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Sky Watch '18

Frayed Knot Jan 07 2018 12:01 PM

If you're a pre-dawn riser these days, that's Jupiter and Mars right next to each other in the pre-sunrise southeast sky this week. This morning (Sunday) in particular is them at their closest. Jupiter is the very bright one alongside the much dimmer but noticeably red-tinged Mars. Yeah I know it's cold but, if you happen to be both up and out, just look above the horizon in the direction where the sun is going to rise and you can't miss them. They'll start to drift further apart over the next two weeks although not before the waning crescent moon joins them in a few days. The next full moon (Jan 31st) will bring a lunar eclipse but not one that'll be visible from the eastern U.S.

cooby Jan 07 2018 05:04 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

That sounds neat! I'll be leaving the house at 6:30 on Tuesday. If it's not cloudy I'll watch for it!

Frayed Knot Jan 07 2018 06:31 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

This shows the approximate positions as the moon joins the group on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Tuesday the moon will just be a little higher and a little fuller. [fimg=350:3bxbtqji]http://en.es-static.us/upl/2017/12/2018-jan-10-11-12-mars-jupiter.jpg[/fimg:3bxbtqji]

Edgy MD Jan 07 2018 06:49 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

Then peace will guide the planets. And love will steer the stars.

Rockin' Doc Jan 08 2018 12:57 AM Re: Sky Watch '18

This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius The Age of Aquarius

Frayed Knot Jan 08 2018 01:36 AM Re: Sky Watch '18

Well it will be Aquarius time starting in a week or two, although this Mars / Jupiter / Moon conjunction is happening in the Libra-Scorpio region of the sky.

cooby Jan 09 2018 12:13 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

Saw them!

Frayed Knot Apr 01 2018 11:43 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

A "school bus sized" (1,700 pound) Chinese space station, one originally launched in 2011 but that has since lost both its oomph and its way, is going to fall to earth tonight in pieces somewhere -- and I love this degree of specificity -- 'between 43 degrees north latitude and 43 degrees south'. In this hemisphere that limits it to anywhere from the level of upstate New York to around the southern tip of South America. So if anyone here gets hit by falling and flaming debris in the next couple of hours, make sure to tell us all about it tomorrow.

MFS62 Apr 02 2018 01:03 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

Big snooze - it reportedly fell in the South Pacific in a path that didn't come very close to anyone. I hope those scientists aren't the ones who would be plotting the path of an incoming ballistic missile. Later

cooby Apr 02 2018 04:38 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

South Pacific certainly wasn’t in that path. Scary

Frayed Knot Apr 02 2018 06:52 PM Re: Sky Watch '18

Well they didn't say it wouldn't fall into an ocean, only that if it DID fall in the western hemisphere it could be anywhere between 43 dg north and 43 dg south latitudes. So you were safe in, like, Manitoba.

Frayed Knot Jun 16 2018 01:46 AM Re: Sky Watch '18

Nice slim (like two day's worth) crescent moon and Venus conjunction out there tonight. Still up for another hour or so tonight in the SW sky (chasing the setting sun) so if there are no clouds in your area they'll be impossible to miss. The pair will probably even slightly closer to each other tomorrow with a slightly fatter moon. [fimg=300:iq43fvov]http://en.es-static.us/upl/2018/06/2018-june-14-mercury-venus-moon.jpg[/fimg:iq43fvov] Mercury is on that map but it's probably too light (setting sun) and/or too hazy, and/or behind trees etc to be seen in most areas. Find a dark field/beach where you can actually see the horizon and you might find it.