|
UPDATE: Thursday 11/12/09 at 3:40 PM
This event has been CANCELLED
Another scheduled event at Fishcreek School
will
prevent our use of the field due to the
brightness of the
required parking lot lights.
|
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.
Last
Updated:
Thursday 11/12/09 at 10:50 AM
| Tonight, we're essentially Moon-free for
nearly the entire night. We have a 9% illuminated
(waning crescent) Moon that won't rise until 4:55am Saturday morning. This
is one of those nights we wait for since all the faint DSOs (Deep Space Objects) will be
visible due
to the absence of the Moon.
Jupiter
will be beautiful with the GRS visible at a convenient time, and
Ganymede's shadow transit, too. 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, including M31 - the
Andromeda Galaxy - our closest neighboring island universe - will be
ours for the asking. 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.
Perhaps Kemble's
Cascade will be high enough in altitude for us to see
as well.
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 |
|
Sun data |
| |
|
Rises: |
7:08am |
|
Transits: |
12:10pm
-
Time of highest position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
5:11pm |
|
Constellation: |
Libra |
|
Distance: |
0.98946926 AU =
148,022,494 km = 91,976,915 miles = 8.24
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-26.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
32.33 arcminutes in angular diameter |
|
Twilight
ends... |
|
Civil: |
5:38pm
- Sun is 6° below the horizon |
|
Nautical: |
6:11pm
- Sun is 12° below the
horizon |
|
Astronomical: |
6:43pm
- 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 11/13/2009 at 6:10:53pm
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: |
4:55am - Nov 14 |
|
Transits: |
10:19am - Nov 14 (Time of highest
position in the sky, due South) |
|
Sets: |
3:34pm - Nov 14 |
|
Constellation: |
Corvus |
|
Phase: |
9.33% illuminated
(waning crescent) |
|
Distance: |
0.00256314 AU = 383,440
km = 238,259 miles = 1.28 light-seconds |
|
Magnitude: |
-7.3 |
|
Apparent size: |
31.15 arcminutes
in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
35.48° (morning sky) |
|
Age: |
26d 17h 31m
since last
New Moon |
|
Prior Phase: |
Last Quarter on Monday
Nov 9, 2009 at 10:56am |
|
Next Phase: |
New Moon on Monday Nov
16, 2009 at 3:14pm |
|
Next Lunar eclipse: |
Total eclipse (100%)
on Sunday Sept 27, 2015 at 10:10pm EDT |
On 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm the Moon will be 34.9º below
the west horizon
but will look similar to this
at very low power* in our
telescopes after it rises before sunrise tomorrow morning...
*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: |
7:36am |
|
Transits: |
12:29pm - Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
5:21pm |
|
Constellation: |
Libra |
|
Phase: |
99.09% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
1.44193694 AU =
215,710,696 km = 134,036,414 miles = 12.01
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-0.9 |
|
Apparent size: |
4.66 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
5.13° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Friday, December 18,
2009 (20° 17' 43") |
|
Morning: |
Wednesday, January 27,
2010 (24° 45' 10") |
On 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm Mercury will be 9.7º
below
the west-southwest horizon
Click
HERE
for additional data on Mercury
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Venus data |
| |
|
Rises: |
5:53am |
|
Transits:
|
11:14am - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets:
|
4:35pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
97.04% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
1.63732033 AU =
244,939,635 km = 152,198,435 miles = 13.64
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-3.9
(extremely bright, visible in
the morning before sunrise) |
|
Apparent size: |
10.19 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
14.31° (morning sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Friday, August 20,
2010 (45° 57' 59") |
|
Morning: |
Saturday, January
8, 2011 (46° 57' 24") |
On 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm Venus will be 18.8º
below
the west-southwest
horizon
Click HERE
for additional data on Venus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Mars data |
| |
|
Rises: |
10:37pm |
|
Transits:
|
5:53am - Nov 14 - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets:
|
1:08pm - Nov 14 |
|
Constellation: |
Cancer |
|
Phase: |
89.30% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
1.08123875 AU =
161,751,015 km = 100,507,422 miles = 9.01
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
0.3 |
|
Apparent size: |
8.65 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
99.33° (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 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm Mars will be 29.8º
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: |
