Moon passes Jupiter and Mercury

Last night, the Moon passed Jupiter and Mercury, which were very low in the southwestern sky at 6:00 p.m. Tonight, the Moon will be situated half way between brilliant Venus and twinkling Jupiter. If you look closely, you will see a dimmer Mercury directly to the left of Jupiter.

New Year's Eve evening, the Moon will be next to Venus and Mercury will be next to Jupiter.

Such is our view from Earth ...

The evening southwestern horizon

If skies are clear this week, there are three planets visible in our southwestern evening sky. As it has been doing all month, Venus climbs higher and becomes brighter. Jupiter has dropped closer to the horizon and tiny Mercury pushes slightly higher than Jupiter.

Tonight, the thin crescent moon sits just above the Jupiter - Mercury duo. Binoculars help give a better view.
By New Year's Eve, the moon moves next to Venus, giving a striking combination.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Astronomically, winter is here

Today the Earth reaches the point in its orbit where its polar axis reaches its most extreme angle with respect to the position of the sun. Our planet's north pole is tilted at its greatest angle away from the sun, and our south pole is tilted at its greatest angle towards the sun. In other words, it is the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer in the southern hemisphere.

Also, the time that the sun is above the horizon is the least for the next 365 days, being 9 hours 36 minutes for Roanoke. Compare this with the time on the first day of summer which is 14 hours 44 minutes.

Such is our view on Earth ...

Line Up

Four planets and the Sun arrange themselves in a line up this week. Mars, on the far side of its orbit, is situated behind the Sun and so is Mercury. Because they appear close to the Sun, they can not be seen. Jupiter sets about 7:45 p.m. and can be found in the southwest 30 minutes after sunset. Venus, quite a bit brighter than Jupiter, follows it to the horizon setting around 8:00 p.m.

This time every year the Sun is located not in a familiar constellation of the zodiac, but a relatively unknown one, Ophiuchus. It drifts eastward through it until December 18 when it crosses the border into Sagittarius.

The final "bright" planet, Saturn, rises in the east about 11:45 p.m. in Leo. By dawn, it is high in the south. The 3rd quarter Moon is close to it on the 18th and 19th.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Position of Jupiter and Venus

From our point of view on Earth, Venus and Jupiter have appeared near each other over the past couple of weeks. Jupiter happens to lie almost on the ecliptic, which is the plane of the Earth's orbit projected onto the celestial sphere. Venus is a couple of degrees below it.

Monday evening's close triple conjunction had the Moon also 2º below the ecliptic. About 1 pm on that day, the Moon occulted Venus, ie., it appeared to move in front of it. It was daytime here in Virginia, but it was early evening in London. They must have had a spectacular sight!

Such is our view from Earth ...

Best Celestial Sight of 2008

The early evening sky on December 1st holds something special. Jupiter and Venus are approaching each other and will be at their closest separation on that date. It is made even more remarkable by the addition of the thin crescent Moon, full with Earthshine. These three bodies in our solar system fit in the same field of view of a pair of binoculars giving a spectacular arrangement.

Even though they look like they are right next to one another, they are nowhere near each other in space. The Moon glows 250,000 miles away, while Venus and Jupiter respectively lie 93,000,000 and 540,000,000 miles from Virginia.

This all adds up to be the prettiest celestial sight of the year. Look to the southwest between 5:30 and 7:15 p.m. and you won't be disappointed!

Venus rises to greet Jupiter

The two brightest planets in our evening sky are getting together. Venus rises higher each night approaching Jupiter in the southwestern sky. They are next to each other on December 1. Don't miss viewing them over the next few nights, if the weather permits!

Such is our view from Earth ...

For a good view of the International Space Station and Space Shuttle Endeavor ...

On Thursday and Saturday evenings, people in the Roanoke area have good opportunities to see the International Space Station with the Space Shuttle Endeavor docked to it as they pass directly overhead. They will appear together as a single bright star, growing to the brightness of Jupiter, which lies in the southwest as darkness falls.

