* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

Neptune at Opposition

Blobrana · L

RE: August 2007

Blobrana · L

Asteroid 2002 CB19 will make a Near-Earth Flyby (0.044 AU) mag 21, on the 8th August, 2007.
The 0.4km sized rock will make a dangerously close return in 2049.

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Blobrana · L

If the skies are clear next Sunday, you might be able to see comet dust raining fire. The Perseid meteor shower occurs in mid-August every year when Earth passes through a stream of dust no larger than a grain of fine sand that remains from the tail of successive passages of comet Swift-Tuttle.
Earth's atmosphere runs into the comet dust, like a windshield hitting a cluster of flying insects.

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Blobrana · L

Mars rises 0:45 to 0:34 am MDT in constellation Taurus. It is +0.4 magnitude in brightness, 7.4 arc sec across, and 86% illuminated.
Currently, the best time to view Mars is just before sunrise when it is high up (around 5 am). The Martian feature Syrtis Major is visible early in the week but rotates from our view midweek. By the weekend the prominent features are Mare Cimmerium, Mare Sirenum, and Olympus Mons.

The following are the Mars centre longitude at 5 am on days indicated:
Mon Aug 6: 255
Tues Aug 7: 245
Wed Aug 8: 236
Thur Aug 9: 226
Fri Aug 10: 216
Sat Aug 11: 206
Sun Aug 12: 197

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Blobrana · L

Sky Events in August

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=05LqBLb2B1w]

Blobrana · L

The night skies of this month could exhibit the marvels of the planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae and other wonders of our universe enthrallingly, even though the rainy clouds could menacing hamper their good viewings. As darkness descends after sunset, we can vividly see zodiacal constellations of Virgo (maiden), Libra (scales), Scorpius (scorpion), Sagittarius (archer), Capricornus (sea goat), Aquarius (water bearer) and Pisces (fishes) enticingly stretching from western to eastern horizon. As night progresses, Aries (ram), Taurus (bull), Cancer (crab) and Gemini (twins) are slowing climbing the eastern sky. Various constellations with queer shapes and sizes commence to show their presence alluringly throughout the night.
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Blobrana · L

On Thursday, August 16th, Earth will cross the equator and ring plane of Uranus, and astronomers all over the world will be on watch. The unusual geometry offers a unique view of the planet's atmosphere, satellites and ring system.

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Blobrana · L

Venus and Saturn slip into the evening twilight in August, leaving giant Jupiter to rule the night sky in Houston although attention must be shared with what usually is the year's best meteor shower and an early-morning total lunar eclipse.
Venus is easy to spot low in the west early in the month. Saturn, appearing smaller and not nearly as bright, is even closer to the horizon and difficult to see. Both soon are lost in the sun's evening glare.

Mars, which is growing brighter as the planet approaches opposition, rises about 4 a.m.

Mercury also is a predawn object, appearing low in the southeast about 30 minutes before sunrise.

Jupiter is a can't-miss target. The planet is riding just above the star Antares, the heart of Scorpius, the scorpion. Viewers with a telescope can watch the dance of Jupiter's four big moons and study the equatorial cloud belts.

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Blobrana · L

Jupiter's Satellites