Mt. Shasta Chamber Weblog

What’s Up February 2011

Contemplating the crescent Moon and Venus. Credit & Copyright: Amir Taheri

I keep saying I’ll be publishing “the next” What’s Up from Florida, and then space shuttle Discovery’s launch gets delayed again… Discovery rolled back out to the launch pad last night, and it appears the late February launch window will hold. Hopefully the March 2011 What’s Up will feature my very own launch photo! Here’s your skies this month:

For most of us, this will be the coldest month of the year. So when you’re heading outside make sure you’re bundled up warmly — don’t forget your head and feet.

New Moon falls on February 3rd, and three days later the delicate lunar crescent will pair beautifully with bright Jupiter in the southwest after sunset. Jupiter is nearing the end of a long evening run that began last September. In the months since then, Jupiter has moved a little farther away and gotten a little dimmer week by week. It’s only half as bright now as it was a few months ago.

Meanwhile, Venus is dramatically bright in the eastern sky before dawn. That’s when you can spot Saturn over in the southwest, getting ready for its arrival in the evening sky a few months from now.
— Sky and Telescope

The New Moon occurs on February 3rd, and the next Full Moon is on the 18th.

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

I was in Florida in November to view the final launch of space shuttle Discovery (unfortunately, the launch was delayed), as part of NASA’s STS-133 Tweetup event for Twitter users. I will be going back to Kennedy Space Center in late February to watch Discovery launch, along with most of the other Tweetup attendees! Find me on Twitter at @silverrockets, or my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

What’s Up December 2010

Photo by Wayne Jaeschke.

Two weeks ago, I thought I’d be publishing this month’s What’s Up from the press site at Kennedy Space Center, again, but the launch of space shuttle Discovery was delayed twice more since then. At present, I will be publishing the February 2011 What’s Up live from the launch site, barring further launch delays! Here’s your skies this month:

December doesn’t usually come to mind when you think of “best bets” for stargazing, but this year things are different.

For starters, you won’t have any trouble recognizing Jupiter, a dazzling “star” high in the south at dusk that far outshines all the real stars around it.

Even better, this December offers two skywatching treats. The first comes on the night of the 13th-14th, when the annual Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak.

Wish for clear skies one week later, December 20-21, when North Americans have front-row seats for the first total lunar eclipse in nearly three years.

Meanwhile, high above and to the north is the dysfunctional mythological family of King Cepheus, his vain wife Cassiopeia, their doomed daughter Andromeda, and the hero Perseus.

The next meteor shower is the Geminids on the night of December 14, with very favorable viewing this year. The New Moon occured on December 5th, and the next Full Moon is on the 21st — along with a total lunar eclipse! Jupiter remains a bright star in the sky, all night long.

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

I was in Florida last month to view the final launch of space shuttle Discovery (unfortunately, the launch was delayed), as part of NASA’s STS-133 Tweetup event for Twitter users. I will be going back to Kennedy Space Center in February to watch Discovery launch, along with most of the other Tweetup attendees! Find me on Twitter at @silverrockets, or my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

What’s Up November 2010

This is the countdown clock, just as Discovery’s launch was scrubbed this morning. I was there! This is the reality of spaceflight — things go wrong, things break, weather happens, and the launch date slips. Unfortunately, It’s slipped back all week, and keeps on slipping! But enough about Florida, here’s your skies this month:

The change back to standard time brings earlier nightfall — and a chance to get in some eyes-only stargazing before dinnertime!.

The undisputed king of the evening sky is mighty Jupiter, a dazzling “star” high in the southeast at dusk that far outshines all the real stars around it. Other planets are above the horizon at sunset, but to see them you need some kind of optical aid.

Hanging upside down above Jupiter is the winged horse Pegasus, and off to its left are the dysfunctional mythological family of King Cepheus, his vain wife Cassiopeia, and their daughter Andromeda.

The next meteor shower is the Leonids on the night of November 17. The New Moon occurs on November 6th, and the next Full Moon is on the 21st. Jupiter remains a bright star in the sky, all night long.

