Venus encounters the "Beehive"

One of the prettiest star clusters viewed through binoculars is M44 in Cancer, otherwise known as the "Beehive." This week brilliant Venus just misses sliding through the Beehive. On September 1 and 2, the brilliant planet passes directly south of the star cluster. Observe this with binoculars after 5:30 a.m. Compare their distances from Earth: Venus currently orbits 120 million miles — or 11 light-minutes — away and the dim stars of the Beehive lie 500 light-years from our little blue world!

Such is our view from Earth ...

Mars is sliding next to a mysterious glow

Over the next several nights, Mars shines brightly in the constellation Gemini. For binocular observers, the Red Planet is positioned near a dim cluster of stars known as M35. Watch each night as the bright Mars scoots by the 2800 light year distant cluster. As the weeks progress, the planet grows brighter. Now it is about equal to the bright star in Taurus, Aldebaran.

Look low in the northeast after 2 a.m. or high in the east after 4 a.m. to see this sight.

Such is our view from Earth ...

Perseid Meteor Shower 2009

Tomorrow morning the annual Perseid Meteor Shower reaches its peak. Tonight and tomorrow night will see perhaps 60 meteors streaking across our skies. Most likely, though, far fewer meteors will be seen due to the bright third quarter moon washing out the dark sky.

After 11:30 tonight and tomorrow night, look from a dark location to the northeast. It may take a few seconds or ten minutes before you see your first meteor. Happy hunting!

Such is our view from Earth ...

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 ...