Please send any comments\, suggestions\, or quest
ions to
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072802Z
UID:706DEAAB-8570-4354-8985-AD440729AF82
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090531
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The First Quarter Moon is to the lower right of Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090530
DTSTAMP:20090611T072802Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Saturn is high in the southwest at dusk.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072904Z
UID:E9962053-89BC-41F5-893F-357ACC44F411
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090526
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Look for the very thin Moon.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090525
DTSTAMP:20090611T072904Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The young Moon is easily visible in the WNW an hour after su
nset. This will be May's northern most moonset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073150Z
UID:533C90F6-7D0C-4B8D-8315-FB519A27816C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090511
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter and Saturn are 160° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090510
DTSTAMP:20090611T073150Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both can be seen in the sky around 3 hours before sunrise. L
ook for Jupiter low in the ESE. Find Saturn low in the west.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090813T180049Z
UID:FA6B2974-0E37-4376-90F9-0BD8053D8E44
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090814
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Jupiter are 120° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090813
DTSTAMP:20090813T180049Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars and Jupiter in the dawn sky. Mars is in the ea
st while Jupiter is in the southwest. Tomorrow in the early morning\, wa
tch the Moon pass in front of the Pleiades star cluster.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090822T043116Z
UID:0C1EC66F-AF04-482A-83CD-F698111231C1
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090824
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing crescent Moon can be easily seen in the WSW very clos
e to the horizon.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090823
DTSTAMP:20090822T043116Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The star Spica is to the upper left of the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090627T051324Z
UID:FA074FE5-E1EF-42E8-8D0C-EE90BDEE519B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090630
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is a waxing gibbous in the evening sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090629
DTSTAMP:20090627T051324Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The star Spica is to the upper left of the Moon. A telescope
aimed at the Moon reveals the lunar Alps and the Alpine Valley. The Alp
ine Valley is an 80 mile long gash cut through the mountain range.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072834Z
UID:AA841AC6-13E1-48D4-A9DA-92FADACA9D48
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090529
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter passes 0.4° below the planet Neptune.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090528
DTSTAMP:20090611T072834Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:This is the first conjunction of a triple conjunction betwee
n these two planets. Look at Jupiter with a telescope. Neptune\, at 8th
magnitude\, will look like a faint dot above Jupiter. Look for Jupiter i
n the predawn sky in the southwest.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090828T062051Z
UID:C5ACEC97-3770-4726-BB3A-176948A49DB3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090826
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crescent Moon is low in the southwest at dusk.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090825
DTSTAMP:20090828T062051Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look at the Moon with a telescope to see the three large cra
ters\; Theophilus\, Cyrillus and Catharina. The three overlapping crater
s are close to the terminator tonight. Each crater is about 60 miles in
diameter. Theophilus is about 2Ω miles deep.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090805T160007Z
UID:35AED65F-44ED-4D5E-9F0E-0FE3AEBF1181
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090806
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A penumbral eclipse of the Moon happens today. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090805
DTSTAMP:20090805T160007Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The penumbra is the lighter outer part of the Earth's shadow
. When the Full Moon enters this shadow\, a slight darkening of the Moon
occurs. This slight darkening is not usually noticeable to the human ey
e. This penumbral eclipse will happen at moonrise for people east of the
Rocky mountains. West of the Rockies\, the Moon will rise after the ecl
ipse is over.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073846Z
UID:7D497F8C-A15D-4782-90FD-B8C9F76EC2B6
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090323
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is to the upper right of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090322
DTSTAMP:20090611T073846Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Jupiter in the morning sky. Jupiter is
low in the ESE sky at dawn. The planet Venus is now a 2% crescent.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073435Z
UID:2C557D42-41AB-4B41-8ED7-76686AD0CC66
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090418
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 15° to the lower right of the Pleiades star cluster a
nd closing.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090417
DTSTAMP:20090611T073435Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look one hour after sunset in the WNW for Mercury. Mercury w
ill pass the star cluster on the last day of April. Saturn is 120° from
Mercury. Look high in the southeast at dusk for Saturn. The ringed plane
t is 16° to the lower left of the star Regulus in Leo the Lion. The ring
s of Saturn are tilted only about 4° from edgewise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073308Z
UID:34A521B1-256E-4A32-B25F-CCAF2C7F09FD
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090501
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury and Saturn are 105° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090430
DTSTAMP:20090611T073308Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is low in the WNW. Saturn is high in the south. Both
can be seen in the evening sky. Mercury will only be visible for about
another week as its brightness fades. Mercury passes between us and the
Sun\, inferior conjunction\, on the 18th of May. Saturn will stay easily
visible in the evening sky until August.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073241Z
UID:14FA28D1-A777-4D28-AD9E-4A923670E663
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090505
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars\, Venus and Jupiter span 45° across the morning sky. (Use S
how Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090504
DTSTAMP:20090611T073241Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the east at dawn for Venus. Mars is 5Ω° to the lower
left of Venus. Jupiter is 39Ω° to the upper right of Venus. Uranus and
Neptune are between Venus and Jupiter but require a darker sky and teles
cope to be seen.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090807T042809Z
UID:D92918D1-23FE-46EE-AE51-3C65D9104FCC
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090809
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is 20° to the lower left of Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090808
DTSTAMP:20090807T042809Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars in the east at dawn. Mars is shining at 1st ma
gnitude. Venus is much brighter at -4 magnitude. Venus is in the constel
lation of Gemini the Twins. Mars is in Taurus the Bull.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073802Z
UID:4AD7587C-8A1D-4E16-9DF4-07CC15489792
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090328
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is at inferior conjunction.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090327
DTSTAMP:20090611T073802Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:A planet is at inferior conjunction when it's between the Ea
rth and the Sun. Usually planets can't be seen when near inferior conjun
ction\, but this time as Venus passes between us and the Sun\, it's orbi
t is tilted in such a way as to cause Venus to pass 8° above the Sun. Th
is causes Venus to rise before sunrise and set after sunset as seen from
the northern hemisphere. Observer in the southern hemisphere would have
Venus rise after the Sun and Set before it. Today\, look for Venus to r
ise 37 minutes before sunrise and set 10 minutes after sunset. A young t
hin crescent Moon is visible in the WNW evening twilight.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090818T031123Z
UID:262973E9-42B7-4808-8D33-6D23951DBD3A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090819
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:An old crescent Moon is below Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090818
DTSTAMP:20090818T031123Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the thin crescent 1Ω hours before sunrise in the EN
E. Mars is 25° to the upper right of Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090805T081834Z
UID:0D834E2A-712E-4E94-BAF3-47777988F808
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090805
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 16° to the lower right of Saturn. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090804
DTSTAMP:20090805T081834Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the two planets about 45 minutes after sunset. Satu
rn and Mercury are in the west. Binoculars may be needed to spot Mercury
in the evening twilight. Mercury and Saturn are moving towards each ot
her and will be just 3° apart on August 16th.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090730T061107Z
UID:B94ADF67-36FC-4515-8AE9-4920F1531960
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090801
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 3.2° to the lower right of the star Regulus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090731
DTSTAMP:20090730T061107Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Try looking for Mercury 30 minutes after sunset. Mercury wil
l be very low in the WNW. Saturn is 23° to the upper left of Mercury. Bi
noculars will help you find Mercury in the glow of the early evening twi
light.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073626Z
UID:84B8AD00-9B40-451D-A486-E04E68D9FDD2
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090405
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and a much fainter Mars rise together one hour before sunr
ise. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090404
DTSTAMP:20090611T073626Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus in the east. Mars is 19° to the right of Venu
s. Mars is shining at 1.2 magnitude while Venus is much brighter at -4.1
magnitude.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073038Z
UID:7F7F7CA7-C520-41F4-87F6-E80DBFD4DAD0
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090516
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Neptune is less than 1° from Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090515
DTSTAMP:20090611T073038Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The last planet will stay within one degree from Jupiter unt
il the 21st of July. Jupiter and Neptune will be at their closest on May
28th (0.4°). Look for Neptune with a telescope to the left of Jupiter.
Jupiter is easily visible in the predawn sky in the southeast.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090724T043213Z
UID:6DC8B83B-8CA4-4A09-89CC-E29513DA8547
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090726
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing crescent Moon is to the left of Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090725
DTSTAMP:20090724T043213Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the bright crescent and Saturn in the WSW and west
an hour after sunset. With binoculars\, the Sea of Crises and the Sea of
Fertility are easily visible. The Sea of Tranquility\, landing site of
Apollo 11 forty years ago\, is still in lunar darkness. It will come int
o view over the next two days as the sun rises on Tranquility Base.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090701T030438Z
UID:620933CC-B2E7-440B-BA0B-8CD89FAEF170
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.imo.net/calendar/2009%23cap
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090816
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:α-Capricornids (CAP) Asteroids
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090703
DTSTAMP:20090701T031008Z
SEQUENCE:10
DESCRIPTION:Maximum on July 30
BEGIN:VALARM
X-WR-ALARMUID:6E52BD1F-80D5-4646-8C29-A0AD51292E6A
TRIGGER:-PT15M
ATTACH;VALUE=URI:Basso
ACTION:AUDIO
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090818T031142Z
UID:0EBB806A-A3FD-4FF2-B4D4-8C8BB037A66C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090816
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 3.3° below Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090815
DTSTAMP:20090818T031142Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both are very low in the west 45 minutes after sunset. Binoc
ulars will help in spotting this pair of planets. Jupiter is easily visi
ble in the southeast at dusk. Jupiter is at its maximum brightness\, -2.
9 magnitude. The giant planet is visible all night long.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090807T042805Z
UID:23FF2A7C-4034-4435-9A41-F39849701339
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090810
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Jupiter are 137° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090809
DTSTAMP:20090807T042805Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both can be seen at dawn. Venus is in the ENE. Jupiter is in
the southwest.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090821T031846Z
UID:E575F98C-2A65-4118-A009-A8506C9C75DD
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090822
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A very thin young crescent Moon may be visible very low in the w
est.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090821
DTSTAMP:20090821T031846Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon is below Saturn and Mercury. Tomorrow the young Moo
n will be easier to see for most observers. Observers in the southern U.
S. will have a better chance of seeing this very low Moon. Sighting of t
his crescent marks the start of Ramadan.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090712T055240Z
UID:D29728B2-BFBC-477A-88A0-FFD13FE83433
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090711
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter passes 0.6° south of Neptune.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090710
DTSTAMP:20090712T055240Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:This is the second pass of a triple conjunction between Jupi
ter and Neptune. Both can be seen at the same time through the view of a
telescope. Neptune is very dim\, only 8th magnitude. With the Moon near
by tonight\, it may be difficult to see Neptune. A 5th magnitude star\,
Mu-Capricorni is between the two planets.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073004Z
UID:A9D1DC2F-EE84-4134-98F5-CAAC915FDADE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090520
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon can be found between Jupiter and Venus
in the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090519
DTSTAMP:20090611T073004Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Aim a telescope at the Moon to see Sinus Iridum\, also known
as the Bay of Rainbows. Sinus Iridum is a 200 mile diameter crater on t
he edge of the Sea of Rains.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090725T002825Z
UID:8ED9A923-B892-4BE6-B594-33BF9725DC1A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090729
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower\, which occurs over the
period from July 14 to August 18\, peaks overnight.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090728
DTSTAMP:20090725T002825Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The meteors appear to radiate from a point above the star Fo
malhaut. Look towards the south after midnight for shooting stars from t
his shower. The southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower is a fairly weak sh
ower. It's zenith hourly rate is only around 20 meteors per hour. The ra
te of the more famous Perseids in August is around 90 per hour.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090619T060431Z
UID:24A11DC3-90DD-49EE-90EB-A4A7BAB902F1
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090619
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is to the upper right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090618
DTSTAMP:20090619T060431Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look in the morning sky. Venus is found in the east an hour
before sunrise. Mars is 2° to the upper right of Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090118T071901Z
UID:4119B6EA-070C-4031-89CD-FB1F2ABF5A00
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20081109
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing gibbous Moon is high in the southeast.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20081108
DTSTAMP:20090118T071901Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look tonight with binoculars or a small telescope for the Ba
y of Rainbows and the Jura mountains. The Bay of Rainbows is a smooth ci
rcular plain surrounded by the 18\,000 foot tall Jura mountains. The Bay
of Rainbows is on the northeast edge of the Sea of Rains. Of course\, t
here is no water on the Moon. The oceans\, seas and bays were named long
ago\, before astronomers knew very much about the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072648Z
UID:8D1B2407-2717-4524-BE4A-B25143F9D282
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090608
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is Full at 2:12 p.m. EDT.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090607
DTSTAMP:20090611T072648Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Tonight\, look for the southern most Moon to rise about a ha
lf hour after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073016Z
UID:0601CF8A-A1F0-4BE9-9D15-135B3040B580
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090518
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter can be found to the lower right of the last quarter Moon
.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090517
DTSTAMP:20090611T073016Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look at dawn in the southeast for Jupiter and the Moon. In t
he evening sky\, Saturn can be found 15° to the east of the star Regulus
. Saturn is ending its retrograde motion. Saturn is high in the SSW at d
usk.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090813T180046Z
UID:BDA9039D-1740-4E81-9F08-84FA227807B0
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090815
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is at opposition.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090814
DTSTAMP:20090813T180046Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The giant planet will be visible all night long. Jupiter tra
nsitions from being a morning object to an evening object. Look for Jupi
ter in the southeast at dusk and southwest at dawn. The waning crescent
Moon occults the stars of the Pleiades in the morning hours. Check the w
eb site http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/pleiades/pleiades.htm for
exact times in your area for the disappearance and reappearance of the
stars of the Pleiades.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073705Z
UID:B9FDD2AB-5390-4BB0-957A-585374048318
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090402
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Jovian-Plutonian gravitational effect happens today. (Use S
how Info in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the
Inspector for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090401
DTSTAMP:20090611T073705Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Due to the annual alignment of Jupiter\, Pluto and the Earth
\, gravity will be slightly reduced today. This effect was first discove
red by Sir Patrick Moore in 1976. Try jumping up and down today and you
may notice a small floating sensation. Jupiter\, shining at -2nd magnitu
de\, can easily be seen low in the southeast sky at dawn. Pluto\, shinin
g at 14th magnitude\, is 46° to the upper right of Jupiter and can only
be seen with a rather good telescope.\n\nThese entries are from the new
Abrams Planetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on o
ur web site that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in t
he sky. Check back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever
changing sky. As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to this pa
ge as soon as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the
RSS link below. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggre
gator or feed reader.\n\nIf you would like more detailed information inc
luding star charts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per yea
r\, you'll get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar h
elp support the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090724T043226Z
UID:CE2BC4FD-0707-461D-B1DA-43777481B7FB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090722
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is New at 10:35 p.m. EDT.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090721
DTSTAMP:20090724T043226Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:For parts of the world\, there will be a total solar eclipse
. In North America\, there's nothing to see\, But people in India\, Chin
a and the South Pacific will see one of the longest eclipses of the cent
ury.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073717Z
UID:1B4D31D3-3F02-4ED2-92A5-C8EB71F9F320
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090401
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:This week you can see four planets in the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090331
DTSTAMP:20090611T073717Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Try and see all four planets at the same time. Forty minutes
before sunrise\, look for Venus very low in the east\, Mars very low in
the ESE\, Jupiter low in the southeast and Saturn very low in the west.
