|
Astronomical Observing at
the
Fishcreek Observing Site
Friday - 7/23/2010 9:30 pm
Report: Event
abandoned due to thunderstorms. Believe it or not, we had three
telescopes set up waiting for darkness. As we waited, we watched
the storms moving in from the NE. When lightning started, we
decided it was time to pack up the gear and try another night.
We made the correct decision since the storms were severe! |
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 this evening. 
| Tonight, we have a very bright full Moon
with us the entire night. While this phase isn't the best for
viewing detail in the craters on or near the terminator - the line
separating lunar night from day, a wealth of features can still be seen.
Faint DSOs (Deep Space Objects) are probably not going to be visible due
to the Moon, but Saturn will be beautiful with its rings still nearly
edge-on and several moons visible. Also, we have Venus showing a gibbous
phase, and Mars growing smaller every night. Additionally, we'll have
the opportunity to view Mercury, a fairly rare event. 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 probably won't be visible this evening due to the
brightness of the full Moon.
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!
|
- - - - - - Our location - - - - - - |
|
Longitude: |
W |
81° |
25' |
38.4" |
| Latitude: |
N |
41° |
11' |
11.1" |
| Altitude: |
337m |
Note: All times are shown in EDT
(Eastern Daylight Time (UT-4)) as seen from Stow, Ohio
Quick links:
Inner Solar System
Outer Solar System
|
Sun data |
| |
|
Rises: |
6:09am |
|
Transits: |
1:32pm
-
Time of highest position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
8:54pm |
|
Constellation: |
Cancer |
|
Distance: |
1.01583104 AU =
151,966,160 km = 94,427,395 miles = 8.46
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-26.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
31.49 arcminutes in angular diameter |
|
Twilight
ends... |
|
Civil: |
9:23pm
- Sun is 6° below the horizon |
|
Nautical: |
10:03pm
- Sun is 12° below the
horizon |
|
Astronomical: |
10:48pm
- Sun is 18° below the
horizon |
|
Summer
began: |
at the Summer Solstice
which occurred on Monday Jun 21, 2010 at 7:29am |
|
Fall
begins: |
at the Autumnal Equinox
which will occur on Wednesday Sep 22, 2010 at
11:10pm |
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 7/23/2010 at 10:02:50pm the Sun will be 12°
below
the west-northwest horizon
Click
HERE
for additional data on the Sun
(back to 'Quick Links') |
|
|
Moon data |
| |
|
Rises: |
7:19pm |
|
Transits: |
0:02am - Jul 24 (Time of highest
position in the sky, due South) |
|
Sets: |
4:48am - Jul 24 |
|
Constellation: |
Sagittarius |
|
Phase: |
96.41% illuminated
(waxing gibbous) |
|
Distance: |
0.00264531 AU = 395,732
km = 245,896 miles = 1.32 light-seconds |
|
Magnitude: |
-12.1 |
|
Apparent size: |
30.19 arcminutes
in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
158.09° (evening sky) |
|
Age: |
12d 6h 28m since last
New Moon |
|
Prior Phase: |
First Quarter on Sunday
Jul 18, 2010 at 6:11am |
|
Next Phase: |
Full Moon on Sunday Jul
25, 2010 at 9:37pm |
|
Next Lunar eclipse: |
Total eclipse (100%) on
Sunday Sept 27, 2015 at 10:10pm EDT |
On 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm the Moon will be 19.2° above
the southeast horizon
and will look like this in our telescopes at very low power*
*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: |
8:08am |
|
Transits:
|
3:07pm - Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
10:04pm |
|
Constellation: |
Leo |
|
Phase: |
68.11% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
1.08900044 AU =
162,912,147 km = 101,228,916 miles = 9.07
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-0.1 |
|
Apparent size: |
6.18 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
23.50° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Saturday, August 7, 2010
(27° 22' 00") |
|
Morning: |
Sunday, September 19,
2010 (17° 52' 13") |
On 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Mercury will be 0.9°
below
the west horizon
Mercury will be a little
over 6° above the horizon at the time of Civil Twilight, so we may be
able to see it!
Click
HERE
for additional data on Mercury
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Venus data |
| |
|
Rises: |
9:55am |
|
Transits: |
4:25pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:54pm |
|
Constellation: |
Leo |
|
Phase: |
61.61% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
0.89960828 AU =
134,579,483 km = 83,623,815 miles = 7.49
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-4.1
(extremely bright, the
brightest thing in the evening sky except for the
Moon) |
|
Apparent size: |
18.55 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
43.96° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Friday, August 20,
2010 (45° 57' 59") |
|
Morning: |
Saturday, January
8, 2011 (46° 57' 24") |
On 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Venus will be 8.5° above
the west horizon
and will look like this in our telescopes at high power
at the time of Civil Twilight...