At about 6:12 p.m. on Thursday, look to the southwest just to the right of bright Jupiter and brilliant Venus. The station-shuttle pair appears as a star moving upwards in the sky. It takes three minutes to advance overhead, brightening all the while. Another minute passes before they disappear in the Earth's shadow high in the northeast.

The pair appears again on Saturday evening, this time beginning at 5:30 p.m in a brighter sky. Look to the upper right of Venus and Jupiter for this moving pair which appears as one starlike object. By 5:32, it is directly overhead, and three minutes later, it disappears from view as it enter the Earth's shadow.

When they are overhead, the pair are at their closest to us, some 225 miles above our heads.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Spot the launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavor

Friday's launch of the space shuttle Endeavor gives observers along the Blue Ridge Parkway an interesting sight. Since it is scheduled to take off at 7:55 p.m., the shuttle rocket exhaust can be seen from this part of Virginia. Five to seven minutes after it lifts off in Florida it passes off Virginia Beach as it flies over the ocean. If we have clear skies to our southeast and east, the shuttle can be spotted as a swiftly moving "star" low above the horizon. It will pass below the Pleiades star cluster. Then it should approach the bright star Aldebaran in Taurus. The shuttle should be brighter, though. As it moves up the East Coast, it will pass the gibbous Moon before it disappears.

Keep your fingers crossed for a clear eastern sky!

Such is our view from Earth ...

Jupiter slides towards Venus

As night falls in the western sky, two cloud covered worlds can be easily seen. One moves higher each evening, the other moves lower.

Venus, the third brightest object in the sky behind the Sun and the Moon, shines brilliantly above the horizon. Each evening it appears to be slightly higher and a little more distant from the Sun.

Jupiter, while not as bright as Venus, is easy to see, nonetheless. As November progresses, it slides towards the brighter Venus. By the end of the month, they lie next to each, giving a fascinating combination.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mercury and the Moon

For the next week, Mercury makes an appearance in the morning sky 40 minutes before sunrise. Look to the east at 6:50 a.m. for a starlike object hovering low above the horizon. This is Mercury. On October 26, the moon is to its upper right and above the moon shines Saturn. (One morning earlier the moon sat to the right of Saturn.) This is the year's best opportunity to see little Mercury since it is so close to the sun most of the time.

Such is our view from Earth ...

The Great World Wide Star Count

If you ever think about light pollution and how it affects your area, there is an event beginning today which will help map the light pollution problem. The Great World Wide Star Count is an effort to measure the darkness of the skies around the world by comparing the stars that you see with those on designated star charts.

The activity is simple:
1. Observe the constellation Cygnus, which appears nearly overhead this time of year around 9 pm.
2. Compare the stars that you see with the stars on a series of maps. Choose the map that most accurately represents the stars in Cygnus.
3. Report your observations to the GWWSC headquarters.

All the information you need can be found at www.starcount.org

This a great stargazing activity that anyone, from ages 8 to 80, can do anyplace, in the city or country.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mercury revealed

Of the five bright planets, Mercury is the most elusive because it never strays far from the sun When it can be seen, it is found in the bright twilight, either before sunrise or after sunset. For the next ten mornings, this little world rises high enough by 6:45 a.m. that it can be easily seen — if the sky is clear and the horizon is unobstructed. Look directly east for a starlike object above the horizon — that's Mercury. To its left, in the east northeast, shines the star Arcturus. About an equal distance away from Mercury, but above it, lies Saturn.

Follow Mercury over the next 10 mornings and you'll quickly notice that it does move with respect to the background stars. It should because it takes only 90 days to make one complete revolution around the sun.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Special Observing at Williamson Rd Library

See the Moon and Planets!

Join us to discover the wonders in the sky! See the craters on the Moon, the clouds of brilliant Venus, and the moons of mighty Jupiter.

Members of the Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society will provide telescopes for you to look at these amazing sights.

Everyone of all ages is invited to this FREE event!

Monday October 6, 7:00 p.m to 8:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Williamson Road Public Library. If it's cloudy or raining, the event will be October 8.

