Space Distraction

[Wingnut]

Friend o' mine is more of a tech guy, he has an app called 'Star Walk' on his smart phone, all he does is hold the phone up in any direction and the app shows you the constellations. Pretty cool app, and I'm NOT a tech guy, lol... but I'm thinking ancient mariners would've killed for this one, aye?

 

[Patchouli]

On Stellarium...you can click on the lower right side of the screen and enter a date, and you can pinpoint your location by tapping on the small gray rectangle on the lower left; or pinpoint a planned stargazing location to see what the sky conditions could be like at that time.

 

[SheepDog]

My Linux version has menus for all that and more.
It also mensions that it should not be used to get actual positions for stars and satellites.

 

[Patchouli]

What else do you have to share about astronomy, @SheepDog ? Bring it on.

 

[SheepDog]

well, if it was dark I would be able to see Procyon and Sirius in the southern sky and if you used them as two stars in an equilateral triangle the third star is Betelgeuse. All very visible with a clear sky. But my sky is overcast and it is not even near sundown so it is just worthless information unless you have a space ship.
By sundown Sirius will be below the horizon, Betelgeuse will be close and Procyon would be out of sight.
I really need a space craft!

 

[Bacpacker]

Has anyone been watching the planets Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn lined up low in the morning sky for the past 2-3 weeks? First time I saw it the moon was very close to them. Haven't saw them for a few days now

 

[Patchouli]

Saw that info on sky & telescope, I think it was. Beetlejuice. Betelgeuse.
I don't get up early enough for that.

 

[Bacpacker]

well, if it was dark I would be able to see Procyon and Sirius in the southern sky and if you used them as two stars in an equilateral triangle the third star is Betelgeuse. All very visible with a clear sky. But my sky is overcast and it is not even near sundown so it is just worthless information unless you have a space ship.

Orion has moved to where we don't see it but just briefly in the evening now (includes Betelgeuse). One reason I love winter is that Orion is visable for a long part of the night. It's my favorite constellation.

 

[SheepDog]

It is one of the easier ones to spot in the northern hemisphere. I am more interested in the stars within 50 light years. Sirius is only 8 Ly away Procyon is about 11??

 

[Bacpacker]

Good info SD

 

[SheepDog]

I'm going by memory - it's only as good as that worn gap infested area of my brain...

 

[Patchouli]

Two meteor showers, Perseids and Alpha Capricornids, should be visible at the same time tonight and the next few nights. @Sourdough posted a link elsewhere and I had looked at the same earlier today but didn’t see anything about the meteor showers. I think there’s a third shower but not sure it’s visible in same hemisphere, Delta Aquariids.
https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/

 

[Pearl]

Two meteor showers, Perseids and Alpha Capricornids, should be visible at the same time tonight and the next few nights. @Sourdough posted a link elsewhere and I had looked at the same earlier today but didn’t see anything about the meteor showers. I think there’s a third shower but not sure it’s visible in same hemisphere, Delta Aquariids.
https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/

There have been some really remarkable night skies lately!!

 

[Patchouli]

Some sources are hollering about how damaging this will be. The other sources, the ones who are actually scientists, are reporting another CME happened (not directed toward earth) and some could see the northern lights a bit further south than usual.
https://earthsky.org/sun/sun-activity-solar-flare-cme-aurora-updates/

 

[kd4ulw]

A few pics of the moon tonight. Was able to get some Earthshine showing in the shaded portion.

 

[Pearl]

A few pics of the moon tonight. Was able to get some Earthshine showing in the shaded portion.

View attachment 93447View attachment 93448

Great pics, thanks for sharing!!

 

[kd4ulw]

 

[Peanut]

@kd4ulw I wanna swipe a copy of that! Great pic!

 

[Bacpacker]

Got a shot of Jupiter and the full moon Sunday night. Not sure if the bottom right is a flare off the moon, I'm pretty sure it is

 

[Pearl]

Got a shot of Jupiter and the full moon Sunday night. Not sure if the bottom right is a flare off the moon, I'm pretty sure it is

The night sky has been beautiful lately!

 

[Peanut]

In the fall the air gets dryer, the stars so much clearer. I see a lot more with my naked eye when it's cold and dry. I find myself waiting for some of my favorite stars to show up again. I enjoy these days but dread whats coming. Winter was the best time for my little telescope though.

 

[kd4ulw]

Jupiter from last weekend. Still learning the art of getting a clear image

 

[kd4ulw]

New camera.

 

[Bacpacker]

Great shots KD

 

[kd4ulw]

 

[Bacpacker]

Nice shot of the moon and Orion.

 

[Patchouli]

Hey @kd4ulw and y'all, I got to see Jupiter with the stripes of color and Saturn, I had never seen the rings like that, just like your photos, @kd4ulw
Mars will be in the night sky too, late.
Some good photos at skyandtelescope for what's in the sky this week. No subscription needed.

 

[bkt]

@kd4ulw have you tried taking images of Messier objects? Your pic of Orion above got me thinking. Zoom in on the Orion nebula and stack a bunch of images and see what you get.

 

[kd4ulw]

Hopefully as cooler and clearer skies are quickly approaching I’ll be able to give it a try.

 

[kd4ulw]

Before the clouds moved in tonight.