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GloriousmoonandplanetsatnightfallFebruary20
TonightisFeb20,2015
CourtesyU.S.NavalObservatory
TonightSee StarMap NightSky TheSky
OnthenightofFebruary20,2015,asnightisfalling,gooutsideandlookwest!Thewaxingcrescentmoonand
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theplanetVenusthebrightestandsecondbrightestorbsofnighttime,respectivelywillbethefirsttwocelestialbodiestopopoutaftersundown.Asduskebbsintodarkness,watchfortheplanetMarstojointhemoonandVenus.Ifyouhavebinoculars,aimthematVenustoenhancetheviewandspotMarsallthesoonerinthedarkeningsky.
Youllwanttobelookingwestwardbeginningaround30to45minutesaftersunsetonFebruary20.Dontmissthisspectacularskysceneifyourskyisclear!
AlthoughMarsshinesasbrightlyasourskysbrighteststars,VenusoutshinestheRedPlanetbyagoodhundredfold.VenusandMarshavebeenedgingclosertogetherintheskyallmonth.TheywillhavetheirconjunctionwhenthetwoworldspasseachotherontheskysdomeonFebruary21.ItllbetheirclosestconjunctionsinceSeptember11,2008.AndtheywontstageacloseroneuntilOctober5,2017.
OnFebruary21whenVenusandMarsareinconjunctionthespanbetweenthesetwoplanetsontheskysdomewillbeascant0.5degree.Thatsaboutafullmoonsdiameter,inoursky.
Speakingofthemoon,besuretogazeatthedarksideofthemoonwitheithertheunaidedeyeorbinoculars.Thatsoftglowonthemoonsnightsideiscalledearthshine,whichisactuallytwicereflectedsunlight.TheEarthreflectssunlightbacktothecrescentmoon,andthedarksideofthemoon,inturn,againreflectssunlightbacktoEarth.
Thelunarterminatortheshadowlinedividingthelunardayfromthelunarnightshowsyouwhereitssunriseonthewaxingmoon.Withbinocularsoratelescope,scantheterminatorforthebestthreedimensionalviewsofthelunarterrain.
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ViewlargerAfineexampleofearthshineonthecrescentmoon,courtesyoftheEuropeanSouthernObservatory.Thatstartothelowerleftofthemoonisactuallytheplanet
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Venus.
FromEarth,Mercurylastocculted(passedinfrontof)VenusonAugust20,796.Thesunsetglarewouldhavemadethisoccultationhardtoobserve,however.Imagecredit:SolarSystemLive
Lookingintothefuture,Venuswilloccult(passinfrontof)MercuryonDecember3,2133.Again,theglareofthesettingsunwillmakethisoccultationhardtosee.
VenusandMarsappearclosenowasseeninEarthssky.Doesoneplaneteverpassinfrontoftheother?Itmightsurpriseyoutolearnthattheanswerisyes!
Venus,thesecondplanetoutwardfromthesun,isonestepinsideEarthsorbit.Meanwhile,Mars,thefourthplanetoutward,isonestepoutsideEarthsorbit.Forthisreason,asseenfromEarth,itspossibleforVenustooccultcoveroverMars.Ontheotherhand,MarscanneveroccultVenus.
Anoccultationinvolvingtwoplanetsisextremelyrare,however.Forinstance,thelasttimeVenusocculted
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MOREFROMEARTHSKY
SelfiewithVenusandMarsFridaynightsraretripleshadowtransitofJupiterFebruary2015guidetothefivevisible
FROMAROUNDTHEWEB
XRayVision(ProtoMagazine)TheEruptionofMt.St.HelensRevealedAmericasGemstone(LuxurySecretsRevealed)
MarswasonOctober13,1590,andthenexttimewillbeJune4,2327.
FromthevantagepointofEarth,itsalsopossibleforVenustooccultMercuryorforMercurytooccultVenus.ThatsbecauseMercury,theclosestplanettothesun,andVenusbothresideinsideEarthsorbit(atpresent,bytheway,Mercuryisntaneveningobject,butisnearingitsgreatestelongationinthemorningsky).
Venusismorelikelytooccult(passinfrontof)Mercury,havinglastdonesoonMay28,1737.VenuswillnextoccultMercuryonDecember3,2133.