You'll be able to see Venus rising and Saturn setting 4 minutes earlier
each day this week.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073516Z
UID:C645BB46-4B8D-4742-9A9F-BB6DC16762F6
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090414
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is near the star Antares in Scorpius.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090413
DTSTAMP:20090611T073516Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Observers in Hawaii may see the Moon occult the star in the
predawn sky. The Moon will rise in the southeast after midnight Sunday a
nd move closer to the star over the course of the early morning hours of
Monday.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072942Z
UID:A417C05F-6CD4-4A05-853B-A5B893A701DB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090522
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A thin waning crescent Moon is to the upper left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090521
DTSTAMP:20090611T072942Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is below the Moon and 6.5° to the lower left of Venus.
All three celestial objects make an attractive triangle in the morning s
ky. Look an hour before sunrise in the east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072915Z
UID:A899C864-638B-4DE3-8BD8-57C957F0E676
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090524
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A very thin old waning crescent Moon is very low in the ENE at d
awn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090523
DTSTAMP:20090611T072915Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Binoculars will help in spotting this old Moon. Try looking
45 minutes before sunrise. If you see this Moon\, try finding the Moon a
gain on Sunday evening. That young Moon will be more of a challenge to f
ind.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072730Z
UID:D96F6AF6-6648-4371-A83E-7E8C778050FB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090603
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is 5° to the lower left of Venus and closing. (Use Show Inf
o)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090602
DTSTAMP:20090611T072730Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The two planets will stay within 5° until July 4th. On June
21st\, Venus and Mars will be just 2° apart. Look for the pair of planet
s in the east at dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090630T232937Z
UID:F946B02B-6470-47C3-A5D1-BBD359C181F3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.imo.net/calendar/2009%23jbo
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090703
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:June Boötids (JBO)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090622
DTSTAMP:20090630T233121Z
SEQUENCE:8
DESCRIPTION:Maximum on June 27th 08h30m UT
BEGIN:VALARM
X-WR-ALARMUID:2C6A0C10-D4A1-4EA1-9531-DABB5A25DAC3
TRIGGER:-PT15M
ATTACH;VALUE=URI:Basso
ACTION:AUDIO
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090730T061103Z
UID:F7ED4811-A27F-44F9-B0CB-A72FDD333DD0
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090802
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn and Jupiter are both 6° above the horizon at dusk. (Use
Show Info in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in th
e Inspector for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090801
DTSTAMP:20090730T061104Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the two planets about an hour after sunset. Jupiter
will be in the ESE while Saturn is in the west. The two gas giant plane
ts are 175° from each other.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams Pl
anetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web si
te that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky. C
heck back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever changing
sky. As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to this page as soo
n as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS link
below. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggregator or
feed reader.\n\nIf you would like more detailed information including st
ar charts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'l
l get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help suppo
rt the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090627T051320Z
UID:0605D376-FEA8-4460-A81F-ACF7CA069FB7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090701
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Try looking for both Jupiter and Saturn at the same time.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090630
DTSTAMP:20090627T051320Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look around 3 hours after sunset. Saturn and Jupiter are 160
° apart. When Saturn is 5° away from setting in the west. Jupiter is 5°
up and rising in the ESE.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090627T051310Z
UID:1F4CE517-4D66-4C7B-8301-17481F2EEECA
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090704
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Earth is at aphelion. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090703
DTSTAMP:20090627T051310Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Aphelion is the point in the Earth's orbit that is farthest
from the Sun. Earth is now 1.017 AU from the Sun or 94\,500\,000 miles.
That's about 1.6 million miles farther from the Sun than average.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072818Z
UID:36E80775-1D39-4E91-A595-E038A0D2EC26
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090530
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing crescent moon is near the star Regulus in Leo the Lio
n.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090529
DTSTAMP:20090611T072818Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look on the Moon with a telescope for the remarkable trio of
craters\, Theophilus\, Cyrillus and Catharina near the terminator tonig
ht. All three craters are about 60 miles in diameter.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090805T160000Z
UID:A19CC343-8909-49C4-B95F-943BA06CD06B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090807
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus rises at its farthest north of east.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090806
DTSTAMP:20090805T160000Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus to rise about three hours before sunrise. Ven
us will rise in the ENE. Mars is 19° to the upper right of Venus. Overni
ght\, look for the Moon near Jupiter.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073903Z
UID:4FDD331F-FFB3-4B47-AC9E-559D56CEB53F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090322
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus rises 15 minutes before the Sun in the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090321
DTSTAMP:20090611T073903Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus sets an hour after the Sun in the evening sky. Try and
see Venus in both the morning and evening. In the morning\, Venus will
be very low in the ENE. Binoculars will help you find the planet in the
bright morning sky. You'll also need a clear view to the horizon. Be car
eful when looking for Venus with binoculars when the Sun is in the sky.
Never look at the Sun with binoculars. It may be the last thing you'll e
ver see.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072751Z
UID:E254962F-F7EB-4CBC-9B84-0792C94426ED
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090601
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:About 4 hours before sunrise.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090531
DTSTAMP:20090611T072751Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both Jupiter and Saturn can be seen at the same time. Both a
re less than 5° from the horizon. Saturn is in the west while Jupiter is
in the ESE. The two giant planets are 162° apart.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073215Z
UID:2B2FE261-DE91-48CB-81E8-BF4AA09B5E67
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090509
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon rises around sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090508
DTSTAMP:20090611T073215Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon is full at 12:01 a.m. EDT on the 9th. Look for the
Moon to rise in the ESE as the Sun sets in the WNW. When the full Moon i
s close to the horizon\, it often look bigger than it does when it's hig
h over head. Measure the angular size of the Moon by holding your thumb
over the Moon when it is low and then again when it is high. Its angular
size does not change.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090822T043108Z
UID:6E6F9E8B-D10B-49BC-80DC-BF439740FD59
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090825
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is at greatest elongation.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090824
DTSTAMP:20090822T043108Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is now 27° east of the Sun. Look for Mercury low in
the west 30 minutes after sunset. fainter Saturn is 8° to the right of M
ercury. Jupiter is on the other side of the sky and much easier to spot.
Look for Jupiter in the southeast at dusk.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073726Z
UID:020BF70D-1AE9-4121-B9DB-2CE6310B1387
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090331
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus rises 46 minutes before the Sun.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090330
DTSTAMP:20090611T073726Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is 9° from the Sun and can be seen above the rising Su
n. Look with binoculars. As always\, be careful when using binoculars or
a telescope when the Sun is in the sky. Never look at the Sun through a
pair of binoculars or a telescope. Mars is 25° to the right of Venus an
d Jupiter is 23° to the upper right of Mars. Look for all three planets
30 minutes before sunrise in the east to southeast sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090807T042800Z
UID:FEAEA148-B173-487B-BA48-9D3DCEDFDEF1
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090811
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus forms an isosceles triangle with the twin stars\, Castor a
nd Pollux.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090810
DTSTAMP:20090807T042801Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is 15° from both stars. Look to the ENE 1Ω hours befor
e sunrise. Venus is to the right of Castor and Pollux.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090818T031133Z
UID:FCCE0A83-8034-4172-8A13-C86B3BA9AA6E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090817
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is to the upper right of the waning crescent Moon.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090816
DTSTAMP:20090818T031133Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is 24° below and to the left of Mars. Venus is shining
very bright at -4 magnitude. Look for Mars\, the Moon and Venus in the
morning sky. Look to the east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073030Z
UID:77B4241C-1A99-4B5F-BAE3-823271585D86
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090517
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Venus are 6.6° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090516
DTSTAMP:20090611T073030Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is to the lower left of Venus. This is the maximum dist
ance apart that the pair will be between the 2nd and 3rd conjunctions of
their triple conjunction. Look for the two planets in the east at dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072713Z
UID:78DE7D5A-6D5D-4078-BE34-E05452B6CD5E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090605
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:This weekend\, Jupiter and Saturn reach their maximum distance a
part\, 162°. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090604
DTSTAMP:20090611T072713Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Try and see both at the same time. Look about 4 hours and 20
minutes before sunrise. Look for Saturn is in the west and Jupiter is i
n the ESE. Both will only be about 5° from the horizon. These two planet
s pass each other every 20 years. The last time they were next to each o
ther was in the year 2000. The next time will be 2020. Next year they wi
ll be as far from each other as they can get.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090818T031531Z
UID:ED65ABAF-7422-41D0-9CEB-AD1B3BF3BE70
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090802
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn and Jupiter are both 6° above the horizon at dusk. (Use
Show Info in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in th
e Inspector for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090801
DTSTAMP:20090818T031531Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the two planets about an hour after sunset. Jupiter
will be in the ESE while Saturn is in the west. The two gas giant plane
ts are 175° from each other.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams Pl
anetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web si
te that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky. C
heck back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever changing
sky. As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to this page as soo
n as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS link
below. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggregator or
feed reader.\nIf you would like more detailed information including star
charts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'll
get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help support
the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090828T062044Z
UID:37F15745-E9F0-4DB8-92D4-17459ED3E871
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090828
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Mars are 30° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090827
DTSTAMP:20090828T062044Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both can be seen in the morning sky. Mars is 30° to the uppe
r right of the bright planet Venus. Look to the east an hour before sunr
ise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090627T051313Z
UID:5E0399C7-8AE7-4544-80B7-8FFA610A1B4F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090703
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Jupiter are 90° apart in the morning sky. (Use Show In
fo)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090702
DTSTAMP:20090627T051313Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is in the east while Jupiter is in the south. Venus is
the brighter of the two planets.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073537Z
UID:611EA9C2-A6F8-42CE-8737-95075641DE52
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090410
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Full Moon rises in the ESE very close to the star Spica in t
he constellation of Virgo the Maiden.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090409
DTSTAMP:20090611T073537Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:With binoculars\, look on the Moon for the lunar rays. Rays
are spoke-like lines emanating from some of the Moon's craters. Rays are
best seen when the Moon is near full. The crater Tycho has a very impre
ssive set of rays. The rays are caused by debris blasted out of the crat
er at the time of impact.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073313Z
UID:7C24BBBE-B4C1-4FDC-907C-07A54303ACB5
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090430
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 1°-2° below the Pleiades star cluster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090429
DTSTAMP:20090611T073313Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look with binoculars for the star of the Pleiades. Mercury a
nd the cluster are best seen about an hour after sunset in the WNW\, low
\, close to the horizon. Mercury will fade rapidly in the coming days.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073617Z
UID:76646F9F-7E41-4399-9292-43539E2E4272
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090406
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Saturn are at opposition to each other\, 180° apart in
celestial longitude. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090405
DTSTAMP:20090611T073617Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Try and see both at the same time. Saturn will be setting in
the west while Mars is rising in the east. Mars is 18° to the right of
Venus. Jupiter is 27° to the upper right of Mars.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072625Z
UID:A456A4D5-0E6E-4019-BBE3-8E6E796A3DF2
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090610
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon rises about two hours after sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090609
DTSTAMP:20090611T072625Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Just two days after the Full Moon\, the Moon still looks alm
ost full. When the Moon is near the horizon\, watch for the Moon illusio
n\, an optical illusion that makes the Moon appear larger near when it i
s near the horizon than it does when it's higher in the sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072927Z
UID:AFAD074F-9CAE-462A-820F-71D2E50E86E4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090523
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Both Jupiter and Saturn can be spotted 5° up from the horizon ab
out 3Ω hours before sunrise.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090522
DTSTAMP:20090611T072927Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The two giant planets are 161° apart. Look for Jupiter in th
e ESE and Saturn in the west. Jupiter and Saturn pass each other once ev
ery 20 years. The next conjunction between the two is in 2020. Next year
\, Jupiter and Saturn will be on opposite sides of the sky\, 180° apart.
A thin old crescent Moon is to the left of Mars and Venus. Look low in
the ENE at dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090731T165443Z
UID:F8E0F312-8CEE-486B-88BA-CCF3E37881B3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090803
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury passes 0.6° above the star Regulus. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090802
DTSTAMP:20090731T165443Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both can be seen very low on the WNW horizon. Use binoculars
to see the star and planet in the early evening twilight. Look about 30
minutes after sunset. Saturn is almost 20° to the upper left of Mercury
.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073210Z
UID:F3B475F5-50B0-45BA-9467-750F0FD91C31
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090510
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon will rise about one hour after sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090509
DTSTAMP:20090611T073210Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon to rise in the southeast. During the night
\, the Moon will move across the southern sky\, staying west of the star
Antares in the Scorpion.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072613Z
UID:47527023-07A5-4C02-9523-F794B816BCC7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090611
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury\, Mars\, Venus and Jupiter span 90° across the morning s
ky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090610
DTSTAMP:20090611T072613Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is the brightest "star" in the morning sky. Look for V
enus in the east about an hour before sunrise. Jupiter is 67° to the upp
er right of Venus in the SSE. Mars is 4° to the left of Venus. Mercury i
s still a challenge to see 23° to the lower left of Venus in the ENE.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090523T034131Z
UID:E8FD3118-4517-4BD4-A13A-42F6EEB51D46
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090525
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A very young Moon is possible to see for observers west of the M
ississippi.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090524
DTSTAMP:20090523T034131Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Near the center of the US\, the hairline thin Moon will be a
bove the horizon after sunset when the Moon is only 13 to 14 hours old.
