what's going on tonight!
Feb 20, 2015 09:22:34 #
bgl
Loc: Brooklyn,New York
On the night of February 20, 2015, as night is falling, go outside and look west! The waxing crescent moon and the planet Venus the brightest and second-brightest orbs of nighttime, respectively will be the first two celestial bodies to pop out after sundown. As dusk ebbs into darkness, watch for the planet Mars to join the moon and Venus. If you have binoculars, aim them at Venus to enhance the view and spot Mars all the sooner in the darkening sky.
Youll want to be looking westward beginning around 30 to 45 minutes after sunset on February 20. Dont miss this spectacular sky scene if your sky is clear!
Although Mars shines as brightly as our skys brightest stars, Venus outshines the Red Planet by a good hundredfold. Venus and Mars have been edging closer together in the sky all month. They will have their conjunction when the two worlds pass each other on the skys dome on February 21. Itll be their closest conjunction since September 11, 2008. And they wont stage a closer one until October 5, 2017.
On February 21 when Venus and Mars are in conjunction the span between these two planets on the skys dome will be a scant 0.5 degree. Thats about a full moons diameter, in our sky.
Speaking of the moon, be sure to gaze at the dark side of the moon with either the unaided eye or binoculars. That soft glow on the moons night side is called earthshine, which is actually twice-reflected sunlight. The Earth reflects sunlight back to the crescent moon, and the dark side of the moon, in turn, again reflects sunlight back to Earth.
The lunar terminator the shadow line dividing the lunar day from the lunar night shows you where its sunrise on the waxing moon. With binoculars or a telescope, scan the terminator for the best three-dimensional views of the lunar terrain.
Youll want to be looking westward beginning around 30 to 45 minutes after sunset on February 20. Dont miss this spectacular sky scene if your sky is clear!
Although Mars shines as brightly as our skys brightest stars, Venus outshines the Red Planet by a good hundredfold. Venus and Mars have been edging closer together in the sky all month. They will have their conjunction when the two worlds pass each other on the skys dome on February 21. Itll be their closest conjunction since September 11, 2008. And they wont stage a closer one until October 5, 2017.
On February 21 when Venus and Mars are in conjunction the span between these two planets on the skys dome will be a scant 0.5 degree. Thats about a full moons diameter, in our sky.
Speaking of the moon, be sure to gaze at the dark side of the moon with either the unaided eye or binoculars. That soft glow on the moons night side is called earthshine, which is actually twice-reflected sunlight. The Earth reflects sunlight back to the crescent moon, and the dark side of the moon, in turn, again reflects sunlight back to Earth.
The lunar terminator the shadow line dividing the lunar day from the lunar night shows you where its sunrise on the waxing moon. With binoculars or a telescope, scan the terminator for the best three-dimensional views of the lunar terrain.
Feb 20, 2015 14:02:48 #
Thank You for that bgl!
I'm gaining interest in the night skies and wondered about the bright orb in the Western sky at Sunset. Venus!
(Please pardon my child-like wonder.)
Unfortunately for me we are out of town this weekend, and here at Mom's (Sacramento, CA area) the skies are grey and foggy. :-(
I hope others do enjoy this event.
Thanks!
I'm gaining interest in the night skies and wondered about the bright orb in the Western sky at Sunset. Venus!
(Please pardon my child-like wonder.)
Unfortunately for me we are out of town this weekend, and here at Mom's (Sacramento, CA area) the skies are grey and foggy. :-(
I hope others do enjoy this event.
Thanks!
Feb 20, 2015 14:24:20 #
bgl
Loc: Brooklyn,New York
SonnyE wrote:
Thank You for that bgl!
I'm gaining interest in the night skies and wondered about the bright orb in the Western sky at Sunset. Venus!
(Please pardon my child-like wonder.)
Unfortunately for me we are out of town this weekend, and here at Mom's (Sacramento, CA area) the skies are grey and foggy. :-(
I hope others do enjoy this event.
Thanks!
I'm gaining interest in the night skies and wondered about the bright orb in the Western sky at Sunset. Venus!
(Please pardon my child-like wonder.)
Unfortunately for me we are out of town this weekend, and here at Mom's (Sacramento, CA area) the skies are grey and foggy. :-(
I hope others do enjoy this event.
Thanks!
The skies over here in Brooklyn are even worse and "baby, it's cold outside"!
Feb 20, 2015 19:37:27 #
No good for north Texas either(bummer) oh well maybe next time,Thanks for the info. anyway.
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