Moon meets Mars

Our moon practically bumps into Mars tonight. Mars may be at its brightest, but the moon's light may easily overpower anything celestial that approaches too close to it. See if you can discern Mars' bright glow next to the moon. Binoculars may help. Remember, Mars' diameter is twice that of the moon, but it lies 230 times farther away. Therefore, it appears starlike, while the moon appears, well, moonlike.

On Christmas Eve, Mars reaches opposition relative to the Earth and sun. It will rise at sunset, and set at sunrise. In otherwords, it is on the opposite side of the sky as the sun.

Over the next month, Mars will be the brightest object (next to the moon) in our evening sky. Only Venus, which rises about 4:30 a.m., outshines the Red Planet.

Such is our view from Earth...

The Geminid Meteor Shower

With what may turn out to be the year's best meteor shower, the Geminids arrive on the nights of December 13 and 14. The shower emanates from the constellation Gemini which is nearly overhead at midnight this time of year. You don't need to face Gemini, though. In fact, the meteors that are away from that constellation give longer streakes. The ones seen in Gemini are falling more or less directly at you, and, therefore, appear relatively short.

Go outside after 9 pm on December 13 or 14. The best time to view them is after 1 am on the 14th. Even though there may be up to 120 per hour, an observer is much more likely to see 1/3 that number. That higher figure includes the ones you don't see behind you and the fainter meteors which are difficult to spot.

Dress warmly and good luck!

Such is our view from Earth...

Comet Holmes, a great binocular object

Bring out the binoculars for a great view of Comet Holmes. It is easily seen as a round fuzzy smudge just to the west of Alpha Persei (Mirfak). Over the next six weeks, although it remains in the general area, it slowly moves towards Algol. Try finding it on the next clear night using November's diagram.

Such is the view from Earth...

Comet Holmes continues to grow

Showing lasting power, Comet Holmes is slowly increasing its apparent diameter. Although it is slightly dimmer than it was a couple of weeks ago, its size is almost 1 degree across! This is best viewed through 10 x 50 binoculars as it passes Mirfak and the Alpha Persei Association of stars. Over the next few weeks, it heads towards Algol finally reaching that location on January 21. Keep watching to see if its continues expanding.

Such is our view from Earth...

Comet Holmes Endures

Surprising Comet Holmes continues to amaze skywatchers. Since becoming an easy naked eye object 2 weeks ago, it has double in diameter. This is particularly strange since Holmes is slowly moving away from both the Earth and the sun. Tonight, the comet lies about 151 million miles from us and 232 million from the sun. This places it past the orbit of the Earth and beyond the orbit of Mars into the region of the solar system called "the asteroid belt." Comets this far from the sun aren't normally seen as a naked eye object here on Earth. By the end of November, it increases its distance to 157 million miles from us and 241 million from the sun.

During the next week, go outside after 7 pm and look in the northeast. Between the bright star Capella, which is close to the horizon, and the "w" of Cassiopeia, which is 2/3 overhead, is Perseus. Look for 3 moderately bright "stars" forming a small triangle. The "star" on the left is not a star at all, but Comet Holmes.

Through household binoculars, the comet is easily seen to be a large round fuzzy patch. Watch nightly to see Holmes creep in front of the distant background stars!

Such is our view from Earth...

See Comet Holmes

The new member of the fall sky, Comet Holmes, appears as a slightly fuzzy star in Perseus. It is easily visible to the unaided eye and as a round yellowish fuzzball through binoculars. Have a look!

Such is our view from Earth...

Visitor from beyond Mars - Comet Holmes

Quite unexpectedly, an icy ball slowly falling towards the inner solar system brightened significantly last week. Comet Holmes is about 150 million miles away — beyond the orbit of Mars — and approaching.

Comet Holmes presents itself in the northeast soon after dark falls. Look for a fuzzy, moderately bright star about 1/2 way between the bright twinkling Capella (which is just above the horizon) and the familiar "w" of the constellation Cassiopeia. The "w" is high in the northeast, about 1/2 way between the horizon and directly overhead.

It is best to view the comet from a relatively dark area and before the moon rises. At 8 pm each night this week, the moon will not be above the horizon, so this is a good time to have a look.

Over the next few weeks the comet drifts past the Alpha Persei Association (a group of stars spread around Alpha Persei, the moderately bright star in the area). Even though, Holmes is visible to the unaided eye, use binoculars for a much better view, especially as it passes the glittering stars of the Association.