Use binoculars and look very low about 30° north of west. Look 20 to 30
minutes after sunset. The Moon will be a very thin crescent. This is clo
se to the youngest the Moon can be seen. It will be a challenge to find.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090821T031849Z
UID:56328857-1B64-4B50-A310-ACE44E93E388
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090821
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 5° to the lower left of Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090820
DTSTAMP:20090821T031849Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both planets are very low in the west. Look in the early eve
ning twilight with binoculars 30 minutes after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090624T190450Z
UID:7B2ECBFB-AECA-45E8-88A4-ED65E80326CE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090627
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The star Regulus is to the right of the crescent Moon.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090626
DTSTAMP:20090624T190450Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Saturn is to the upper left of the Moon. On the Moon\, the S
ea of Tranquility is partly in view along the terminator. The Sea of Fer
tility and the Sea of Crises are fully in view. Use binoculars to find t
he lunar seas. The Moon is in the western sky at dusk.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090624T190509Z
UID:30AA73E3-3E28-4A60-B960-8AEFE1ACE1E7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090623
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 24° to the lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090622
DTSTAMP:20090624T190509Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is 2° to the upper left of Venus. Venus and Mars are in
the eastern sky at dawn. Overnight\, Pluto is in opposition. Pluto is i
n Sagittarius. The once 9th planet is very dim\, only 14th magnitude. A
large telescope is required to see this dwarf planet.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090627T051306Z
UID:C6D5F155-2B4A-4DC4-A383-AAFC23C11160
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090705
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn and the Moon are easily visible in the evening sky. (Use
Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090704
DTSTAMP:20090627T051306Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Saturn can be found in the west at dusk\, about 20° from the
horizon. The Moon is still a waxing gibbous but appears almost full. Th
e Moon is low in the SSE at dusk. If you are watching fireworks tonight\
, sit NNW of the fireworks launch site to see the Moon as a backdrop for
the fireworks show.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073422Z
UID:1BE7356E-78AD-46D1-AAF4-227D3B0FAD0B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090420
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crescent Moon is near Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090419
DTSTAMP:20090611T073422Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Jupiter and the Moon in the southeast early morning
sky. Jupiter is rising about two and a half hours before the Sun rises.
Jupiter will be to the lower left of the waning Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090822T043121Z
UID:4C87C7EC-5467-4389-AA1A-D8E9BC2BA05D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090823
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crescent Moon is easier to see than last evening\, but it's
still low in the evening twilight.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090822
DTSTAMP:20090822T043121Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the waxing crescent in the west\, 30 minutes after
sunset. Mercury is about 9° to the right of the Moon. Saturn is 7° to th
e right of Mercury.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090813T180052Z
UID:E7805BB5-DDC9-4402-8805-D122C9BDE243
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090813
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Watch for the Perseid meteor shower.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090812
DTSTAMP:20090813T180052Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:There is a possible outburst of meteors predicted around 4:0
0 to 5:00 am EDT. At that hour\, the waning gibbous Moon may interfere w
ith the fainter meteors. Start watching for shooting stars before midnig
ht on the 11th and keep watching all night long.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090624T190503Z
UID:EF0FAEFE-5DC9-4FBA-8BE9-E63DBD2F7B79
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090624
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A young waxing crescent Moon is very low in the WNW.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090623
DTSTAMP:20090624T190503Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the very thin Moon a half hour after sunset. The Mo
on is to the lower left of the stars Castor and Pollux. The Moon is at p
erigee\, the closest-to-Earth point in its orbit. This is the 3rd closes
t perigee this year.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090828T062048Z
UID:16841B7E-0759-4785-8502-60D0B1737739
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090827
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn and Mercury are 10° apart but both set in the bright even
ing twilight.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090826
DTSTAMP:20090828T062048Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Saturn is at 1.1 magnitude. Mercury is a little brighter at
0.2 magnitude. Try looking for the two planets with binoculars about 30
minutes after sunset. Both planets will be very low in the west.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072951Z
UID:D12F4407-FFC7-4543-8BFB-DFF3D51893D7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090521
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is to the upper right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090520
DTSTAMP:20090611T072951Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is 6.5° to the lower left of Venus. All three celestial
objects can be seen in the morning sky in the east. Look an hour before
sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073304Z
UID:617A2461-FB12-4BF5-A0EA-0F9E8B698FC0
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090502
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is 5° to the lower left of Venus. (Use Show Info in the Vi
ew menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the Inspector for mor
e details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090501
DTSTAMP:20090611T073304Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus and Mars can be found low in the east at dawn. The cre
scent Venus is now 1/4 illuminated. Venus is now quite bright. It's shi
ning at -4.7 magnitude. Mars is much dimmer at +1.2 magnitude. Jupiter i
s higher in the southeast\, almost 40° to the upper right of Venus.\n\nT
hese entries are from the new Abrams Planetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe N
ight Sky Notes is a place on our web site that we use to keep skywatcher
s up to date on what's up in the sky. Check back often to find out what'
s new and visible in our ever changing sky. As we learn about something
new\, we'll post it to this page as soon as we can. If you like to subsc
ribe to news feeds\, click the RSS link below. The posts will automatica
lly show up in your news aggregator or feed reader.\n\nIf you would like
more detailed information including star charts\, check out our Sky Cal
endar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'll get 12 issues mailed to you. Pr
oceeds from the Sky Calendar help support the Abrams Planetarium and Nig
ht Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090821T031851Z
UID:11381DD5-CB4C-45DC-BC2F-9E19632BB2BE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090820
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Jupiter are 150° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090819
DTSTAMP:20090821T031851Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:At dawn\, Venus is in the ENE and Jupiter is low in the WSW.
Jupiter is also visible in the evening sky. At dusk\, look for Jupiter
in the southeast.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073344Z
UID:1A99678F-8CBD-4E09-A773-F6584BAAC1AB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090426
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is at greatest elongation.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090425
DTSTAMP:20090611T073344Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The messenger planet is now 20° east of the Sun. It will now
appear to move closer to the Sun in the coming days. Mercury passes bet
ween Earth and the Sun on the 18th of May. Look for Mercury in the eveni
ng sky in the WNW an hour after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073553Z
UID:AC375BB2-6F9A-43BF-BD77-05B97A93BD6E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090408
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is 15° to the right of Venus and 28° to the lower left of J
upiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090407
DTSTAMP:20090611T073553Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the three planets in the morning twilight low along
the east to ESE horizon. Faint Mars will be easier to see with binocula
rs.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090619T060447Z
UID:2AABA453-F41D-43D0-8BF9-13C0EDB3ED89
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090616
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter begins moving retrograde.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090615
DTSTAMP:20090619T060447Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Usually planets move west to east against the background sta
rs. For a while\, when the Earth is passing an outer planet in its race
around the Sun\, the outer planet moves backwards or east to west agains
t the background stars. Jupiter will be moving retrograde until October.
Look for Jupiter in the SSE sky at dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073222Z
UID:A4960B8B-D9F1-4686-B15E-1A9E737732EA
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090508
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is 6° to the lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090507
DTSTAMP:20090611T073222Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and Mars\, low in the east at dawn. Jupiter i
s 41° to the upper right of Venus. Of these three morning planets\, Venu
s is the brightest. Mars is the faintest. Uranus and Neptune are also in
the morning sky between Venus and Jupiter but are too faint to be seen
without the aid of a telescope.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090828T062041Z
UID:DF48A9A2-B415-4060-B017-9CE0E10B9093
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090829
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is easy to see in the evening.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090828
DTSTAMP:20090828T062041Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the southwest at dusk. Jupiter is shining brightly.
Jupiter's four largest moons are easy to see in a telescope. They were f
irst seen by Galileo almost 400 years ago.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073524Z
UID:7A5886C1-532E-4A29-B03E-4B5D73559331
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090412
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 25° to the lower right of the Pleiades star cluster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090411
DTSTAMP:20090611T073524Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mercury low in the WNW sky about 45 minutes after s
unset. Mercury will be easier to see in the coming days as the swift mov
ing planet gets closer to the Pleiades near the end of April.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090624T190458Z
UID:6EA8876D-BDA5-4DDF-A196-835BDBF3704B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090625
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The thin crescent Moon is visible low in the WNW sky at dusk.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090624
DTSTAMP:20090624T190458Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:At dawn look for Venus and Mars. The two planets are still 2
° apart. Mercury is 25° to the lower left of Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090724T043223Z
UID:D3561550-AA8F-47EE-9221-C4A6DA118D46
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090723
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is visible at dusk low in the west.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090722
DTSTAMP:20090724T043223Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The ringed planet is setting a little more than two hours af
ter the Sun. Jupiter rises in the ESE about an hour after sunset and wil
l be up all night long. Saturn and Jupiter are 156° apart. Try spotting
both giant planets at the same time.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073819Z
UID:8841DEA2-2A7E-4321-B7AE-1E633C90475B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090326
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is 9° due north of the Sun.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090325
DTSTAMP:20090611T073819Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:It rises 29 minutes before the Sun in the morning and sets 2
6 minutes after the Sun in the evening. Carefully use binoculars to try
and see Venus while it's close to the Sun. The planet is now a 1% cresce
nt. Look for Venus in the morning in the ENE and in the evening in the W
NW.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090712T055222Z
UID:73C946A6-3657-42DB-B3D3-61BBD8F5C5E7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090715
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus passes 3° north of the star Aldebaran in Taurus the Bull.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090714
DTSTAMP:20090712T055222Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus and Aldebaran are visible in the morning sky\, an hour
and a half before sunrise. Aldebaran will be to the lower right of brig
ht Venus. Mars is 8Ω° to the upper right of Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072746Z
UID:000F2217-2FEE-404F-92D5-85EE3EF6BC0C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090602
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn's rings are tilted 4° from edgewise. (Use Show Info in t
he View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the Inspector fo
r more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090601
DTSTAMP:20090611T072746Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The tilt is shrinking and will be exactly edgewise on Septem
ber 4th. Unfortunately\, Saturn will be too close to the Sun at that tim
e for easy viewing. Watch Saturn through a telescope during the summer a
nd watch the rings almost disappear. Saturn is visible at dusk\, high in
the southwest.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams Planetarium Nig
ht Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web site that we us
e to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky. Check back oft
en to find out what's new and visible in our ever changing sky. As we le
arn about something new\, we'll post it to this page as soon as we can.
