Fair Weather Astronomy Calendar of Astronomical Events
Fair Weather Astronomy
Calendar of Astronomical Events
Meteorology for South Florida and the Caribbean
(Separate Page)
Current Lunar Phase:
(Date and Time in Florida)
Lunar Phase updated every 4 hours
by the US Naval Observatory
[North up, West to the right]
Weather Images from NOAA Satellite Services Division:
GOES East Satellite Imagery:
(updated every 30 min.)
Southeast US:
Visible
- Infrared Channel 4 - Rainbow
- Water Vapor
[Resolution 3 Km, 24° to 33° N, 94° to 76° W]
Weather Image Loops from NOAA Satellite Services Division:
[Java applet]
Southeast US:
Visible
- Infrared Channel 4 - Rainbow
- Water Vapor
[Resolution 3 Km, 24° to 33° N, 94° to 76° W]
National Weather Service (NWS) - Southern Region Headquarters:
Key Biscayne (25.69° N, 80.17° W),
Cutler (25.61° N, 80.33° W)
Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS) -
Saturday Nite Live Astros:
Weather permitting, meet the friendly Southern Cross Astros, 8 to 10 PM every Saturday evening all year at the popular outdoor SCAS Observatory in Miami-Dade's Bill Sadowski Park & Nature Center, SW 176th St. / SW 79th Ave., 1/2 mile west of Old Cutler Road in Palmetto Bay (W 80° 19.2', N 25° 36.5'). Free viewing.
Under the darkest skies nearest to downtown, you might see a satellite, a sudden brilliant meteor or the International Space Station in addition to the seasonal planets, the magical Moon and dazzling constellations. Enjoy the beauty overhead in SCAS state-of-the-art hi-tech equipment, including the largest telescope in Miami-Dade County for public use.
Check the weather before you leave home as June through October is thunderstorm season in Florida!
Bring your family, friends, house guests, snacks, lawn chairs and bug cream
(chemical aerosals remove the coating on the expensive telescope mirrors and lenses).
Director Barb Yager advises you to wear jeans, sport shoes, and bring a long-sleeved top to our educational evening under the stars....
It's the best deal in town!
Bring your telescope! If you need help, our SCAS techs will come to your rescue.
NO LIGHTS, litter, alcohol or pets allowed in the Nature Preserve. Please turn off car lights when entering the park.
The SCAS telescope deck is accessible to the disabled with convenient parking.
Groups of 20+, please make your reservations on the SCAS Hotline at 305-661-1375 so we know you are coming.
The Southern Cross Astronomical Society Bulletin Board (SCASmail) will post notices about upcoming public events and reports on those events.
Check the SCAS Stargazer in Sunday's Miami Herald Tropical Life - Section M, our community service for more than 23 years.
See the
Interactive Sky Chart for Miami, Florida
(Sky & Telescope),
Sky and Satellites for Cutler, Florida
(Heavens-Above),
Sky and Satellites for Key Biscayne, Florida
(Heavens-Above).
Satellite Flybys for Palmetto Bay, Florida
(SpaceweatherPhone.com)
Satellite Flybys for Key Biscayne, Florida
(SpaceweatherPhone.com)
To see the dates of the Lunar Phases for this month (or any other):
U.S. Naval Observatory - Phases of the Moon
U.S. Naval Observatory - Sunrise/Sunset/Twilight and Moonrise/Moonset/Phase for One Day
U.S. Naval Observatory - Sunrise/Sunset/Twilight and Moonrise/Moonset for One Year
Moon Phase Calculator (Universe Online, McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)
Lunar Phases repeat every 29.53 days, the synodic period of the Moon, called a "lunation".
The Moon moves against the firmament some 13° to the East every day.
Thus it rises and sets some 53 minutes later every day.
It is possible to observe the sky without moonlight during the first part of the night,
from the day of the Last Quarter, when the Moon rises at midnight, to the day of the New Moon,
when it sets at sunset.
It is possible to observe the sky without moonlight during the last part of the night,
from the day of the New Moon, when it rises at dawn, to the day of the First Quarter,
when the Moon sets at midnight.
