Venus, Jupiter, and the moon appear to be rapidly approaching each other. By December 1, they’ll all be within about 3 degrees of each other. Jack Horkeimer’s Star Gazer episode for this week talks about that.
When celestial objects appear close to each other, we call that a conjuction.
Incidentally, our next sidewalk astronomy event will be in Monrovia, at the corner of Myrtle and Lime, on Saturday, December 6. Come by from around 6pm until 9pm.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
International Space Station Flyover
Most of you probably already know that when satellites fly over your location shortly after sunset or before sunrise, you can often see them with the naked eye. Well, tomorrow, Friday, November 21, there’s a pretty good flyover of the International Space Station (I ‘m pretty sure the Space Shuttle is still attached). It’ll be very bright, about as bright as Jupiter, which is the dimmer of the two very bright "stars" you see to the southwest after sunset (the brighter one, to the lower right of Jupiter, is Venus).
Start looking below and to the right of the Jupter/Venus pair, around 5:05pm. By 5:07, you should see the bright space station as it rises out of the twilight and heads to the northeast. It’ll be nearly overhead at 5:09, and then continue to the northeast, disappearing around 5:13pm. Detailed charts and information can be found here.
To the naked eye, it’ll just look like a really bright, fast-moving point of light. You can tell it's not a plane if there is no accompanying noise and if there is no flashing red beacon on a wingtip.
With binoculars, you may be able to detect that the object is not a point of light. If you could boost the magnification up to 20 or 30 times, you’d be able to make out the main solar panels of the space station.
This information is for Rosemead, CA. If you're located to our soutwest, the flyover would occur a few moments earlier. If you're located to our northeast, it would come somewhat later. If you're far off to the north or south of us, it won't be visible at all. Check www.heavens-above.com and enter your own location to figure out when satellite flybys visible by you will occur.
Happy hunting!
Start looking below and to the right of the Jupter/Venus pair, around 5:05pm. By 5:07, you should see the bright space station as it rises out of the twilight and heads to the northeast. It’ll be nearly overhead at 5:09, and then continue to the northeast, disappearing around 5:13pm. Detailed charts and information can be found here.
To the naked eye, it’ll just look like a really bright, fast-moving point of light. You can tell it's not a plane if there is no accompanying noise and if there is no flashing red beacon on a wingtip.
With binoculars, you may be able to detect that the object is not a point of light. If you could boost the magnification up to 20 or 30 times, you’d be able to make out the main solar panels of the space station.
This information is for Rosemead, CA. If you're located to our soutwest, the flyover would occur a few moments earlier. If you're located to our northeast, it would come somewhat later. If you're far off to the north or south of us, it won't be visible at all. Check www.heavens-above.com and enter your own location to figure out when satellite flybys visible by you will occur.
Happy hunting!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Clouds! :(
Partially clouded out. We set up around 5:15pm and stayed until about 7:30pm. By then, the clouds were getting pretty thick, so we packed it in.
Ironically, things got substantially clearer late at night. But we were long gone by the time that happened.
December 6 is the next likely OTA sidewalk event in Monrovia. Jupter will be lower next month than this month, while Venus will be higher.
In fact, if you follow follow these planets over the next month, you'll see Jupiter (currently visible to the south-southwest after sunset) and Venus (currently in the west-southwest) appear to approach, then pass each other. Each night, Jupiter will be a little lower in the sky, while Venus will be a little higher. At the end of November, they'll appear very close to each other. By early December, Venus will be to the upper left of Jupiter.
During December, Jupiter will keep dropping towards the sun, while Venus will keep getting higher and brighter in the evening sky.
Ironically, things got substantially clearer late at night. But we were long gone by the time that happened.
December 6 is the next likely OTA sidewalk event in Monrovia. Jupter will be lower next month than this month, while Venus will be higher.
In fact, if you follow follow these planets over the next month, you'll see Jupiter (currently visible to the south-southwest after sunset) and Venus (currently in the west-southwest) appear to approach, then pass each other. Each night, Jupiter will be a little lower in the sky, while Venus will be a little higher. At the end of November, they'll appear very close to each other. By early December, Venus will be to the upper left of Jupiter.
During December, Jupiter will keep dropping towards the sun, while Venus will keep getting higher and brighter in the evening sky.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Next Monrovia Sidewalk Astronomy, Saturday, November 8
With the end of daylight savings, darkness is going to be coming really early. We'll probably be setting up around 5pm, and will probably stay until around 9pm (depends on how cold it gets and how busy the corner proves to be).
Same as last month, we may be able to catch Venus shortly after sunset, when it'll be low in the southwest. Jupiter will be higher and almost due south at sunset.
Same as last month, we may be able to catch Venus shortly after sunset, when it'll be low in the southwest. Jupiter will be higher and almost due south at sunset.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)