1:12pm |
|
Transits:
|
6:19pm - Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets:
|
11:26pm |
|
Constellation: |
Capricornus |
|
Phase: |
99.02% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
4.96715658 AU =
743,076,047 km = 461,726,055 miles = 41.37
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-2.4 |
|
Apparent size: |
39.69 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
87.10° (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 8:29pm (The Red Spot transits
about every 10 hours 56 minutes)
GRS longitude: 140.4º
Jupiter moons activity (during darkness):
Ganymede shadow transit ends
tonight at 9:38pm when Jupiter is 16.5° above the horizon
On 11/13/2009 at 6:10:53pm Jupiter will be
32.6º
above
the
south-southeast horizon
In the image below, notice Callisto by itself to
Jupiter's east and the remaining three Galilean
Moons to Jupiter's west:
In the close-up image below, notice
the GRS transiting at 8:29pm, Ganymede and its shadow
and Io, who's shadow transit ended at 4:41pm this evening.
Yes, we can actually SEE the shadow of
Jupiter's moons moving across the face of Jupiter in our
telescopes!
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 5.7
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 5.8
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 5.2
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 6.5
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: |
2:53am |
|
Transits:
|
9:03am
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets:
|
3:12pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
99.84% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
10.06354376 AU =
1,505,484,718 km = 935,464,846 miles = 1.4
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
1.1 |
|
Apparent size: |
16.51 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
50.19° (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 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm Saturn will be 32.5º
below
the west-northwest
horizon
Click HERE
for additional data on Saturn
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Uranus data |
| |
|
Rises: |
2:34pm |
|
Transits:
|
8:27pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets:
|
2:20am - Nov 14 |
|
Constellation: |
Aquarius |
|
Phase: |
99.96% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
19.56825674 AU =
2,927,369,542 km = 1,818,983,125 miles = 2.72
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
5.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
3.60 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
121.12° (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 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm Uranus will be 35.5º above
the southeast horizon
Click HERE
for additional data on Uranus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Neptune data |
| |
|
Rises: |
1:22pm |
|
Transits:
|
6:37pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets:
|
11:52pm |
|
Constellation: |
Capricornus |
|
Phase: |
99.97% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
29.97502133 AU =
4,484,199,365 km = 2,786,352,340 miles = 4.16
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
7.9 |
|
Apparent size: |
2.28 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
92.00° (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 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm Neptune will be 34.5º
above
the
south-southeast horizon
Click
HERE for additional data on
Neptune
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Pluto
(Dwarf Planet aka Asteroid 134340)
data |
| |
|
Rises: |
10:01am |
|
Transits:
|
3:00pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets:
|
7:59pm |
|
Constellation: |
Sagittarius |
|
Phase: |
99.99% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
32.48691362 AU =
4,859,973,102 km = 3,019,847,318 miles = 4.51
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
14.3 |
|
Apparent size: |
0.10 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
40.23° (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 11/13/2009 at
6:10:53pm Pluto will be 15.9º above
the 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 Earth is catching up with Mars. Of course, we have an inside
lane!
(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.
Last
Updated:
Thursday 11/12/09 at 10:00 AM
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.
Last
Updated:
Thursday 11/12/09 at 10:50 AM
Click
HERE
for a list of
DeepSky
Objects that will be available
to us this session.
Very sincerely yours,
Dave Jessie
"Time spent observing the heavens is not deducted from your life span"
(back to 'Quick
Links')
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to home page
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Click HERE for information
on the planets such as orbital and rotational periods, velocities,
distances, etc. not listed in the detail provided below.
