Click
here for event status
Click
here for a map to the Silver
Springs Campgrounds
at 5281 Young Rd, Stow, OH 44224
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. 
|
If the above link to the map doesn't work
for you, here are directions from Fishcreek School:
1) From Fishcreek School, cross
Fishcreek Rd and proceed east on Call Rd.
2) Follow Call Rd for 1.25 miles.
3) At the stop sign, turn left at
Young Rd and follow north for .4 (4 tenths) mile.
4) Turn left into Silver Springs Park
Campgrounds and follow straight back to the open pavilion.
Aerial view of the campgrounds where we'll be
setting up the telescopes.
Please click for full-size image.
|
Special event night!!!
We'll be setting up telescopes at the Silver Springs Campgrounds on Young Rd
in Stow in conjunction with the
Ohio
Society for the Elevation
of Kites
for the annual Halloween Night Kite Flight at 4:00pm. We had a ball at this event
five years ago and again two years ago. We fully expect
to do the same this year! The Night Kite Flight folks are great
- and always welcome us with enthusiasm exceeded only by the awe expressed by us
astronomy folks at the magnificence of their illuminated kites. What?!
Astronomers awed by illuminated kites? I'm entirely serious about this, you have
to see them to believe it. Come out and share the joy - you won't be
disappointed.Food will
be available. This is a "pot luck" event, if you plan on eating,
please bring a dish to share.
The kites will be set up at the top of the hill at the new open
pavilion. All this depends, of course, on the weather. Kites, telescopes and bad
weather don't mix.
Tonight, we'll have no Moon until it rises after 1:00am Sunday morning. This
will be a great night for observing those faint DSOs (Deep Space Objects). We'll 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 - and now it's rising early
enough to see without having to wait. 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.
Click
here
for additional information on
the planets not listed in the detail below.
Click
here
for a list of constellations
we can see tonight before midnight. |
We hope to see you here for a night under the stars -
now in our sixteenth year!
|
- - - - - - Our location - - - - - - |
|
Longitude: |
W |
81° |
24' |
24.4" |
| Latitude: |
N |
41° |
11' |
38.2" |
| Altitude: |
335m |
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: |
7:51am |
|
Transits: |
1:09pm
-
Time of highest position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
6:26pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Distance: |
0.99292986 AU =
148,540,193 km = 92,298,598 miles = 8.27
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-26.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
32.22 arcminutes
in angular diameter |
|
Twilight
ends... |
|
Civil: |
6:52pm
- Sun is 6° below the horizon |
|
Nautical: |
7:25pm
- Sun is 12° below the
horizon |
|
Astronomical: |
7:57pm
- Sun is 18° below the
horizon |
|
Fall
began: |
at the Autumnal Equinox
which occurred on Wednesday Sep 22, 2010 at 11:10pm |
|
Winter
begins: |
at the Winter Solstice
which will occur on Tuesday Dec 21, 2010 at 6:39pm |
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 10/30/2010 at 7:24:43pm the Sun will be 12°
below the west-southwest
horizon
Current live mage of the Sun in heavily-filtered white
light as provided by the
SOHO
site.
Notice the graphic below the
image that shows the relative size of Jupiter and Earth
compared to the Sun:
Never EVER point your
telescope at the Sun!!! Instantaneous and permanent
eye damage will result!!!
Very
special equipment is required to provide an image like
this...don't try this at home.
Click
here
for additional data on the Sun
(back to 'Quick Links') |
|
.
|
Moon data |
| |
|
Rises: |
0:00am - Oct 30 and at
1:12am on Oct 31 |
|
Transits: |
7:22am
- Oct 30
- Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
2:33pm - Oct 30 |
|
Constellation: |
Cancer |
|
Phase: |
45.00% illuminated
(waning crescent) |
|
Distance: |
0.00250736 AU = 375,096
km = 233,074 miles = 1.25 light-seconds |
|
Magnitude: |
-9.9 |
|
Apparent size: |
31.85 arcminutes in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
84.11° (morning sky) |
|
Age: |
23d 4h 33m since last
New Moon |
|
Prior Phase: |
Last Quarter on Saturday
Oct 30, 2010 at 8:46am |
|
Next Phase: |
New Moon on Saturday Nov
6, 2010 at 12:52am |
|
Next Lunar eclipse: |
Total eclipse (100%) on
Sunday Sept 27, 2015 at 10:10pm EDT |
On 10/30/2010 at
7:24:43pm the Moon will be 35.6° 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:
Note:
All computer-generated graphics are correct-image representations.
