Since I've been looking around at almanacs for 2021, here's what I've learned about almanacs coming out for next year. Sky & Telescope’s annual Skygazer’s Almanac (the graphical almanac) and Sky Watch 2021 will be out in November, according to an email in response to a note I sent to the S&T editorial staff. Observer’s … Continue reading Preview of almanacs for 2021
More Venus….and less!
Venus was very tiny in my Canon camera though a 2x barlow amplifying lens (the same setup I used to take the photos of the Moon I posted this morning, so you can see how much larger the Moon appears!) Full frame with Venus through the 8-inch reflecting telescope. Canon XS looking through a 2X … Continue reading More Venus….and less!
Morning Moon and Venus Wed Oct 14 2020
Yesterday's tipping of the Moon so I could see Mare Orientale peeking around the edge of the Moon was clouded out. Here's some nice consolation prizes. Moon (with sunshine and earthshine) and Venus. Looks like they are playing jump rope with the utility lines. Canon XS on tripod, 55 to 250 mm zoom lens set … Continue reading Morning Moon and Venus Wed Oct 14 2020
Catching the ISS
It was a nice, clear evening for the last good evening pass of the International Space Station over the mid-Atlantic States of the United States until next month. At 7pm I lie in wait for the brilliant splash of sunlight off the solar panels of humanity's farthest way station, still so much closer than the … Continue reading Catching the ISS
Heads UP! for October 2020
Boo! This year, the scary change from daylight time to standard time will happen late Halloween night! On Sunday, November 1st at 2am, we’ll ”fall back” to 1am. We’ll lose our ”extra” hour of morning darkness we’ve using to be dazzled by the light of Venus. Sunrise appears to move from 7:25am EDT on the … Continue reading Heads UP! for October 2020
Venus – not just a nighttime object
Perhaps you've seen that bright dot high in the eastern sky as you go out in the dawn's early light. If it's not moving (much), it's likely to be Venus. Venus is the brightest object in the sky, after the Sun and our Moon. We can use the [blankety-blank] trees that have blocked my viewing … Continue reading Venus – not just a nighttime object
Great string of clear days!
One more mostly clear night tonight. Even the Western smoke is moving away to the south of us. If you are up in the 6am-ish or earlier, see Venus up in the east and then turn around and see Mars (yes, it's reddish, and brighter than anything except Venus) up in the west/southwest. I hate … Continue reading Great string of clear days!
Unfocused!
I focused the 50mm lens on the planets low in the southern sky. I'll have to try to tape it down someday. It jiggles out of focus as I take photos. But it's fun. I caught Saturn and Jupiter (and the nearby teaspoon), then the ISS passing overhead, past Cassiopeia and fading into the earth's … Continue reading Unfocused!
Clearer, Cold Canadian Air Crosses the Border – Weekend of Sept 18- 20.
Just gotta get some words down on the clear air mass headed to the northeastern United States. And there is so much to see in these clearer skies, anytime of night, and during dawn and dusk. Four planets and the International Space Station grace our skies this weekend. Not from around here? The planets will … Continue reading Clearer, Cold Canadian Air Crosses the Border – Weekend of Sept 18- 20.
Smoke arcs across the USA
You've seen the satellite photos of the smoke advecting across the country from the west coast. Here's a list of surface weather observations from airports across the United States. Many have started including the smoke layer as a cloud deck. It's hard to ignore. Note the many sites with little or no cloud cover, except … Continue reading Smoke arcs across the USA