However,thelasttimeMercuryocculted(passedinfrontof)VenuswasonAugust20,796.AndfromwhatIcangather,thenexttimewontbeuntilMarch14,3129!
Sooccultationsofoneplanetbyanotherareexceedinglyrare.But,actually,whenyoustoptothinkaboutit,eachandeverydaypresentsaspecialanduniqueskyshowinitsownright.
Bottomline:Whilethetimeisathand,enjoytheclosegroupingofthewaxingcrescentmoon,andtheplanetsVenusandMarsinthewesternskyasdarknessfallsonFebruary20,2015!
Donate:Yoursupportmeanstheworldtous
BruceMcClure
AlbertaNorthernLights
travelalberta.us/StarGazingAlbertaOffersAShowintheSky.BookYourTripToday.
SalesTaxbyZIPCodeVeteranHomeLoans
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planetsWhatmakesVenusthebrightestplanet?HubblecapturesraretripletransitofJupitersmoons
69MustangShelbyGT500CobraJetFoundinGarage(DigitalTrends)Astoundingshotsfromthesharpestnewsatelliteinspace(pictures)(CNET)PeytonManning'sNetWorthWillBlowYouAway!(TheSportal)
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forever_dope__ ayearago>Guesthiii
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medias 9monthsago>GuestLoveuallcauseyou'rehere
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jushelpin 8monthsago>GuestYourbiggestfoeisartificiallight.Youreallyhavetogetawayfromtheglowofmetropolitanareasifyouwanttomaximizeyourviewofplanets.
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MarcelloPreite 6monthsago>Guest1.MakeshurethattherotationaxisislinedupNorthSouth,hopeyouhavedonethisalready.2.makesurethatthissameaxisissetfortheLatitudewhereyouliveon.Dobothbyliningupwiththefindertelescopefirstandthenwiththemain'scope.Todoublecheck,lineuponPolarisifyouareintheNorthernemisphere.Itshoudstayonthefieldofviewforseveralminutes,ifitdriftsoutyouhavetocorrectasneeded.Makesureyourlensesarespotless,always.3.Getanindicationonthewhereaboutsoftheobjectyouarelookingforfromthevarioussitesonthenet.4.turnyoutelescopeinthedirectionyouneedandlineupvisuallyontheobject,thenlineupwiththefinderandfinallylineupwiththescope.Usealowmagnificationatfirst.Onceyouareontheobject,increasemagnificationandrefocusasneeded.
Rememberthatyoucannotincreasemagnificationadinfinitumasyouarelimitedbythesizeofyourmainlens/mirror.
Havepatienceandyouwillgetbetterwithpractice(aswitheverythinginlife).
Goodluck!2
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graciegirl 6monthsago>GuestIalsoamanewcomerandshareyourfrustrationwithviewingtheskywithmynewCelestron80EQ.Ithinkweprobablyneedtobreakfreeandcallthetechsupportforadvice.Myissuesarenearlyidenticaltoyours!
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DeborahByrd 6monthsagoMod >graciegirlHiGraciegirlandthe1andonlygr81.Right.We'renotasitecenteredontelescopeusage.Youmightwanttotryskyandtelescope.com.Theyhavesomegreatinfoforbeginners.Trypokingaroundontheirsite.Ithoughtthispagemightbeusefultoyouboth:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com...
ThanksforvisitingEarthSky!
Deborah1
rocket9244 amonthago>DeborahByrd
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rocket9244 amonthago>DeborahByrdFacebook.Greatpagewithtonsofinformation.
TelescopeAddictsAstronomy&AstrophotographyCommunity
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GaryMarshall amonthago>graciegirlLightpollutionshoudn'tbetoomuchofaproblemwhenviewingplanets,especiallybrighteroneslikeJupiter,Jupitercanevenbeseenindaytimeifyouknowwheretolook.
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ronaldbrignoni 7monthsago>GuestYouhaveanicetelescope,whatyouneedaresomelensestogowithit.Tofindthemaximummagnificationforyourtelescopemultiplytheapertureinmillimetersby2whichequals160X.Thendividethefocallengthofyourtelescopeforyourmodel900mmbythemaximummagnificationthisequalsa5.625lens.Whichyouprobablycan'tget.ThegoodnewsisyoucangetsomePlossllensforabout50dollars.IhavenoproblemseeingtheringsofSaturnwithmy90mmMeadeanda15mmPlossllens.Trygettinga9to10mmLensa1215mmlensanda2532mmwideanglelens,anda2xBarlow.UsethewideangleforlookingattheOrionNebulaandthePleiades.Thereismoretotheuniversethantheplanets.
