From our past weeks of same-old events, we have now decided to do events differently...from weekly viewings, to a Solar-System events Calendar, and from a planet observation line, to a section. Be amazed and observe!
SOLAR-SYSTEM EVENTS FOR THE WEEK OF 08/20 THROUGH 08/27, 2011.
(All times and dates are UT (Universal Time). *This is a major event. ^There will be a post published approx. 1-2 days event occurs.)
SPECIAL VIEWINGS FOR THE WEEK OF 08/20 THROUGH 08/27, 2011.
MOON & PLEIADES CONJUNCTION - Just after the moon is at last quarter, shortly before midnight, the moon will just be about four degrees away from the Pleiades, and will be a remarkable sight: a half lit moon with a cluster not very far away. Jupiter will also conjunct tonight, giving us something like this:
NEPTUNE OPPOSITION - On the night that Neptune is at opposition, astronomers and many other observers will be viewing this distant world at its brightest. At magnitude 7.8 (technically 7.78), Neptune is brighter than its darkest mag 8.02. It will be in the sky the highest at 1 am, but you'll be able to see it around 10 pm. To help locate Neptune, try looking for Iota Aquarii, just 1.6 degrees due south. Remember Neptune's birthday?...
DAWN & VESTA - as NASA probe Dawn is circling the planet, Vesta recently passed opposition and was a great target for many observers August 5. But, still it remains bright and you too can view the protoplanet if you have binoculars, telescope, etc. Come to our Minor Planets Viewing Page, and look under the header titled: "Viewing 1 Ceres and 4 Vesta through the rest of 2011. There is a nice dissertation on how to view them, thanks to Sky&Telescope.
Below is the sky for August 25-27.
PLANET VIEWINGS FOR THE WEEK OF 08/20 THROUGH 08/27, 2011.
Mercury - (NV)* Hidden in the Sun's glare
Venus - (NV) Hidden in the Sun's glare
Mars - (N) magnitude +1.4; constellation: Gemini; up around 2am EDT
Jupiter - (N & D) magnitude -2.6; constellation: south Aires; rises at 11pm, and sets as the Sun rises. Best to view around 1am.
Saturn - (E & N) magnitude +0.9; constellation: Virgo; sinking into the evening, earlier each night.
Uranus - (E & N) magnitude +5.8; constellation: in the Circlet of Pisces
Neptune - (E & N) magnitude +7.78 (opposition this week!); constellation: Aquarius. Both Uranus and Neptune are high before midnight.
Pluto - (N) magnitude +14.0 in Sagittarius.
Minor Planets - come to this page.
*(E) Evening, (N) Night, (D) Dawn, (NV) Not Visible.
Have a great viewing this week!!
SOLAR-SYSTEM EVENTS FOR THE WEEK OF 08/20 THROUGH 08/27, 2011.
19 Aug 2011 01:03:35 Aphelion of Asteroid 2 Pallas, 3.41195 AU from Sun
20 Aug 2011 09:51:38 Conjunction of Jupiter with the Moon, 4.6°
21 Aug 2011 05:45:32 (Quebec, Canada) Stellar Occultation of Delta Aries*^ 21 Aug 2011 21:54:29 Last Quarter
22 Aug 2011 04:00:00 Moon Conjunction with the Pleiades, 4°
22 Aug 2011 06:36:32 (Washington DC) Stellar Occultation 37 Taurus*^
22 Aug 2011 09:21:49 Closest Approach of Neptune, 28.99519 AU from Earth
22 Aug 2011 23:25:59 Opposition of Neptune, 7.8m*
23 Aug 2011 12:19:52 Max. South Declination of the Moon, 23.1°
23 Aug 2011 17:23:27 Descending Knot Passage of the Moon
25 Aug 2011 12:38:46 Conjunction of Mars with the Moon, 2.6°
26 Aug 2011 04:04:34 Mercury stationary: getting prograde
27 Aug 2011 04:15:07 Max. South Declination of Jupiter, 13.6°
27 Aug 2011 23:32:17 Conjunction of Mercury with the Moon, 2.4°
(All times and dates are UT (Universal Time). *This is a major event. ^There will be a post published approx. 1-2 days event occurs.)
SPECIAL VIEWINGS FOR THE WEEK OF 08/20 THROUGH 08/27, 2011.
MOON & PLEIADES CONJUNCTION - Just after the moon is at last quarter, shortly before midnight, the moon will just be about four degrees away from the Pleiades, and will be a remarkable sight: a half lit moon with a cluster not very far away. Jupiter will also conjunct tonight, giving us something like this:
OR
NEPTUNE OPPOSITION - On the night that Neptune is at opposition, astronomers and many other observers will be viewing this distant world at its brightest. At magnitude 7.8 (technically 7.78), Neptune is brighter than its darkest mag 8.02. It will be in the sky the highest at 1 am, but you'll be able to see it around 10 pm. To help locate Neptune, try looking for Iota Aquarii, just 1.6 degrees due south. Remember Neptune's birthday?...
DAWN & VESTA - as NASA probe Dawn is circling the planet, Vesta recently passed opposition and was a great target for many observers August 5. But, still it remains bright and you too can view the protoplanet if you have binoculars, telescope, etc. Come to our Minor Planets Viewing Page, and look under the header titled: "Viewing 1 Ceres and 4 Vesta through the rest of 2011. There is a nice dissertation on how to view them, thanks to Sky&Telescope.
Below is the sky for August 25-27.
PLANET VIEWINGS FOR THE WEEK OF 08/20 THROUGH 08/27, 2011.
Mercury - (NV)* Hidden in the Sun's glare
Venus - (NV) Hidden in the Sun's glare
Mars - (N) magnitude +1.4; constellation: Gemini; up around 2am EDT
Jupiter - (N & D) magnitude -2.6; constellation: south Aires; rises at 11pm, and sets as the Sun rises. Best to view around 1am.
Saturn - (E & N) magnitude +0.9; constellation: Virgo; sinking into the evening, earlier each night.
Uranus - (E & N) magnitude +5.8; constellation: in the Circlet of Pisces
Neptune - (E & N) magnitude +7.78 (opposition this week!); constellation: Aquarius. Both Uranus and Neptune are high before midnight.
Pluto - (N) magnitude +14.0 in Sagittarius.
Minor Planets - come to this page.
*(E) Evening, (N) Night, (D) Dawn, (NV) Not Visible.
Have a great viewing this week!!
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