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. 
Tonight, we're essentially Moon-free for
nearly the entire night. We have a 13% 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. Saturn is still beautiful with its
nearly edge-on rings and several moons visible. Early, we'll have
Mercury and Venus, both with a lunar-first-quarter appearing phase. 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 if you stay late enough. 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!
|
- - - - - - 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: |
6:22am |
|
Transits: |
1:31pm
-
Time of highest position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
8:39pm |
|
Constellation: |
Cancer |
|
Distance: |
1.01421041 AU =
151,723,718 km = 94,276,749 miles = 8.45
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-26.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
31.54 arcminutes in angular diameter |
|
Twilight
ends... |
|
Civil: |
9:07pm
- Sun is 6° below the horizon |
|
Nautical: |
9:44pm
- Sun is 12° below the
horizon |
|
Astronomical: |
10:25pm
- 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 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm 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: |
2:07am |
|
Transits: |
10:05am
(Time of highest
position in the sky, due South) |
|
Sets: |
6:01pm |
|
Constellation: |
Gemini |
|
Phase: |
13.09% illuminated
(waning crescent) |
|
Distance: |
0.00248734 AU = 372,101
km = 231,213 miles = 1.24 light-seconds |
|
Magnitude: |
-7.9 |
|
Apparent size: |
32.10 arcminutes
in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
42.32° (morning sky) |
|
Age: |
26d 6h 0m since last New
Moon |
|
Prior Phase: |
Last Quarter on Tuesday
Aug 3, 2010 at 12:59am |
|
Next Phase: |
New Moon on Monday Aug
9, 2010 at 11:08pm |
|
Next Lunar eclipse: |
Total eclipse (100%) on
Sunday Sept 27, 2015 at 10:10pm EDT |
On 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm
the Moon will be 24.4° below
the north-northwest 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 4:50am
*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: |
8:47am |
|
Transits:
|
3:14pm - Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
9:40pm |
|
Constellation: |
Sextans |
|
Phase: |
48.40% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
0.88578692 AU =
132,511,837 km = 82,339,039 miles = 7.38
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
0.4 |
|
Apparent size: |
7.59 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
27.37° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Saturday, August 7, 2010
(27° 22' 00") |
|
Morning: |
Sunday, September 19,
2010 (17° 52' 13") |
On 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm Mercury will be 1.9°
below
the west horizon
Mercury will be a little
over 5° 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: |
10:17am |
|
Transits: |
4:22pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:27pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
55.28% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
0.7884033 AU =
117,943,455 km = 73,286,666 miles = 6.57
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-4.2
(extremely bright, the
brightest thing in the evening sky except for the
Moon) |
|
Apparent size: |
21.16 arcseconds
in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
45.43° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Friday, August 20,
2010 (45° 57' 59") |
|
Morning: |
Saturday, January
8, 2011 (46° 57' 24") |
On 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm
Venus will be 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: |
10:42am |
|
Transits: |
4:42pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:42pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
93.51% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
2.02779295 AU =
303,353,507 km = 188,495,133 miles = 16.89
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
1.5 |
|
Apparent size: |
4.61 arcseconds
in angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
50.49° (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 8/6/2010 at
9:44:15pm Mars will be 9.8° 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: |
10:31pm |
|
Transits: |
4:36am - Aug 7
- Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
10:40am - Aug 7 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
99.41% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
4.23338376 AU =
633,305,196 km = 393,517,610 miles = 35.26
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-2.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
46.57 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
131.41° (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:
Friday Aug 06, 2010 at 10:25pm
(The Red Spot transits about every 9 hours 56 minutes)
GRS longitude: 145.6º
Jupiter moons activity (during darkness):
Io eclipse begins on
Saturday Aug 07, 2010 at 1:36am when Jupiter is 31.9° above
the horizon
Io occultation ends on Saturday Aug
07, 2010 at 4:52am when Jupiter is 48.5° above the horizon
On 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm
Jupiter will be 10° below
the east-northeast horizon
Click
HERE for additional data on
Jupiter
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Saturn data |
| |
|
Rises: |
10:23am |
|
Transits: |
4:33pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:43pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
99.85% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
10.20351255 AU =
1,526,423,751 km = 948,475,758 miles = 1.42
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
1.1 |
|
Apparent size: |
16.29 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
47.01° (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 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm Saturn will be 10°
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: |
10:21pm |
|
Transits: |
4:24am - Aug 7
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:27am - Aug 7 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
99.97% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
19.37174307 AU =
2,897,971,515 km = 1,800,716,038 miles = 2.69
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
5.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
3.64 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
134.29° (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 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm
Uranus will be 8.2° below
the east-northeast horizon
Click HERE
for additional data on Uranus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Neptune data |
| |
|
Rises: |
9:03pm |
|
Transits: |
2:23am - Aug 7
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
7:42am - Aug 7 |
|
Constellation: |
Aquarius |
|
Phase: |
100.00% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
29.02991561 AU =
4,342,813,562 km = 2,698,499,274 miles = 4.03
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
7.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
2.35 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
166.82° (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 8/6/2010 at
9:44:15pm Neptune will be 6.1° above
the east-southeast horizon
Click
HERE for additional data on
Neptune
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
|
Pluto
(Dwarf Planet aka Asteroid 134340)
data |
| |
|
Rises: |
5:38pm |
|
Transits: |
10:36pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
3:34am - Aug 7 |
|
Constellation: |
Sagittarius |
|
Phase: |
99.99% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
31.11148435 AU =
4,654,211,812 km = 2,891,993,179 miles = 4.32
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
14.2 |
|
Apparent size: |
0.11 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
138.41° (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 8/6/2010 at 9:44:15pm
Pluto will be 29.2° 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 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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