Such is our view from Earth...

Orionid Meteor Shower

Patient skywatchers on Sunday morning are in for a treat with the Orionid Meteor Shower. Around 5 a.m. the meteors appear to emanate from the constellation Orion which sits high in the south. Up to 25 sand grain sized pieces from the debris field from Comet Halley's tail may enter our planet's upper atmosphere every hour. The shock waves created as they collide with our upper atmosphere's rarefied gases cause their glowing streaks as they enter at nearly 40 miles per second.

Try not to observe before 2 a.m. because the bright gibbous moon hasn't set yet. Its light washes out the sky, blocking the fainter meteor streaks.

Dress warmly!

Such is our view from Earth...

Morning Sky Viewing

During the next two weeks, look in the east about 6 - 6:30 a.m. Brilliant Venus and bright Saturn slowly change positions with one another. The pair appear closest on October 14.

In the reality of our solar system, Venus is swinging away from the sun before it begins to move behind it. It, therefore, slowly increases its distance from the sun, moving slight higher in the morning sky before dawn. Saturn rises earlier each night as the Earth catches up to it in our respective planetary orbits. By the time January arrives, Saturn rises in the early evening for our closest approach in February.

Such is our view from Earth...

Harvest Moon

This is the time of Harvest Moon. Lots of people use the expression, but not many really know what it means. During the few days before and after the full moon that is nearest the autumnal equinox, moonrise occurs just a few minutes later each night. Since the near full moon rises shortly before or after sunset, farmers can use the light from the it to help them see while they are harvesting the crops in the fields. They essentially receive an extra hour or two of worktime which can really help them during this critical time.

The moon's position on the ecliptic is the reason behind all this. Normally, the moon rises 50 minutes later each night. However, due to the slope of the ecliptic in the sky in late September around 7 pm, the near full moon rises only 15 -20 minutes later, meaning that it is about the same height in the sky at the same time of day in late September. Farther north in Canada, the effect is more dramatic with the near full moon rising 5 minutes later for these next few nights.

For the record, the full moon is at 3:46 pm on Wednesday and the fall equinox was yesterday.

Such is the view from Earth....

Catch the PBS show "Seeing in the Dark"

The universe of amateur astronomy is a fascinating place populated with interesting people. Find out for yourself by watching the PBS adaptation of the popular book, "Seeing in the Dark," by Timothy Ferris. This show promises to bring the wonder of skywatching directly to you. It is currently scheduled to air on Tuesday evening. Visit: http://www.pbs.org/seeinginthedark/index.html

Crescent moon with Earthshine

On the evenings of September 13, 14, and 15, the crescent moon appears in the southwestern sky just after sunset. It is filled with Earthshine, the sunlight back reflected off the Earth. To its upper left, glows Jupiter. To the moon's lower right, sets elusive Mercury. Jupiter is no challenge to locate, Mercury is.

Such is our view from Earth...

4 Vesta passes Jupiter

Now that summer's haze has dissipated, much more can be found, especially with binoculars. Last week it was out of sight, but clearing skies provide an opportunity to see the asteroid Vesta. It can be found over the next several evenings just to the upper left of Jupiter. Use a pair of household binoculars (10 x 50) to see this. It will be a dim "star." Compare Vesta's 178 million mile distance with the much brighter Jupiter at 484 million miles away. Good Hunting!

Here comes the mid summer favorite: The Perseid Meteor Shower

Peaking on Sunday night/Monday morning is the Perseid Meteor Shower. Every year about this time, our Earth sweeps through an old debris trail from Comet Swift - Tuttle. Grains of dust enters our planet's upper atmosphere at a staggering 40 miles per second. The tiny shock wave thusly generated heats the air around the grain, causing it to glow. This lasts for just a second or so.

To see this event, sit in a comfortable chair after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday night and face northeast, if you can. If you are lucky, the meteors zip by at a rate of 60 per hour. The source of the meteors on the celestial dome is just below the "w" of Cassiopeia.

Such is the view from Earth...

Mars becomes a player

For the next 6 months, bright red Mars stands out among the background stars of Taurus and Gemini. During August, it slides between two star clusters, the Hyades and the Pleiades. Look in the east about 4:00 a.m. As the weeks pass, Mars rises earlier and earlier, and by month's end it pops above the horizon before 12:30 a.m.