Eastern Time in the U.S.A. = Universal Time Coordinated (UTC) - 5 hours
(- 4 hours during daylight saving time)
A service of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
Please help stopping light pollution! See the
Luminic Map of Florida.
Calendar of Astronomical Events:
Mars was in Opposition on December 24 '07;
With an equatorial diameter of 16", and a Magnitude of -1.6,
Mars rose at 17:20, transited at 00:18 and set at 07:16 on December 25 '07.
It was opposite to the Sun in the sky, raising at sunset and setting at dawn; in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth.
It was possible to observe after sunset, above the Western horizon, higher every day.
The closest Opposition in historical times was on August 27 2003, the next closer will be in August 15 2050 (diameter ~25").
See Primer on Mars Oppositions
(IMCCE), and Mars Oppositions (SEDS).
[Next on January 29 '10]
Mars was in Solar Conjunction on December 5 '08.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it will be possible to observe before sunrise, very low above the Eastern horizon, higher every day.
[Next on February 4 '11]
The Winter Solstice, that marks the beginning of Winter in the Northern hemisphere,
and the beginning of Summer in the Southern hemisphere, was on December 21 '08, at 12:04 UT.
The Sun reached its maximum South Declination (near 23.5° S).
See Earth's Seasons, etc. 1992-2020
at the US Naval Observatory.
Jupiter was in Solar Conjunction on January 24 '09.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it was possible to observe before sunrise, very low above the Eastern horizon, higher every day.
[Next on February 28 '10]
Neptune was in Solar Conjunction on February 12 '09.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it was possible to observe after sunset, very low above the Western horizon, higher every day.
[Next on February 14 '10]
On February 15 '09 it was 445 years from the birth in Pisa, Italia, of Galileo Galilei;
The first scientist (1564-1642).
See The Galileo Project (Rice University), and
Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems.
1 Ceres was in Opposition on February 25 '09.
This Dwarf Planet with a magnitude of 6.9, was in R.A. 11h 4m, Dec. 24° 12' N, in Leo,
5° northwest (Az. 326°) from the white star Zosma (Delta Leonis, Mag. 2.56). It transited at 00:40.
1 Ceres has an orbital period of 4.60 years. Its diameter is 952.4 Km.
On February 25 '09 Ceres was 1.582 A.U. from Earth and 2.546 A.U. from the Sun.
See 1 Ceres (Wikipedia),
JPL Small-Body Database Browser - 1 Ceres,
and Ceres: The Dwarf Planet.
See Dawn Mission
(Ion Propulsion, Asteroids Ceres and Vesta, from September 2007 to July 2015).
[Next on June 16 '10?]
Daylight Saving Time started on Sunday, March 8 '09 at 02:00. Clocks turned forward 1 hour at this time.
See When do we change our clocks?
(Daylight Saving Time - History, rationale, laws & dates).
[DST ends on November 1 '09]
Saturn was in Opposition on March 8 '09;
With an equatorial diameter of 20", and a Magnitude of 0.5,
Saturn rose at 17:18, transited at 11:37 and set at 05:51 on March 9 '08.
It was opposite to the Sun in the sky, raising at sunset and setting at dawn; in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth.
[Next on March 21 '10]
Uranus; was in Superior Conjunction on March 12 '09.
Later it was possible to observe before sunrise above the eastern horizon, higher every day.
[Next on March 17 '10]
The Winter Equinox, that marks the beginning of Spring in the Northern hemisphere,
and the beginning of Autumn in the Southern hemisphere, was on March 20 '09, at 11:44 UT.
The Sun will have a North Declination until the Autumn Equinox [on September 22 '09].
See Earth's Seasons, etc. 1992-2020
at the US Naval Observatory.
See Length of Day and Night at the Equinoxes
at the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Venus; was in Inferior Conjunction on March 27 '09.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it was possible to observe before sunrise, low in the Eastern horizon, higher each day.
[Next on October 28 '10]
Venus was in Maximum Western Elongation on June 5 '09.
It was possible to observe before sunrise above the eastern horizon, lower every day.
