Tonight _ EarthSky

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  • GloriousmoonandplanetsatnightfallFebruary20

    TonightisFeb20,2015

    CourtesyU.S.NavalObservatory

    TonightSee StarMap NightSky TheSky

    OnthenightofFebruary20,2015,asnightisfalling,gooutsideandlookwest!Thewaxingcrescentmoonand

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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!

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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

    Reply

    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.

    Reply

    ronaldbrignoni 7monthsago>GuestYouhaveanicetelescope,whatyouneedaresomelensestogowithit.Tofindthemaximummagnificationforyourtelescopemultiplytheapertureinmillimetersby2whichequals160X.Thendividethefocallengthofyourtelescopeforyourmodel900mmbythemaximummagnificationthisequalsa5.625lens.Whichyouprobablycan'tget.ThegoodnewsisyoucangetsomePlossllensforabout50dollars.IhavenoproblemseeingtheringsofSaturnwithmy90mmMeadeanda15mmPlossllens.Trygettinga9to10mmLensa1215mmlensanda2532mmwideanglelens,anda2xBarlow.UsethewideangleforlookingattheOrionNebulaandthePleiades.Thereismoretotheuniversethantheplanets.

    Reply

    zack 7monthsago>GuestUsethe20mmlenswiththeBarlowlenseorjustusethe4mmtogetitclear

    Reply

    EndangeredPanda 8monthsago>GuestPoorguy,didanyoneansweryourquestion!?lol

    Reply

    brittany 22daysago>EndangeredPandaIthinktheydidlol

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    Woody 10monthsago>GuestAsfarasseeingthe"rings"ofSaturnyou'llbehardpressed.Evenwithamoreadvancedtelescopeinasuburbanareayou'llhavenoproblemseeingwhatlookstobeonesolidring.Ihavea90mmrefractorandI'mabletoseeSaturnwhatit's"rings"butonlyasaring(singular).

    Reply

    rocket9244 amonthago>WoodyyoucanseetheringsofSaturnwithabasicrefactororreflector.I'veseeiteasilywithboth.mywebsitewithpicsI'vepersonallytaken.withabasiccameraheldovertheeyepiece..http://www.planetrocket.net/sa...

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    believerintheone 2yearsago>GuestHaterlol!!

    Reply

    LizLandrean ayearagoTonightIsawthebrightlightintheskyandapparentlyitsJupiter.Ithoughtitwasanairplanebutafterabit,Ilookedagainanditwasstillthere.Itwasn'tmoving.Itwasamazing!

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    martinshum 8monthsagoGoodmorningallxx

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    BarbaraHeaton 2yearsagoGreatsite.

    2

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    britany 22daysagoIthinkearthskyisawesomeitgivesyoualookatwhatisgoingoninthescienceworldIwishIcouldhavebeenascientistbutinsteadimanurse

    1

    Reply

    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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    Reply

    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.

    Reply

    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!)

    Reply

    Abdullah ayearagowhoa!Itsamazing,itsallaboutastronomy,aboutstarsandnicepicturesarealsoshownaswell,sowecangetvariousinformationaboutastronomy.

    1

    Reply

    Abdullah ayearagoItsamazing!Ilikedtheinformation.

    1

    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

    1

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    seductivebeauty ayearagoAtleasttheirflirtingunderthestarsandmoons.Lol

    1

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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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