******************************
¡Vean la Luna y los Planetas!

Juntémosnos para descubrir las maravillas del cielo!  Observemos los cráteres de la Luna, el brillante planeta Venus y las lunas del imponente Júpiter. Miembros de la RVAS (Sociedad Astronómica del Valle de Roanoke) tendrán sus telescopios.

  ¡Todos están invitados al evento gratuito!   Lunes, el 6 de octubre, a las 19h00 hasta las 20h00 en el césped de la biblioteca Williamson Road Public Library. Si está nublado o llueve, el evento será miércoles, el 8 de octubre.

***************************************
Quan sát Mặt Trăng và các Hành Tinh!
Xin mời cùng chúng tôi khám phá những kỳ quan trên
không gian! Xem những hố trũng trên Mặt Trăng, những
vầng mây của hành tinh Vệ Nữ sáng chói, và các mặt trăng
của Mộc Tinh vĩ đại.
Những hội viên của Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society
sẽ cung cấp viễn vọng kính để các bạn xem các quang cảnh
gây sửng sốt này.
Xin mời các bạn không giới hạn tuổi tác đến tham dự buổ i
quan sát MIỄN PHÍ này!

Moon approaches Jupiter

As our moon orbits the Earth, it passes all the planets, at least as viewed from Earth. Tonight, it appeared to the left of Venus. On October 6th, it hangs just below Jupiter.

Such is our view from Earth ...

9/29 - 10/4 — The view from Earth: The first 1 billion miles

Sun: As seen from our earthly perspective, our parent star lies in Virgo.

Mercury: The solar system’s smallest planet is moving between the Earth and the Sun. It can not be seen after sunset because appears too close to the Sun.

Venus: This bright Earth-sized world shines low in the west 30 minutes after sunset. It is swinging away from the Sun as it slowly catches up to the Earth, which it won’t do until late March 2009.

Moon: On October 2nd, the crescent Moon and Venus are separated by 10º, which is the same apparent distance that your fist has on your outstretched arm. In other words, your fist fits between Venus and the Moon.

Mars: The Red Planet is moving behind the Sun and won’t be visible again until March 2009.

Jupiter: At 7:30 p.m., the giant planet hangs low in the southern portion of our sky in eastern Sagittarius.

Saturn: This ringed world rises directly east at 6:00 a.m. It is in Leo.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Learn about stargazing from the Curious Skywatcher

Adult Education Courses
Fall 2008, Botetourt County
Sponsored by Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
To register, contact NonCredit
Coordinator Judy Clark at (540) 8632863
or email
jclark@dslcc.edu. Toll free: (877) 73DSLCC, ext. 2863.
Greenfield Education and Training Center
57 S. Center Drive, Daleville, VA
Astronomy
Stargazing for the Curious Skywatcher
Tuesdays, Sept. 23 – Oct. 28, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $85, Room 122. Instructor John Goss. Tour
the universe and learn how to see lunar craters, planets and their moons, constellations, star
clusters, etc. Book & planisphere may be purchased first night. (PHSC 1100G1N,
#77508)

ID Jupiter

Our Moon points out Jupiter on the evening of September 9.

The gibbous Moon lies just below the bright planet in our early evening sky. Look at Jupiter through binoculars. If you hold them steady, just to Jupiter's right are four dim objects, all in a row. The planet's glare may prevent you from seeing all of them, but the one farther to the right should be visible. These are Jupiter's four largest moons. The one to the far right is Callisto. The other three proceeding towards the planet are Europa, Io, and Ganymede. Ganymede is the solar system's largest moon — larger than the planet Mercury. If you look on the following night, the moon will have rearranged themselves as they orbit the giant planet.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Venus and Mars are all right tonight

This week Venus and Mars can be found low in the west shortly after sunset. Every night, Venus appears slightly higher in the western sky while Mars drops lower.

Look to the west about 8:00 p.m. If you have a low unobstructed horizon, you should see a bright "star" near the horizon. That is Venus, our solar system's second planet from the sun. Through binoculars you may glimpse Mercury below Venus.