If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS link below. The p
osts will automatically show up in your news aggregator or feed reader.\
n\nIf you would like more detailed information including star charts\, c
heck out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'll get 12 issu
es mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help support the Abrams
Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090624T190524Z
UID:CAD00D10-E7E3-448A-9AA0-F555C13559B5
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090621
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is close to the Pleiades star cluster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090620
DTSTAMP:20090624T190524Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Use binoculars to get a good look at the cluster to the lowe
r left of the Moon. Some parts of the world will see the Moon pass over
the cluster\, but not North America. Venus is 2° to the lower right of M
ars. Look for Venus\, Mars\, the Moon and the Pleiades in the morning sk
y\, in the east and ENE.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090624T190455Z
UID:9BC7C69A-CF3E-4B98-8DB4-95074E945FD2
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090626
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 6° to the left of the star Aldebaran.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090625
DTSTAMP:20090624T190455Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mercury 45 minutes before sunrise\, very low in the
ENE sky. The waxing crescent Moon is part of the evening sky. The star
Regulus is to the upper left of the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T072706Z
UID:B97759F2-7698-40A5-A73C-586BC5E46435
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090606
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is at its greatest elongation from the Sun. (Use Show Info
)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090605
DTSTAMP:20090611T072706Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is now 46° west of the Sun. Venus rises about 2 hours
before sunrise. Look for Venus in the east at dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090828T062038Z
UID:2C36CD5D-A8AD-4B63-A65F-925CAFF0FE16
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090830
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is a waxing gibbous.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090829
DTSTAMP:20090828T062038Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look near the lunar terminator with a telescope for the spec
tacular crater Copernicus. Copernicus is thought to be about 800 millio
n years old\, which is young for a lunar crater. Copernicus is a bit ove
r 50 miles in diameter. The Moon will be in the low in the sky towards t
he south this evening.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073450Z
UID:7D826889-FFC8-4A7A-8180-A9857B148822
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090416
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Uranus is less than a half a degree to the upper left of Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090415
DTSTAMP:20090611T073450Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both Mars and Uranus are above the horizon in the dawn sky b
ut very low in the eastern morning twilight. Mars can be found 8° to the
lower right of Venus. Binoculars will aid in finding Mars. Uranus may b
e too faint to be seen even with the use of a telescope. Jupiter is 38°
to the upper right of Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073921Z
UID:248C7B6E-B6B0-46B8-810D-5CC6EA3543F5
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090320
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn's rings are tilted only 3° from edgewise.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090319
DTSTAMP:20090611T073921Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The rings will open up another degree until May when they wi
ll start to close again. The rings will turn edgewise to the Earth on Se
ptember 4th. At that time\, Saturn will be difficult to observe because
it will be just 11° from the Sun. Watch Saturn now while the rings are t
hin and the planet is easy to observe. Saturn is in the ESE at dusk and
moves to the west by dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090627T051258Z
UID:5E0967F1-A518-475E-A302-FF36FF445AE4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090707
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter and Mars are 90° apart\, while Mars and Venus are 6° apa
rt.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090706
DTSTAMP:20090627T051258Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars and Venus can be seen at dawn in the east. Jupiter can
be seen in the South.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073327Z
UID:2D200F3E-1A49-4E79-AA8D-42B107E4C625
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090428
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The thin crescent Moon sets in the northwest three hours after s
unset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090427
DTSTAMP:20090611T073327Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for earthshine. Earthshine is the faint glow of Earth-r
eflected sunlight onto the dark side of the Moon. The Moon is at the mos
t northern part of its orbit.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073051Z
UID:DFA9EA23-E7C5-44D5-AE49-E1A567F77CC0
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090515
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter and Venus are 45° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090514
DTSTAMP:20090611T073051Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus can be found low in the east at dawn. Jupiter is highe
r in the southeast. Mars is 6.6° to the lower left of Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073237Z
UID:85C7F3EF-72B6-420A-A6A1-4791156EB620
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090506
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Eta Aquarid meteors peak in the overnight of the 5th into th
e predawn of the 6th. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090505
DTSTAMP:20090611T073237Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:It's been reported that about 1/3 of the meteors of the Eta
Aquarid shower leave a glowing train of debris for more than a second. T
he meteors of this shower are caused by left over bits of Halley's comet
burning up as they hit the Earth's atmosphere.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090619T060504Z
UID:2B16D4C9-034A-4E65-9369-9319B3714387
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090613
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 22° to the lower left of Venus and will remain 22° to
Venus' lower left until the 16th of June.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090612
DTSTAMP:20090619T060504Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mercury low in the ENE about an hour before sunrise
.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073814Z
UID:A305CC07-CFB6-452B-8A94-BC2BC2ED749C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090327
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus rises 33 minutes before the Sun in the morning and sets 18
minutes after the Sun in the evening.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090326
DTSTAMP:20090611T073814Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Carefully use binoculars to try and see Venus while it's clo
se to the Sun. The planet is a 1% crescent. Look for Venus in the mornin
g in the east and in the evening in the WNW.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090724T043217Z
UID:62F14AEB-96D2-4C1D-99B8-3ED951DD7F0E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090725
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing crescent Moon is visible low in the west at dusk.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090724
DTSTAMP:20090724T043217Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the young Moon 45 minutes after sunset. The ringed
planet Saturn is above the thin crescent Moon. Notice the dark side of t
he Moon. The dark half is dimly illuminated by earthshine. Earthshine is
sunlight reflecting off the Earth and on to the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090717T041653Z
UID:0B9CBBBD-D46F-47FF-A4E5-602D5663665F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090716
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is at Last Quarter at 5:53 a.m. EDT.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090715
DTSTAMP:20090717T041653Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:This morning\, aim a telescope at the Moon and look for the
Straight Wall. The Straight Wall\, also known as Rupes Recta\, is a 70 m
ile long fault line on the Moon. It will appear as a bright line very ne
ar the lunar terminator this morning. When the Moon is near First Quarte
r\, the Straight Wall appears as a dark line.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090611T073929Z
UID:76C3CE0A-F58B-468D-BC02-29D522695E28
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090319
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is down to a 4% crescent and is 16° to the upper right of
the setting Sun.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090318
DTSTAMP:20090611T073929Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus will set less than an hour and a half after the Sun. L
ook for Venus in the west just after sunset. Use binoculars or a telesco
pe to see the crescent phase. When Venus is in the west\, turn around an
d look for Saturn in the east. Saturn's rings are tilted only 3° from ed
gewise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090712T055230Z
UID:F9B1803E-22C3-42F4-9BC9-9EE664BA841A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090713
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Pleiades star cluster is 5° north of Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090712
DTSTAMP:20090712T055230Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is 8° to the upper right of Venus. All three can be see
n in the morning sky. Look to the east an hour and a half before sunrise
.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090829T064650Z
UID:88D8A3EF-96D8-4F03-B5E0-F23D408721A2
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090901
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is near the feet of the Gemini twins.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090831
DTSTAMP:20090829T064650Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars in the morning sky. Mars is 17° to the upper l
eft of the star Betelgeuse and 32° to the upper right of Venus. Look an
hour before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090829T064653Z
UID:65071998-2850-4E0E-AA3D-1A382E3AF00A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090831
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is shining bright in the evening sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090830
DTSTAMP:20090829T064653Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Jupiter in the southeast an hour after sunset. Venu
s is dominating the morning sky. An hour before sunrise Venus is easily
visible in the east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090904T065100Z
UID:164A524D-7AFA-49F1-8B82-D9CA4FF547D7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090906
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Mars are 35° apart. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090905
DTSTAMP:20090904T065100Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars to the upper right of Venus. Both can be seen
in the morning sky. Mars is within the constellation of Gemini the Twins
. Venus is in the constellation of Cancer the Crab. Look to the east an
hour before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090904T065105Z
UID:910D0C56-DE15-4590-B002-87839FD23271
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090905
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn's rings are tilted edgewise to the Earth\, something that
only happens every 15 years. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090904
DTSTAMP:20090904T065105Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The bad news is that Saturn is only 11° east of the Sun\, to
o close to easily be seen. Observers in the southern hemisphere may have
a chance to see Saturn low on the horizon. The next ring plane crossing
will be in 2025. Then too\, Saturn will be lost in the glare of the Sun
. The next ring plane crossing of Saturn in a dark sky will be the tripl
e crossing in 2038/2039.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090904T065110Z
UID:F2BBA342-21D9-41DA-8C8C-26A3C967A87D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090904
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Jupiter are about 170° apart. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090903
DTSTAMP:20090904T065110Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Try and see both at the same time. Venus and Jupiter can be
seen about 5° above opposite horizons about two hours before sunrise. Ve
nus will be rising in the ENE when Jupiter is setting in the WSW.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090904T065116Z
UID:EFCAF7D8-69AC-476C-8CE1-B824BD8F6924
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090903
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is to the upper left of Jupiter. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090902
DTSTAMP:20090904T065116Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Jupiter in the evening sky in the sout
heast. At dawn Venus will be very close to the Beehive star cluster in C
ancer the Crab. Look with binoculars for the cluster of stars behind the
bright planet. Venus will be in the east an hour before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090904T065121Z
UID:D7F27D3B-729C-4AA8-8F7D-D9563B280643
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090902
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The gibbous Moon is to the upper right of Jupiter. (Use Show In
fo in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the Inspe
ctor for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090901
DTSTAMP:20090904T065121Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Tomorrow the Moon will be to the upper left of Jupiter. Look
for the Moon and Jupiter in the evening sky. One hour after sunset\, bo
th will be in the southeast sky. In the morning sky\, look with binocula
rs for Venus and the Beehive star cluster. Venus will be very close to t
he star cluster this morning and tomorrow morning. Look for Venus in the
east an hour before sunrise.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams P
lanetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web s
ite that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky.
Check back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever changing
sky. As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to this page as so
on as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS lin
k below. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggregator or
feed reader.\nIf you would like more detailed information including sta
r charts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'll
get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help suppor
t the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090911T065352Z
UID:1EB56016-9573-42A0-98D0-9FCAD1F76A03
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090913
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The star Regulus is 10° to the lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090912
DTSTAMP:20090911T065352Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and Regulus in the dawn sky. Look to the east
. Venus is shining bright at -4th magnitude. Regulus is a 1.4 magnitude
star.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090911T065355Z
UID:6C1F13A6-5210-433F-8E3E-F502AF3BAE44
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090912
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter and Venus are as far apart from each other as they can b
e\, 180°.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090911
DTSTAMP:20090911T065355Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Jupiter will set as Venus rises. Try looking for both. Look
for a setting Jupiter in the WSW about 2Ω hours before sunrise. Then tur
n 180° to the ENE and watch Venus rise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090911T065359Z
UID:16739AAF-8D04-4DD0-B81C-2A5A565E08F5
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090911
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is near the Pleiades in the predawn sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090910
DTSTAMP:20090911T065359Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:As dawn approaches\, the Moon will move closer to the star c
luster. For observers in Hawaii\, the Moon will occult some of the Pleia
des stars before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090911T065402Z
UID:D2D74434-1ED4-405A-9DE3-AA4A507EF9F4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090910
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is near the Pleiades overnight.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090909
DTSTAMP:20090911T065402Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The waning gibbous will rise about 3 hours after sunset. Ove
rnight and into tomorrow morning the Moon will move closer to the star c
luster.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090911T065406Z
UID:7FDD7E49-6EC7-43A9-8F21-C36970CC8C3E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090909
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The star Regulus is 15° to the lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090908
DTSTAMP:20090911T065406Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Regulus and Venus in the morning sky. Venus will be
in the east an hour before sunrise. Venus and the star will get closer
to each other until the 20th of September when the two will be just Ω° a
part.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090911T065409Z
UID:8DA50211-0508-4981-BD4B-064487C50C03
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090908
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter and Venus are 175° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090907
DTSTAMP:20090911T065409Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:It's a challenge to see them both at the same time. Look two
and a half hours before sunrise. The bright planets will be low on oppo
site horizons. Venus will be in the ENE while Jupiter is in the WSW.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090911T065413Z
UID:30EBC335-27AF-4259-AE89-40214E681050
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090907
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is the only planet that's easy to see in the evening sky
.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090906
DTSTAMP:20090911T065413Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the southeast an hour after sunset to see the giant
planet. Aim a telescope at Jupiter to see its four largest moons\; Io\,
Europa\, Ganymede and Callisto.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090912T171604Z
UID:D1C3E7DB-FDD6-46DD-8FCF-4E9B3148AE20
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090915
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is part of the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090914
DTSTAMP:20090912T171604Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:It's near the stars Castor and Pollux of the constellation o
f Gemini. Aim a telescope towards the Moon to see the Jura Mountains. Th
is mountain range forms the edge of the Bay of rainbows. This morning th
e Jura Mountains are very near the lunar terminator.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090912T171608Z
UID:10E43FDB-2163-4E7C-8C18-54ED4956851F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090914
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is near the planet Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090913
DTSTAMP:20090912T171608Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the waning crescent and Mars in the morning sky. Ma
rs is 40° to the upper right of Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090915T174120Z
UID:8C99FCCB-6995-46CB-B440-FD3F67B7A91A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090919
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn was in conjunction with the Sun yesterday.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090918
DTSTAMP:20090915T174121Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Therefore\, Saturn is not visible. For the past many months\
, Saturn has been part of the evening sky. It's now transitioning to a m
orning object. Saturn will reappear near the end of the month. Start Loo
king for Saturn around the 27th\, low in the east. There will be a nice
gathering of Saturn\, Mercury and Venus on the 10th of October.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090915T174124Z
UID:59279847-565F-4BC0-B358-714F9DC71246
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090918
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A very thin old crescent Moon is below Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090917
DTSTAMP:20090915T174124Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the east one hour before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090915T174127Z
UID:D10894D1-ABB8-4955-BE2C-C856E2E65EC0
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090917
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The thin crescent Moon is very close to the planet Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090916
DTSTAMP:20090915T174127Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and the Moon in the morning sky. The pair wil
l be in the east. The star Regulus is 5° below Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090915T174131Z
UID:8404AE42-259D-4E4D-B62E-3ACD26A82AF3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090916
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter's moon Io will pass in front of Jupiter's moon Europa be
tween 8:42 and 8:50 p.m. EDT.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090915
DTSTAMP:20090915T174131Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Jupiter's moons can easily be seen with most telescopes and
good binoculars. A bit later\, from 10:10 to 10:20 pm EDT\, Io's shadow
will pass over Europa. Look for Jupiter in the southeast. It's shining v
ery bright at dusk.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090918T040930Z
UID:9C16C752-07BF-4A80-A071-6F9B991E337D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090922
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Look for the waxing crescent Moon very low in the southwest.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090921
DTSTAMP:20090918T040930Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The three day old Moon will be visible a half hour after sun
set. Look for earthshine. Earthshine is the faint glow of light on the d
ark side of the Moon. Earthshine is also known as "The old Moon in the y
oung Moon's arms."
