Archive for the 'It's happening Now!' Category
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Venus and the Moon do it again! April 22 2009
Attention all early risers (or late night people), we are having another crack at seeing the conjunction of Venus and the Crescent Moon. This occurs on April 22 (Wednesday) between 5:00 AM and 6:00 AM. My reference is Cortland N.Y.; times will vary a little other locations. As the Cresent Moon climes into the sky in the East, Venus will start to disappear behind the Moon. The whole event will end by being washed out by the rising Sun. Just below the moon will sit Mars, may not see it but you never know. Also, to the upper right (Southeast) will be the very bright Jupiter. So, given a clear sky to the East, pleasant temperature, and lots of coffee, we can expect a very nice celestial evert on Wednesday morning.
Thursday, February 26th, 2009
Friday, February 27 at sunset…….
If the skys are clear, and it’s February 27th, and you can see to the West… You will be in for a very pleasant celestial observation. The Crescent moon and Veneus will move into conjunction. We have been watching Venus in the evening sky shining brightly, even in the bright sky of dusk, for a while now. Now, this bright object, so near the crescent moon, will frame a truly special picture. It will only be seen on the evening of February 27th so keep an eye out.
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
What’s Where Tonight – September 8, 2008
Planets:
8:00 PM…The Moon can be seen in the South Southwest at about 10°.
8:00 PM …Jupiter will be in the South at about 25° above the horizon. Look just to the right of the Moon and it will be obviously bright. Jupiter will setting at about 10:30 PM as will the Moon.
Stars and Constellations:
8:00 PM …The Big Dipper will be North Northwest (NNW) at about 20°.
8:00 PM…If you follow the arc of the handle of Big Dipper, you will come to a bright star. It is Arcturus and it will be at about 15° above the horizon in the West Northwest.
9:00 PM …Vega, a very bright star, will be visible, most of the night, high in the sky. Look straight up and to the West.
9:00 PM…Cassiopeia (makes a big “W”) will be in the Northeast at about 50° above the horizon. The “W” will be on it’s side.
Current Events:
9:00 PM….. Find the Summer Triangle. Vega, Deneb and Altair. Look Straight
overhead and to the south. Deneb will be almost at the Zenith. Vega will be to the West and Altair will be to the left of Vega at about 60°. They will form a triangle.
11:00 PM …The Pleiades will be rising in the East at about 30°.
2:00 AM …..Below the Pleiades, you will find Aldebaran at about 50°
just rising over the horizon, Orion will be in the East Southeast at about 30°. Just to the left of the Orion will be Castor & Pollux (the twins) in Gemini. Look to the East Northeast.
Thursday, May 22nd, 2008
Watch for the International Space Station (ISS)
Cortland is in for a treat of Star Gazing in the next few days. On Friday (5-23) and on Saturday (5-31) we will be able to see the International Space Station fly overhead.
Besides the Moon, it will be the brightest thing in the sky ( about magnitude -2.1), plus, it will be moving. Look for it on Friday at about 9:53 PM in the West. It will clime to 45° at it’s peak. We will also be able to view the ISS on Saturday the 31st at about 11:18 PM in the West North West (WNW) It may be a little dimmer and only climb to 41° but who’s keeping track? On Saturday, it will seem a little brighter as you go north (Syracuse). So, don’t miss this one!
Tuesday, May 6th, 2008
Three Bright Stars in a row in the Western Sky.
What are those three stars in a row in the western sky tonight? Look up at about 10:00 PM. Well, one of them is not a star but a planet. Mars is on the left and Castor is on the right with Pollux in the middle (the Gemini twins). They are at about 40° above the Western horizon. Procyon is the bright star below and to the left and Capella is below and to the right. Our friends Saturn and Regulus are in the South Western Sky a little higher at about 50° above the horizon. The bright star to the upper right is Algieba. Notice that the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) is directly over head. If you follow the arc of the handle of the dipper you will see a bright star which is Arcturus. Continue the arc and you will find another bright star called Spica. In the North East, below the last star in the Big Dippers handle, you will see Vega popping above the horizon (about 20°). As the night progresses, Vega will clime in the sky until sunrise where it will be directly overhead and slightly to the south. At about 4:00 AM, Jupiter will rise out of the South South East at about 20° above the horizon. Jupiter will not get much above 20° during the Summer Months. Also, we have seen the last of our friend Orion. It is setting just as the sun sets and we will have to wait till Fall to see it again. Happy star gazing.
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
Look for Crescent Moon & the Pleiades Tuesday, April 8th
Tonight, between Sunset and 11:00 PM Eastern, watch for the crescent Moon. It will be in the West in close proximity to the Pleiades. You will see a very thin crescent Moon with stars from the Pleiades star cluster pearing from behind the Moon. The whole moon in “Earth Shine” will be discernible on a clear cold night. Enjoy.
Friday, April 4th, 2008
Crescent Moon Sight April 8th !
On Tuesday evening, April 8th, a 12% crescent Moon moves into conjunction with the Pleiades. “Into conjunction” is astronomy jargon for “side-by-side.” The Moon will be so close to the Pleiades that, to the naked eye, they seem to touch, but that is impossible because the Pleiades are 400 light years away. On April 8th, the Moon will lead you directly to the Pleiades. Binoculars are recommended: scan around the Moon and you will find not just seven but dozens of sparkling stars, some of them winking in and out behind the mountainous lunar limb. The Moon itself may take your breath away as you sweep your optics across the cratered Earth lit landscape. The crescent Moon, Earthshine and a star cluster in the same field of view–it doesn’t get much better than that.Author: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA
Saturday, March 29th, 2008
International Space Station Tonight (Saturday the 29th)
Ok satellite watchers, on March 29 at about 7:55 PM EST, begin watching in the SW for a pair of orbiting satellites. One of these, the brighter, is the International Space Station (ISS). It will fly by for about 5 minutes between the SW and NE. It will pass almost directly overhead. Hopefully the sky is clear and it should make a really spectacular sighting.
Friday, March 28th, 2008
International Space Station Fly Overs!!
Syracuse, NY Sunrise/set: 06:53 am / 07:27 pm
Predicted passes for: ISS
Local Duration
Date Time (min) Approach Max. elevation Departure
————————————————————————
2008/03/28 09:11 pm 3 13° above W 34° above NNW 29° above N�
2008/03/29 07:58 pm 5 17° above SW 84° above SW 10° above ENE
2008/03/29 09:33 pm 2 10° above WNW 20° above NNW 20° above NNW
2008/03/30 08:20 pm 5 11° above W 35° above NNW 10° above NE
2008/03/30 09:56 pm 1 11° above NW 14° above NNW 14° above NNW
2008/03/31 08:43 pm 4 15° above NW 20° above NNW 10° above NE
2008/04/01 09:06 pm 2 14° above NNW 16° above N 12° above NNE