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for satellite passes this evening. 
| Tonight, we have a bright gibbous Moon
with us, but not until it clears the trees to the east of the observing
field at midnight. This phase is great 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. Although nearly
painfully bright, we have a new piece of equipment that makes the view
comfortable. Faint DSOs (Deep Space Objects) will be available to
us prior to that, however. Saturn will be beautiful with its rings
still nearly edge-on and with four of its moons visible. Also, we have
Mercury & Venus showing gibbous phases, and Mars growing smaller every
night. 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
should be visible this evening despite the brightening of the sky by the
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: |
6:15am |
|
Transits: |
1:32pm
-
Time of highest position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
8:47pm |
|
Constellation: |
Cancer |
|
Distance: |
1.01511209 AU =
151,858,607 km = 94,360,565 miles = 8.46
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-26.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
31.51 arcminutes in angular diameter |
|
Twilight
ends... |
|
Civil: |
9:16pm
- Sun is 6° below the horizon |
|
Nautical: |
9:54pm
- Sun is 12° below the
horizon |
|
Astronomical: |
10:37pm
- 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 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm 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: |
10:30pm |
|
Transits: |
5:04am - Jul 31
(Time of highest
position in the sky, due South) |
|
Sets: |
11:48am - Jul 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
78.57% illuminated
(waning gibbous) |
|
Distance: |
0.00270541 AU = 404,724
km = 251,484 miles = 1.35 light-seconds |
|
Magnitude: |
-11.1 |
|
Apparent size: |
29.52 arcminutes
in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
124.72° (morning sky) |
|
Age: |
19d 6h 14m since last
New Moon |
|
Prior Phase: |
Full Moon on Sunday Jul
25, 2010 at 9:37pm |
|
Next Phase: |
Last Quarter on Tuesday
Aug 3, 2010 at 12:59am |
|
Next Lunar eclipse: |
Total eclipse (100%) on
Sunday Sept 27, 2015 at 10:10pm EDT |
On 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm
the Moon will be 7.9° below the
east-northeast horizon
but will look like this in our telescopes at very low power*
when it clears the trees to the east of the observing field
at midnight
*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: |
8:32am |
|
Transits:
|
3:14pm - Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
9:55pm |
|
Constellation: |
Leo |
|
Phase: |
58.57% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
0.98809104 AU =
147,816,315 km = 91,848,801 miles = 8.23
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
0.2 |
|
Apparent size: |
6.81 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
26.33° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Saturday, August 7, 2010
(27° 22' 00") |
|
Morning: |
Sunday, September 19,
2010 (17° 52' 13") |
On 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm
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: |
10:06am |
|
Transits: |
4:24pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:41pm |
|
Constellation: |
Leo |
|
Phase: |
58.53% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
0.8441575 AU =
126,284,165 km = 78,469,343 miles = 7.03
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-4.2
(extremely bright, the
brightest thing in the evening sky except for the
Moon) |
|
Apparent size: |
19.77 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
44.79° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Friday, August 20,
2010 (45° 57' 59") |
|
Morning: |
Saturday, January
8, 2011 (46° 57' 24") |
On 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm
Venus will be 7.7° above
the west-southwest 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: |
10:48am |
|
Transits: |
4:54pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
11:01pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
93.09% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
1.9883364 AU =
297,450,892 km = 184,827,418 miles = 16.56
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
1.5 |
|
Apparent size: |
4.71 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
52.88° (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 7/30/2010 at
9:54:11pm Mars will be 11.4° 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: |
10:59pm |
|
Transits: |
5:04am - Jul 31
- Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
11:09am - Jul 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
99.28% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
4.31823161 AU =
645,998,254 km = 401,404,710 miles = 35.97
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-2.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
45.65 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
124.47° (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 31, 2010 at 7:35am
(The Red Spot transits about every 10 hours 56 minutes)
GRS longitude: 145.5º
Jupiter moons activity (during darkness):
Io eclipse begins on
Friday Jul 30, 2010 at 11:42pm when Jupiter is 6.8° above
the horizon
Io occultation ends on Saturday Jul
31, 2010 at 3:04am when Jupiter is 40.5° above the horizon
On 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm
Jupiter will be 13.4° below
the east-northeast horizon
Click
HERE for additional data on
Jupiter
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Saturn data |
| |
|
Rises: |
10:47am |
|
Transits: |
4:58pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
11:09pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
99.82% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
10.11446432 AU =
1,513,102,325 km = 940,198,207 miles = 1.4
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
1.1 |
|
Apparent size: |
16.43 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
53.05° (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 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm Saturn will be 13.1°
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: |
10:49pm |
|
Transits: |
4:52am - Jul 31
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:55am - Jul 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
99.96% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
19.4598833 AU =
2,911,157,106 km = 1,808,909,184 miles = 2.7
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
5.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
3.62 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
127.45° (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 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm
Uranus will be 11.6° below
the east-northeast horizon
Click HERE
for additional data on Uranus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Neptune data |
| |
|
Rises: |
9:31pm |
|
Transits: |
2:51am - Jul 31
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
8:11am - Jul 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Aquarius |
|
Phase: |
100.00% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
29.06291006 AU =
4,347,749,461 km = 2,701,566,300 miles = 4.03
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
7.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
2.35 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
159.95° (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 7/30/2010 at
9:54:11pm Neptune will be 3° above
the east horizon
Click
HERE for additional data on
Neptune
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Pluto
(Dwarf Planet aka Asteroid 134340)
data |
| |
|
Rises: |
6:06pm |
|
Transits: |
11:04pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
4:03am - Jul 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Sagittarius |
|
Phase: |
99.99% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
31.03497487 AU =
4,642,766,157 km = 2,884,881,178 miles = 4.31
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
14.2 |
|
Apparent size: |
0.11 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
145.16° (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 7/30/2010 at 9:54:11pm
Pluto will be 28.2° above
the south-southeast 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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