Total Lunar Eclipse, 12/21/2010

Partial phase begins: 1:32 a.m.
Total phase begins: 2:40 a.m.
Total phase ends: 3:54 a.m.
Partial phase ends: 5:02 a.m.

Tuesday morning, our moon enters the Earth’s shadow becoming totally eclipsed. The entire lunar face is enveloped in darkness beginning at 2:40 a.m. and lasting until 3:54 a.m. Then, a silver sliver emerges from the shadow’s edge eventually growing into the bright full moon by 5:02.

During the eclipse, the moon will be difficult to see since it lies, not in sunlight, but in the same shadow that gives us our night. We happen to stand within its first few feet, while the moon moves 230,000 miles away in the shadow’s gently tapering cone.

Take particular note of the color of the dark orb. Due to the small amount of sunlight refracting through the Earth’s atmosphere, the moon won’t be black, but a shade of dark red. It will likely show a subtle 3D effect, making an eerie scene.

All of this can be much more easily seen through binoculars. When the darkened moon reaches totality, look at the region immediately around it. To its upper left, a dimly glowing patch of light can be glimpsed. That is the galactic star cluster M35, which will be quite invisible once the brightening moon begins to exit the shadow.

As astronomical events go, total lunar eclipses aren’t particularly rare, but they aren’t common, either. The next total lunar eclipse visible from southwest Virginia is April 15, 2014 at 3:00 a.m.

Such is our view from Earth...

The crescent of Venus

Each evening, Venus drops a little closer to the horizon as it approaches the sun. By the end of October, Venus will be positioned between the Earth and the sun so that it appears directly next to the sun in our daytime sky.

Look at this bright planet this evening in the southwest right after sunset. Through a very steadily held pair of binoculars, a small crescent shape can be discerned. If the planet’s glare is overpowering, wear sunglasses. During the next few weeks, while Venus remains visible, its crescent shape will become thinner and larger.

To the right of Venus, Mars can be seen passing just north of Spica over the next few evenings. If the atmosphere isn’t very clear, binoculars will help greatly in seeing this event.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Venus has two companions

The closest planet to our Earth is currently Venus. This similarly sized world as our own is shining brightly in the west-southwest directly after sunset. Tonight it will have two companions with it: the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, Spica, and the red planet Mars. Spica will be just above Venus while reddish Mars lies to its right. Wait until 8:40 p.m. when the sky is dark enough before viewing them. Otherwise, the twilight will be too bright, obscuring the dimmer Spica and Mars.

On the evening of September 1, Venus will be just to the lower left of Spica. Mars remains to their right.

Such is our view from Earth...

Bright Jupiter and much dimmer world

The end of August and the beginning of September sees bright Jupiter climbing in the east as evening darkness falls. By 10 p.m. it is an unmistakable object. For a bonus, aim a pair of binoculars at the bright planet. Half way towards the edge of the field of view to the upper right lies a star. A star it is not. That is Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun.

If you look closely, you will notice that Jupiter shows a tiny disk, while Uranus is mere a pinpoint. That is because Uranus is about five time farther away and only one-third as wide.

Such is our view from Earth.

The Sky: Week of April 11, 2010

Watch Mercury, the thin, thin crescent Moon, and Mars crossing the Beehive this week!

At about 8:80 p.m., Mercury is visible in the west just to the right and slightly below Venus. As the nights pass, this little planet will grow dimmer and drop closer to the horizon at the same time each evening. On the night of April 15, Mercury is involved with a close encounter with the Moon. Look to the lower right of Venus near the horizon line for the Moon's very thin crescent. To its lower left shines Mercury. Both of them may be difficult to see due the bright background sky glow and both are fairly close to the horizon. If you can't see them, use binoculars. If you succeed, be proud because not many people have seen our Moon as thin as this.

The photo, taken on April 10, shows Venus and Mercury at 8:45 p.m.

Mars passes just north of the Beehive (M44) star cluster this week. The Beehive is a naked eye object, but Mars' glow may prevent you from spotting it without binoculars. With binoculars, the Beehive appears as a couple of dozens twinkling lights. Red, bright Mars hovers above it, between the skep and the swarm.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Your chance to see Mercury

This week, if the weather is clear, is a great time to spot Mercury just after sunset. Look to the west for brilliant Venus at about 8:20 p.m. Just to its lower right lies Mercury. Each evening the tiny planet's position noticeably changes as it orbits the sun. For the next week it appears to move closer to Venus before fading in the bright evening twilight.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Good time to spot Mercury

Mercury joins brilliant Venus in our evening sky at about 8:30 p.m. Look to the west just below and to the right from Venus. A dim "star" should appear — Mercury!

Such is our view from Earth ...

The Sky: Week of March 28, 2010

Evening Sky:


1. Venus is low in the west at 8:30 p.m. setting just after 9:00. It is easily the brightest object in that part of the sky.
2. Mercury shines much dimmer to the lower right of Venus. During the week, it climbs higher each evening to nearly catch Venus on April 4th.

Because Venus and Mercury are so low above the horizon, they tend to twinkle, especially if the earth's atmosphere is turbulent. Venus normally doesn't twinkle at all, but it might this week.

3. Mars is almost overhead at sunset. Look for it nearly centered among the bright stars Procyon, Pollux, and Regulus. It currently lies 1-binocular field of view to the northwest of the Beehive star cluster.

4. Saturn shines in the east-southeast at 9:00 pm. Just after midnight, it lies high in the south.

5. The near full moon lies directly next to the bright star Spica in Virgo. It will be difficult to spot due to the moon's glaring light.

6. Look to the southwest after 9:00 p.m. for the winter constellations and bright stars, especially Orion and the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius.


Morning Sky:

1. Jupiter is difficult to spot this week because it rises shortly before the sunset. By next Sunday, though, it should have climbed high enough in the east to be spotted by 6:30 a.m.

2. The pretty summer constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius stand in the south at 5:30 a.m. If you have binoculars, scan that region of the sky.


Such is our view from Earth ....