A telescope
will reverse this left-right and possibly invert up-down
depending on type of equipment being used.
*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
|
Click
here
for additional data on the Moon
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Mercury data |
| |
|
Rises: |
8:38am |
|
Transits:
|
1:42pm
- Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
6:46pm |
|
Constellation: |
Libra |
|
Phase: |
97.25% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
1.41965706 AU =
212,377,674 km = 131,965,370 miles = 11.82
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-0.7 |
|
Apparent size: |
4.74 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
8.80° (evening sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Evening: |
Wednesday, December 1,
2010 (21° 27' 14") |
|
Morning: |
Sunday, January 9, 2011
(23° 16' 55") |
On 10/30/2010 at 7:24:43pm Mercury will be 7.9°
below
the west-southwest horizon
Click
here
for additional data on Mercury
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Venus data |
| |
|
Rises: |
7:53am |
|
Transits: |
12:51pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
5:49pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
0.59% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
0.27168341 AU =
40,643,260 km = 25,254,551 miles = 2.26
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-4.0
(extremely bright, but lost in
the glare of the rising Sun) |
|
Apparent size: |
1.02 arcminutes in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
6.40° (morning sky) |
|
Next maximum elongations... |
|
Morning: |
Saturday, January 8,
2011 (46° 57' 24") |
|
Evening: |
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
(46° 02' 27") |
On 10/30/2010 at
7:24:43pm Venus will be 18.4° below
the west-southwest horizon
Click here
for additional data on Venus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Mars data |
| |
|
Rises: |
10:00am |
|
Transits: |
2:48pm - Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
7:35pm |
|
Constellation: |
Scorpius |
|
Phase: |
98.03% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
2.32724203 AU =
348,150,453 km = 216,330,665 miles = 19.38
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
1.4 |
|
Apparent size: |
4.02 arcseconds in
angular diameter - less than
1/500th the apparent diameter of the Moon! |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
24.51° (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. |
|
Click
here: |
For a table of
close encounters with Mars from 1969 to 2052 |
On 10/30/2010 at
7:24:43pm Mars will be 0.7° above
the southwest horizon
Question:
Will Mars be "as big as a Full Moon on August
27!" ???
Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
Question:
Will there be "Two Full Moons in the Sky!" ???
Answer: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!
Mars was the closest in recorded history on August 27,
but that was only in 2003, not every year!
At that time, it appeared to be 1/75th
the apparent diameter of the Moon! NOT the "same
size as the Full Moon".
Please
check these respected sites for their stories on the
"Mars hoax" by clicking
on the links below:
Sky & Telescope
Snopes.com
Hoax-slayer
Universe Today
Click here
for additional data on Mars
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Jupiter data |
| |
|
Rises: |
4:37pm |
|
Transits: |
10:29pm
- Time of highest
position in the sky, due South |
|
Sets: |
4:21am - Oct 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Aquarius |
|
Phase: |
99.52% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
4.18502766 AU =
626,071,226 km = 389,022,629 miles = 34.86
light-minutes |
|
Magnitude: |
-2.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
47.11 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
136.63° (evening sky) |
|
Dates of
Opposition
(when Jupiter is closest to the Earth) |
|
Previous: |
Tuesday Sep 21, 2010 at
7:28am |
|
Next: |
Friday Oct 28, 2011 at
9:37pm |
Next transit of the Great Red Spot:
Sunday Oct 31, 2010 at 3:22am
(The Red Spot transits about every 9 hours 56 minutes)
GRS longitude: 147.3°
Lots of Jupiter moon activity (during darkness):
Ganymede transit begins on Saturday Oct 30, 2010
at 8:19pm when Jupiter is 36.1° above the horizon
Europa transit begins on Saturday Oct 30, 2010 at
10:24pm when Jupiter is 45° above the horizon
Ganymede transit ends on Saturday Oct 30, 2010 at
11:20pm when Jupiter is 43.6° above the horizon
Io occultation begins on Saturday Oct 30, 2010 at
11:35pm when Jupiter is 42.6° above the horizon
Ganymede shadow transit begins on Sunday Oct 31,
2010 at 0:08am when Jupiter is 39.7° above the horizon
Europa shadow transit begins on Sunday Oct 31,
2010 at 0:15am when Jupiter is 39° above the horizon
Europa transit ends on Sunday Oct 31, 2010 at
1:08am when Jupiter is 32.3° above the horizon
On 10/30/2010 at
7:24:43pm Jupiter will be 28.4° above
the east-southeast horizon
and will look like this with its four moons
at high power 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.
