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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2010 12:32:58 GMT
A thread for all things celestial,astronomical and stellar,solar and lunar and anything else up there.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 11, 2010 16:11:44 GMT
What a great, past due idea! Does anyone have links for simple, non-technical ways to determine what's going on in our particular night-time skies?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2010 11:21:14 GMT
Am scoping out links to post.
Most interesting for the month of January, the moon is nearest to the earth on the 30th which is a full moon to boot.
Mars makes its closest approach this year on the 27th and is exactly opposite the Sun two nights later.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 12, 2010 16:27:29 GMT
That is interesting, and why I want a sky map I can understand. I can just see myself outside with the binoculars, emoting over the light on a radio tower or something.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 12, 2010 17:56:51 GMT
spaceweather.com/This is a link to a site about sky/space happenings. They do emailed alerts about sky events that you can subscribe to: satellite flyovers, auroras, unusual phenomena. another good site is Astronomy Picture of the Day apod.nasa.gov/apod/, which posts a usually gorgeous photo every day and has an archive button and search feature allowing you to find pics of subjects you are interested in. Like this one from 2006 of sundogs:
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2010 18:41:10 GMT
Thanks Kimby! Both look like great sites.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 12, 2010 19:47:51 GMT
That is interesting, and why I want a sky map I can understand. I can just see myself outside with the binoculars, emoting over the light on a radio tower or something. I hear there's an application for iPhones that uses the GPS feature of the phone and time of day to call up a perfect map of the night sky.
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Post by spindrift on Jan 13, 2010 13:28:20 GMT
Thanks Kimby...I'll be looking at those sites and probably subscribing as well.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 14, 2010 2:02:10 GMT
Do you know, Kimby -- I thought sundogs were some kind of dark spots on the sun. That picture is gorgeous!
I don't have an Iphone, but am continuously amazed at all the "futuristic" things these tiny implements can do.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2010 11:34:41 GMT
I do hope all of us will post in here anything of note,particularly if y'all know beforehand of some event you're aware of ,and we could then compare notes.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 15, 2010 0:58:09 GMT
Casi, your wish is my command. Here's todays emailed alert: Space Weather News for Jan. 14, 2010 spaceweather.comANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE: The Moon is about to pass directly in front of the sun, producing an annular solar eclipse on Jan. 15th between 0500 and 0900 GMT. The zone of visibility stretches from Africa across the Indian Ocean to eastern Asia. Onlookers in those places should be alert for crescent-shaped shadows on the ground and "ring of fire" suns in the sky. Visit spaceweather.com today for an animated preview and again tomorrow for photos and movies of the actual event. You are subscribed to the Space Weather mailing list, a free service of Spaceweather.com. New subscribers may sign up for free space weather alerts at spaceweather.com/services/
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2010 3:22:03 GMT
Thanks Kimby. guess we won't be comparing notes on this event I did sign up for the e-mail though.If I could only talk my brother out of the telescope he never uses.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 17, 2010 20:01:18 GMT
Watch this video taken in Beijing! The text on the side says, "A total eclipse of the sun darkened the morning of January 15 in central Africa and part of Asia. This eclipse is the longest of the third millennium and there won't be another as long until December 23, 3043. Images of the phenomenon recorded in Beijing.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 17, 2010 20:05:48 GMT
The height of the eclipse was well captured here:
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2010 12:32:47 GMT
Thanks Bixa,outrageous!
Last night there was a perfect crescent moon in a crystal clear sky. My husband and I were coming back from the North shore and there it was over Lake Pontchatrain...A crescent moon over the Crescent City!
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Post by Kimby on Jan 25, 2010 19:17:57 GMT
ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE: On Jan. 15th, the Moon passed directly in front of the sun, producing a "ring of fire" solar eclipse over the Indian Ocean and surrounding lands. The eclipse gallery contains many must-see images. Start browsing here: spaceweather.com/eclipses/gallery_15jan10_page4.htm
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Post by Kimby on Jan 25, 2010 19:34:08 GMT
NORTHERN LIGHTS: A solar wind stream hit Earth on Jan. 20th sparking the first geomagnetic storm of the year and an intense display of polar auroras. Images from around the Arctic Circle may be found here: spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01jan10_page3.htm
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2010 23:29:30 GMT
FULL MOON on the 30th,already looks close to,waxing.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 29, 2010 1:19:13 GMT
Space Weather News for Jan. 28, 2010 spaceweather.comFULL MOON AND MARS: Friday night's full Moon is the biggest and brightest full Moon of the year. It's a "perigee Moon," as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than other full Moons you'll see later in 2010. But that's not all. Mars is having a close encounter with Earth, and on Friday night, Jan. 29th, it will join the Moon for an all-night-long conjunction. Don't miss it! Sky maps and images may be found at spaceweather.com. FLYBY ALERT: NASA is preparing to launch space shuttle Endeavour on Feb. 7th. It's the last night launch of the shuttle program and it kicks off a 13-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). You can follow the ISS and Endeavour as they streak across the night sky using our new Satellite Flybys app for the iPhone or iPod Touch. Details at simpleflybys.com. You are subscribed to the Space Weather mailing list, a free service of Spaceweather.com. New subscribers may sign up for free space weather alerts at spaceweather.com/services/
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2010 2:40:26 GMT
You're the best Kimby,thanks for this.
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Post by Kimby on Jan 29, 2010 2:58:14 GMT
It's no trouble as I'm a subscriber and these bulletins show up in my inbox every couple days.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2010 21:42:32 GMT
It's no trouble as I'm a subscriber and these bulletins show up in my inbox every couple days. Nice to be reminded,I have subcribed as well,but then forget. So tonight is the FULL,closest to the earth moon.Pity because it is raining cajuns here and is supposed to continue through tonight.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 4:47:44 GMT
As I thought,too cloudy to see the full moon...
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 30, 2010 8:10:28 GMT
The moon was beautiful when it rose tonight -- really big, but behind a cloud veil. I started to take a picture, then remembered that it would look the same as my cloud pictures when there is no cloud veil.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 10:55:19 GMT
I have been seeing the moon behind a cloud veil for the past several days.
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Post by traveler63 on Jan 30, 2010 14:23:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2010 14:58:41 GMT
,Thanks T63!
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Post by Kimby on Feb 22, 2010 17:30:30 GMT
Space Weather News for Feb. 19, 2010 spaceweather.comGREAT NORTHERN LIGHTS: This past week, Arctic sky watchers have seen some of the best auroras in years. It's another sign that the sun is coming back to life after a long, deep solar minimum. Recent images may be found in our photo gallery; start browsing here: www.spaceweather.com/aurora/gallery_01feb10_page3.htmNew subscribers may sign up for free space weather alerts at spaceweather.com/services/ Some lucky observers in the Scandinavian northlands got some great looks...
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Post by spindrift on Feb 22, 2010 22:05:37 GMT
Great news that sunspot activity has started again.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2010 23:10:22 GMT
I have always wanted to see this,the Northern lights,just as I have always wanted to go to Scandinavia... Thanks Kimby.
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