Tonight, Mars will be to the upper left of Venus. You'll probably need binoculars to catch it in the bright twilight. Over the next 4 nights, Venus and Mars grow closer. On September 11, Venus finally passes Mars when they will be practically bump into each other. You'll need binoculars to see this.

No doubt about it, this will be a tough sight to see because of the twilight and low altitude of these two planets.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Venus has returned

Over the past 3 months, Venus has swung around the far side of the sun and appears now in our western sky just after sunset. In June it was positioned behind the sun and was impossible to see. Now, it has moved away from the sun so it can be glimpsed in the bright evening twilight.

Look tonight to the west about 8:15 p.m. You should see a steady "star" — Venus — close to the horizon. Look at it again, this time through binoculars. At the lower left edge of the field lies another object, Mercury. By 8:30 at both Mercury and Venus begin to hug the horizon, dimmer Mars pops into view to Mercury's upper left. There you have the first four planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth (you are standing on it) and Mars. Directly south glows bright Jupiter, number 5 from the sun.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Venus meets Saturn

Tonight and tomorrow night just after sunset, the planets Venus and Saturn get together. From our point of view, they lie next to each other very low above the western horizon. You may be unable to spot them because of the mountain ridges. If you have a clear western horizon, scan the area with binoculars about 8:45. Venus will be the brighter of the pair — Saturn may be difficult to see.

Good luck!

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mid-Summer Classic: Perseid Meteor Shower

Tonight and tomorrow night is the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. On both nights, the bright Moon will wash out the sky. But after it sets, prime meteor watching begins! Tonight, after 1:30 a.m. (8/12), begin observing from a dark spot away from city lights. Tomorrow night begin about 2:30 a.m. (8/13). If the weather cooperates, you may see several dozen meteors per hour. The published rates are higher because those values take into account the unobserved meteors streaking behind you and the dimmer meteors that are difficult to spot.

Good luck!

Such is our view from Earth ...

Demanding Jupiter

For the rest of August and into much of September, bright Jupiter demands our attention in the southeast just after sunset. By midnight the mighty planet moves low in the south. By 3 a.m. it begins to set in the southwest.

Extend your left arm, spread your left hand, and place your little finger over Jupiter. Your hand covers the "teapot" asterism of the constellation Sagittarius. Look closely, the group of stars really do resemble a teapot! This is a great area of the sky to scan with binoculars, revealing many fuzzy features. You are really seeing star forming nebulae, giant clusters of stars, and dark lanes amid star fields. You are gazing toward the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, some 26,000 light years distant. The star fields you see aren't nearly that far — only 6000 light years away! More distant objects are blocked by interstellar galactic gas and dust.

Look again at the solar system's largest planet — 10 times the diameter of our Earth — this time with binoculars. If your focus is sharp and your hands are steady, you can discern a small round disk with 1, 2, 3, or 4 "stars" in a row close to the planet. Those aren't stars but Jupiter's four largest moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Io and Europa will be the most difficult to spot since they always appear very close to the planet, but a small telescope can pick them out quite easily.

Jupiter currently is the brightest object, other than the Moon, in our night sky. Later this year, Venus plays a bigger, i.e., brighter, role. Now, however, Venus sets just after the sun and is difficult to spot above the mountain ridges.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Fall Class: Stargazing for the Curious Skywatcher

If you would like to learn more about the fascinating avocation of stargazing, here is a class for you!

Fall 2008
Sponsored by Dabney S. Lancaster Community College
To register, contact NonCredit
Coordinator Judy Clark at (540) 8632863
or email
jclark@dslcc.edu. Toll free: (877) 73DSLCC, ext. 2863.
Greenfield Education and Training Center
57 S. Center Drive, Daleville, VA
Astronomy
Stargazing for the Curious Skywatcher
Tuesdays, Sept. 23 – Oct. 28, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., $85, Room 122. Instructor John Goss. Tour
the universe and learn how to see lunar craters, planets and their moons, constellations, star
clusters, etc. Book & planisphere may be purchased first night. (PHSC 1100G1N,
#77508)

This will be a great opportunity to learn about our autumn sky.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Partial Solar Eclipse before sunrise on 8/01

The sun will be partially blocked (about 25%) by the Moon on August 1. For people in Roanoke, though, the sun will still be far below the eastern horizon and, therefore, they will miss out on this event. But this is not so on other parts of our planet. People in Europe, where is sun has been above the horizon for a couple of hours, will catch this partial eclipse, if their weather permits.

