Posts Tagged ‘retrograde’
Sky Tonight—January 27, Saturn starts retrograde on
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science Visit EarthSky at www.EarthSky.org Starting today – on January 27, 2011 – Saturn will begin to go in a retrograde or westward direction in front of the constellation Virgo. That is a signal that the best time to see Saturn in 2011 has begun. Give me 5 minutes, and I’ll give you Saturn in 2011 The planet Saturn – a golden world that appears to shine steadily on the sky’s dome – is rising in the east around 11 p.m. now. Saturn climbs ... Full Story
EarthSky Tonight—Nov 18, Moon and Jupiter tonight,
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science Visit EarthSky at www.EarthSky.org The moon and solar system’s largest planet, Jupiter, shine from dusk until well after midnight tonight. They will be very noticeable as the brightest objects in the night sky. After Jupiter and the waxing gibbous moon set in the west before Friday dawn tomorrow, look for the blazing planet Venus to rise in the east before dawn. The little star near it is Spica in the constellation VIrgo. The planet Saturn is ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight—July 23, Jupiter appears to stop,
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Jupiter may be a giant planet, but compared to Earth it moves like an oxcart in the race around the sun. The Earth’s average speed is about 67,000 miles an hour, while Jupiter lumbers along at less than half that speed, or about 29,000 miles an hour. Because of its faster speed and shorter distance to go around its orbit, our Earth laps Jupiter about once every 13 months. It is a lot like a fast racecar in the inner track ... Full Story
Earthsky Tonight—March 11: Mars stationary in front
Courtesy of EarthSky A Clear Voice for Science www.EarthSky.org Almanacs say the planet Mars is “stationary” today. However, stationary doesn’t mean that Mars stays in the same place in Earth’s sky all night tonight. Mars actually shines in the southern sky at mid-evening, and crosses the sky westward throughout the night. This ruddy world sets beneath the western horizon before dawn tomorrow. Does stationary mean that Mars is staying still in its orbit around the sun? Hardly! Mars ... Full Story