Click
here for additional data on
Jupiter
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Saturn data |
| |
|
Rises: |
5:38am |
|
Transits: |
11:35am
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
5:31pm |
|
Constellation: |
Virgo |
|
Phase: |
99.95% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
10.44766711 AU =
1,562,948,753 km = 971,171,342 miles = 1.45
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
0.9 |
|
Apparent size: |
15.91 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
26.16° (morning 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 10/30/2010 at 7:24:43pm Saturn will be 22.1°
below the west horizon
Click here
for additional data on Saturn
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Uranus data |
| |
|
Rises: |
4:40pm |
|
Transits: |
10:39pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
4:38am - Oct 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Pisces |
|
Phase: |
99.97% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
19.32300903 AU =
2,890,681,006 km = 1,796,185,926 miles = 2.68
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
5.8 |
|
Apparent size: |
3.65 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
139.75° (evening sky) |
|
Dates of
Opposition
(when Uranus is closest to the Earth) |
|
Previous: |
Tuesday Sep 21, 2010 at
12:51pm |
|
Next: |
Sunday Sep 25, 2011 at
8:07pm |
On 10/30/2010 at
7:24:43pm Uranus will be 28.3° above
the east-southeast horizon
Click here
for additional data on Uranus
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Neptune data |
| |
|
Rises: |
3:24pm |
|
Transits: |
8:42pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
1:59am - Oct 31 |
|
Constellation: |
Capricornus |
|
Phase: |
99.98% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
29.68610041 AU =
4,440,977,410 km = 2,759,495,462 miles = 4.12
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
7.9 |
|
Apparent size: |
2.30 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
108.49° (evening sky) |
|
Dates of
Opposition
(when Neptune is closest to the Earth) |
|
Previous: |
Friday Aug 20, 2010 at
5:59am |
|
Next: |
Monday Aug 22, 2011 at
7:18pm |
On 10/30/2010 at
7:24:43pm Neptune will be 32.6° above
the southeast horizon
Click
here for additional data on
Neptune
(back to 'Quick
Links') |
|
.
|
Pluto
(Dwarf Planet aka Asteroid 134340)
data |
| |
|
Rises: |
12:06pm |
|
Transits: |
5:03pm
- Time of highest position in the sky,
due South |
|
Sets: |
10:00pm |
|
Constellation: |
Sagittarius |
|
Phase: |
99.98% illuminated |
|
Distance: |
32.46618172 AU =
4,856,871,654 km = 3,017,920,168 miles = 4.51
light-hours |
|
Magnitude: |
14.3 |
|
Apparent size: |
0.10 arcseconds in
angular diameter |
|
Elongation from Sun: |
56.04° (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 10/30/2010 at
7:24:43pm Pluto will be 21.7° 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
on 10/30/2010
(Created using
Software Bisque's
TheSky
software)
Mercury past
Superior
conjunction on Oct 17, 2010 and will soon be visible in the evening.
Venus past
Inferior
conjunction yesterday (Oct 29, 2010) and is totally lost in the glare of the
Sun.
Mars is very far away and getting farther and smaller all the time. It will
reach
conjunction on Feb 4, 2011 and be 220,700,000 miles away.
(back to 'Quick
Links')
Outer Solar System
- the Sun, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto on 10/30/2010
(Created using
Software Bisque's
TheSky
software)
Jupiter is visible for the entire night
Saturn is now a morning object
Uranus is visible for the entire night and is heading for
eastern
quadrature on Dec 18, 2010
Neptune is visible for the entire night and will reach
eastern
quadrature on Nov 18, 2010
Pluto's orbit can be seen to be extremely eccentric (non-circular) and tilted to
the plane of the ecliptic.
(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.
Click
here for a map to the Silver
Springs Campgrounds
at 5281 Young Rd, Stow, OH 44224
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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