Observers in China and Siberia will see this event as a rare total eclipse when the Moon passes directly in front of the sun. When it does that, stars and planets can be seen near the sun. The planet Mercury shines to the lower left of the eclipsed sun and the star cluster M44 in Cancer is just above the sun/Moon pair. Venus, which is not shown on the drawing, lies to the far lower left of Mercury.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mars says goodbye to Saturn

For the past month, Mars has been approaching the bright star Regulus and Saturn. It has now passed both of them. In the image above, Mars is to Saturn's left while Regulus is far below both of them. Mars continues moving away from the Ringed Planet as they both slowly descend lower in the western sky each evening. Saturn's role is just about over for this summer. Mars will stay with us for another month or so.

Look to the southeast after twilight ends for Jupiter. It is easily the brightest object in the night sky, other than our familiar moon.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mars meets Saturn

The solar system's second smallest planet moves next to the second largest planet. Tonight around 10 p.m. look to the west for these two worlds appearing close to each other. Mars may be closer to the Earth, but Saturn is much larger making it appear brighter than the Red Planet. Saturn lies over 900 million miles from us, while Mars sits 200 million miles away. Saturn is roughly 16 times the diameter of little Mars.

Tomorrow night, Mars will begin to move away from Saturn.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mars greets Regulus

Tonight, Mars reaches its closest apparent distance to the bright star Regulus in Leo. In the image above, Mars and Regulus are the two starlike objects near the bottom of the scene. Mars can be seen as being the redder of the two.

Tomorrow night, Mars will have moved slightly above Regulus as it begins its approach to Saturn on July 10. Saturn is the bright object to Mars and Regulus' upper left.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Early morning scene

Monday morning, before dawn brightens in the east, the Moon floats next to the Pleiades star cluster. Look to the east after moonrise at 3:30 a.m. The Moon, full with Earthshine, glows just to the lower left of the Pleiades as they rise higher. Use binoculars to pick out the cluster's individual stars popping out behind the Moon's dark side. Does the Lunar light overpower the tiny cluster? By 5:15, the brightening twilight washes out the Pleiades, leaving only the crescent Moon.

This is the same Pleiades cluster that Mercury was position near just two months, but in the early evening sky. Since then, the Earth has moved 1/6 around the sun, giving us a slightly different perspective in relationship to the sun's location on the celestial dome.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mars on the move, 6/23

From our perspective on Earth, Mars is moving through the constellation Leo approaching the bright star Regulus. In the image above, Mars is to the lower right of Regulus. Saturn is to the upper left of Regulus. Can you notice that the color of Mars is ruddy? Keep looking over the next two to three weeks to see Mars pass Regulus, then Saturn.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mars moving toward Regulus

Over the next few weeks in our western sky after twilight ends, Mars approaches the bright star Regulus, then Saturn. Tonight, Mars will be equidistant from Regulus as Saturn is but on Regulus's opposite side. The Red Planet will not be as bright as Regulus, which is not as bright as Saturn. By June 30 Mars moves next to Regulus and by July 10 it passes Saturn.

Look about 10:30 p.m. in the west for this trio.

Such is our view from Earth ...

International Space Station and Shuttle, together again

On Friday June 6 beginning at 10:21:15, the International Space Station — with the Space Shuttle attached — can be seen as a starlike object in the northwest. It will appear to the right of the cresent Moon and will brighten signifcantly as it passes nearly overhead at 10:24:11, near the bright star Arcturus. At this point, it will be brighter than any object in the sky, except the Moon. It should be as bright as Jupiter, which rises in the southeast at 11:30 p.m. The ISS/Shuttle disappears into the Earth's shadow 14 seconds after passing Arcturus.