[Next on January 8 '11]
The Summer Solstice, that marks the beginning of Summer in the Northern hemisphere,
and the beginning of Winter in the Southern hemisphere, was on June 21 '09, at 05:45 UT.
The Sun reached its maximum North Declination (near 23.5° N).
See Earth's Seasons, etc. 1992-2020
at the US Naval Observatory.
Pluto was in Opposition on June 23 '09.
It was opposite to the Sun in the sky, raising at sunset and setting at dawn; in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth.
It was possible to observe after sunset rising above the Eastern horizon, higher every day.
[Next on June 25 '10]
Jupiter was in Opposition on August 14 '09.
It was opposite to the Sun in the sky, raising at sunset and setting at dawn; in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth.
It was possible to observe after sunset above the Western horizon, lower every day.
[Next on September 21 '10]
Neptune was in Opposition on August 17 '09.
It was opposite to the Sun in the sky, raising at sunset and setting at dawn; in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth.
It was possible to observe after sunset above the Western horizon, lower every day.
[Next on August 20 '10]
Mercury was at Maximum in Eastern Elongation on August 24 '09.
It was possible to observe after sunset above the Western horizon, lower every day.
[Next on December 18 '09]
Saturn was in Solar Conjunction on September 17 '09.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it will be possible to observe before sunrise low above the Eastern horizon, higher every day.
[Next on September 30 '10]
Uranus was in Opposition on September 17 '09.
It was opposite to the Sun in the sky, raising at sunset and setting at dawn; in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth.
It was possible to observe after sunset above the Western horizon, lower every day.
[Next on September 21 '10]
The Autumn Equinox, that marks the beginning of Autumn in the Northern hemisphere,
and the beginning of Fall in the Southern hemisphere, was on September 22 '09, at 16:18.
The Sun will have a South Declination until the Winter Equinox [on March 20 '10].
See Earth's Seasons, etc. 1992-2020
at the US Naval Observatory.
See Length of Day and Night at the Equinoxes
at the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Mercury was at Maximum in Western Elongation on October 5 '09.
It was possible to observe before sunrise above the eastern horizon, lower every day.
[Next on January 27 '10]
Daylight Saving Time ended on Sunday, November 1 '09 at 02:00. Clocks turned back 1 hour at this time.
See When do we change our clocks?
(Daylight Saving Time - History, rationale, laws & dates).
[DST will start on March 14 '10]
Mercury; was in Superior Conjunction on November 5 '09.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it was posible to observe after sunset, low in the Western horizon, higher each day.
[Next on March 14 '10]
Full Moon; December 2 '09.
Last Quarter Moon; December 9 '09.
This year's Geminid meteor shower peaked on Monday, December 14 '09, 05:10 UT.
The phase of the Moon was new, setting the stage for what could be one of the best Geminid showers in years.
The peak is broad, however, and the night sky would be rich with Geminids for many hours and perhaps even days around the maximum.
If forecasters were correct,
the shower should have produced a strong show of meteors over North America around 00:10 AM EST (~120 per hour).
Geminids are pieces of debris from a strange object called 3200 Phaethon.
Long thought to be an asteroid, Phaethon is now classified as an extinct comet.
See The 2009 Geminid Meteor Shower
(Science@NASA, November 19, 2009)
See Geminids (GEM)
(International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2009)
New Moon; December 16 '09.
Mercury was at Maximum in Eastern Elongation on December 18 '09.
It was possible to observe after sunset above the Western horizon, lower every day.
[Next on April 8 '10]
The Winter Solstice, that marks the beginning of Winter in the Northern hemisphere,
and the beginning of Summer in the Southern hemisphere, was on December 21 '09, at 17:47 UT.
The Sun reached its maximum South Declination (near 23.5° S).
See Earth's Seasons, etc. 1992-2020
at the US Naval Observatory.
First Quarter Moon; December 24 '09.
Full Moon; December 31 '09.
Mercury was in Inferior Conjunction on January 4 '10.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it will be possible to observe before sunrise, low above the Eastern horizon, higher every day.
