Your name on Mars

NASA is taking names for its 2011 mission to Mars. No, not people, just their names. If you want your name to be transported to Mars on a microchip in 2011, then now is the time to sign up!

http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/participate/sendyourname/

Such is our view from Earth ...

Our busy morning sky

Over the next several weeks, our morning sky is active with planetary sights. The thinning crescent moon slides between Jupiter and Venus on May 18. Three mornings later, the moon catches Venus, forming an intriguing pair with it and the much dimmer Mars.

For the rest of May, Mars rises with brilliant Venus, lying just to its left. Observe this before 5:15 so morning twilight won't interfere with the conjunction of these two planets.

Another interesting sight awaits those Skywatchers armed with binoculars. Look at Jupiter and use the chart to distinguish the very dim Neptune to Jupiter's upper left. Jupiter is represented by the yellow bar and text, Neptune by the white. The star directly to the west Jupiter, perhaps partially concealed in its glare, is Mu Capricorni. Neptune is to Mu's left. Neptune lies nearly 3 billion miles away, over 6 times farther than bright Jupiter! Look for these two worlds before 4:30 a.m. as Neptune needs dark skies to be visible.

Such is our view from Earth ...

See the Moon and Saturn this Sunday

On Sunday evening, there will be telescopes set up at Greenfield in Botetourt for the public to view the crescent Moon and the ringed-planet Saturn. The event will begin at 8:45 and end around 9:45. Go to the end of International Parkway to the turn-around.

Everyone is welcome!

Such is our view from Earth ...

Moon and Jupiter and Venus and Mars

Over the next five mornings, the crescent Moon slides by bright Jupiter, brilliant Venus, and dim Mars. This is a great time to positively ID these distant worlds. Tomorrow morning at 6, look to the south-southeast for the thinning crescent Moon glowing next to Jupiter. The following two mornings, our Moon moves to the east catching Venus on April 22. Look at Venus and the Moon through binoculars. A steady hand reveals Venus' tiny, thin crescent which points towards the not-yet-risen sun. The binoculars show many craters on our Moon.

The following morning, the Moon glides to Venus' east becoming even thinner. It may be difficult to see.

What about Mars? The fourth planet from the Sun, lies to the lower right of Venus. It certainly doesn't stand out in the brightening dawn sky. Over the next nine months it slowly becomes more prominent and by Christmas, it will be nearly as bright as Jupiter.

Such is our view from Earth ...

The Moon below, then above the Pleiades

The crescent moon is always a pretty sight. Tonight and tomorrow night, it joins the Pleiades star cluster in the western sky directly after sunset. Can you see the Earthshine (sunlight reflected off the Earth and cast on to the moon)? How many stars can you see belonging to the Pleiades?

Such is our view from Earth ...

A pairing at dawn

Our moon glides next to Jupiter in the sky 60 minutes before sunrise tomorrow. Look to the southeast for this and you'll see the crescent moon seemingly full with Earthshine just to the giant planet's right. Jupiter is 40 times bigger than our moon, but 2000 times farther away.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Final call for Venus

Over the next several nights, Venus sinks quickly in the western sky directly after sunset. This is your best chance to view through binoculars our nearest planetary neighbor. With a steady hand, you should have no trouble seeing its very thin crescent phase. By next Thursday, the planet will be very difficult to spot because it will be very close to the western horizon as the sun sets.

Such is our view from Earth ...