On Sunday June 8, the ISS/Shuttle combination can be seen again, this time in brighter skies. Look to the northwest for them to come into view at 9:30:17 p.m. They reach maximum brightness when they are overhead at 9:33:10. They disappear after 9:35 as they near the southeastern horizon to the left of Antares.

When they are at their maximum brightness near the star Arcturus, they are only about 225 miles above you.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Inner planets align

Two weeks ago, Mercury was found in our low western sky just after sunset. Today, it is gone from view. Two months ago, Venus shone brightly in our eastern sky in the morning twilight. Today, it is gone from view. Both of these worlds have moved in their orbits so that they are slowly approaching the sun, at least from our viewpoint.

On June 7, Mercury is at its farthest from the sun as it can be. It is also passing between the sun and the Earth, which means that Mercury is as close to the Earth as it can come — 51 million miles.

On June 8, Venus is on the opposite side of the sun from the Earth, lying 161 million miles away.

These two inner planets are there, they just can't be seen by viewers on Earth. They are in near alignment with each other and the sun.

Such is our view from Earth...

Mars amid the Bees

Tonight and tomorrow night, Mars slides through the Beehive cluster in the heart of Cancer. A pair of 10 x 50 binoculars easily show the event.

In the image: to the lower right of Mars are the stars Pollux and Castor in Gemini. To the upper left of Mars shines Regulus and Saturn, with Saturn being the brighter of the two. The Beehive is the dim blurry bundle just to the Mars' left. Both Mars and the Bees are nearly centered within the diamond shaped skep.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mars meets M44

Earlier this month, Mars drifted past Pollux and Castor in Gemini. Over the next 10 days, Mars moves through the heart of Cancer and across the star cluster M44. Bring out the binoculars to see this event in the western sky at 10 p.m between May 18 and 26. On May 19, the Red Planet will be next to the dim star Eta Cancri. You need to look carefully, as they will be quite close. Mars' glare may overwhelming, but it's worth a try.

On May 22 and 23, Mars moves just above M44. This whole scene is contained in a box of stars: Gamma, Eta, Theta, and Delta Cancri. At this time, Mars will be only 167,000,000 miles from our little blue world while the stars of M44 will be 500 x 5,900,000,000,000 miles away.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Moon passes Mercury

Last night, the Moon hovered just to the upper right of Mercury. From 8:50 p.m. until they sank below the wnw ridgeline, they gave an enchanting sight.

Tonight the crescent Moon will be quite a bit above the little planet, perhaps 25 of its diameters above it. Be sure to use binoculars for a better view.

Such is our view from Earth...

Mercury: A Challenge, Mars: Continues Marching

Shortly after sunset, the small planet Mercury is visible very low in the wnw. If the air is clear, it is surprising how bright it is. Just to Mercury's left is the brightest star in Taurus, Aldebaran. See the image above.

On Wednesday after 8:45 p.m. the crescent moon is to the right of Mercury. For the next 10 days or so, the little planet climbs higher each evening becoming easier to spot. By the third week of May, though, it rapidly drops from view as it moves between the Earth and the sun.

Mars continues its journey past Castor and Pollux. The "triplets" are easily seen in the image above.

Such is our view from Earth..

Mercury Moves in May

Our solar system's smallest planet makes its best evening appearance for 2008. Mercury can be found after 8:50 p.m. and before 9:20 p.m. in the wnw. Every night until May 14th, it rises higher as it swings in its orbit away from the sun. Mercury can be seen, if the horizon is low enough and the air is clear enough, as a starlike object just above the horizon. Binoculars greatly help in the hunt.

On the evening of May 6, our thin crescent moon is placed just to Mercury's upper right. This should allow for an easier time identifying this little world.

Such is our view from Earth...

Gemini, the triplets?

The last week of April and the first week of May find Mars moving past the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux. On April 27, the Red Planet forms an interesting squashed isosceles triangle with those two similarly bright objects. A straight line can then be drawn from Pollux through Mars to the brighter star Procyon in Canis Minor. On May 3, Mars moves to form a straight line with Castor and Pollux. All three objects form the "triplets of Gemini" but only for 1 night.