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090918T040933Z
UID:C8C698D0-0CCE-40D4-99F8-0BDEE508C936
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090921
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is 0.5° above the star Regulus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090920
DTSTAMP:20090918T040933Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and the star in the dawn sky\, one hour befor
e sunrise\, low in the east. Mercury is at inferior conjunction today. I
nferior conjunction is when a planet is between us and the Sun. Mercury
will reappear from the Sun's glare in the morning sky in about a week's
time.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090918T040937Z
UID:0BBD6379-7A71-423B-B901-C101D6AE092D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090920
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The star Regulus in Leo the Lion is 1.4° below Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090919
DTSTAMP:20090918T040937Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and the star in the dawn sky\, one hour befor
e sunrise\, low in the east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225335Z
UID:DF849459-CACB-489D-AAD0-FE4F4CD3B09D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091004
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 7° to the lower left of Venus. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091003
DTSTAMP:20090930T225335Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Saturn is 4° to the lower left of Mercury. Look for the thre
e planets in the dawn sky. The planets are low in the east. In the eveni
ng\, look for the Harvest Moon. The Full Moon rises before sunset in the
east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225338Z
UID:29172711-C383-48D1-86B7-6F6944D178AC
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091003
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Four planets are visible in the morning sky. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091002
DTSTAMP:20090930T225338Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars\, Venus\, Mercury and Saturn. Mars is high overhead nea
r the stars Castor and Pollux. Venus\, Mercury and Saturn are in a group
low in the east. Look 45 minutes before sunrise. Saturn is 12° to the l
ower right of Venus. Mercury is 8° from Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225342Z
UID:F68550B2-40EE-4CF0-86D6-735FE825346B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091002
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is 5° to the lower left of Mercury. (Use Show Info in th
e View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the Inspector for
more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091001
DTSTAMP:20090930T225342Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Saturn is getting easier to spot as the days go by. Look for
Venus\, Mercury and Saturn in the morning sky\, 45 minutes before sunri
se. The planets are low in the east. Watch as Mercury and Saturn move wi
thin a half a degree by the 8th of October.\n\nThese entries are from th
e new Abrams Planetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a plac
e on our web site that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's u
p in the sky. Check back often to find out what's new and visible in our
ever changing sky. As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to t
his page as soon as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, cli
ck the RSS link below. The posts will automatically show up in your news
aggregator or feed reader.\nIf you would like more detailed information
including star charts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per
year\, you'll get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calend
ar help support the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225345Z
UID:11C37D16-8A29-4B25-89CF-5D7C734F9657
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091001
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is now less than 10° below Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090930
DTSTAMP:20090930T225345Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and Mercury in the east\, 45 minutes before s
unrise. Saturn is 5° to the lower left of Mercury. Of the three morning
planets\, Venus is by far the brightest\, Mercury is next and Saturn is
the dimmest. Binoculars and a clear horizon will help in finding Mercury
and Saturn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225348Z
UID:7F36A1D7-8E8A-4AC4-9135-E30CFD4B1FCC
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090930
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 11° to the lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090929
DTSTAMP:20090930T225348Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and Mercury in the east\, 45 minutes before s
unrise. Saturn is 5° to the lower left of Mercury. The best view of Merc
ury today will be from the MESSENGER spacecraft as it passes just 142 mi
les above the planet's rocky surface. In the evening sky\, the waxing gi
bbous Moon passes close to Jupiter.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225352Z
UID:5778C9C0-569A-400B-8EA8-6AEBFD1B53A9
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090929
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is 12° to the lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090928
DTSTAMP:20090930T225352Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the east 45 minutes before sunrise. Mercury is getti
ng closer to Venus. The two will be at their closest on the morning of t
he 8th of October. On that date\, Mercury will be just 0.2° from Saturn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225355Z
UID:59A45C6A-B579-4133-9483-F7C1A5D01790
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090928
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crater Plato is visible on the Moon.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090927
DTSTAMP:20090930T225355Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Plato is an unusually dark crater with a smooth bottom. Look
for the 60 mile wide Plato close to the terminator on the northern part
of the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225358Z
UID:7803D881-1663-45F2-BBF1-832EF66F203A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090927
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is visible 15° below Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090926
DTSTAMP:20090930T225358Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the east 45 minutes before sunrise. Mercury will be
a bit easier to see in the next few weeks. Saturn will join Mercury and
Venus for a nice morning gathering in the first week of October.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225402Z
UID:7BBFA588-41FB-40E8-A0C7-538443EAD8FF
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090926
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is 6° to the lower left of the star Regulus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090925
DTSTAMP:20090930T225402Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus in the morning sky. Venus is shining at -3.8
magnitude in the east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225405Z
UID:F4375165-F3F7-481B-A386-E90C95A15496
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090925
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Jupiter are 150° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090924
DTSTAMP:20090930T225405Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Both can be seen about five hours before sunrise. Jupiter wi
ll be in the southwest. Mars will be in the ENE. The planets will be abo
ut 10° above the horizon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225410Z
UID:6E81CB12-7D55-420B-AC74-CC8362501FA4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090924
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing crescent Moon is to the lower right of Antares.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090923
DTSTAMP:20090930T225410Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Watch the Moon move across the southern part of the sky over
the next week. By the 29th\, the Moon will be close to Jupiter.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20090930T225413Z
UID:6DA3FFD7-29E3-484C-B061-0E680EAA22F2
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090923
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Fall begins for the northern hemisphere at 5:19 p.m. EDT.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090922
DTSTAMP:20090930T225413Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Sun crosses the equator moving north to south at that ti
me. This marks the Autumnal Equinox. Look for the Sun to set exactly in
the west. The Sun will continue to move southward until the winter solst
ice.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091009T044053Z
UID:48B37A68-C4D3-4C25-B810-3C957D3DFA53
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091010
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is 4.5° to the lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091009
DTSTAMP:20091009T044053Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is 1.4° below Saturn. Saturn's rings are now tilted
2° from edgewise. We are now looking down on the north side of the rings
. Look for Venus\, Saturn and Mercury in the east an hour before sunrise
.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091009T044058Z
UID:62467273-D48D-4EC7-94CB-AF1BE256D545
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091009
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury passes 0.4° south of Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091008
DTSTAMP:20091009T044058Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the close pair 6° to the lower left of Venus. The t
hree planets are low in the east an hour before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091009T044110Z
UID:9AD85A45-90B5-4A30-963F-B888C1CD63A4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091008
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Look for the Moon west of the Pleiades in the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091007
DTSTAMP:20091009T044110Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:In the evening sky\, look for the Moon east of the Pleiades.
The Moon will rise in the northeast about 2 hours after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091009T044118Z
UID:3360E492-554B-4FE4-B2DD-2A236F6C252F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091007
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is 8° to the lower left of Venus and Mercury is 6° to the
lower left of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091006
DTSTAMP:20091009T044118Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for all three planets an hour before sunrise in the eas
t. Saturn and Mercury are 2° apart. In two days they will be just 0.4° a
part.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091009T044214Z
UID:9866D3A6-7870-472E-B727-EA4C83EC4FBB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091007/full/news.2009.979.
html
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091011
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Enormous ring found asournd Saturn
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091006
DTSTAMP:20091010T002424Z
SEQUENCE:9
DESCRIPTION:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/news/spitzer-20091
006.html\n\nhttp://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/Media/releases/ssc2009-19/rel
ease.shtml
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091010T002858Z
UID:658335A1-30DE-4D80-BDA2-296C91B1FD6B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091014
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus passes 0.5° south of Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091013
DTSTAMP:20091010T002858Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is 7° below Venus and Saturn. Look to the east and h
our before sunrise for the planet grouping. Mars is 60° to the west of V
enus and Saturn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091010T002910Z
UID:9699B676-B896-46C5-B42D-446AE15F1C50
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091013
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter ends its retrograde motion today.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091012
DTSTAMP:20091010T002910Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Planets usually move west to east against the background sta
rs. At times\, when the Earth is passing a planet in its orbit\, planets
seem to move backwards\, or east to west. Jupiter has been moving east
to west since June. It's now going back to its normal prograde motion. L
ook for Jupiter in the south-southeast sky at dusk.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091010T002924Z
UID:1E203E71-7BB6-4EE1-80FD-9FD0150EA07A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091012
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is visible high in the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091011
DTSTAMP:20091010T002924Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is in a line with the twin stars Castor and Pollux in G
emini. The Last Quarter Moon is to the west of Mars.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091010T002937Z
UID:AB6C931A-6A98-4155-8564-1FB734F7BB09
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091011
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus\, Saturn and Mercury are visible in the east at dawn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091010
DTSTAMP:20091010T002937Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Saturn is 3.4° to the lower left of Venus. Mercury is 2.5° t
o the lower left of Saturn. Venus is the brightest at -3.8 magnitude. Me
rcury is shining at -0.8 magnitude. Saturn is the faintest at 1.1 magnit
ude.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091010T003207Z
UID:3AB888C4-2769-4B68-B9B5-B93B7991C77A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091006
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is at greatest elongation from the Sun. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091005
DTSTAMP:20091010T003207Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Today mercury is 18° west of the Sun. Look for Mercury along
with Saturn and Venus in the east an hour before sunrise. Venus is 6° a
bove Mercury. Saturn is 3° to the lower left of Mercury.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091010T003217Z
UID:9C8175B2-3E32-46C2-8908-AD9AD1FC4663
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091005
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn\, Mercury and Venus fit within a 10° field of view. (Use
Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091004
DTSTAMP:20091010T003217Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The three planets will remain within 10° until the 15th of O
ctober. Look for the group of planets in the east at dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091016T065112Z
UID:BAE187BD-6BE0-44DF-AE99-04CA8DC66025
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091018
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is 4.5° above Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091017
DTSTAMP:20091016T065112Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is 8° below Venus. The very old crescent Moon is bel
ow and to the right of Mercury and may be seen by observers in the south
east\, 25 minutes before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091016T065117Z
UID:207B4292-636A-4EFE-8D37-C30DE40EE6C5
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091017
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The old crescent Moon is to the right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091016
DTSTAMP:20091016T065117Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the east 45 minutes before sunrise for the thin cres
cent. Saturn is 3.4° above Venus. Mercury is 8° below Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091016T065123Z
UID:01F3D36E-37FA-46EC-8162-73E11F5B555B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091016
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury\, Venus and Saturn span 10°.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091015
DTSTAMP:20091016T065123Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:A thin crescent Moon is to the upper right of the planets. L
ook an hour before sunrise in the east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091016T065137Z
UID:2E054018-D969-46B2-8A14-473FF753C682
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091015
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is now 1.3° above Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091014
DTSTAMP:20091016T065137Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus and Saturn in the morning sky\, an hour befor
e sunrise. Mercury is 7° to the lower left of Venus. Look to the east. T
he waning crescent Moon is near the star Regulus\, above Venus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091017T020544Z
UID:2F7268E9-1D79-4FB4-B5FB-60F47BF23E6A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091019
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is 6° above and to the right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091018
DTSTAMP:20091017T020544Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is about 9° below Venus and to the left. Look 45 min
utes before sunrise in the east.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091018T181732Z
UID:3BC3C124-27E9-454D-A2AD-ACD2A00955FC
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091020
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury\, Venus and Saturn span 16° across the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091019
DTSTAMP:20091018T181732Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the east 45 minutes before sunrise. Mercury is very
low in the east. Later this week Mercury will leave the morning sky and
move behind the Sun. Mercury will reappear in the evening sky in Decembe
r. Venus will remain part of the morning sky until early December.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091018T204730Z
UID:97C1D142-43B3-4D98-8606-72B6C16F3D09
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20090916
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter's moon Io will pass in front of Jupiter's moon Europa be
tween 8:42 and 8:50 p.m. EDT.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090915
DTSTAMP:20091018T204730Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Jupiter's moons can easily be seen with most telescopes and
good binoculars. A bit later\, from 10:10 to 10:20 pm EDT\, Io's shadow
will pass over Europa. Look for Jupiter in the southeast. It's shining v
ery bright at dusk.
Please send any comments\, sug
gestions\, or questions to
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091020T231825Z
UID:52436326-0F7C-426C-A621-0409F08A6B9E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091024
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing crescent Moon is in the southwest evening sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091023
DTSTAMP:20091020T231825Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look at the Moon with a telescope to see Theophilus Crater.
Theophilus is 60 miles in diameter and 2.5 miles deep. A 4600 foot mount
ain peak is at its center.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091020T231829Z
UID:FFA6DDB8-13FC-446B-9E02-AD38A217F395
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091023
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is 10° to the upper right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091022
DTSTAMP:20091020T231829Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the ESE 45 minutes before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091020T231832Z
UID:D6B818C2-522F-438F-99D6-0B3AD1BE4894
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091022
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Orionid meteor shower peaks in the early morning hours.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091021
DTSTAMP:20091020T231832Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for shooting stars this morning and the next morning. O
rionids are caused by left over bits of Halley's Comet. The shower last
for a few days peaking on the morning of the 21st.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091020T231835Z
UID:16E052BA-B04D-4496-A47A-8225398F6171
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091021
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A thin crescent Moon is low in the southwest after sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091020
DTSTAMP:20091020T231835Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon is to the lower right of the star Antares. The waxi
ng Moon will set about an hour after the Sun.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091023T052042Z
UID:3B5EA7BA-3F90-41FB-8D77-C6AFE064BD66
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091027
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing gibbous moon is to the upper right of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091026
DTSTAMP:20091023T052042Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the SSE sky at dusk. A telescope aimed at the Moon s
hows the Straight Wall. The Straight Wall appears as a dark line on the
Moon. It's a 70 mile long fault line formed from a moonquake in the anci
ent past.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091023T052047Z
UID:19E5298D-7AD1-4598-A278-A03CC820CC07
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091026
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is about 3° west of the Beehive star cluster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091025
DTSTAMP:20091023T052047Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:This week\, watch Mars move closer to the cluster. By the en
d of the week Mars will be within the Beehive. Look for the cluster with
binoculars in the faint constellation of Cancer the Crab.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091023T052051Z
UID:8A53FE8F-5FBD-498D-BA30-41500FB9D697
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091025
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is shining bright in the SSE sky at dusk.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091024
DTSTAMP:20091023T052051Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars\, Saturn and Venus are part of the morning sky. Venus i
s low in the ESE at dawn. Saturn is 12° to the upper right of Venus. Mar
s is high in the dawn sky in the constellation of Cancer the Crab.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091027T204425Z
UID:093638C1-B0FA-429D-B8E0-74B6A804FE24
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091030
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is just west of the Beehive star cluster\, M-44.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091029
DTSTAMP:20091027T204425Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Watch Mars move closer to the cluster over the next few days
. Mars will pass through the cluster on November 1st. The Beehive is in
the constellation of Cancer the Crab.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091027T204428Z
UID:5F959496-B302-424B-905D-7FA40D9B419A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091029
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is 30° to the lower left of the star Regulus in Leo the L
ion.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091028
DTSTAMP:20091027T204428Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is 17° to the lower left of Saturn. Look to the ESE sk
y at dawn for Venus. Mars is 24° to the upper right of Regulus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091027T204431Z
UID:5F303A44-002B-412A-8C34-1687C1354328
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091028
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crater Copernicus is easily visible near the lunar terminato
r.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091027
DTSTAMP:20091027T204431Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Copernicus stands out as a big deep crater in an otherwise s
mooth area of the Moon. Look for this 60 mile diameter crater with a sma
ll telescope. The waxing gibbous Moon is to the upper left of Jupiter in
the SSE evening sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091104T002419Z
UID:A559879E-7AAE-4AE2-B9A6-92E4DA530ADF
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091106
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is at superior conjunction and cannot be seen. (Use Show
Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091105
DTSTAMP:20091104T002420Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury will pass directly behind the Sun today. The swift m
oving planet will join the evening sky in December.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091104T002424Z
UID:34989B5C-6FFB-4653-9C1B-410E9ACC6252
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091105
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Neptune ends its retrograde motion. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091104
DTSTAMP:20091104T002424Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Neptune with a telescope. It's 5.7° to the ENE of J
upiter and 2.2° NNW of the star Delta Capricorni. On December 20th\, Jup
iter will pass just Ω° south of Neptune. Neptune is very dim\, only 8th
magnitude.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091104T002428Z
UID:4F200A02-0371-4BD1-A9D8-25766A522A72
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091104
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus passes 3.5° north of the the star Spica. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091103
DTSTAMP:20091104T002428Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look low in the ESE an hour before sunrise. Late in the even
ing\, the Full Moon passes over the Pleiades star cluster. Look with bin
oculars to see the Moon occult the stars.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091104T002432Z
UID:9693DCD7-D6B4-497E-AE0C-EF57614C6E11
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091103
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Mars are 75° apart. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091102
DTSTAMP:20091104T002432Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus and Saturn are 25° apart. All three are part of the mo
rning sky. Look to the ESE for Venus. Saturn is to the upper right of Ve
nus. Mars is near overhead in the constellation of Cancer the Crab. Next
summer\, these three planets will be part of the evening sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091104T002436Z
UID:3ABDDCED-3A58-499F-BAEB-4E924B741885
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091102
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is 4° to the upper right of the star Spica. (Use Show Inf
o in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the Inspec
tor for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091101
DTSTAMP:20091104T002436Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus in the morning sky\, low in the ESE. Mars is
in the Beehive cluster. Look for Mars high over head in the south at daw
n.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams Planetarium Night Sky Notes
\nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web site that we use to keep sky
watchers up to date on what's up in the sky. Check back often to find ou
t what's new and visible in our ever changing sky. As we learn about som
ething new\, we'll post it to this page as soon as we can. If you like t
o subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS link below. The posts will aut
omatically show up in your news aggregator or feed reader.\nIf you would
like more detailed information including star charts\, check out our Sk
y Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'll get 12 issues mailed to yo
u. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help support the Abrams Planetarium an
d Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091104T002441Z
UID:A69A7269-4FBA-4A11-86C0-0EDE58C2E080
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091101
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is closely west of the Beehive star cluster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091031
DTSTAMP:20091104T002441Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars in the high in the sky at dawn. Mars is now ri
sing around midnight. The red planet is currently 110 million miles from
Earth. Be on the lookout this evening for Martians\, knocking on doors\
, looking for candy.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091104T002444Z
UID:58C88530-D9AE-497F-85CF-C1783727018C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091031
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The star Spica is 6° to the lower right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091030
DTSTAMP:20091104T002444Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look low in the ESE 45 minutes before sunrise. Next week\, V
enus will pass Spica.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091105T030507Z
UID:F394F0A7-86D7-4C1D-BE38-5E8F59386023
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.meteorblog.com/
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091126
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Halloween Fireballs - Taurids Meteor Shower
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20090925
DTSTAMP:20091105T032017Z
SEQUENCE:11
DESCRIPTION:The Northern Taurids (NTA) Meteor Shower has a maximum on No
v. 12th. The Southern Taurids max. on the 5th
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091105T030507Z
UID:A23D2BBA-8304-44B0-955D-6E803A6BF935
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.meteorblog.com/
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091106
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Taurids Meteor Shower - Southern Maximum
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091105
DTSTAMP:20091105T032124Z
SEQUENCE:4
DESCRIPTION:The Northern Taurids (NTA) Meteor Shower has a maximum on No
v. 12th. The Southern Taurids max. on the 5th
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091105T030507Z
UID:05D42A57-333D-4248-99C5-9A0C5750AAC4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.meteorblog.com/
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091113
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Taurids Meteor Shower - Northern Maximum
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091112
DTSTAMP:20091105T032203Z
SEQUENCE:3
DESCRIPTION:The Northern Taurids (NTA) Meteor Shower has a maximum on No
v. 12th. The Southern Taurids max. on the 5th
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091122
UID:E4266118-EC33-4DF2-B354-CE5BEB3B1EE5
DTSTAMP:20091105T033153Z
LOCATION:Worldwide
DESCRIPTION:The Leonids Meteor Shower takes place Nov. 10 - 21 with a ma
x on Nov. 17th.