[Next on April 28 '10]
Venus was in Superior Conjunction on January 11 '10.
It was too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it will be possible to observe after sunset, very low above the Western horizon, higher every day.
[Next on 16 August '11]
New Moon; January 15 '10.
Friday, January 15 '10, 8 PM.
Southern Cross Astros hosted University of Miami research astronomer Dr. Kevin Huffenberger.
His exciting program Cosmology examines the Big Bang theory, radiation afterglow, distribution of matter and energy in space,
Supernovas, how cosmic structures were formed, dark matter and dark energy, etc.
FIU Physics Building, CP-145.
First Quarter Moon; January 23 '10.
Mercury was at Maximum in Western Elongation on January 27 '10.
It is now possible to observe before sunrise above the eastern horizon, lower every day.
[Next on May 25 '10]
Fairchild Garden Moonlight Tour on Wednesday, January 27 '10. 6:30 - 9 PM.
Mars will be in Opposition on January 29 '10;
With an equatorial diameter of 14.1", and a Magnitude of -1.3,
Mars will rise at 17:50, transit at 00:42 and set at 07:28 on January 30 '10.
It will be opposite to the Sun in the sky, raising at sunset and setting at dawn; in a straight line with the Sun and the Earth.
It will be possible to observe after sunset, above the Western horizon, higher every day.
The closest Opposition in historical times was on August 27 2003, the next closer will be in August 15 2050 (diameter ~25").
See Close Encounter with Mars (Science@NASA, Jan 26 '10).
See Primer on Mars Oppositions (IMCCE),
and Mars Oppositions (SEDS).
Mars Watch: January 29 '10.
Bill Baggs State Park, Key Biscayne Lighthouse, 5-9 PM. [Park gate closes at 8 PM]
Full Moon; January 30 '10.
Last Quarter Moon; February 5 '10.
Neptune wil be in Solar Conjunction on February 14 '10.
It will be too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it will be possible to observe before sunrise, very low above the Eastern horizon, higher every day.
New Moon; February 14 '10.
Friday, February 19 '10, 8 PM.
Southern Cross Astros will host Past SCAS President Scott Ireland presenting Volcanoes in our Solar System.
FIU Physics Building, CP-145.
First Quarter Moon; February 22 '10.
Jupiter wil be in Solar Conjunction on February 28 '10.
It will be too close to the Sun to be observed.
Later it will be possible to observe before sunrise, very low above the Eastern horizon, higher every day.
Full Moon; February 28 '10.
See Observatorio ARVAL: Solar System Data
See eSky Planet Wheel The Electronic Sky guide to the visibility of the planets in the sky
See Hubblesite - Tonight's Sky Monthly stargazing guide to constellations, planets, cosmic events and more
See StarDate Online - Sky Almanac (Your Guide to the Universe. McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)
See CalSKY - The Calculated Sky On-line Configurable Astronomical and Space Calendar
See The Sky of Cutler, Florida (Sky and Telescope, SkyTonight - Interactive Sky Chart, Java applet)
See Almanac v3.0 - Cutler, Florida (Sky and Telescope, Interactive Observing Tools, Java applet)
See
Heavens Above: Planets Summary for Cutler, Florida
See
Heavens Above: Planets Summary for Key Biscayne, Florida
See Earth's Seasons, etc. 1992-2020
at the US Naval Observatory
This year's Leonid meteor shower peaked on Tuesday, November 17 '09.
If forecasters are correct,
the shower should have produced a mild but pretty sprinkling of meteors over North America around 4 AM EST (09:00 UT) (20-30 per hour),
followed by a more intense outburst over Asia (200-300 per hour).
The next stream crossing straddled the hour 2100-2200 UT, shortly before dawn in Indonesia and China.
The phase of the Moon was new, setting the stage for what could be one of the best Leonid showers in years.
"A remarkable feature of this year's shower is that Leonids appeared to be shooting almost directly out of the planet Mars",
notes Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. [To the East, at some 66° of altitude]
Leonids are bits of debris from Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
Every 33 years the comet visits the inner solar system and leaves a stream of dusty debris in its wake.