Such is our view from Earth...

Moon occults the Pleiades

Tuesday April 8 brings the Curious Skywatcher an enchanting sight. After darkness settles, the thin crescent moon hovers serenely in the west. It glows almost magically with Earthshine. Just above it glitters the diminutive dipper-shaped cluster of stars, the Pleiades. Beginning about 9:30 the moon slowly moves in front of the Pleiades' northern edge.

Look through binoculars at this pretty scene until it sets shortly after 11 p.m. Some stars disappear behind the moon's disk, some stars pop out from behind the crescent's rim. The moon moves!

Such is our view from Earth...

Mars is on the move

After several months of lurking near the Gemini-Taurus-Auriga borders, Mars makes its move to the east. On March 28, 29, and 30, the Red Planet glows next to the not-so-bright star Mebsuta in Gemini. Try using binoculars to separate the pair. By April 16, it sits next to another little known star, Wasat. Again, bring out the binoculars to split them.

An isosceles triangle is formed on April 27 when Mars begins to pass Pollux and Castor. All three of these objects have about the same brightness. Mars continues for another week when it then lines up with the twins, making for a triplet!

Such is our view from Earth...

The Inner Planets, pt. 2

Mercury is often difficult to spot, but not now — if the skies are clear. In the first part of March, the solar system's smallest planet appears in our dawn sky close to the-easily-viewed Venus. Look to the southeast at about 6:10 to 6:15 a.m. for bright Venus poking above the horizon. Much dimmer Mercury lies to its upper right. Binoculars will help you discover this diminutive world.

Good hunting!

Such is our view from Earth...

The Two Inner Planets

Mornings during the seven days or so offer the skywatcher a chance to glimpse our solar system's two inner planets, Mercury and Venus. Their angular separation from the sun isn't great so they rise shortly before sunrise. Try looking very low in the east at 6:20 a.m. for bright Venus with dimmer Mercury above it. On March 5, the thin crescent moon joins them, but all three may be lost in the brightening twilight.

Such is our view from Earth...

Eclipse and clouds

Unfortunately, the weather in southwest Virginia includes a generous amount of clouds during the total eclipse of the moon tonight. Therefore, the public observing near Explore Park session is cancelled. This certainly does not rule out people looking up on their own! Give it a try!

Even if it is cloudy, the backlit clouds resulting from the full moon, will be absent during totality. Between 10 and 11 pm, the clouds should be dark, except for any up-lighting from city lights below.

Such is our view from southwest Virginia...

Public viewing of the eclipse

If the skies are clear tonight, the total eclipse is for all to see!
Partial phase begins — 8:43 p.m.
Total phase begins — 10:01
Total phase ends — 10:52
Partial phase ends — 12:09 a.m.

The Roanoke Valley Astronomical Society will hold a special observing session in honor of the Total Eclipse of the Moon.
When — Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Time — 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Where — First overlook on the Explore Park spur off the Blue Ridge Parkway
Telescopes will be focusing on the moon, Saturn, and other objects of interest.
The public is welcome! The event is free.
Of course, this public observing event occurs only if the skies are clear!

Such is our view from Earth...

Enjoy the total eclipse of the moon!

On Wednesday evening the bright full moon moves into the Earth's shadow becoming completely eclipsed. The show begins at 8:43 p.m. EST as the moon slides into darkness. By 10:01 it moves entirely into our planet's shadow and the stars come out. To the moon's lower left is the ringed planet, Saturn while above it shines Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo.

How dark will the moon appear? What color will it appear? Usually, it is not so dark that it can't be seen and its color is a dark coppery red. But none of this is definite!

Use binoculars to view a dim star near the moon's lower left edge. As the minutes pass, the moon moves closer to it, finally occulting it at 10:27. The star pops out the other side at about 11:17. By then totality is long over and the star may be difficult to spot in the increasing moonlight.