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zack 7monthsago>GuestUsethe20mmlenswiththeBarlowlenseorjustusethe4mmtogetitclear
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EndangeredPanda 8monthsago>GuestPoorguy,didanyoneansweryourquestion!?lol
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brittany 22daysago>EndangeredPandaIthinktheydidlol
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Woody 10monthsago>GuestAsfarasseeingthe"rings"ofSaturnyou'llbehardpressed.Evenwithamoreadvancedtelescopeinasuburbanareayou'llhavenoproblemseeingwhatlookstobeonesolidring.Ihavea90mmrefractorandI'mabletoseeSaturnwhatit's"rings"butonlyasaring(singular).
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rocket9244 amonthago>WoodyyoucanseetheringsofSaturnwithabasicrefactororreflector.I'veseeiteasilywithboth.mywebsitewithpicsI'vepersonallytaken.withabasiccameraheldovertheeyepiece..http://www.planetrocket.net/sa...
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believerintheone 2yearsago>GuestHaterlol!!
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LizLandrean ayearagoTonightIsawthebrightlightintheskyandapparentlyitsJupiter.Ithoughtitwasanairplanebutafterabit,Ilookedagainanditwasstillthere.Itwasn'tmoving.Itwasamazing!
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martinshum 8monthsagoGoodmorningallxx
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BarbaraHeaton 2yearsagoGreatsite.
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britany 22daysagoIthinkearthskyisawesomeitgivesyoualookatwhatisgoingoninthescienceworldIwishIcouldhavebeenascientistbutinsteadimanurse
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Mike amonthagoDangyouDenverandyourstupidlights.IwishIcouldseethis.Allwell.
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GalaxiesnNebulae amonthagoLastnightCometLovejoywasawonderfulsite.Inmy15X70binocs,itlookedthesizeofthemoon.Nice
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wasawonderfulsite.Inmy15X70binocs,itlookedthesizeofthemoon.Nicedensecorewithasofterouterhalo.Couldnotseethetail.Manypeopleinourastronomyclubwereabletoseeiteasilywithlowerpowerbinoculars.Idrewalinethroughthe"knee"starsofOrionSaiphandRigel.Startingwiththeleftstar,IdrewthelinetoRigelandkeptongoinganother1.5to2timesthatdistance...andthereitwas!ThenImovedthebinosovertolookatJupiteryes,all4moonswerevisibleassmallpinpricksoflight,straightinarow.Greatnightevenat20Fwindchill!
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LeviNeely amonthagoJupiterlookswonderfultonight!Caughtfourmoonswiththebinos!Hadalotoffunandgladtheskycooperatedforsomeniceviewingthisevening.IbelieveImighthaveseenLovejoytonightbasedonwhereit'ssupposedtobe.I'mstilllearningmystarchart,butitappearedasa"fuzzy"greenishblobthroughthebinos.Itookalongexposureandsubmitteditonhere.Let'shopetheycantellmeifIdidindeedfinallycatchaglimpseofthiscoolspaceobject!
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Reply MarcelloPreite 6monthsago
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GalaxiesnNebulae 8monthsago>GuestThemoonrises,onanaverage,of50minuteslatereachday.Ithinkthemoonrosesomethingafter12:30amlastnightandwillrisealittleafter1:00amtonight.Bythetimeitbecomesfullmoonitwillberisingatsunsetandsettingatsunrise.AtNewMoon,itwillriseandsetwiththesun.
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VinayakSutarPatil 8monthsagoNicestuffindeed!Youhaveprovidedverygoodinformationindetails.Thanks
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jade 9monthsagowhatIlikeabouttheskyisitchangeseverynightanditadifferentthinglikethestartheothernightitwastaurasthebullitcool!