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.imo.net/calendar/2009%23leo
SEQUENCE:8
SUMMARY:Leonids (LEO)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091110
CREATED:20091105T032858Z
BEGIN:VALARM
X-WR-ALARMUID:7964C06B-AB58-4716-B1A4-7C912D82A33E
TRIGGER:-PT15M
ATTACH;VALUE=URI:Basso
ACTION:AUDIO
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20091117T071000
UID:C2543961-825A-4ED6-8B07-36220B0E25A5
DTSTAMP:20091105T034931Z
LOCATION:Worldwide
DESCRIPTION:Time is the calculated maximum. The Leonids Meteor Shower ta
kes place Nov. 10 - 21 with a max on Nov. 17th.
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.imo.net/calendar/2009%23leo
SEQUENCE:8
SUMMARY:Leonids (LEO)
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20091117T071000
CREATED:20091105T032858Z
BEGIN:VALARM
X-WR-ALARMUID:F213FD65-8D68-45ED-8203-EA074AFF1825
TRIGGER:-PT10H
ATTACH;VALUE=URI:Alarm
ACTION:AUDIO
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091105T035414Z
UID:EEC943BF-A9AC-440F-A0B2-8E15C5A2F4C0
URL;VALUE=URI:http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodc
ast?id=191636169
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091104
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Astronomy Cast
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091103
DTSTAMP:20091105T035730Z
SEQUENCE:5
DESCRIPTION:Planet X: Astronomers have been searching for the mysteriou
s Planet X for hundreds of years. It was the search for a theoretical pl
anet beyond Uranus that turned up Neptune\, and then again for Pluto. An
d even now there are some astronomers who think there's a more distant p
lanet out there. Oh\, and there are a bunch of pseudoscience cranks tryi
ng to freak people out about the end of the world. Don't worry\, we'll m
ake time for them too\, but first let's start with some real science.
BEGIN:VALARM
X-WR-ALARMUID:FB06B579-1838-4444-B63B-70D4B3BF3C4D
TRIGGER:P1DT23H45M
ATTACH;VALUE=URI:Basso
ACTION:AUDIO
END:VALARM
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091107T010524Z
UID:759DE1AB-E0DB-4EC7-BA3D-3D0D6FF2E3C3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091110
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Last Quarter Moon is southeast of Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091109
DTSTAMP:20091107T010524Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon and Mars are high in the south at dawn. Jupiter is
easily visible in the evening sky. Look to the south an hour after sunse
t for Jupiter
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091107T010528Z
UID:598B5557-E1AA-4845-98FB-B1EBBDF43B58
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091109
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is west of Mars and southeast of the twi
n stars\, Castor and Pollux.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091108
DTSTAMP:20091107T010528Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is 30° to the lower left of Venus. Look for Venus low
in the ESE dawn sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091107T010532Z
UID:01438D3A-B182-405D-89EF-15A460C79BB1
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091108
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is near the twin stars\, Castor and Poll
ux.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091107
DTSTAMP:20091107T010532Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Exploring the Moon with binoculars reveals the three craters
\, Theophilus\, Cyrillus and Catharina. These three craters form a remar
kable trio. Each crater is about 60 miles in diameter. Apollo 11 landed
about 200 miles north of the trio.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091107T010536Z
UID:FE1BBE62-82FB-4857-BAB9-CB14DC083933
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091107
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is 20° west of Regulus in Leo the Lion.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091106
DTSTAMP:20091107T010536Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Watch Mars move closer to Regulus for the next several weeks
. Mars will be 10° west of the star on December 21st when it starts its
retrograde motion. Mars is high in the south at dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091110T220543Z
UID:FD320623-BC4B-4F99-B55C-714FDDA9530C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091113
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crescent Moon is near Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091112
DTSTAMP:20091110T220543Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is 34° to the lower left of Saturn. Look for the Moon\
, Saturn and Venus an hour before sunrise. Venus will be very low\, near
the ESE horizon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091110T220547Z
UID:75DBCBDC-844A-4344-B842-CD322FB6F25D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091112
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks overnight.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091111
DTSTAMP:20091110T220547Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Northern Taurids are a long lasting shower\, going from
October 12 to December 2 with the peak tonight. Don't expect a lot of me
teors\, but if you see one and it seems to be coming from the constellat
ion of Taurus the Bull\, it's most likely a Northern Taurid meteor.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091110T220550Z
UID:1914220A-99C1-4120-A0E9-B143668D89E1
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091111
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is close to the star Regulus in Leo the
Lion.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091110
DTSTAMP:20091110T220550Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is 19° to the northwest of Regulus. Look for Mars\, Reg
ulus and the Moon in the morning sky\, high in the south.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091110T220553Z
UID:31D4CEF9-7A32-4FB3-A361-A486DB1D1E79
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091110
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Last Quarter Moon is southeast of Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091109
DTSTAMP:20091110T220553Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon and Mars are high in the south at dawn. Jupiter is
easily visible in the evening sky. Look to the south an hour after sunse
t for Jupiter.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091114T040428Z
UID:2AFC3280-3BFF-4AF8-9E86-39FEEE543E21
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091117
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Leonid meteor shower may have an outburst in the predawn hou
rs of the 17th.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091116
DTSTAMP:20091114T040428Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Watch for Leonids this evening and into the next morning. Th
e Leonid shower varies quite a bit from one year to the next. This year
could have a peak of 500 meteors per hour. The Moon is New\, leaving the
sky darker\, better for meteor watching.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091114T040432Z
UID:E2264C4E-F7C7-4151-BD3A-E589382CBF67
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091116
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mira\, the long term variable star\, is near its peak brightness
.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091115
DTSTAMP:20091114T040432Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mira\, also known as Omicron Ceti\, is part of the constella
tion Cetus the Whale. At its brightest\, Mira is a 3rd magnitude star. A
s its dimmest\, it's about 9th magnitude. The star takes 332 days to cyc
le through one period. In September of 2009\, observers reported Mira at
9th magnitude\, visible only with a telescope. Now reports show it at 3
.3 magnitude\, easily visible with the unaided eye. Look for Mira low in
the ESE at dusk and half way up in the south six hours after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091114T040436Z
UID:AE524CA4-7285-4F66-B2AF-9ADCE0B6FEF7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091115
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The old thin crescent Moon is low in the ESE dawn sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091114
DTSTAMP:20091114T040436Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look an hour before sunrise. The star Spica is to the upper
left of the Moon. Venus is to the lower left of the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091114T040439Z
UID:833A0D5D-E631-403B-BE5D-F86BA7ED3339
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091114
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The thin crescent Moon is below Saturn and to the upper right of
Spica.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091113
DTSTAMP:20091114T040439Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the thin Moon and earthshine. Earthshine is the fai
nt glow that illuminates the dark side of the Moon. Look for the Moon an
d Saturn an hour before sunrise in the ESE sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091123T215627Z
UID:2C7B375F-FC01-4A71-8438-9F6240AD3C6F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091124
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A wide crescent Moon is above Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091123
DTSTAMP:20091123T215627Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Jupiter and the Moon in the south at dusk. Aim a te
lescope at Jupiter to see its 4 Galilean moons\, Io\, Europa\, Ganymede
and Callisto.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091123T215634Z
UID:EEA0A39A-2D39-42DB-82DE-D03436CABB84
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091123
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is 15° west of the star Regulus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091122
DTSTAMP:20091123T215634Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars rises about 5 hours after sunset and is high in the SSW
by morning twilight. Mars will continue to move towards Regulus until i
t starts its retrograde motion on December 21.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091123T215639Z
UID:920E2972-289D-4232-B563-A6F90A018D84
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091122
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Saturn are 45° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091121
DTSTAMP:20091123T215639Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus very low in the ESE\, 45 minutes before sunri
se. Saturn is to the upper right of Venus. Saturn's rings are tilted 4°
from edgewise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091123T215646Z
UID:BFA08272-BA9E-4691-AAC2-4C5EECC460C7
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091121
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The four day old crescent Moon is in the southwest at dusk.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091120
DTSTAMP:20091123T215646Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:A crescent Moon makes a wonderful sight in a small telescope
. Explore the Moon near the terminator. The terminator is the line that
separates the light and dark halves of the Moon. Near the terminator\, m
any craters and mountains can be found.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091123T215655Z
UID:A41415DF-DBC5-4FC0-A495-1EEC94ACE77B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091120
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crescent Moon is low in the southwest.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091119
DTSTAMP:20091123T215655Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:As the sky darkens\, look for "the old Moon in the young moo
n's arms" also known as earthshine. Earthshine is the faint light illumi
nating the dark side of the Moon. It is caused by sunlight reflecting of
f the Earth\, onto the Moon\, and back to the Earth.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091123T215659Z
UID:F72EB6ED-194C-4423-89F4-3ADE0EB40FEA
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091119
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The young crescent Moon is low in the southwest\, 45 minutes aft
er sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091118
DTSTAMP:20091123T215659Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon is less than 5% illuminated. You will need a clear
view to the horizon. Binoculars may help.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091123T215702Z
UID:1C39E47E-C155-4B09-B65A-B51A7A4A1D2B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091118
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Leonid meteor shower may have an large outburst in the preda
wn hours.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091117
DTSTAMP:20091123T215702Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Leonids seem to radiate from the constellation of Leo the Li
on\, but the shooting stars can be seen in all directions. Mars is 16° t
o the west of the star Regulus in Leo.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091124T011126Z
UID:F7492301-1812-46C4-89AB-F05B38E1621A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091201
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The nearly full Moon is to the west of the Pleiades in the eveni
ng sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091130
DTSTAMP:20091124T011126Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:As the night progresses\, the Moon moves closer to the star
cluster. Tomorrow evening\, the Moon will be east of the cluster. Observ
ers in Hawaii may see some of the stars of the Pleiades occulted by the
Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091124T011132Z
UID:BD510023-D872-466A-95DB-E6ACC262615E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091130
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The red planet Mars is 13° west of the star Regulus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091129
DTSTAMP:20091124T011132Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars rises about 5 hours after sunset and is high in the SSW
by morning twilight. Mars will continue to move towards Regulus until i
t starts its retrograde motion on December 21.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091124T011141Z
UID:1ED36F27-CDBD-4B87-BB04-CBEA0F814D6C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091129
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The gibbous Moon is in the ESE sky at dusk.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091128
DTSTAMP:20091124T011141Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Aim a telescope at the Moon and look for the crater Aristarc
hus. Aristarchus is a very bright crater in the Ocean of Storms. Arista
rchus is one of the youngest formation on the Moon\, only 450 million ye
ars old.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091124T011151Z
UID:68CEE3DE-DF9D-4976-8BE7-FF7B868D0C21
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091128
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus rises 30° to the lower left of the star Spica.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091127
DTSTAMP:20091124T011151Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus very low in the ESE 45 minutes before sunrise
. How many more days can you find Venus in the morning twilight? Venus i
s only 11° west of the Sun. The bright planet moves behind the Sun on Ja
nuary 11th\, 2010 and returns to the evening sky in late February 2010.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091124T011157Z
UID:4F537DC5-AA88-42EC-BFE6-F8F2D3A144D6
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091127
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Saturn are 46° apart in the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091126
DTSTAMP:20091124T011157Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:At dawn\, Mars is high in the southwest while Saturn is abou
t half way up in the southeast.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091201T032724Z
UID:66BDF5D6-0A9D-4848-99EA-A2BA239CF14B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091202
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Full Moon is east of the Pleiades star cluster. (Use Show I
nfo in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the Insp
ector for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091201
DTSTAMP:20091201T032724Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Use binoculars to find the cluster in the bright glare of th
e Moon. On the Moon\, look for the rays of the crater Tycho. Lunar rays
are best seen when the Moon is near full. Rays are spoke like features r
adiating from some craters. The rays are formed by ejecta coming from th
e crater at the time of impact.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams
Planetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web
site that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky
. Check back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever changi
ng sky. As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to this page as
soon as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS l
ink below. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggregator
or feed reader.\nIf you would like more detailed information including s
tar charts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'
ll get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help supp
ort the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091202T031459Z
UID:4B51306A-76B5-43BC-8D73-A1E5347EDE92
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091204
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars rises about a half hour before Jupiter sets. (Use Show Info
