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Posts tagged with "Stargazing"

Stargazing: Observing Saturn

Monday, 5. March 2007, 15:36:06

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Saturn and some of its major moons

Magnitude: + 0.1
Angular Diameter: 19.8 arc-seconds (disk), 44.9 arc-seconds (visible rings)

Saturn, just past opposition, is riding high in the sky virtually all night. The planet lies in Leo, roughly 10° from that constellation's brightest star, Regulus. On the evening of March 1st, the Moon pairs with Saturn as they both rise in the east after sunset; only 1/2° (barely a Moon-width) separates them.


March is an excellent month for observing Saturn through a telescope; the planet quickly rises above the horizon to provide the best views. The rings, of course, are its most noticeable feature. A small instrument will reveal the broad, bright A and B rings, and the narrow Cassini Division between them. A larger instrument may reveal the much fainter inner C ring, and perhaps some subtle atmospheric bands on the planet's disk. Finally, of course, a handful of moons are visible in amateur telescopes: Titan, Rhea, Tethys, Dione, and perhaps Iapetus and tiny Enceladus.

RELATED LINKS:

* Positions of major moons
* CASSINI AT SATURN - Present Position
* Ephemerides
* Interactive Sky Chart
* This month´s starchart


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Stargazing tonight through June 7, 2006

Thursday, 1. June 2006, 10:20:09

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June 1, 2006
Look for a beautiful alignment in the west this evening: the Moon, a bright star, and two planets. We continue following the waxing crescent moon in its nightly eastward trek across the west-southwest sky in early evening. Tonight, the moon trails the constellation Leo the Lion. You can picture the lion shape of Leo -- the sickle-shaped asterism that looks like it’s about to hook the moon on the chart is the lion’s head, and the triangle on the left end of the constellation is the lion’s hind legs. There are many myths behind the constellation Leo. One account says that Zeus placed it among the stars simply to honor the animal as the king of all beasts. Another account says that it represents the first labor of Heracles, who sought fame and glory through acts of courage. In this labor, he killed a lion by strangling it with his bear hands. -Lisa Atkinson

June 2, 2006
Today's chart is still set for west-southwest in early evening. Tonight, the star nearest the waxing crescent moon is the star Regulus, also known as the "heart of the lion" in the constellation Leo the Lion. Its name means "little king," and it's located some 77 light-years away. Notice the backwards question mark pattern of the Lion -- Regulus marks the bottom tip of the question mark. This pattern is an "asterism" -- or noticeable pattern of stars -- within the constellation Leo. It's called the Sickle, and it represents the head and shoulders of the Lion. -Lisa Atkinson

June 3, 2006
Most everybody can see the first quarter moon in the southwest and bright Jupiter in the south tonight in early evening. The constellation Leo the Lion is also easy to see tonight -- look for the Lion's head and shoulders as a prominent "backwards question mark" pattern, just to the right of the moon. But the other constellation marked on today's chart -- Hydra -- requires a dark country sky and a clear view toward the south-southwestern horizon about one hour after sunset to be seen in the evening this month. Hydra represents the Water Snake. This constellation is huge -- covering nearly one-third of the celestial sphere. If anything, you should be able to pick out the Heart of the Snake -- the orange-ish 2nd-magnitude star Alphard. In Greek mythology, the Water Snake is best known for his role in this myth: Corvus the Crow was seen as the cup bearer to Apollo, god of the sun. One time, the crow was summoned to carry water from a sacred spring for a sacrifice that was to take place. However, on his way, he caught sight of a unripened fig tree, and so tempted by it, decided to abandon his mission to wait for its ripening. After a while, the tree ripened and Corvus ate the figs. It was only then that he remembered his forgotten task and, knowing that Apollo would be angry, grasped a water-snake that had inhabited the sacred spring in his claws and brought it and the water-cup before Apollo. He asserted before the god that he was unable to complete his duties in a timely manner due to the water-snake attacking him. Apollo, who knew better, became angry and bestowed upon Corvus the punishment of perpetual thirst. As an added bonus, Apollo also flung Corvus, the water-cup, and the water-snake into the air (as an example to others who might disobey gods) and placed them in the sky in the shapes of the constellations Corvus the crow, Crater the water-cup, and Hydra the water-snake, respectively. -Lisa Atkinson

June 4, 2006
Tonight the waxing gibbous moon is near a lone shining orange object high in the south-southeast in early evening. This star is Arcturus, known in skylore as the "bear watcher," referring to its proximity to the constellation Ursa Major, the Greater Bear. Arcturus is a giant star with an estimated distance of 37 light-years. It's special because it's not moving with the general stream of stars, in the flat disk of the Milky Way galaxy. Instead, Arcturus is cutting perpendicularly through the galaxy's disk at a tremendous rate of speed . . . some 150 kilometers per second. As you stand gazing eastward tonight, you’ll find the moon high in the south, the bright planet Jupiter in the south-southeast and Arcturus higher in the sky over Jupiter. -Lisa Atkinson, Deborah Byrd.

