Mars Near Approach

ProfMagoo(ret)

ProfMagoo(ret)

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Using Raleigh, NC as reference for viewing:

Mars will have a near approach with earth on 6 OCT. Tonight, 30SEP, the full moon will keep mars from being quite so distinctive: around 2200, the moon will be SE; Mars around ESE and rising. With the front passage the air is clear with low humidity so viewing should be good.

Depending on how much horizon you can see, Jupiter and Saturn might be visible low in the SSW, setting.



Won't be as bright/large until 2033.

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/how-to-observe-mars/

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/why-is-mars-sometimes-bright-and-sometimes-faint
 
GreatGazoo said:
Using Raleigh, NC as reference for viewing:

Mars will have a near approach with earth on 6 OCT. Tonight, 30SEP, the full moon will keep mars from being quite so distinctive: around 2200, the moon will be SE; Mars around ESE and rising. With the front passage the air is clear with low humidity so viewing should be good.

Depending on how much horizon you can see, Jupiter and Saturn might be visible low in the SSW, setting.



Won't be as bright/large until 2033.

https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/how-to-observe-mars/

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/why-is-mars-sometimes-bright-and-sometimes-faint
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2033 should be beautiful as we look up from our nuclear winter huts or Chinese re-education camps.
 
Is that what that yellow looking star is in the eastern sky? I have noticed it for a few weeks....it's really yellow compared to the others white color in the sky at night.
 
McDirkale said:
Is that what that yellow looking star is in the eastern sky? I have noticed it for a few weeks....it's really yellow compared to the others white color in the sky at night.
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There are a lot of sky map websites, e.g. https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/

You just put in your location; and, at this one, can scroll across the bottom for date/time and the visible sky rotates appropriately. One can scroll the compass direction and angle to the horizon to be viewed and run a movie. Its pretty cool and simple.
 
while you're looking.....
People along the east coast of the United States should get a great opportunity to see a rocket launch from their own backyards tonight.
Liftoff is set for 9:38 p.m. EDT (0138 GMT on Friday, Oct. 2) from Pad 0A at Wallops tonight.
AEUzsoDus2upmiaNXEuwSQ-650-80.jpg
 
McDirkale said:
Is that what that yellow looking star is in the eastern sky? I have noticed it for a few weeks....it's really yellow compared to the others white color in the sky at night.
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well, it starts in the eastern sky, but eventually it works its way over to the western sky...
But yeah, it's only just rising in the east when night falls right now. Most nights it's very orange compared to stars. could be yellow i guess. But that's probably it. also easy to spot jupiter and saturn right now. Wait for december for a good show with those 2.

Millie said:
I got to see Saturn in an Astronomy class at Sandhills CC, some time between 2006 and 2013. It was amazing, and brief. I'll never forget that sight.
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Saturn is cool for sure, but what really hit me was seeing Jupiter's moons and the shadows they cast, then realizing that I'm looking at another planet's "solar eclipse" from the wrong side.
 
Broke out the spotting scope to let the grandkids look at Mars and the Moon and they had a blast. Funny part was when the 6 yr old asked if we could look at the earth when we done :confused:
 
DrScaryGuy said:
Saturn is cool for sure, but what really hit me was seeing Jupiter's moons and the shadows they cast, then realizing that I'm looking at another planet's "solar eclipse" from the wrong side.
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stacked this image back in 2004 of double transit (io and ganymede i think)

Untitled-365.jpg
 
I use the Skyview app to identify night time objects. It works great on my phone. It uses the camera and overlays the info over whatever you point the camera at.
 
Launch rescheduled for tonight, 9:16.
the evil Starlink launches tomorrow.
 
turkeydance said:
Launch rescheduled for tonight, 9:16.
the evil Starlink launches tomorrow.
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because they're super reflective and screw up all sorts of sky photography
supposedly they've made them less reflective this time around..
 
DrScaryGuy said:
because they're super reflective and screw up all sorts of sky photography
supposedly they've made them less reflective this time around..
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Yes. Have you seen them lately? They are up to about 1000 in LEO now, and adding about 100/mo. The first string (or a few) they launched was pretty visible but I haven’t heard anyone complaining about it lately with lots more in orbit.

And the benefit of affordable fast low latency internet for the entire world (except polar regions I think) is HUGE. HughesNet for rural service in the US is very poor for modern internet use.
 
saw the Cygnus launch tonight.
it looked like a little orange "star" moving left to right (not up) at about 16 degrees.
visible just over the tree tops for ~ 8 seconds then it quit. no fade. just "out".

Starlink is "evil" due to its bad publicity in astrophotography.
i saw several of their "string of pearls" this year, but haven't
looked lately due to almost three months of rain and the
overabundance of mosquitoes.
 
Starlink scrubbed again until tomorrow morning.
ISS passes over us around 7:48 tonight.
Mars and the Moon are still great.
 
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