)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091203
DTSTAMP:20091202T031459Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Can you see both at the same time? Look for both Mars and Ju
piter 2° above the horizon\, Jupiter setting in the WSW\, Mars rising in
the ENE. Try looking about 5 hours after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091202T031513Z
UID:8BC53B25-E636-4118-AF47-7B06A5620F22
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091203
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is at the most northern part of its orbit. (Use Show In
fo)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091202
DTSTAMP:20091202T031513Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Notice how far north along the eastern part of the horizon t
he moon rises. Look for moonrise in the northeast\, about 10 minutes aft
er sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091203T172509Z
UID:41B9288D-1ECA-4E19-9CB6-AFA1B660FA09
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091205
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is south of the twin stars Castor and Po
llux. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091204
DTSTAMP:20091203T172509Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon in the ENE 3 hours after sunset. A telesco
pe aimed at the Moon show the craters Atlas and Hercules. This pair of c
raters can be found along the northern part of the lunar terminator.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091203T173216Z
UID:1D65E61D-DEB7-487A-946B-5A3DB390E7DD
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091126
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter's moon Io passes in front of the moon Europa at 6:49 p.m
. EST.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091125
DTSTAMP:20091203T173216Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:For observers in the eastern part of the U.S.\, the sky will
be dark and Jupiter will be in the SSW sky. Use a telescope to see the
moons of Jupiter.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091203T173222Z
UID:60CE04B6-74E2-40A2-85D6-FB2F804A4AD9
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091125
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The First Quarter Moon is to the upper left of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091124
DTSTAMP:20091203T173222Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look at the Moon with a telescope and look for the Alpine Va
lley. Alpine Valley is an 80 mile long cut through the lunar Alps. The v
alley is about 6 miles wide.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091203T173253Z
UID:C6836F2A-8E3F-4456-812A-EA799BBD8184
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091116
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mira\, the long term variable star\, is near its peak brightness
.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091115
DTSTAMP:20091203T173253Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mira\, also known as Omicron Ceti\, is part of the constella
tion Cetus the Whale. At its brightest\, Mira is a 3rd magnitude star. A
s its dimmest\, it's about 9th magnitude. The star takes 332 days to cyc
le through one period. In September of 2009\, observers reported Mira at
9th magnitude\, visible only with a telescope. Now reports show it at 3
.3 magnitude\, easily visible with the unaided eye. Look for Mira low in
the ESE at dusk and half way up in the south six hours after sunset.
Please send any comments\, suggestions\, or question
s to
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091204T032730Z
UID:3817AF6E-2C40-4B53-BD82-FF28FEF8EEDD
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091206
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars rises soon after the Moon rises. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091205
DTSTAMP:20091204T032730Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is to the lower left of the Moon. Look for Mars to rise
about 5 hours after sunset. Jupiter is setting just as Mars is rising.
Jupiter and Mars can both be found about 2° above the horizon at the sam
e time. Look for Mars in the ENE when Jupiter is in the WNW.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091210T235221Z
UID:D3782DF4-2C75-4713-8BE6-5310D45655F4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091213
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is 1.5° to the lower right of Neptune.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091212
DTSTAMP:20091210T235222Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Aim a telescope or binoculars at Jupiter and look for 8th ma
gnitude Neptune to the upper left of Jupiter. On the 20th of December th
e two planets will be just a half a degree apart. The Geminid meteor sho
wer will peak tomorrow evening into the morning of the 14th. Some meteor
s may be spotted zipping through the sky tonight.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091210T235228Z
UID:8679F773-00DE-416B-A1A2-C1F69B16D240
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091212
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is near the star Spica.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091211
DTSTAMP:20091210T235228Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Spica in the morning sky. Spica is in
the SSE during mid-twilight.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091210T235233Z
UID:6770C23D-70C4-49EC-9005-8E8FCA5F3E68
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091211
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is joining the evening sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091210
DTSTAMP:20091210T235233Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mercury 45° to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury
will be in the southwest 45 minutes after sunset. Mercury remains part o
f the evening sky for most of December.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091210T235242Z
UID:71EC8547-E49B-4C8E-B26D-76889BD631EB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091210
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn is east of the Last Quarter Moon.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091209
DTSTAMP:20091210T235242Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Saturn and the Moon in the morning sky. At dawn Sat
urn will be about half way up in the SSE. Saturn rises in the east about
6 hours before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091210T235249Z
UID:FDF5BAA9-A0E2-44EF-9DA4-FF1E4865B61F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091209
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Neptune is less than 2° to the northeast of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091208
DTSTAMP:20091210T235249Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Aim a telescope or binoculars at Jupiter and look for 8th ma
gnitude Neptune to the upper left of Jupiter. On the 20th of December th
e two planets will be just a half a degree apart.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091210T235253Z
UID:E03D21D1-8F33-43A5-8428-7AABD40A7CE9
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091208
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is southeast of Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091207
DTSTAMP:20091210T235253Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Mars at dawn in the southwest. The Alp
ine Valley and the crater Aristoteles are near the lunar terminator and
can be seen with a telescope. The Alpine Valley is an 80 mile long\, 5 m
ile wide gash cutting through the lunar alps.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20091210T235259Z
UID:B96A2E86-88B9-4FC7-B925-185012016A37
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091207
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is west of Mars in the morning sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091206
DTSTAMP:20091210T235259Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars high in the southwest at dawn. Saturn is 45° t
o the east of the red planet.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050653Z
UID:6460375D-90C9-47E7-A61F-635AC0FDE368
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100111
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is very low in the ESE at dawn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100110
DTSTAMP:20100108T050653Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mercury 45 minutes before sunrise. Mercury will be
easier to spot later in January. The star Antares is almost 30° to the u
pper right of Mercury. The crescent Moon is about 12° to the upper right
of Antares.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050700Z
UID:24EE5198-0261-4F5C-927D-E114DAB9C510
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100110
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is in the SSE dawn sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100109
DTSTAMP:20100108T050700Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The large crater Copernicus is easily visible through a tele
scope or binoculars. It's near the lunar terminator in the Ocean of Stor
ms. Copernicus crater was famously photographed by NASA's Lunar Orbiter
2 in 1966.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050704Z
UID:8FFA02C1-D114-4479-8DD7-4E552AA32F97
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100109
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn's rings are tilted at 4.91° from edgewise.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100108
DTSTAMP:20100108T050704Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:This is the maximum angle until September. Saturn is high up
in the dawn sky now\, but will be hard to see in September. Enjoy the t
elescopic view of Saturn now. Look for Saturn at dawn in the SSW sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050711Z
UID:126B64B6-57C0-43C4-B130-B3202346053E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100108
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Last Quarter Moon is to the lower right of the star Spica.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100107
DTSTAMP:20100108T050711Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon in the morning hours. The Apennine Mountai
ns are a prominent feature that can be seen on the Moon with binoculars
or a telescope. Look for this mountain range near the lunar terminator.
The tallest peaks of the Apennines reach to 16\,000 feet.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050714Z
UID:C994CB74-F5DE-4B4C-826C-7204FF1B807C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100107
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is below Saturn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100106
DTSTAMP:20100108T050714Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look in the morning sky for Saturn and the Moon. At dawn\, S
aturn is in the SSW sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050718Z
UID:D55B7C3D-2F92-405E-9DAD-7D3EA9B6F3E9
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100106
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Three hours after sunset\, Mars and Jupiter are both 5° above op
posite horizons. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100105
DTSTAMP:20100108T050718Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Jupiter in the WSW. Look for Mars in the ENE. The t
wo planets are 170° apart.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050721Z
UID:18A490CC-8FC8-4B8D-904D-530BAEB5A652
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100105
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is at inferior conjunction and cannot be seen. (Use Show
Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100104
DTSTAMP:20100108T050721Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury will emerge from the glare of the Sun in the second
week of the month. Start looking for Mercury at dawn in the ESE around t
he 10th of January.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050725Z
UID:E01B119E-23EA-49D6-B89B-5030B6A36FB4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100104
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is near the planet Mars. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100103
DTSTAMP:20100108T050725Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars and the Moon in the morning sky. Mars is 12° w
est of the star Regulus. At dawn Mars is in the WSW sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050728Z
UID:B068A68B-A91E-419C-9620-CA594AE6CDDE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100103
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Earth is at perihelion. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100102
DTSTAMP:20100108T050728Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Perihelion is the point in the Earth's orbit that is closest
to the Sun. Today the Earth is 0.983 AU or 91.4 million miles from the
Sun. That's about 2 million miles closer than usual.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050732Z
UID:54FA3EB5-050B-44AC-8036-3B5D39126D77
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100102
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is at perigee\, the point in its orbit closest to the E
arth. (Use Show Info in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Not
es tab in the Inspector for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100101
DTSTAMP:20100108T050732Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon is also close to full. This combination will cause
tides to be larger than usual.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams
Planetarium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web
site that we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky.
Check back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever changin
g sky. As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to this page as s
oon as we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS li
nk below. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggregator o
r feed reader.\nIf you would like more detailed information including st
ar charts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'l
l get 12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help suppo
rt the Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050737Z
UID:C80F0F0F-F32B-4EF1-861B-74C8E31FF121
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100101
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A slight lunar eclipse happens today.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091231
DTSTAMP:20100108T050737Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:It's not visible from the Americas. Observers in Europe\, As
ia and Africa will see a small bit of the Earth's shadow pass over the s
outhern tip of the Moon. The Full Moon today is the 2nd Full Moon this m
onth\, making this a "Blue Moon".
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050739Z
UID:120BE216-0C73-4AF2-BB84-A9D30AE4D8CB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091231
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn ends the year 20° west of the star Spica in Virgo.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091230
DTSTAMP:20100108T050739Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Saturn in the morning sky. At dawn\, Saturn is abou
t half way up in the SSW. Saturn's rings ate tilted 5° from edgewise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050741Z
UID:77515B7B-87B1-4259-9BAF-76BAF71BD1AA
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091230
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Can you see both Jupiter and Mars at the same time? Try looking
about three and a half hours after sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091229
DTSTAMP:20100108T050741Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Jupiter will be setting in the WSW when Mars is rising in th
e ENE. Both will be very close to the horizon. The two planets are 173°
apart.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050746Z
UID:B1A7950B-7816-4DAF-88C0-22D0FF746CEF
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091229
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing gibbous Moon passes very close to the Pleiades star c
luster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091228
DTSTAMP:20100108T050746Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:For observers in the eastern part of North America\, some of
the stars of the Pleiades cluster will be occulted by the Moon. Use bin
oculars to see the stars next to the bright Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050748Z
UID:0E45B719-18B0-4282-96FE-CC2055067C7A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091228
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Saturn are 45° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091227
DTSTAMP:20100108T050748Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for both planets in the morning sky. At dawn Saturn is
in the south and Mars is in the WSW. Mars rises in the ENE about 3 hours
after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100108T050750Z
UID:D2140CAA-CB4B-420C-AB7C-EF3785F3A516
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20091227
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is in the southwest an hour after sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20091226
DTSTAMP:20100108T050750Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is 33.5° to the lower right of Jupiter. Mercury is f
ading in brightness fast as it moves to its inferior conjunction on the
4th of January. How many more evenings can you spot Mercury?
