Posts Tagged ‘new moon’
Sky Tonight—April 3, Saturn closest, brightest,
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science Visit EarthSky at www.EarthSky.org The best time of 2011 to see Saturn is here. Planet Earth flies between the sun and Saturn tonight, according to U.S. clocks. Our fast movement in orbit brings us between Saturn and the sun every year, to an event called opposition by astronomers. In other words, Saturn is now opposite the sun in Earth’s sky. At opposition, Saturn rises in the east at sunset and sets in the west at sunrise. So Saturn is up all ... Full Story
Sky Tonight—March 4, Bright star Arcturus is a
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science Visit EarthSky at www.EarthSky.org The gloriously bright star Arcturus rises into your east-northeastern sky around 9 p.m. tonight. This yellow-orange beauty – like any brilliant star – sparkles wildly when it hovers near the horizon. Arcturus is the brightest star in the constellation Bootes, which represents a Herdsman – though to our modern eyes, this star formation might look more like a kite or snow cone. Arcturus is the fourth brightest ... Full Story
Sky Tonight—February 2, Cassiopeia is shaped like an
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science Visit EarthSky at www.EarthSky.org Erick wrote, “Do you have any information on Cassiopeia’s Chair?” Erick, you have used the lovely old-fashioned name for this constellation. In the 1930s, the International Astronomical Union gave this constellation the official name of Cassiopeia the Queen. Nevertheless, skywatchers still see the chair, and speak of it. Cassiopeia was an Ethiopian queen in ancient Greek mythology. According to legend, she ... Full Story