Many of these streams have drifted across the November portion of Earth's orbit.
Whenever we hit one, meteors come flying out of the constellation Leo.
See The 2009 Leonid Meteor Shower
(Science@NASA, November 10, 2009)
See Leonids (LEO)
(International Meteor Organization, Meteor Shower Calendar 2009)
See The Leonid Meteors (Royal Greenwich Observatory in ARVAL)
The Leonids 2009 reached a peak of some 100 meteors per hour at around 20:30 UT, November 17 '09.
See Leonids 2009: Visual data quicklook (Armagh Observatory - IMO).
See Leonid Meteors (Armagh Observatory).
See Prediction of the 2009 Leonids
(Institut de mecanique celeste et de calcul des ephemerides - IMCCE).
On Friday, October 16 '09, at 8:15 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the free lecture "Final Visit to the Hubble",
by Russell Romanella, NASA-KSC Shuttle Payload Director.
He shared the breath-taking spacewalks
by astronauts successfully performing the final repairs to the famous Hubble Space Telescope
and the latest incredible images.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. Room CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
On Friday, September 18 '09, at 8:15 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the free theatric performance
"Meet Galileo", by actor Robert Dawson. Galileo's triumphs, disasters,
friends and competitors in the early days of science, solar system exploration and the 'first light' of the telescope, 400 years ago.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. Room CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
Mars and Uranus were in conjunction (some 0.43° apart) on April 15 '09.
They could be observed with binoculars or a small telescope, before sunrise, low above the Eastern horizon,
some 8° to the South of Venus.
Mars (diameter 4.38") was a bright Mag. 1.19,
Uranus (diameter 3.34"), much dimmer, was Mag. 5.93 and 26' to the Northeast of Mars.
Venus rose at 05:25, Uranus at 05:29 and Mars at 05:31. The Sun rose to the East at 06:57.
Jupiter and Neptune rose earlier.
Calculations with TheSky from Software Bisque, version 5.
Comet 2007/N3 Lulin:
It is a non-periodic comet with a hyperbolic orbit (this will be its only visit to the Sun),
discovered in 2007 by a Taiwan and Chinese group,
it reached perihelium on March 24 '09 1.16 UA from Earth, in Gemini.
Quanzhi Ye, a student at China's Sun Yat-sen University,
found Comet Lulin while examining images from the Lulin Observatory in Taiwan as part of an asteroid sky survey.
See Yeiht (Quanzhi Ye).
On March 1 '09 it rose at 16:42 to the East-Northeast, observable with small telescopes or binoculars (it was in Mag. ~6),
close to R.A. 9h 36m, Dec. 14° 0', 8° West of Regulus, in Leo, moving West and rising earlier every day.
Under dark skies it shows a green coma some 7' in diameter, a faint tail and an even fainter anti-tail.
On February 6 it was in R.A. 14h 52m, Dec. -15° 41', 25' North of Zubenelgenubi, in Libra, 0.78 A.U. from Earth.
On February 15 it was in R.A. 13h 31m, Dec. -8° 53', some 3° North of Spica, in Virgo, 0.53 A.U. from Earth.
On February 23 it was in R.A. 11h 21m, Dec. 4° 19', some 2° South of Saturn, in Leo, 0.41 A.U. from Earth.
On February 27 it was in R.A. 10h 9m, Dec. 11° 15', some 40' Southwest of Regulus, in Leo, 0.44 U.A. from Earth.
See Spaceweather.com
(with Comet Lulin (C-2007 N3) photo gallery).
See Green Comet Approaches Earth
(February 4 '09, Science@NASA),
with the sky charts for
February 6 '09,
February 16 '09 and
February 24 '09.
See Sky Show This Month: "Two-Tailed" Comet Nearing Earth
(National Geographic News).
See Comet Chasing (Gary Kronk, Cometography).
See its orbit, ephemeris and orbital elements at
C/2007 N3 (Lulin)
(JPL Small-Body Database Browser).
See Spectacular Photo-op on Saturn (Quadruple Transit of moons for February 24 '09, Science@NASA).