Totality ends at 10:52 p.m. A thin sliver of light spills from the dark disk's lower edge. Our sky grows brighter, quickly blotting out the dimmer stars. By 12:09 a.m. the partial phase ends as the moon moves completely out of the Earth's shadow. This is the same shadow that causes our "night." We happen to stand in the first few feet of our planet's shadow.

Such is our view from Earth...

Moon passes the Pleiades and Mars

From 2/13 through 2/17, the moon passes several notable celestial objects. First, on the evening of February 13 the nearly first quarter moon sits to the west of the Pleiades star cluster. The following night, it jumps east of the Pleiades. On the 15th, the glaring orb is next to bright Mars. By February 17 the moon is in a fat gibbous shape shining to the lower right of the stars Pollux and Castor in the constellation Gemini. Why not follow it on its journey across the celestial dome?

Such is our view from Earth...

The moon joins Venus and Jupiter

Over the past week, Venus dropped past Jupiter. On Monday morning, our moon joined them in the early morning sky. As the days and weeks pass, Venus continues its decent, soon becoming lost in the solar glare. Jupiter, on the other hand, slowly becomes brighter as it rises earlier. By dawn it is well up in the southeast.

The image above was taken on February 4 at 6:35 a.m.

Such is our view from Earth...

Venus passes Jupiter, part 5

What turned into an ice storm moved into southwest Virginia early Friday morning. The result for skywatchers was that the close approach of the two brightest planets was completely and utterly obscured by clouds. No conjunction for us! However, Saturday morning's scene was very pretty.

The shot above was taken at 6:35 a.m. Saturday, February 2. Venus is on the left.

Such is our view from Earth...

Venus and Jupiter, part 4

The two morning planets, Venus and Jupiter, are almost at their closest to one another. Tomorrow morning, they'll be nearly on top of each other. Be sure to use binoculars for a more detailed view.

The shot above was taken Thursday at 6:35 a.m.

Such is our view from Earth...

Venus mingles with Jupiter, pt. 3

Venus continues its slow slide towards Jupiter. In this image which was taken Monday morning at 6:39, Venus is the bright object in the upper right. By Friday, both planets appear next to each other. Now, we just need to worry about the weather!

Such is our view from Earth...

Venus and Jupiter mingle, part 2

Venus continues to slide towards Jupiter. This shot was taken at 6:40 a.m. on January 25. Keep an eye on these two planets!

Such is our view from Earth...

Jupiter mingles with Venus

In the last few mornings of January and the first few in February, Jupiter appears to slowly pass brilliant Venus shining in the southeastern dawn sky. For the next two weeks, Jupiter approaches Venus — moving a little closer each morning. Finally, on the first morning in February they nearly merge.

In this image taken on January 21, Venus is to the upper right while Jupiter rises above the tree line.

Keep a watch on this and dress warmly!

Such is our view from Earth...

Moon and Mars

As the near full moon rises in the east at sunset on January 19, it is positioned just to the north of Mars. Even though Mars is the 3rd brightest object in the sky at that time, it is difficult to see next to the brilliant moon. Even so, give it a try. When you view these two celestial objects, you are looking at the surfaces of two worlds, one our satellite and the other a very different planet than ours. And keep in mind that Mars is 270 times farther than our familiar moon!

What about the 2nd brightest object? That's Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. It can be found above the southeastern horizon at about 8 pm.

Such is our view from Earth...

Take a cold meteor shower!

Friday morning before sunrise gives meteor observers a chance to see a relatively unknown shower, the Quadrantids. These seems to originate from near the tip of the handle of the Big Dipper which rises around midnight. Look after 1 am in the northeast. The rate for these may reach 120 per hour. However, this number includes the dimmer meteors and the ones that you don't catch streaking behind you. A better number would be 1/3 that top value, placing them around 40 per hour. Nevertheless, this is one of the year's best meteor events.

If you haven't become frozen by 5:00 a.m., you'll also see the crescent moon and brilliant Venus rising in the southeast. This promises to be an inspiring sight to start your day!

Such is the view from Earth...