Posts Tagged ‘EarthSky Tonight’
EarthSky Tonight—Tonight October 20, Moon washes out
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org The almost full waxing gibbous moon makes 2010 an unfavorable year for watching tonight’s Orionid meteor shower. However, that same big bright moon near Jupiter will be a sight to behold. Meteors first. The Orionid meteor shower will probably rain down their greatest number of meteors for 2010 before dawn on Thursday, October 21, 2010. Only diehard meteor enthusiasts will be watching, however, as the meteors are sure ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 19, Moon and Jupiter close
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org As seen from North America, the waxing gibbous moon and the blazing planet Jupiter are the closest together for the month tonight. From Asia, they will be closest tomorrow night. Nevertheless, no matter where you live worldwide, look for Jupiter near tonight’s moon. Want more? Bright star in southeast on October evenings? It’s the planet Jupiter With the exception of the moon, Jupiter is the brightest heavenly ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 18, Bright object near
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Here is the waxing gibbous moon shortly after sunset on Monday, not real far away from the largest planet in our solar system Jupiter. The waxing moon will be closer to Jupiter on Tuesday. If you are outside in twilight this evening, turn your focus on the moon. The best time to observe craters, mountains and valleys on the moon is in morning or evening twilight. That is when the moon appears bright against the darkening ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 17, Solar system’s
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Do not expect to see Neptune, even though it is close to the moon tonight. Neptune, the 8th planet out from the sun, is the only solar system planet that you absolutely cannot see with the unaided eye. Pluto is not visible to the unaided eye, either, but in 2006, this distant world was reclassified – some say demoted – to “dwarf planet” status. Because of the moonlit glare, you probably will not even see the ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 16, See Cassiopeia and Big
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org On October evenings, the Big Dipper resides rather low in the northwest sky, and the W or M-shape constellation Cassiopeia the Queen sits on her throne in the upper northeast sky. These two star formations are like riders on opposite side of a Ferris Wheel. They spin around Polaris, the North Star, once a day. As one rises upward, the other plunges downward – and vice versa. As evening deepens into late night, the Big ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 15, See the sky’s
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Andy wrote, "Early this morning, looking southeast, I saw a beautiful star, bright and multicolored. . .Can you identify it for me?" Paula wrote, "This morning two of us got up early. We found a pulsing star straight down the sky below Orion’s Belt. It was pulsing the colors of green, yellow, blue and red like a strobe light. I will search for it every morning as it was so enchanting.” It is enchanting, so much so ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 14, Find constellations of
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Today’s sky chart shows the constellations of the Zodiac that are up after nightfall on these October evenings. We got this question: "I’m having a difficult time being able to recognize the constellations of the Zodiac . . . do you have any advice?" Yes . . . we can recommend a few things. First, the zodiacal constellations are the backdrop for the pathway of the sun around our sky each year, and of the moon for ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 13, Moon is waxing, but
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Diana from Potsdam, NY asked, "Why are the evening crescent and the first quarter moon always so low in the autumn evening sky?" The answer is that, as seen from our northern hemisphere, the ecliptic – the pathway of the moon and planets – sinks very low in the southern sky on autumn evenings. That is why the waxing crescent moon and the first quarter moon always loom low in the sky in September and October, as seen ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—October 12, Arcturus sparkles in
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Is Comet Hartley 2 beginning to brighten? A bright star in the west in the evening in October – flashing colors – is Arcturus. Let us back up a minute. The extremely bright object in the east to southeast sky on these October 2010 evenings is the planet Jupiter. Still, many have asked about a bright star – not as bright as Jupiter, but still very bright and twinkling very actively – in the west after sunset. Jim ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight-October 11, Antares is bright star
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org See Comet Hartley 2 from early to mid October 2010 The bright star near the moon on October 11 is Antares, Heart of the Scorpion in the constellation Scorpius. It is a red star, but you might not see its reddish color against the fading colors of twilight. Our chart shows the moon and Antares shortly after sunset, when they are low in the southwest. They will set not far behind the sun. North American viewers will see ... Full Story