On Friday, January 23 '09, 7 PM,
the Southern Cross Astros & Everglades National Park Staff held the public Everglades Star Party
in the Pa-hay-okee Overlook parking area (Lat. 25° 25.44' N, Lon. 80° 47.01' W),
13 miles beyond the main entrance to the Everglades National Park, Florida City.
Free admission. Carpools are preferred.
Driving regulations were enforced to reduce speed and LIGHTS OUT before entering observing site.
Bring chairs, bug cream, jacket, binoculars and telescope.
SCAS hi-tech equipment focused on planets, deep-sky and brilliant winter constellations against very dark skies.
Sunset was at 17:58, Twilight ended at 19:18. Moonrise was at 05:15 on Jan 24 '09.
Everglades National Park Gate: 305-242-7013 / SCAS Info-line: 305-661-1375
See Everglades National Park
On Friday, January 16 '09, at 8 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the free lecture
"The Miami Circle: North America's First Astronomical Observatory",
by its discoverer, T.L. Riggs of Coconut Grove.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. Room CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
See MiamiCircle.Org
On Sunday, December 28 '08, 5 to 9 PM, SCAS hosted our Tropical Star Party at Bill Baggs State Park, near the Key Biscayne Lighthouse.
Visitors observed the Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Neptune, Venus and Uranus through our telescopes.
The 2% illuninated Moon set at 18:45, Mercury set at 18:56, Jupiter set at 19:11, Neptune set at 21:02,
Venus set at 21:09, Uranus set at 23:03. Sunset was at 5:39 PM.
See Southern Cross Astronomical Society
On December 1 '08, after sunset (17:30), the Moon (15% illuminated)
formed a triangle less than 3° on each side with Venus (Mag. -4.14) and Jupiter (Mag. -2.03).
Jupiter and Venus set at 20:30.
See Spectacular Conjunction
Science@NASA - November 24, 2008.
Calculations with TheSky from Software Bisque, version 5.
On Friday, November 21 '08, at 8 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the free lecture "Latest in Space Exploration",
by Russell Romanella, NASA Shuttle Payload Director.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. Room CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
On Saturday, November 15 '08, at 8 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the free lecture "An Evening at the Edge of the Universe",
by Dr. James R. Webb, FIU Research Astronomer.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. Room CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
On Friday, October 17 '08, at 8 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the free lecture "Global Warming on Mars and Earth",
by Don Parker, SCAS Life member, renowned astronomer, planetary photographer & meteorologist.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. Room CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
On Friday, October 10 '08, at 8 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the free lecture "Godel, Einstein and the Nature of Time",
by Dr. James R. Webb, FIU Research Astronomer.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. Room CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
Meteor Shower: The Perseids on August 12 '08.
It was recommended to observe the sky from as dark a site as possible in the hours before dawn (from 02:45 to 05:30).
We expected to observe between 50 and 100 meteors per hour after the Moon sets.
The radiant from wich the meteoers appear to originate is in the constellation Perseus (R.A. 3h 8m, Dec. 57° N).
The origin of The Perseids are the particles left by comet C/109P (Swift-Tuttle),
its latest Perihelium was in 1992 and will return in 130 years.
See Meteors and Meteorites, The Perseid Meteors,
and The Comet Swift-Tuttle, in the RGO Leaflets, in ARVAL.
See Meteor Shower Calendar - 2008,
International Meteor Organization (IMO).
See Perseids,
Meteor Showers OnLine, Gary Kronk, American Meteor Society (AMS).
See Meteor Showers, American Meteor Society (AMS).
See The 2008 Perseid Meteor Shower
Science@NASA - July 22, 2008.
Saturn and Mars were in conjunction (some 0.65° apart) on July 10 '08;
they were seen naked-eye, with binoculars or a small telescope, after sunset, less than 40° above the Western horizon,
some 6° to the East of (above) Regulus (Alpha Leonis, Mag. 1.4).
Saturn, the brighter, was Mag. 0.75, Mars was Mag. 1.68 and to the South of Saturn.