The International Space Station, the Space Shuttle should it launch Monday, and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

I’ve been in Florida all week to view the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery, as part of NASA’s STS-133 Tweetup event. As one of 150 lucky Twitter users picked, I am tweeting and blogging from the VIP/press site, three miles from the launch pad. The experience has been wonderful, and if you want to hear more, find me on Twitter at @silverrockets, or my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

What’s Up – October 2010

Comet Hartley as seen from Cherhill, WIltshire UK. Photo © Nick Howes.

Appearing this month: Comet 103P/Hartley 2, a periodic comet discovered in 1986.

An icy visitor is positioning itself for good evening viewing. Periodic Comet 103P/Hartley 2 will be high in the evening sky when at its best throughout October 2010, glowing at perhaps 6th or 5th magnitude. It should be dimly visible to the unaided eye from very dark locations, and visible in binoculars and telescopes from less ideal locations throughout the Northern Hemisphere.
— Sky & Telescope

There’s a nice finder chart and detailed timeline available from Sky & Telescope, if you want to look for Comet 103P/Hartley 2!

The New Moon occurs on October 7th, and the next Full Moon is on the 23rd. Jupiter remains a bright star in the sky, all night long.

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

Less than a month to go until I view the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on November 1, 2010, as part of NASA’s STS-133 Tweetup event. I am one of 150 lucky Twitter users who will be live-tweeting and blogging from the VIP/press site, three miles from the launch pad, at Kennedy Space Center! To follow my space-filled adventures, find me on Twitter at @silverrockets, or my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

What’s Up November will come live from Florida’s Space Coast — until then, keep your eyes on the skies!
by Danielle Signor, dsignor.com

What’s Up – Autumn Equinox Edition

A Moon-Jupiter conjunction on Aug. 26, 2010. Credit: Tom Cocchiaro.

The action begins at sunset on Sept 22nd, the last day of northern summer. As the sun sinks in the west, bringing the season to a close, the full Harvest Moon will rise in the east, heralding the start of fall. The two sources of light will mix together to create a kind of 360-degree, summer-autumn twilight glow that is only seen on rare occasions.

Northern summer changes to fall on Sept. 22nd at 11:09 pm EDT. At that precise moment, called the autumnal equinox, the Harvest Moon can be found soaring high overhead with the planet Jupiter right beside it. The two brightest objects in the night sky will be in spectacular conjunction to mark the change in seasons.
— NASA Science

Also, Jupiter made its closest approach to Earth since 1951 on Monday night, and will be quite bright for the rest of the month.

For the rest of September, Jupiter will be the brightest object in the sky, aside from the moon. The planet will be visible all night long, rising in the east at sunset and setting in the west around sunrise.

What’s more, with just binoculars, stargazers can already see the much more distant planet Uranus not quite behind Jupiter, visible as a faint bluish orb fewer than two full-moon discs away from the brighter planet.
— National Geographic

For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

Side note: I am one of 150 Twitter users — chosen by lottery from 2,700 applicants — to view the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on November 1, 2010, as part of NASA’s STS-133 “Tweetup” event. I will be live-tweeting and blogging from the VIP/press site, three miles from the launch pad, at Kennedy Space Center — in other words, What’s Up – November will come to you direct from Florida! If you’d like to share in my spacey adventures, you can follow me on Twitter at @silverrockets, or my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

Until next month — keep your eyes on the skies!
by Danielle Signor, dsignor.com

What’s Up – September 2010

Credit & Copyright: Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)

I wish I had meteor showers to tell you about like last month, but alas, no such luck….

September is a time of transition. This month the autumnal equinox falls on the 22nd, as the Sun sets earlier and earlier, and northern summer gives way to autumn.

Low in the southwest at dusk, the brilliant “star” is Venus, wrapping up a terrific 7-month stint in the evening sky.

