Superbluesmokesmudge moon

The moon looked like it had a smudge of smoke on it's upper left quadrant, even just before the partial eclipse began. (That's from the fainter penumbra shadow, where the sun is only partially eclipsed from the moon's point of view.)  Here's photos from after the partial phase began at 6:46am.  Moonset was about 7:06.

Is two out of three enough for the eastern USA in the loony trifecta?

Ok, you've heard so much about the loony lunar trifecta of January 2018. Just for fun, indulge me, as we briefly review: 1) A second full moon in a month has become known as a 'blue moon'. 2) A total eclipse of the moon in the earth's shadow has been called a 'blood moon'. 3) …

Snow for Monday afternoon rush hour, or later?

A series of weak low pressure systems are going to form off the mid-Atlantic coast today. They should be too weak and just a bit far out to sea to give us a lot of snow.  The NWS, as of 6am, is going with some light snow, beginning as rain after 3pm and ending in …

Rain Sunday, then blips of storms slip off the eastern Atlantic seaboard for the northeast USA

Update:Evening of Sunday, January 28:  some models are moving the wave of storms closer to the coast, near the 'benchmark' where most storms give the NYC metro areas significant snow.  But, mostly they are going for light snow inland, perhaps more on eastern Long Island and southeastern New England. Here's their thinking for the week …

Sidewalk astronomy: 8 quarters and a quarter moon

It took eight quarters for two hours of parking in downtown Mamaroneck, New York just steps from Jupiter Joe's Sidewalk Astronomy with Claudia and Kevin from Westchester Astronomers for two hours of offering views of the moon, the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula.  We had a guest appearance of the International Space Station. My dob …

Rainy Tuesday, Stars for mid-late Week?

A cold front sweeping eastward from a storm moving from the Great Lakes to the St. Lawrence Riverway will bring showers and maybe a thunderstorm to the northeast on Tuesday.  Strong winds, but not to warning levels, are expected.  Clearing and colder behind the front for the rest of the week. Maybe good astronomy weather …

One out of two ain’t bad

I was out this morning, Jupiter and Mars well placed in the south-southeast, but didn't see the predicted pass of Tiangong2.  The twilight was very bright, but I could still see Arcturus and Jupiter. Here's this morning's blue twilight sky with Jupiter barely visible in the photo, about 20 minutes before sunrise. Since I had …

Oh, Jupiter! And, seeing space stations.

Jupiter is back and its moons are playing their usual tricks.  These are visible in most telescopes. On Friday morning, the 19th, after Jupiter rises about 2:10am, three of its four brightest moons will be visible. Only Io will be hidden.  From 2:40 to 4:55, Europa’s tiny shadow will be visible on Jupiter’s cloudtops, joined …

Heavy Rain at Times Fri./Sat., then Sharply Colder

Watch out for lakes on the highways and backyards today as rain, heavy at times, falls Friday into Friday night.  Temperatures will drop all day Saturday from today's high forecast in the upper 50s !  With the cold air knifing in under the warmer air with strong winds, late Saturday morning into midday the rain …

Lots of Rain Friday, possible end as frozen precipitation Sat Midday?

Forecasts for the NYC area have continued with about two inches of rain for north and east of NYC on Friday into early Saturday.  Local and river flooding are possible.  Tropical moisture just makes it to NYC and points eastward.  Don't be surprised to hear a rumble of thunder Friday/Saturday night.  Don't be surprised to …