June 5, 2006
Today's chart is set in the south in early evening. The very bright star to the left of the waxing gibbous moon is the planet Jupiter. You may catch a less bright object between the moon and Jupiter -- the star Spica, the brightest light of the constellation Virgo the Maiden. Spica looks like one star, but this single point of light is really a multiple star system -- with at least three member stars -- located an estimated distance of 262 light-years away. Binoculars would be helpful for tonight's chart as the moon is brightly illuminated, making naked eye views of Spica somewhat difficult. -Lisa Atkinson

June 6, 2006
Today's chart is set in the south-southeast in early evening. The waxing gibbous moon will have moved eastward (as it always does) in its nightly trek across the our sky, and will be located nearer to the star Spica of the constellation Virgo the Maiden. For more about Spica, see yesterday's chart.-Lisa Atkinson

June 7, 2006
Tonight's chart depicts the fattening moon sliding in between the bright planet Jupiter and Spica, creating a lovely early evening pattern. -Lisa Atkinson



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What's Up in Space -- 1 Jun 2006

Thursday, 1. June 2006, 05:58:26

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METEOR WATCH: On May 31st, Earth will pass five million miles from the dusty orbit of comet 73P/Schwassmann Wachmann 3. The great distance means a meteor shower is unlikely; but 73P is such a strange comet that even the unlikely is possible. Be alert for meteors slowly cutting across the sky in the nights ahead: sky map.

SATURN & THE MOON: When the sun goes down tonight, step outside and look west. The crescent Moon and Saturn will pop out of the twilight side-by side--a pretty pair. The alignment kicks off a series of remarkable events in the nights ahead: full story.
Image credit: Roen Kelly of Astronomy magazine.


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Sun and Moon Data for One Day

Sunday, 9. April 2006, 23:03:05

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The following information is provided for Mexico (longitude W103.3, latitude N20.3):

Sunday
9 April 2006 Universal Time

SUN
Begin civil twilight 12:17
Sunrise 12:40
Sun transit 18:55
Sunset 01:10 on following day
End civil twilight 01:32 on following day

MOON
Moonrise 21:20 on preceding day
Moon transit 03:55
Moonset 10:25
Moonrise 22:10
Moonset 10:57 on following day



Phase of the Moon on 9 April: waxing gibbous with 85% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.

First quarter Moon on 5 April 2006 at 12:01 Universal Time.
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Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day is available from the U.S. Naval Observatory.

You can obtain the times of sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, transits of the Sun and Moon, and the beginning and end of civil twilight, along with information on the Moon's phase by specifying the date and location in one of the two forms below and clicking on the "Get data" button at the end of the form.

Use Form A for cities or towns in the U.S. or its territories. Use Form B for all other locations. Both forms are immediately below.

Be sure to read the Notes section, located after the two forms, especially if you wish to use these data for legal purposes.

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Weekly Stargazing Tips: April 9 -15, 2006

Sunday, 9. April 2006, 22:38:28

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April 9, 2006
As the gibbous Moon climbs overhead tonight, look at the light and dark features on its mottled surface -- mountains and plains that formed long ago. Other than Earth, the Moon is the only body in the universe whose features are easily visible to the unaided eye.

April 10, 2006
Three of the "stars" of spring are climbing higher into the evening sky. Around 10 p.m., look overhead for Regulus in Leo, the lion. In the east-southeast, look for Spica, in Virgo. And well to the left of Spica, look for yellow-orange Arcturus, in Bootes, the herdsman.

April 11, 2006
The Big Dipper stands high in the north late this evening, its bowl spilling toward the northern horizon. Leo, the lion, stands in the southwest, while Cygnus, the swan, soars through the Milky Way in the northeast.

April 12, 2006
The constellation Antlia, the air pump, scoots low across the southern sky this month. French astronomer Nicolas Lacaille named it during the 18th century. Antlia looks like a long, skinny triangle. It is so faint that it's visible only from areas with no light pollution.

April 13, 2006
The star that appears below or to the lower left of the full Moon tonight is Spica, the brightest star of Virgo, the virgin. The full Moon of April is known as the Milk Moon.