As Venus sets in the west, giant Jupiter rises in the east. This month the King of Planets reaches opposition, meaning it’s opposite the Sun in the sky. It rises at sunset, gets highest around midnight, and sets at dawn.
— Sky and Telescope

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

September 8th is the next New Moon, with a Full Moon on the 23rd. For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

Side note: I am one of 150 Twitter users — chosen by lottery from 2,700 applicants — to view the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on November 1, 2010, as part of NASA’s STS-133 “Tweetup” event. I (and my 149 cohorts) will be live-tweeting and blogging from the VIP/press site, three miles from the launch pad, at Kennedy Space Center! In other words, What’s Up – November will come to you direct from Florida! If you’d like to share in my spacey adventures, you can follow me on Twitter at @silverrockets, or my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.

That’s all until next month — keep your eyes on the skies!
by Danielle Signor, dsignor.com

What’s Up – August 2010

Credit & Copyright: Wally Pacholka (Astropics.com / TWAN)

The best thing about August (astronomically, I mean) is the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks on the night of August 12th-13th:

The Perseids are one of the strongest and most reliable meteor showers of the year. They come to a climax on the night of 12–13 August – a Thursday night–Friday morning. This will be very a good year to look for them, because moonlight will not drown them out as it can do in other years – the Moon is just a crescent setting in the early evening. Under a clear sky, people will often see dozens of meteors in the space of half an hour or so – maybe as many as one a minute. The best time to watch will be from about 10.30 pm onwards. The meteors will appear to come from the east, but can appear anywhere in the sky. Just make yourself comfortable on a sunbed or deckchair and gaze up at the stars.

I have wonderful childhood memories of watching the Perseids with my parents on the back lawn — this is a great thing to share with the whole family (and hey, no school, so the kids can stay up late!)

The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

August 10th is the next New Moon, with a Full Moon on the 24th. For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

That’s all until next month — keep your eyes on the skies!

What’s Up – April 2010

Is it spring yet? Here’s hoping for some clear skies in April!

April heralds excellent views of Mercury and Venus together in the evening twilight.

For many in the Northern Hemisphere, early April ushers in the first warm days of spring. This year, the warmer weather ­heralds excellent views of Mercury and Venus together in the evening twilight. High in the south, Mars commands attention as the brightest object in Cancer the Crab. And as the sky darkens, Saturn climbs in the eastern sky and remains visible all night.
— Astronomy Magazine

The space shuttle will head for the International Space Station on Monday, April 5, and both can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

April 14th is the next New Moon, with a Full Moon on the 28th. For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

That’s all until next month — keep your eyes on the skies!

What’s Up – February 2010

In February, there will be many things to look at in the night sky!

Several major planets, and at least one minor one (the asteroid Vesta), give solar system observers plenty of targets for a night under the stars. The two brightest objects – Venus and Jupiter – pass close to each other low in evening twilight in mid-February.

Mars and Saturn rule the sky from nearly dusk until dawn. The Red Planet reached its peak in January and has now begun to dim, although it still ranks among the sky’s brightest points of light.

The ringed planet will peak in March and looks spectacular through a telescope. If you last through the night or simply get up at dawn, you’ll spot Mercury low in the southeast in early February.
— Astronomy Magazine

Also, the space shuttle will head for the International Space Station on Sunday, and both can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)

February 13th is the next New Moon, with a Full Moon on the 28th. For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)

That’s all until next month — keep your eyes on the skies!

What’s Up – January 2010

Credit: ESA/MPS

Winter means less-cooperative skies over Mt. Shasta, but there’s great things to see on those chilly clear nights! Turn your attention to Mars, which reaches peak visibility this month. Mars is closest to Earth on January 27th.

Mars ranks as more of a rarity. Once every 26 months or so, the Red Planet makes a grand appearance. That time is now. Mars reaches opposition and peak visibility in January, when it rightfully claims the bulk of our planet-viewing attention.
— Astronomy Magazine

There’s a New Moon tonight (the 15th), and a Full Moon on the 30th. For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English; they have several!)

That’s all until next month — keep your eyes on the skies!