Astronomical Observing at Fishcreek Observing Site
Friday - 11/06/2009 at 7:00 PM

 

THIS EVENT WAS CANCELLED
 despite near-perfect weather conditions.  Why?
 

1)  The field where we set up equipment was far too wet.

2)  An event occurred at the school tonight and the parking lot lights were left on.  They're brighter than the Sun on a cloudless July day.

These two conditions make observing impossible, sad to say.


Click HERE for a printer-friendly version of the information on this page.

Click HERE for general Information you should know about our events - Q&A of Where, When and What.
Click HERE for satellite passes during this event. 

Tonight, we have a 78% illuminated (waning gibbous) Moon rising at 8:31pm.  This phase is great for viewing detail in the craters and maria on or near the terminator - the line separating lunar night from day, a wealth of features can be seen.  Faint DSOs (Deep Space Objects) will be partially obscured due to the Moon, but Jupiter will be beautiful with all four of the Galilean moons lined up on the west side of the planet.  Take a look at the information for Jupiter, below.  We have the colorful double stars, open clusters made up of hundreds of stars, the globular clusters comprised of hundreds of thousands of stars, planetary nebula formed by dying stars, diffuse nebula and emission nebula where stars are being born.  Galaxies may not be visible this evening, except for M31 - the Andromeda Galaxy - our closest neighboring island universe.  Bring binoculars if you have a pair and we'll show you how to find the Andromeda Galaxy with them!  Also, we'll show you how to find the beautiful "Coat hanger" cluster which is best seen in binoculars.

Click HERE for a list of DeepSky Objects that will be available to us this session.

We hope to see you here for a night under the stars - now in our fifteenth year!

 Quick links:
    Inner Solar System     Outer Solar System

Note: All times are shown in EST (Eastern Standard Time (UT-5)) as seen from Stow, Ohio

Longitude:

 W 81° 25' 38.4"
Latitude: N 41° 11' 11.1"
Altitude:

 337m

The following Sun, Moon and planet detail was calculated as it will be
on Friday 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm EST (nautical twilight)
Source: Guide8 software available from www.projectpluto.com
Above Horizon Below Horizon Constellation Mag Rises Sets
  Sun Libra -26.7 07:00 17:18
  Mercury Libra -1.3 07:04 17:19
  Venus Virgo -3.9 05:36 16:41
  Mars Cancer 0.4 22:51 13:27
Jupiter   Capricornus -2.4 13:38 23:50
  Saturn Virgo 1.1 03:17 15:38
Uranus   Aquarius 5.8 15:02 02:48
Neptune   Capricornus 7.9 13:49 00:20
Pluto   Sagittarius 14.3 10:28 20:26
  Moon Gemini -11.4 20:31 12:10
Click HERE for information on the planets such as orbital and rotational periods, velocities, distances, etc. not listed in the detail provided below.

 

Sun data
 
Rises:

  7:00am
Transits:

12:09pm - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:

  5:18pm
Constellation:

Libra
Distance:

0.99106892 AU = 148,261,800 km = 92,125,613 miles = 8.25 light-minutes
Magnitude:

-26.7
Apparent size:

32.28 arcminutes in angular diameter

Twilight ends...
Civil:

 5:44pm - Sun is   6° below the horizon
Nautical:

 6:17pm - Sun is 12° below the horizon
Astronomical:

 6:49pm - Sun is 18° below the horizon
Fall began:

at the Autumnal Equinox which occurred on Tuesday Sep 22, 2009 at 5:19pm
Winter begins:

at the Winter Solstice which will occur on Monday Dec 21, 2009 at 1:47pm
Next Solar Eclipses in Stow, Ohio:
    Partial eclipse (>80%) on Monday August 21, 2017 2:30pm EDT
    Total eclipse (an amazing sight!) on Monday April 8, 2024 2:15pm EST (3:15pm EDT)
On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm the Sun will be 12º below the west-southwest horizon
Click HERE for additional data on the Sun
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Moon data
 
Rises:

  8:31pm
Transits:

  4:25am - Nov 7 (Time of highest position in the sky, due South)
Sets:

12:10pm - Nov 7
Constellation:

Gemini
Phase:

78.75% illuminated (waning gibbous)
Distance:

0.00247914 AU = 370,874 km = 230,450 miles = 1.24 light-seconds
Magnitude:

-11.4
Apparent size:

32.21 arcminutes in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

124.98° (morning sky)
Age:

19d 17h 45m since last New Moon
Prior Phase:

Full Moon on Monday Nov 2, 2009 at 2:14pm
Next Phase:

Last Quarter on Monday Nov 9, 2009 at 10:56am
Next Lunar eclipse:

Total eclipse (100%) on Sunday Sept 27, 2015 at 10:10pm EDT

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm the Moon will be 18.2º below the north-northeast horizon
but will look like this at very low power* in our telescopes when it clears the trees at 10:10 PM...



