Green Comet

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/04feb_greencomet.htm?list46786

The comet makes its closest approach to Earth (0.41 AU) on Feb. 24, 2009. Current estimates peg the maximum brightness at 4th or 5th magnitude, which means dark country skies would be required to see it. No one can say for sure, however, because this appears to be Lulin's first visit to the inner solar system and its first exposure to intense sunlight. Surprises are possible.



"My retired eyes still cannot see the brightening comet," says Newton, "but my 14-inch telescope picked it up quite nicely on Feb. 1st." said Jack Newton.

Hopefully it won't be overcast here on the 24th. I don't have to go very far out of town to see total darkness, plus we're at 6000 feet which means pretty clear air for viewing space stuff.

Editor's note: To find Saturn on Feb. 24th, look southwest before sunrise. The planet is easy to see shining like a golden first-magnitude star in the constellation Leo: sky map. By cosmic coincidence, Feb. 24th is also the date Comet Lulin makes its closest approach to Earth--and the comet is right beside Saturn! Using a small telescope you can catch a comet, a ringed planet and a quadruple transit; it's a nice way to begin the day.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/19feb_quadrupletransit.htm?list46786

btw... has anyone noticed the axis shift towards spring? Venus is now 20° up from the winter position.

SPRING IS COMING!!!!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!!!!!!

S P R I N G



Did anyone see this thing? I have no view in my city dwelling.

oh yeah... that's why I slept so late.. I was trying to stay up.. but it was cloudy

I forgot but probably couldn't have seen it. It was snowing here.

Spring? No sign of it. Snow and ice everywhere here.

Raining tonite....

SF.. but you live in the frozen tundra! What do you expect?

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/26feb_prettysky.htm?list46786

On Friday evening, Feb. 27th, the 10% crescent Moon will glide by Venus, forming a gorgeous and mesmerizing pair of lights in the sunset sky. Moon-Venus conjunctions are not unusual, but this conjunction has some special qualities:

(1) Venus is at maximum brightness: magnitude -4.6. The planet is twenty times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. It is so luminous that it can actually shine through thin clouds and cast subtle shadows on the ground.

I saw the moon-venus conjunction. Pretty cool!

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/17apr_lyrids.htm?list46786

Venus Disappears during Meteor Shower

Most observers will see only a close gathering of the two bodies. People in western parts of North America are favored with more--a full-blown eclipse or "occultation." Around 5 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, Venus will disappear behind the mountainous rim of the Moon and reappear 60 to 90 minutes later. Click on the map for local details:

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/24apr_eveningsky.htm?list46786

April 24, 2009: If you're reading this at the end of the day on Sunday, April 26th—stop! You're supposed to be outside looking at the sunset.

On Sunday evening, the crescent Moon, Mercury and the Pleiades star cluster will gather for a three-way conjunction in the western sky. It's a must-see event.

The show begins before the sky fades to black. The Moon pops out of the twilight first, an exquisitely slender 5% crescent surrounded by cobalt blue. The horns of the crescent cradle a softly-glowing image of the full Moon. That is Earthshine—dark lunar terrain illuminated by sunlight reflected from Earth. If the show ended then and there, you'd be satisfied.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2009/20jul_longestsolareclipse.htm?list46786

Longest Solar Eclipse of the 21st Century

July 20, 2009: One one-thousand, 2 one-thousand, 3 one-thousand, 4 one-thousand...

Continue counting and don't stop until you reach 399 one-thousand.

Did that feel like a long time? Six minutes and 39 seconds to be exact. That's the duration of this week's total solar eclipse--the longest of the 21st century.