Click HERE
for additional data on Venus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Mars data |
| |
|
Rises: |
10:54am |
|
Transits: |
5:07pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
11:19pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
92.68% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
1.94661253 AU =
291,209,089 km = 180,948,941 miles = 16.21
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
1.5 |
|
Apparent size: |
4.81 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
55.33° (evening sky) |
|
Dates of
Opposition
(when Mars is closest to the Earth) |
|
Previous: |
Friday Jan 29, 2010 at
2:21pm. Distance: 99,400,435 km. Size: 14.08
arcseconds. |
|
Next: |
Saturday Mar 3, 2012 at
3:52pm. Distance: 100,839,728 km. Size: 13.88
arcseconds. |
On 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Mars will be 13.3° above
the west-southwest horizon
No, Mars will *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: |
11:27pm |
|
Transits: |
5:32am - Jul 24
- Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
11:37am - Jul 24 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
99.17% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
4.41044006 AU =
659,792,442 km = 409,976,021 miles = 36.74
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-2.6 |
|
Apparent size: |
44.70 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
117.70° (morning 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:
Saturday Jul 24, 2010 at 6:50am
(The Red Spot transits about every 10 hours 56 minutes)
GRS longitude: 145.3º
Jupiter moons activity (during darkness):
Io occultation ends on
Saturday Jul 24, 2010 at 1:16am when Jupiter is 19.1° above
the horizon
On 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Jupiter will be 16.8° below
the east-northeast horizon
Click
HERE for additional data on
Jupiter
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Saturn data |
| |
|
Rises: |
11:11am |
|
Transits: |
5:23pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
11:35pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
99.79% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
10.01808654 AU =
1,498,684,415 km = 931,239,333 miles = 1.39
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
1.1 |
|
Apparent size: |
16.59 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
59.12° (evening sky) |
|
Dates of
Opposition
(when Saturn is closest to the Earth) |
|
Previous: |
Sunday Mar 21, 2010 at
8:28pm |
|
Next: |
Sunday Apr 3, 2011 at
7:48pm |
On 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Saturn will be 16.3°
above
the west-southwest horizon
and will look like this in our telescopes at high power
at the time of Civil Twilight...
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 Saturn
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Uranus data |
| |
|
Rises: |
11:17pm |
|
Transits: |
5:20am - Jul 24
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
11:23am - Jul 24 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
99.95% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
19.55658098 AU =
2,925,622,873 km = 1,817,897,795 miles = 2.71
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
5.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
3.60 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
120.65° (morning 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 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Uranus will be 15.1° below
the east-northeast horizon
Click HERE
for additional data on Uranus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Neptune data |
| |
|
Rises: |
9:59pm |
|
Transits: |
3:19am - Jul 24
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
8:39am - Jul 24 |
|
Constellation: |
Aquarius |
|
Phase: |
99.99% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
29.10929797 AU =
4,354,688,993 km = 2,705,878,325 miles = 4.04
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
7.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
2.35 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
153.10° (morning 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 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Neptune will be 0.5° below
the east horizon
Click
HERE for additional data on
Neptune
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Pluto
(Dwarf Planet aka Asteroid 134340)
data |
| |
|
Rises: |
6:34pm |
|
Transits: |
11:33pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
4:31am - Jul 24 |
|
Constellation: |
Sagittarius |
|
Phase: |
99.99% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
30.9701433 AU =
4,633,067,493 km = 2,878,854,708 miles = 4.3
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
14.2 |
|
Apparent size: |
0.11 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
151.89° (evening sky) |
|
Dates of
Opposition
(when Pluto is closest to the Earth) |
|
Previous: |
Friday Jun 25, 2010 at
2:59pm |
|
Next: |
Tuesday Jun 28, 2011 at
1:23am |
On 7/23/2010 at
10:02:50pm Pluto will be 26.9° above
the southeast horizon horizon
Click HERE
for additional data on Pluto
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
Inner Solar System
- the Sun, Mercury, Venus and Earth
(Created using
Software Bisque's
TheSky
software)
You can see that both Venus and Mercury are about to reach
greatest eastern
elongation,
Mercury on August 7 and Venus on August 20
(back to 'Quick
Links')
Outer Solar System
- the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, 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 this evening.
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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