* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: August 2010

Blobrana · L

Europa 1:40 UT, 7th August 2010.

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Transit of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, 23:24.1 UT, 7th August 2010.

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Mercury at Dichotomy/Half phase, 1.42 UT, 6th August 2010.

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Mars is in the constellation Virgo, 21:42 UT, 6th August, 2010.

Magnitude= 1.5mag
Best seen from 21.7h -22.3h
RA=12h17m48s Dec= -1°30.7' (J2000)
Distance=2.027AU
Elongation= 51°
Phase k=93%
Diameter=4.6"

Blobrana · L

Planets Align for the Perseid Meteor Shower

You know it's a good night when a beautiful alignment of planets is the second best thing that's going to happen.

Thursday, August 12th, is such a night.

The show begins at sundown when Venus, Saturn, Mars and the crescent Moon pop out of the western twilight in tight conjunction. All four heavenly objects will fit within a circle about 10 degrees in diameter, beaming together through the dusky colours of sunset. No telescope is required to enjoy this naked-eye event:
Source

Blobrana · L

Transit of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, 1:54.7 UT, 5th August, 2010.

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A waning crescent moon is near the Pleiades in the early morning sky.

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This month catch the Perseid Meteor Shower.

Blobrana · L

The annual Perseids shower has produced a trickle of meteors over the past fortnight but the flow should increase strongly to a peak on the night of the 12th/13th when 100 or more meteors per hour might be counted under ideal skies. With no interference from moonlight, and provided our weather co-operates, this should be our best meteor display of 2010. Just find a dark spot, lounge back and enjoy the show.
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