‘Earth & Sky’ Archives
Earthsky Tonight – January 26, 2010
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org As seen from Earth, the planet Mercury – the solar system’s innermost planet – appears to be closely tethered to the sun. But tomorrow morning, Mercury will swing to the end of its tether – the outermost point of its orbit. Astronomers call this event Mercury’s greatest western elongation. Therefore, Mercury will appear in the early dawn sky before sunrise for the next week or so. However, it’ll still ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight – January 25, 2010: Moon close
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org We are displaying a larger swath of sky than we usually do on tonight’s chart. That’s because we’re showing you how to star-hop from the three stars of Orion’s Belt to the star Aldebaran and the Pleiades star cluster. Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster reside within the constellation Taurus the Bull. However, you won’t need Orion’s Belt to locate Taurus the Bull tonight, because the bright waxing ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight- January 24: Moon and Pleiades in
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org The waxing gibbous moon and the Pleiades star cluster are found high in the southern sky at nightfall and early evening. Although the moonlit glare may make it difficult to see this tiny, dipper-shape cluster of starlets tonight, be sure to check out the Pleiades on a dark, moonless night. Starting the first weekend of February, the moon will leave the evening sky for at least a week, staging the Pleiades in ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight, January 23, 2010: Moon in front of
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Tonight, the waxing gibbous moon shines in front of the constellation Aries the Ram. At nightfall, you’ll find the moon high in your southern sky, and the three stars outlining the head of the Ram to the upper right of the moon. These Aries’ stars are Hamal, Sheratan and Mesarthim. Hamal is the brightest of these three stars, though none is a particularly bright. No doubt, the moonlit glare will tarnish the ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight, January 22, 2010: Moon and stars of
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org As seen from North America this evening, the fat waxing crescent moon shines in front of the constellation Pisces the Fishes, not far at the Aries/Pisces border. The three stars to the moon’s upper left depict the head of Aries the Ram. In their order of brightness, these stars are Hamal, Sheratan and Mesarthim. The star Eta Piscium in Pisces may be hard to see tonight because of the moonlit glare, but this star ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight, January 21, 2010: Identify the stars
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Tonight’s chart covers a wider area of sky than what we typically show. It’s in answer to a reader in Nashville, who wrote, I’ve heard mention of the Winter Circle of Stars. Could you list the stars in this circle? You will find these stars at this time of year by looking east-southeast in early-mid evening. Again, this is a large pattern and covers a wide area of sky, but as always it’s easiest to ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight, January 20, 2010: Achernar, the end
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Today’s chart is almost just like the January 16 chart. But today we’ve changed our observing location. Normally, our charts are set for the geographical center of the continental U.S. – say, somewhere in Kansas. Today’s chart is set to the extreme southern U.S. It’s as if we’re gazing at stars from the southernmost part of the country . . . maybe along the Texas/Mexico border, or from the Florida ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight, January 19, 2010: Monoceros is the
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Today’s chart shows something you’ll need a very dark sky to see. In fact, the view will probably be better after the waxing crescent moon sets around mid-evening tonight. Focus in on the stars Betelgeuse, Sirius and Procyon. They make a triangle, which is sometimes called the Winter Triangle. Within this triangle of stars, hidden in between the many bright and glittering stars and constellations visible at this ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight, January 18, 2010: Moon and Jupiter
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Did you see the moon to the west (or right) of the blazing planet Jupiter yesterday, on Sunday evening? This Monday evening, in contrast, the waxing crescent moon will appear above Jupiter. This is because the moon moves eastward in front of the backdrop stars at about 13 degrees per day. For a measurement reference, your fist at an arm length approximates 10 degrees. The moon isn’t the only solar sytem ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight, January 17, 2010 Moon and Jupiter
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Tonight and tomorrow night, the moon will guide you to the two brightest planets in the January evening sky – Jupiter and Mars. As darkness falls, look low in your west or southwest sky for the thin waxing crescent moon. That blazing point of light by the moon is the planet Jupiter. You can’t miss Jupiter – it’s far brighter than any star. The moon and Jupiter set shortly after full darkness falls ... Full Story