Mars set at 22:57 and Saturn at 22:58. The Sun set on the North-North-West at 20:15.
The diameter of the Full Moon is some 0.5°.
Calculations with TheSky from Software Bisque, version 5.
Mercury and Venus in Conjunction on the Eastern sky:
On March 24, 2008, at 06:00, Mercury and Venus were visible some 58' apart,
some 6° above the Eastern horizon.
Venus (Mag. -3.9) rose at 05:27, then Mercury (Mag. -0.27) at 05:30. Sunrise was at 06:19.
Both were be in the constellation of Acuarius. Uranus was some 5° to the East, rising at 05:40.
Calculations with TheSky from Software Bisque, version 5.
Venus and Jupiter in Conjunction on the Eastern sky:
On February 1, 2008, at 06:00, Venus and Jupiter were visible some 20° above the Southeastern horizon.
Jupiter (Mag. -1.9) was some 35' South of Venus (Mag. -4) and somewhat lower, both in the constellation of Sagittarius.
Venus rose at 05:02, Jupiter at 05:04. Sunrise was at 07:04.
We recommended observing with a small telescope or binoculars.
Calculations with TheSky from Software Bisque, version 5.
On February 15 '08, at 8 PM, SCAS-FIU presented the informative and useful free program Backyard Astronomy
to help launch new and future amateur astronomers.
Segments included: binocular and telescopic urban observing, software, safe Solar observing.
FIU Astronomy Center; Physics Bldg. CP-145. SW 109th Ave./SW 8th St.
SCAS scheduled a public Lunar Eclipse Watch at Bill Sadowski Park on February 20 '08 from 8 to 11 PM.
Total Eclipse of the Moon: (in Leo)
Bill Sadowski Park Key Biscayne Beach Park
W 80° 19', N 25° 37' W 80° 09', N 25° 41'
Eastern Standard Time Moon's
h m Azimuth° Altitude°
Moonrise 2008 Feb 20 18:04 77.3 ----
Moon enters penumbra 2008 Feb 20 19:34.9 86.7 18.7
Moon enters umbra 2008 Feb 20 20:43.0 94.2 33.5 <-- Visible eclipse started
Moon enters totality 2008 Feb 20 22:00.5 105.5 50.2
Middle of eclipse 2008 Feb 20 22:26.0 110.6 55.6 <-- Darkest eclipse
Moon leaves totality 2008 Feb 20 22:51.5 117.2 60.7
Moon leaves umbra 2008 Feb 21 00:09.1 155.3 72.8 <-- Visible eclipse ended
Moon leaves penumbra 2008 Feb 21 01:17.2 211.1 71.5
Moonset 2008 Feb 21 07:06 279.2 ----
Eclipse Predictions by Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC
This eclipse was visible in the Central Pacific Ocean, America, Europe and Africa.
The eclipse was darker to the North of the Moon because it passed South of the center of the umbra projected by the Earth.
Saturn was less than 5° East of the Moon. Regulus (Alpha Leonis) was less than 2° West of the Moon.
For the exact times at your locality, you can use the
Lunar Eclipse Computer at the U.S. Naval Observatory.
For more information and graphics, see
NASA - Total Lunar Eclipse February 20, 2008,
Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC.
SCAS President Lester Shalloway M.D. & staff, arrange safe, professional solar equipment (telescope & video) at the Miami MetroZoo, Saturdays 10 AM to Noon, near the waterfall in front of the ticket entrance at 12400 SW 152nd St. Free viewing.
You may see the powerful, nuclear explosions - Sun spots and prominences - erupting in slow motion before your eyes, safely.... 93 million miles away!
Check the SCAS Hotline at 305-661-1375 for the latest update at 9:30 AM Saturdays.
![[SOHO Sun Spot Image]](http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/realtime/mdi_igr/512/latest.jpg)
![[SOHO Sun Spot Image]](http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/data/synoptic/sunspots_earth/mdi_sunspots.jpg)
Click on an image above for the latest close up view of the Sun (Hydrogen-Alpha and Visible Light).
See the SOHO site (NASA) for more information.
This page was updated in: January 27 '10
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