| Observatory |
What's Up...
Some observing hilights
to look forward to...
The following tips on exciting current and upcoming astronomical events
have been gathered from magazines and other sources by Dave Gamble
with the objective of giving OC RASC members a heads-up on special personal
astro-experiences to look forward to. Hope you enjoy them!
Thurs. Feb. 9 - An odd planetary couple get together in the sky tonight. Nearby Venus approaches the position of distant Uranus while a waning gibbous Moon looks on. This will be a great opportunity for anyone who has not actually seen Uranus, since the fainter planet will be less than half the Moon's diameter away from its brilliant sibling. Binoculars will show the pair well, while a telescope will reveal Uranus' pale green disk as well as Venus' lunar-like phase.
Fri. Feb. 10 - One of the more elusive wonders of the sky will be available to see on clear nights for the next several weeks. Under dark sky conditions, look for an arch of faint, hazy light stretching up from the western horizon. The Zodiacal light is produced by sunlight reflecting off dust in the equatorial plane of the solar system.
Sat. Feb. 11 - The Moon is at perigee tonight, around 368,000 km. distant and about 36,940 km closer than it will be on the 27th when it is at apogee, or at the farthest away part of its orbit. Should look quite big in the sky for the next few nights.
Sun. Feb. 12 - A waning gibbous Moon poses in the predawn sky between the bright star Spica in Virgo (just above) and the ringed planet Saturn, just below.
Tues. Feb. 14 - This is last quarter Moon night. The half of an orange will rise around midnight and will be there high in the morning sky to welcome you to a new day.
Wed. Feb. 15 - Tonight Mars takes its turn being the farthest away from the Earth in its orbit which explains that, while the red planet looks good and bright, it just doesn't compare to the brilliance of an opposition that occurs in the early fall when it is at the closest part of its orbit.
Wed. Feb. 15 - Ever on the move, the Moon has now nudged over to appear just above bright, red giant star Antares in the predawn sky. Did you know that the Moon's orbital motion carries it forward through the background stars by its width every hour?
Tues. Feb. 21 - Now, if the weatherman cooperates, deep sky observers, sketchers and imagers will be in their glory with dark spring skies.
Sat. Feb. 25 - The Moon just couldn't resist another rendezvous with Venus. The broadening crescent Moon appears just over the width of a finger above its brilliant companion.
Sun. Feb. 26 - Yes, the Moon is fickle. Tonight it is carousing with Jupiter,
coasting just above it in the evening sky.
Tues. Feb. 28 - Our fingerpost to celestial wonders, the Moon, tonight points
out the beautiful compact open cluster the Pleiades.
Wed. Feb. 29 - Yes, you're right. 2012 has an extra day, and here it is.
In the sky a perfect first quarter Moon celebrates 'Leap Day'.