*How do we change the "power" (magnification) of our telescopes?
Simple!  By changing the eyepiece to one of a longer or shorter focal length.
If the eyepiece is of shorter focal length, the "power" (magnification) is higher,
If he eyepiece is of longer focal length, the "power" (magnification) is lower.
By how much?  Here's the formula:

Magnification =F focal length of telescope objective lens (or mirror)
focal length of eyepiece being used      

Note: All graphics are correct-image representations.  A telescope will reverse this left-right and possibly invert up-down depending on type of equipment being used.

Click HERE for additional data on the Moon
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Mercury data
 
Rises:   7:04am
Transits: 12:12pm - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:   5:19pm
Constellation:

Libra
Phase:

99.96% illuminated
Distance:

1.44189693 AU = 215,704,710 km = 134,032,694 miles = 12.01 light-minutes
Magnitude:

-1.3
Apparent size:

4.66 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

1.00° (evening sky)
Next maximum elongations...
Evening:

Friday, December 18, 2009 (20° 17' 43")
Morning:

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 (24° 45' 10")

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Mercury will be 11.4º below the west-southwest horizon
Click HERE for additional data on Mercury
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Venus data
 
Rises:   5:36am
Transits: 11:08am - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:   4:41pm
Constellation:

Virgo
Phase:

96.24% illuminated
Distance:

1.618759 AU = 242,162,899 km = 150,473,051 miles = 13.48 light-minutes
Magnitude:

-3.9 (extremely bright, visible in the morning before sunrise)
Apparent size:

10.31 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

16.05° (morning sky)
Next maximum elongations...
Evening:

Friday, August 20, 2010 (45° 57' 59")
Morning:

Saturday, January 8, 2011 (46° 57' 24")

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Venus will be 19.1º below the west horizon
Click HERE for additional data on Venus
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Mars data
 
Rises: 10:51pm
Transits:   6:09am - Nov 7 - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:   1:27pm - Nov 7
Constellation:

Cancer
Phase:

88.90% illuminated
Distance:

1.13658942 AU = 170,031,357 km = 105,652,588 miles = 9.47 light-minutes
Magnitude:

0.4
Apparent size:

8.23 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

94.97° (morning sky)

Dates of Opposition (when Mars is closest to the Earth)

Previous:

Monday Dec 24, 2007 at 2:29pm

Next:

Friday Jan 29, 2010 at 3:21pm
Next close approach:

Friday Jan 29, 2010

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Mars will be 29.4º below the north horizon

No, Mars was *not* be "as big as a Full Moon on August 27!"
Please see the following links for more information about this annual 'Mars Hoax'
    Sky & Telescope article
    Snopes.com article
    Hoax-slayer article
    Universe Today article
Click HERE for additional data on Mars
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Jupiter data
 
Rises:

  1:38pm
Transits:

  6:44pm - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:

11:50pm
Constellation:

Capricornus
Phase:

99.02% illuminated
Distance:

4.85828512 AU = 726,789,109 km = 451,605,821 miles = 40.47 light-minutes
Magnitude:

-2.4
Apparent size:

40.58 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

93.49° (evening sky)

Dates of Opposition (when Jupiter is closest to the Earth)

Previous:

Friday Aug 14, 2009 at 1:44pm

Next:

Tuesday Sep 21, 2010 at 7:28am

Next transit of the Great Red Spot: Tonight at 7:40pm (The Red Spot transits about every 10 hours 56 minutes)
GRS longitude: 140.3º
Jupiter moons activity (during darkness):
      None

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Jupiter will be 32.1º above the south-southeast horizon
In the image below, notice all four of the Galilean Moons in a straight line to Jupiter's west:


Note: All graphics are correct-image representations.  A telescope will reverse this left-right and possibly invert up-down depending on type of equipment being used.