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You2snow 10monthsagoyouguysmademyday.Icouldn'tstoplaughing
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VTyree 10monthsago4112014Iampatientlyawaitingtheeclipseon414152014!Iwillhavemycamerareadytogo.I
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4112014Iampatientlyawaitingtheeclipseon414152014!Iwillhavemycamerareadytogo.IhavesomuchFUNwatchingthenightsky...Bewelltoall.Cordially,Virginia
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VirginiaTyree ayearago3172014Today...HaveawonderfulSt.Patrick'sDay...Bewellandhappy.v
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Kat ayearagoIhavenewfoundinterestinastronomy(I'm56yearsoldandnotcute)andhopetotakeastronomyatthelocalcollegeinthefall.Idonotyethaveanybinocularsyet,whichIplantogetbeforeinvestingmoneyinatelescope.Anysuggestionsongoodbinocularstoget?You'renevertoooldtolearn.
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SeanCassidy ayearago>KatireallylikemyCelstronCypress10x50's.verygoodspecsforastronomyatareasonableprice.
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GalaxiesnNebulae ayearago>KatThe"standard"binoforastronomyis10X50.Ifyouaregoingtoholdthemandnotputthemonatripod,youprobablydonotwanttogoanylargerbecausewetendtoshakemorewithaddedweight.Sinceyouaretryingtocollectadimamountoflight,tryingtokeeptheobjectivesgoodsizedisbetter(thustherecommended50mm).Iftheyaregoingtobeusedbychildren,however,youmightwanttogosmaller.Ihaveaverynicepairof10X42roofprismbinos.Unfortunately,thetubesaretooclosetogethertofitontotheadapterforatripodandsoIrecommendtheporroprismsformoreversatility.Ijustpurchasedanewpairofbinosthataretoolargetouseverylongwithoutthetripod,buttheyhavebeenalotoffunCelestron'sCavalry15X70's.Ilovethem!ButIturnedaroundandboughtOrion'stripodforbinosandhaveasmuchinvestedinallofthatasan8"Skyquesttelescope.LOL!Orionalsosellsakitwitha10X50,aplanisphere,andaDVDnothighqualitybinos,butmightbeagoodstarterkit.(Sharin'56withya!)
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Abdullah ayearagowhoa!Itsamazing,itsallaboutastronomy,aboutstarsandnicepicturesarealsoshownaswell,sowecangetvariousinformationaboutastronomy.
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Abdullah ayearagoItsamazing!Ilikedtheinformation.
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VTyree ayearago2182014HeyWinter,Myopinion,justmessinaround...Iam,awarethatthissiteisabouttheUniverse.And,Iam,gratefultoalltheteamthatmakesthesitepossible!Yes,Idoknowthatthissite
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Universe.And,Iam,gratefultoalltheteamthatmakesthesitepossible!Yes,IdoknowthatthissiteisNOTfordating.Therewasapostthatmentionedthewordcute.Itseemstohavegoneonfromthere...Bewellandhappy,verykindly,Virginia
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VTyree ayearago2142014Wow,theFullMoontonight,toallthecutiesalloverthisEARTH...Bewellandhappy...Cordially,Virginia
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seductivebeauty ayearagoAtleasttheirflirtingunderthestarsandmoons.Lol
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RayReynolds ayearagoLovelytoseeMercurythisevening
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VTyree ayearago212014Hey,tothecuteconversation.Iam,definitelycute!!!IsawthisreallylovelyphotoofarainbowduringthefullmoonfromHawaii.Also,goingtotakephotosofthenewmoonandMercurytonight.Really,doesanyoneuseMyspace.Mayyouallbehappyandwell!Cordially,missVirginia...
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BruceMcClureisthechiefwriterforthepopularEarthSkyTonightpages.SincejoiningEarthSkyin2004,hehaswrittenthousandsofastronomyarticles,enjoyedherebymillions.Healsowrites,givesplanetariumshowsandhostsawideassortmentofpublicastronomyprogramsinandaroundhishomeinupstateNewYork.Ifyouaskanastronomyquestiononoursite,itslikelytobeBrucethatanswersit.HislovefortheheavenshastakenhimtoLakeTiticacainBolivia,andhehassailedtheNorthAtlantic,earninghiscelestialnavigationcertificatethroughtheSchoolofOceanSailingandNavigation.Bruceisalsoasundialaficionado.HesayshisnumberonepassionbesideshiswifeAliceisstargazing.
Cyclones Lam and Marcia hit north Australia within six hours on February 19. 1.usa.gov/1DJ2g2F pic.twitter.com/bS0ROZPVbO
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