April 14, 2006
The giant planet Jupiter tags along with the full Moon tonight. They rise around 9 or 10 o'clock. Jupiter looks like a brilliant star. It's to the left of the Moon as they rise, and above the Moon at first light tomorrow.

April 15, 2006
The star cluster M35 sits near the "feet" of the twins of Gemini. It is especially easy to pick out now because Mars is passing close by. Mars is high in the west at nightfall, and looks like a bright orange star. Tonight, M35 is just to the upper left of Mars. Binoculars will reveal quite a few of its brightest stars.

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SKY CALENDAR - March 2006

Wednesday, 1. March 2006, 15:03:31

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Sunday, 5
Moon very near the Pleiades at 15h UT (evening sky). The Moon passes just 0.3 degrees North of the center of the Pleiades star cluster. Unfortunately neither are above the horizon for North American or European observers.

Monday, 6
Moon near Mars at 6h UT (evening sky). Mag. +0.8. The Moon passes just 2.8 degrees North of Mars. Although the closest approach occurs after moonset for all but the Western parts of the continent, Mars and the Moon appear close together earlier in the evening.

Monday, 6
First Quarter Moon at 20:16 UT. Look for this Moon in the southeastern sky in the afternoon, and high in the South at sunset.

Thursday, 9
Mars 7.2° N of Aldebaran at 2h UT (evening sky). Mag. +0.9.

Thursday, 9
Moon near Pollux at 20h UT (evening sky).

Friday, 10
Moon near Saturn at 20h UT (evening sky). Mag. -0.1.

Saturday, 11
Moon near Beehive cluster at 1h UT (evening sky).

Sunday, 12
Mercury at inferior conjunction with the Sun at 3h UT. Mercury passes into the morning sky. Not visible.

Sunday, 12
Moon near Regulus at 23h UT (evening sky).

Monday, 13
Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 2h UT (distance 406,278 km; angular size 29.4').

Tuesday, 14
Full Moon at 23:35 UT. Called the "Sap Moon", "Crow Moon" or "Lenten Moon". Penumbral eclipse.

Thursday, 16
Zodiacal Lights, early evening.
The geometry of the Earth's orbit and the absence of a bright moon for at least two hours after sunset make the next two weeks prime opportunities to search for the elusive Zodiacal Lights. The very faint glow extends upward approximately from the sunset point, perhaps halfway up in the sky and angled to the left (South) along the ecliptic. The lights are very faint, and hence require extremely clear and dark skies after full dark. They are thought to be formed by sunlight reflecting off dust particles dispersed along the Earth's orbit.

Friday, 17
Moon very near Spica at 11h UT (morning sky). Occultation visible from Hawaii, Peru and Ecuador. North American observers see the Moon pass barely a third of a degree North of Spica (although unfortunately after sunrise for much of the East).

Sunday, 19
Moon near Jupiter at 10h UT (morning sky). Mag. -2.3.

Monday, 20
Spring or vernal equinox at 18:25 UT. The time when the Sun reaches the point along the ecliptic where it crosses into the northern celestial hemisphere marking the start of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.

Tuesday, 21
Moon very near Antares at 3h UT (morning sky). Occultation visible from South Africa and east Brazil.

Wedneday, 22
Last Quarter Moon at 19:11 UT. The Moon has reached a 90 degree angle with the Earth and Sun, on the western or morning side. This phase of the Moon rises at roughly midnight and sets at about noon the next day.

Saturday, 25
Moon at Ceres, 5:00 a.m. (7:00 a.m.)The Moon occults the largest asteroid, Ceres, in a telescopic event observable from Europe through most of eastern and central North America. However, this is a daylight event only for seasoned telescopic observers with the right equipment.

Sunday, 26
Moon near Venus at 3h UT (morning sky). Mag -4.4.

Monday, 27
Moon near Mercury at 19h UT (morning sky). Mag +1.0.

Monday, 27
Mercury 1.5° NNE of Uranus at 23h UT. Mags +1.0 and +5.9.

Tuesday, 28
Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 7h UT (359,167 km; 33.3').

Wednesday, 29
Total Solar Eclipse visible from parts of Brazil, northern Africa, and eastern Europe. Partial phases visible from much of Africa and Europe. Greatest totality (4 min 7 sec) occurs at Chad-Libya border at 10:11 UT. No part of this eclipse is visible in North America. WARNING: NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN -- it will instantly damage your eyes! Instead, use a pinhole in a large card to project the Sun's image onto a surface.

Wednesday, 29
New Moon at 10:15 UT. Beginning of lunation 1030.



All times shown in Universal Time (UT). USA Eastern Standard Time = UT -5 hours.

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