Information on Jupiter's Galilean moons:

  Io  -  mag 5.6
      Orbits Jupiter in 1.8 days = 42.5 hours
      Mean orbital radius = .00281822 AU = 421,600 km = 261,970 miles = 1.41 light-seconds
      Radius: 105% of our Moon
      Mass: 122% of our Moon

  Europa  -  mag 5.7
      Orbits Jupiter in 3.6 days = 85.2 hours
      Mean orbital radius = .00448469 AU = 670,900 km = 416,878 miles = 2.24 light-seconds
      Radius: 90% of our Moon
      Mass: 65% of our Moon

  Ganymede  -  mag 5.1
      Orbits Jupiter in 7.2 days = 171.7 hours
      Mean orbital radius = .00715251 AU = 1,070,000 km = 664,867 miles = 3.57 light-seconds
      Radius: 150% of our Moon
      Mass: 200% of our Moon

  Callisto  -  mag 6.4
      Orbits Jupiter in 16.7 days = 400.5 hours
      Mean orbital radius = 0.01258708 AU = 1,883,000 km = 1,170,042 miles = 6.29 light-seconds
      Radius: 138% of our Moon
      Mass: 146% of our Moon
Click HERE for additional data on Jupiter
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Saturn data
 
Rises:

3:17am
Transits:

9:28am - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:

3:38pm
Constellation:

Virgo
Phase:

99.87% illuminated
Distance:

10.14828686 AU = 1,518,162,106 km = 943,342,210 miles = 1.41 light-hours
Magnitude:

1.1
Apparent size:

16.38 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

43.85° (morning sky)

Dates of Opposition (when Saturn is closest to the Earth)

Previous:

Sunday Mar 8, 2009 at 3:44pm

Next:

Sunday Mar 21, 2010 at 8:28pm

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Saturn will be 29.4º below the west-northwest horizon
Click HERE for additional data on Saturn
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Uranus data
 
Rises:

 3:02pm
Transits:

 8:55pm - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:

 2:48am - Nov 7
Constellation:

Aquarius
Phase:

99.96% illuminated
Distance:

19.46864579 AU = 2,912,467,955 km = 1,809,723,708 miles = 2.7 light-hours
Magnitude:

5.8
Apparent size:

3.62 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

128.27° (evening sky)

Dates of Opposition (when Uranus is closest to the Earth)

Previous:

Thursday Sep 17, 2009 at 5:34am

Next:

Tuesday Sep 21, 2010 at 12:51pm

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Uranus will be 32.5º above the east-southeast horizon
Click HERE for additional data on Uranus
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Neptune data
 
Rises:

1:49pm
Transits:

7:05pm - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:

0:20am - Nov 7
Constellation:

Capricornus
Phase:

99.97% illuminated
Distance:

29.85490004 AU = 4,466,229,476 km = 2,775,186,369 miles = 4.14 light-hours
Magnitude:

7.9
Apparent size:

2.29 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

99.01° (evening sky)

Dates of Opposition (when Neptune is closest to the Earth)

Previous:

Monday Aug 17, 2009 at 4:47pm

Next:

Friday Aug 20, 2010 at 5:59am

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Neptune will be 33.7º above the south-southeast horizon
Click HERE for additional data on Neptune
(back to 'Quick Links')

 

Pluto (Dwarf Planet aka Asteroid 134340) data
 
Rises:

10:28am
Transits:

  3:27pm - Time of highest position in the sky, due South
Sets:

  8:26pm
Constellation:

Sagittarius
Phase:

99.99% illuminated
Distance:

32.40187638 AU = 4,847,251,712 km = 3,011,942,613 miles = 4.5 light-hours
Magnitude:

14.3
Apparent size:

0.10 arcseconds in angular diameter
Elongation from Sun:

47.00° (evening sky)

Dates of Opposition (when Pluto is closest to the Earth)

Previous:

Tuesday Jun 23, 2009 at 3:49am

Next:

Friday Jun 25, 2010 at 2:59pm

On 11/6/2009 at 6:16:56pm Pluto will be 18.7º above the south-southwest horizon
Click HERE for additional data on Pluto
(back to 'Quick Links')


Inner Solar System - the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
(Created using Software Bisque's TheSky software)
Notice that Mercury is totally hidden in the glare of the Sun.


 (back to 'Quick Links')
 

Outer Solar System - the Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto
(Created using Software Bisque's TheSky software)
   

(back to 'Quick Links')
 

Click HERE for event status.

Click HERE for a printer-friendly version of the information on this page.

Click HERE for general Information you should know about our events - Q&A of Where, When and What.
Click HERE for satellite passes during this event. 
 

Very sincerely yours,
Dave Jessie
"Time spent observing the heavens is not deducted from your life span"
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