Moon meets Jupiter on March 17

On Sunday March 17, look high in the west  for the moon, just shy of 1st quarter. It glows below the bright planet Jupiter. This provides a juxtaposition of giant, but distant Jupiter against the much smaller — 40 times smaller — and much closer moon. Jupiter lies over 2000 times farther than the moon! All of this results in Jupiter appearing starlike while the moon shows an impressive orb.

If you look at Jupiter through steadily held binoculars, you will see one starlike object slightly above the planet and two, maybe three below it. These are its Galilean moons which sizes are on the same order as of our moon. 

Four moons in one evening!

Such is our view from Earth...

How to find PanSTARRS

Between March 15 and March 18, the best times to spot Comet PanSTARRS are between 8:00 and 8:15 p.m. Any observing location having a relatively unobstructed low western horizon (yes, I know that is hard to find) away from bright lights should work. 

How high above the horizon will it be? Extend your arm and the width of your clinched fist is about 10 degrees. (Yes, taller people have longer arms, but they also have bigger fists, and smaller people have shorter arms and smaller fists. This makes the effective angular size of the clinched fist about the same for people of all heights.) The comet should be about 10 degrees (1 clinched fist) above the 0 degree horizon, and it will be slightly north of due west at 8:10 p.m.

By next Thursday March 21, the comet will likely be dimmer but slightly higher (1-1/4 "fists") in the sky and farther northward along the horizon, maybe 2 "fists" to the left of due west. The best time to see it then would be 8:10 to 8:20.

It is a lot easier to see through binoculars. (The angular field of view of typical binoculars is 5 to 6 degrees.) Remember, clear skies are needed. Haze greatly reduces its visibility.

Such is our view from Earth...

Comet PanSTARRS has arrived!

Comet PanSTARRS is not as bright nor as dramatic as recently predicted. It is visible, however, to those Curious Skywatchers who make the effort to spot it. Look directly to the west about forty-five minutes after sunset. Low in the sky sits the comet with its short tail. Because it is just visible to the unaided eye, binoculars greatly aid in the search. As the nights pass, PanSTARRS moves to the northwest rising slightly higher each evening. Since the comet is receding from the sun and the Earth, it fades from view before the end of March.

Such is our view from Earth...

2013 March Celestial Highlights

March 17: Jupiter will be just above the 1st quarter moon for an eye catching sight.

Comet PanSTARRS:

This comet, while not likely appearing as bright as first thought, still has a good chance of being noticeable in the western sky 30 minutes after sunset between March 10 and March 20. The very thin crescent moon lies just to the right of the comet on March 12 and above it, sitting on its tail, on March 13. This whole event is iffy: it might be really good, or it might be really difficult to see. 

As famed comet modeler Fred Whipple once said, "If you must bet, bet on a horse, not on a comet."

Such is our view from Earth...

Now is the time for the year's best view of Mercury

The closest planet to the sun, Mercury, can be the toughest of all the so-called bright planets to spot. Its solar proximity makes it alway appear near the sun, being in the evening sky for not long after sunset. (Or, likewise, in the morning sky before sunrise.) Monday and Tuesday, see the little world reach its highest point in the western sky after sunset before it drops towards the sun. For the next week, follow Mercury as it descends eventually disappearing from view during the last week of February.

Look to the wsw about 6:40 for Mercury's pinpoint of light. If you see something, it is likely the planet as there are no stars in the area bright enough to punch through the bright twilight glow.

Such is our view from Earth...

Mercury brightens, Mars fades away

Over the next two weeks, Mercury makes an appearance in our western sky forty minutes after sunset. Last night, it paired with Mars but now it is found much higher above the horizon than the Red Planet. Mercury can be seen with the unaided eye, but Mars requires binoculars. Mercury, at 121 million miles away, is brightening and quickly moving between the sun and the Earth, while Mars, at 214 million miles, is fading as it approaches the far side of the sun. Look to the west about 6:40 p.m. for the planetary pair. 

Such is our view from Earth...

February 2013 Celestial Highlights

Feb. 8 - 25: Mercury visible low in the west 40 minutes after sunset

Feb. 17: 1st quarter moon to the right of Jupiter

Feb. 18: moon to the left of Jupiter

Feb. 22: 8 pm, Winter solstice on Mars

Such is our view from Earth...