Compare its brightness and color with the star Aldebaran. In the coming months, Mars grows considerably brighter, eventually outshining Aldebaran by nearly 10 times.

Such is our view from Earth...

Drifting Jupiter

Throughout August, Jupiter slowly and steadily drifts eastward with respect to the background stars. Binoculars will help follow this subtle motion. Around 10 pm on any evening over the next few weeks, note the bright planet's position as it moves away from a dim star that is next to it on July 30.

This is all due to the comibined effects of the relatively fast Earth moving towards to opposite side of the sun as Jupiter.

Such is our view from Earth...

Crescent moon joins Saturn and Venus on July 16

The thin crescent moon hangs next to the much dimmer Saturn at about 9:15 pm on July 16. Brilliant Venus shines just to their left. This is your last chance to see the Ringed Planet before it becomes lost in the solar glare!

Venus passes Saturn in late June and early July

An interesting scene occurs in the west just after sunset during the next week. Brilliant Venus appears to move underneath the much dimmer Saturn. They may appear next to each other, but Saturn is 23 times farther away! Look for this about 10 pm.

Such is our view from Earth...

Space Station and Atlantis in our western sky

At 10:54 p.m. on Wednesday June 20, the International Space Station and Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS—117) passed across our western sky. They separated earlier in the day for the shuttle's eventual return to Earth. In this image, the ISS is the upper left streak and Atlantis is the other streak. The six day old moon is at the far left while Venus is setting at the bottom. Saturn is to Venus' upper left and Regulus is to Saturn's upper left.

The pair continued to the upper left for another 45 seconds until they disappeared in the Earth's shadow above the moon. The exposure was for 15 seconds, which provides an idea of how fast they were traveling across the sky.

Such is our view from Earth...

Passing of the Space Station and Space Shuttle

The International Space Station along with the Space Shuttle will pass in our western skies just before 11 pm tonight (6/20). Look low in the west at 10:54 p.m. A moderately bright "star" will be found moving to the upper right of brilliant Venus. It continues to the upper left passing to Saturn's upper right. At about 10:55:30 it moves to the upper right of the crescent moon. By 10:56 it is lost from view as it enters the Earth's shadow.

Take advantage of the great weather and wave at these technological marvels.

Such is our view from southwest Virginia...

Moon over takes Venus and Saturn

On Sunday evening the moon began to overtake Venus and Saturn.

Such is our view from Earth...

Western celestial scene

The western sky at about 10 pm on June 17, 18, and 19. Castor and Pollux are low, just about to set. Venus, Saturn and Regulus are in near alignment with the moon moving among them each evening.

Such is our view from Earth...

Pearls on a celestial string

Tonight (6/17), tomorrow and Tuesday evenings around 10 o'clock, look to the western sky for a series of intriguing celestial sites. Brilliant Venus, Saturn, and the bright star Regulus are all in a row. Each night our crescent moon grows fatter and brighter as it moves among them.

The moon, tonight, is to the lower right of commanding Venus and close to the horizon. By tomorrow, the moon hangs between Venus and Saturn on this celestial string. Tuesday night finds the moon's crescent glowing less than one of its diameters away from Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. Binoculars help split these two very different objects.

Such is our view from Earth...

Venus passes a cluster

When darkness settles, Venus—easily spotted since sundown—shines brightly in the west. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, this cloud cover planet skirts above the distant stars of the cluster M44. Binoculars will be needed to see their dim light. The glow from the planet will most likely interfere with the visibility of M44. Place yourself so that the dazzling planet lies behind a building's edge. M44's two dozen faint stars should be visible as a dim smudge. Try after 10 pm.

Such is our view from Earth...

Let the games begin...

Within these spaces, you'll discover events and sights—some exceptional, others unnoticed, yet all fascinating—that occur outside our Earthly sphere.

Consider our skies tonight shortly after sunset.

High in the west shines brilliant Venus. Somewhat to its upper left lies the dimmer Saturn, but still brighter than any star in the area. As June continues, Venus creeps closer each night to the Ringed Planet until it finally passes Saturn on July 1.

Low in the east-southeast, glows Jupiter. The King of Planets is visible all night. By the beginning of morning twilight, Jupiter moves to the west-southwest.

Long before dawn, Mars sits unmistakeably high in the east. As the weeks pass, it grows brighter as our Earth slowly approaches it for the December close encounter.

Such is our view from Earth...