 miles (369,106 kilometers) away from us. Tuesday, March 27Orion the Hunter stands out in the southwest as darkness falls this week. The conspicuous constellation appears slightly askew compared with its appearance in winter’s evening sky. Now, the three-star belt is aligned parallel to the horizon while blue-white Rigel hangs directly below the belt and ruddy Betelgeuse stands directly above. Wednesday, March 28Mars rises a bit before 3 a.m. local daylight time and appears about 20° high in the southeast by 5 a.m. The magnitude 0.3 Red Planet lies against the backdrop of northern Sagittarius. Its eastward motion relative to the background stars carries it to a position 3° west-southwest of Saturn this morning, while the 7th-magnitude globular star cluster M28 lies 1.3° south of Mars. As the Red Planet’s eastward sojourn continues, it will pass within 1.5° of Saturn in early April. When viewed through a telescope this morning, Mars shows an 8"-diameter disk and a few subtle surface details. Venus has a close conjunction with Uranus this evening. From North America, the two planets lie a mere 4' apart — less than 15 percent the diameter of the Full Moon. This is the closest the two worlds have been since the same date in 2003. Uranus glows at 6th magnitude, however, and will be a challenge to see in twilight. Track Venus through binoculars as the sky darkens and watch for the more distant planet to pop into view. Thursday, March 29Although the dwarf planet Ceres reached opposition and peak visibility in late January, it remains a fine sight. It currently shines at magnitude 7.9 and is an easy object to spot through binoculars. The largest member of the asteroid belt resides in the northern part of the constellation Cancer the Crab, which appears nearly overhead around 9 p.m. local daylight time. This evening, Ceres lies 2.6° north-northwest of the magnitude 4.0 star Iota (ι) Cancri. The star marking the bend of the Big Dipper’s handle is actually a double star. Mizar shines about six times brighter than its companion, Alcor. Shawn E. Gano Friday, March 30The Big Dipper’s familiar shape rides high in the northeast on evenings in late March. The spring sky’s finest binocular double star marks the bend of the Dipper’s handle. Mizar shines at 2nd magnitude, some six times brighter than its 4th-magnitude companion, Alcor. Even though these two are not physically related, they make a fine sight through binoculars. (People with good eyesight often can split the pair without optical aid.) A small telescope reveals Mizar itself as double — and these components do orbit each other. Saturday, March 31Full Moon occurs at 8:37 a.m. EDT, but our satellite will look completely illuminated all night. You can find it rising in the east shortly after sunset and peaking in the south around 2 a.m. local daylight time. The Moon lies among the background stars of central Virgo, a little less than 10° north of the Maiden’s luminary, 1st-magniutde Spica. Sunday, April 1Mercury reaches inferior conjunction, passing between the Sun and Earth, at 2 p.m. EDT. The innermost planet will return to view before dawn in late April. www.astronomy.com/observing/sky-this-week/2018/03/the-sky-this-week-for-march-23-to-april-4
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Post by auntym on Apr 17, 2018 17:22:28 GMT -6
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Post by lois on Apr 17, 2018 22:56:52 GMT -6
Thank you auntym. We have been below freezing for several nights. Warming up in a few days and hopefully the sky will be clear. We just keep having rain. I will be out there if luck is with me.
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Post by auntym on May 1, 2018 17:25:09 GMT -6
NASA Verified account @nasa
What’s up for May? Jupiter, king of the planets, reigns in the evening sky, our @nasainsight Lander lights up the night in pursuit of a visible Mars and a mild meteor shower might be visible before dawn.
WHAT'S UP FOR MAY, 2018
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Post by auntym on Jun 27, 2018 16:12:25 GMT -6
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Post by auntym on Sept 13, 2018 14:35:33 GMT -6
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