Please send any comments\, suggestions\, or questions to
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100109T055907Z
UID:764CC9F9-CE8A-4C48-A675-1B28FD66C80F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100113
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:An old thin crescent Moon is low in the southeast at dawn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100112
DTSTAMP:20100109T055907Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Mercury 45 minutes before sunrise. Mer
cury is about 15° to the lower left of the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100109T055915Z
UID:83FB8E3D-57B6-483A-BDB8-D29D7A4DF24A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100112
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The thin waning crescent Moon passes very close to the star Anta
res.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100111
DTSTAMP:20100109T055915Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Antares about 45 minutes before sunris
e\, low in the southeast. For observers in the northeast states\, The Mo
on will occult the star. Venus is at superior conjunction today. Venus w
ill emerge from behind the Sun and move into the evening sky by mid Febr
uary.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100112T011523Z
UID:6755F04F-F148-4E5F-A7AB-533B18F99493
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100114
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A very thin old crescent Moon is to the lower right of Mercury.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100113
DTSTAMP:20100112T011523Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the crescent and Mercury very low at dawn in the so
utheast. Binoculars will help you spot the Moon\, 45 minutes before sunr
ise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100113T034338Z
UID:99E9776D-5BD5-4271-9DC7-1B7A88854402
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100117
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A young crescent Moon is to the lower right of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100116
DTSTAMP:20100113T034338Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the very thin waxing crescent about 16° to the lowe
r right of bright Jupiter in the WSW evening sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100113T034348Z
UID:01AA11E8-B96D-4DEA-8CC5-D561C20531A8
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100116
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The New Moon passes in front of the Sun forming an annular eclip
se.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100115
DTSTAMP:20100113T034348Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The eclipse won't be visible from North America. The best pl
ace to view the eclipse is from the Indian Ocean. During an annular ecli
pse\, the Moon is farther from the Earth than usual\, so the Moon appear
s a bit smaller than the Sun. The result is a ring of sunlight around th
e Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100113T034358Z
UID:334F0EB9-E332-4A7A-8B8D-4EEBFF51438E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100115
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn starts moving retrograde.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100114
DTSTAMP:20100113T034358Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Saturn 20° WNW of the star Spica in Virgo. Saturn w
ill move 7° farther west by May 30 when is stops moving retrograde.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100115T183815Z
UID:86D25DF6-FA40-464A-BF3A-528793B63ACE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100119
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crescent Moon is above Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100118
DTSTAMP:20100115T183815Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the pair in the WSW at dusk. Look for earthshine. E
arthshine is the faint glow that illuminates the dark side of the Moon.
It's caused by sunlight reflecting off the Earth and onto the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100115T183819Z
UID:7CEF8486-5381-4BC8-A1E9-D19F5AD1178C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100118
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The thin crescent Moon is to the lower right of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100117
DTSTAMP:20100115T183819Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the pair in the WSW at dusk. Jupiter is shining bri
ght at -2nd magnitude. Neptune\, at 8th magnitude\, is to the lower left
of the Moon\, but requires a telescope to be seen.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100119T053912Z
UID:230929F5-8CBB-4CA0-8E71-8974859A2E1F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100120
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing crescent Moon is about 20° above and to the left of J
upiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100119
DTSTAMP:20100119T053912Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the WSW after dark for the Moon. Uranus is about 6°
to the left of the Moon. Uranus looks like a 6th magnitude star as seen
through binoculars. Uranus is in the faint constellation of Pisces the F
ish.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100120T185645Z
UID:9A830B96-0AEF-4285-B9A1-C8CD92B52E7B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100123
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is very low in the southeast at dawn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100122
DTSTAMP:20100120T185645Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mercury about 30° to the lower left of the star Ant
ares in Scorpius. Also part of the morning sky are the planets Mars and
Saturn. Mars is low in the WNW. Saturn is half way up in the southwest a
t dawn.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100120T185648Z
UID:E9EB66A5-285E-447A-BC82-5F13AE9C08CB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100122
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Jupiter are both about 10° above the horizon\, an hour
and a half after sunset.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100121
DTSTAMP:20100120T185648Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is in the ENE. Jupiter is in the WSW.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100120T185651Z
UID:31F43DD4-DA9C-4898-AF89-78B5B0BFBDAC
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100121
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is a waxing crescent.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100120
DTSTAMP:20100120T185651Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The triple crater grouping of Theophilus\, Cyrillus and Cath
arina are visible near the lunar terminator. Look with binoculars or a t
elescope to see the three 60 mile diameter impact craters. About 200 mil
es north of the three craters is the Apollo 11 landing site.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100127T070827Z
UID:2A182CE2-2EE6-4390-AB4A-9155866708E8
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100130
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is at opposition.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100129
DTSTAMP:20100127T070827Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Opposition is when a planet is on the opposite side of the s
ky from the Sun. The red planet is shining bright at -1.3 magnitude. Wat
ch the planet rise around sunset and set around sunrise. This opposition
is not as favorable as the perihelic opposition of 2003. The next close
opposition of Mars is in 2018.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100127T070833Z
UID:35A4D32A-6831-444E-8C36-545E23F3924C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100129
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The nearly full Moon is near the twin stars Castor and Pollux in
Gemini.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100128
DTSTAMP:20100127T070833Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Aim a telescope or binoculars at the Moon and look for the l
unar rays. Rays are spoke-like lines radiating from some of the Moon's c
raters. The crater Tycho has one of the best ray systems. Rays are best
seen around the time of full Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100127T070836Z
UID:6D31E36D-36F3-4E1F-9C97-2ED180992DE8
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100128
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mercury is at greatest elongation.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100127
DTSTAMP:20100127T070836Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mercury is 25° west of the Sun. Look for Mercury low in the
southeast at dawn. Mars is at its closest approach to the Earth at 2 p.m
. EST. The red planet is 0.664 AU or 61.7 million miles from the Earth.
Mars is at opposition on Friday\, January 29th.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100127T070839Z
UID:5A524AC9-ECD4-405D-BCDF-AE994FA5998A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100127
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Mars are at opposition to each other.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100126
DTSTAMP:20100127T070839Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:They are 180° apart in celestial longitude. Mars is easy to
see rising in the ENE soon after sunset. Venus is only 4° to the upper l
eft of the setting Sun. Venus sets just 13 minutes after the Sun. Binocu
lars and a clear WSW horizon may let you find Venus very low in the brig
ht twilight.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100127T070842Z
UID:1C66D8EC-7928-4242-B0F8-47DABBD02F87
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100126
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing gibbous Moon is east of the Pleiades star cluster and
north of the star Aldebaran.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100125
DTSTAMP:20100127T070842Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:A prominent feature on the Moon tonight is Sinus Iridum or t
he Bay of Rainbows. It's a semicircular formation on the edge of the Sea
of Rains. The Jura mountains form the northwestern side of the bay.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100127T070844Z
UID:7FAEA5B0-4EC0-4D04-9B26-0B9A9C1E375B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100125
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter and Mars are 160° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100124
DTSTAMP:20100127T070844Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for both at the same time in the evening twilight. Mars
will be rising in the ENE. Jupiter will be setting in the WSW. The waxi
ng gibbous Moon is west of the Pleiades star cluster.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100127T070847Z
UID:5997B5AB-221B-45B2-AD1E-CEB52DD1D09F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100124
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is a bit past First Quarter this evening.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100123
DTSTAMP:20100127T070847Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Two fine looking craters are near the lunar terminator. Plat
o with its smooth flat bottom and Eratosthenes near the Apennine Mountai
ns. The Straight Wall is also visible on the Moon tonight. The Straight
Wall is about 70 miles long. It appears as a thin dark line.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100129T191016Z
UID:B62ABF91-1517-40D1-9924-CFCB3D73222D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100131
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is at perigee\, the point in its orbit closest to the E
arth.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100130
DTSTAMP:20100129T191016Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:At 4 a.m. EST the Moon will be 221\,577 miles from Earth. Th
e Moon is full at 1:18 a.m. EST. This will be the closest Full Moon of t
he year. The Moon will appear 14% larger than the average Full Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100204T200849Z
UID:FF4BBA6C-5D23-4D3C-86CA-A8366AB7916E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100206
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:This week and next week are good times to look for the Zodiacal
Light. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100205
DTSTAMP:20100204T200849Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look in the late evening sky about two to three hours after
sunset. The Zodiacal Light will appear as a faint glow rising from the w
estern horizon. A very clear and dark sky is needed to observe this fain
t glow. It's caused by interplanetary dust in the plane of the solar sys
tem reflecting sunlight.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100204T200853Z
UID:047A6760-59D2-4272-AF31-E04F03913C2D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100205
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is 3° north of the Beehive star cluster. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100204
DTSTAMP:20100204T200853Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The red planet and the star cluster make a great view in bin
oculars. Look for Mars and the Beehive around midnight when they are hig
h overhead. Mars is moving retrograde past the Beehive. It will pass the
Beehive again in mid April when mars moves prograde.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100204T200857Z
UID:EB1A9B1F-6831-400D-9583-5DED353CC5FB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100204
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon in the morning sky is to the lower left of Saturn. (Use
Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100203
DTSTAMP:20100204T200857Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Saturn and the Moon one hour before sunrise in the
southwest. At the same time\, Mercury will be very low in the sky\, near
the ESE horizon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100204T200900Z
UID:FADB9E23-9E70-4148-A73F-7F2D6540C248
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100203
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is to the lower right of the planet Satu
rn. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100202
DTSTAMP:20100204T200900Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:At dawn look for Saturn and the Moon in the southwest. Look
for the pair again in the late evening in the east. The Moon will rise a
bout 5 hours after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100204T200903Z
UID:19529EF0-F6A4-4D06-9A0D-E0B31ABD0F4D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100202
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:In the morning sky\, look for Mercury\, Saturn and Mars. (Use S
how Info in the View menu or in older iCal versions the Notes tab in the
Inspector for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100201
DTSTAMP:20100204T200903Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The three planets span 159° across the sky. Mercury will be
low in the southeast. Saturn is a third the way up in the WSW. Mars is l
ow in the WNW. The waning gibbous Moon is about 20° to the lower right o
f Saturn.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams Planetarium Night Sky
Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web site that we use to k
eep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky. Check back often to
find out what's new and visible in our ever changing sky. As we learn ab
out something new\, we'll post it to this page as soon as we can. If you
like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS link below. The posts w
ill automatically show up in your news aggregator or feed reader.\nIf yo
u would like more detailed information including star charts\, check out
our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'll get 12 issues maile
d to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help support the Abrams Planeta
rium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100204T200907Z
UID:F12EE381-0D06-4D6A-B735-B5E2366A5109
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100201
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is near the star Regulus in Leo the Lion
.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100131
DTSTAMP:20100204T200907Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon will rise a little more than two hours after sunset
.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054043Z
UID:916EEC99-553A-4F2D-9FD9-7D0051B8EF46
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100215
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The very young thin crescent Moon is to the left of Venus and Ju
piter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100214
DTSTAMP:20100212T054044Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look low in the WSW 20 minutes after sunset. Binoculars will
help you find the Moon\, Venus and Jupiter in the bright evening twilig
ht. The Moon will be about 20 to 21 hours old for observers on the east
coast\, 23 hours old for west coast observers. Tomorrow's Moon will be e
asier to spot.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054133Z
UID:D2410110-A36C-4A39-BBAC-537114567E01
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100214
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Jupiter are 3.2° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100213
DTSTAMP:20100212T054133Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the pair in the bright evening twilight\, 20 minute
s after sunset. Jupiter and Venus are low in the WSW. Jupiter is droppin
g lower in the sky each day. Venus is climbing higher. The two will be a
t their closest to each other on the 16th.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054414Z
UID:5E6DB47E-0656-464C-A3E4-0724024E3BA1
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100213
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The very old thin crescent Moon is to the left of Mercury very l
ow in the ESE.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100212
DTSTAMP:20100212T054414Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Binoculars will aid in seeing this hairline thin Moon. Look
40 minutes before sunrise. The Moon is at apogee\, the most distant apog
ee of the year. The Moon is 252\,612 miles from Earth.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054728Z
UID:972A4F5C-4227-467D-A5F6-AD1E618FC228
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100212
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:An old thin crescent Moon is to the upper right of Mercury.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100211
DTSTAMP:20100212T054728Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mercury and the Moon very low in the ESE\, 40 minut
es before sunrise.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054733Z
UID:870EF183-F2FC-4A0C-A917-A8C6651C0FF9
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100211
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Asteroid Vesta is approaching opposition.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100210
DTSTAMP:20100212T054733Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Start looking for it in the evening sky. It's in the constel
lation of Leo and can be seen with binoculars. Vesta is now about 6th ma
gnitude. The asteroid Vesta will pass between Gamma Leonis and 40-Leonis
on Feb 15-16. Vesta is at opposition on the 18th of February.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054740Z
UID:542EE843-927B-4BDA-BF10-6BDE8A1622BC
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100210
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter and Mars are 150° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100209
DTSTAMP:20100212T054740Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Jupiter 45 minutes after sunset\, low in the WSW. M
ars will be a quarter of the way up in the east. The mid part of this mo
nth will be the last chance to see both Jupiter and Mars simultaneously
until August. Jupiter is dropping fast into the glare of the evening twi
light.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054745Z
UID:8B9CB0CC-31FC-4892-BEB5-F38E6660FF92
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100209
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars is still about 3° north of the Beehive star cluster in Canc
er the Crab.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100208
DTSTAMP:20100212T054745Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look at Mars and the cluster in the late evening sky. Binocu
lars show many stars in this cluster. The Beehive\, also known as the Pr
aesepe or Manger\, is about 500 light-years away. Galileo looked at the
Beehive with his telescope 400 years ago and saw at least 40 stars.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054755Z
UID:4F285A43-2AE6-4244-8BB9-FBAEB6986007
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100208
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is to the upper right of the star Antar
es.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100207
DTSTAMP:20100212T054755Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Antares in the SSE morning sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100212T054758Z
UID:31CF5F91-6CFA-41D5-AC46-D9D2FD4557C6
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100207
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is 10° to the lower right of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100206
DTSTAMP:20100212T054758Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Try to find Venus in the early bright twilight. Venus sets l
ess than 30 minutes after the Sun. Look for Venus with binoculars 15 min
utes after sunset. Venus will be in the WSW\, very close to the horizon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100217T043223Z
UID:DCC2AD4C-BE47-4A71-8CFB-51A13676423B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100219
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is now 2° to the lower right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100218
DTSTAMP:20100217T043224Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the pair low in the WSW. Use binoculars. This may b
e the last chance to see Jupiter in the evening twilight. Look about 15
minutes after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100217T043238Z
UID:5EDA9DC4-0EB4-4DEB-9697-8231686C89D2
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100218
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Vesta is at opposition tonight\, a little after midnight.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100217
DTSTAMP:20100217T043238Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the minor planet 4-Vesta in the constellation of Le
o the Lion. Vesta is about 6th magnitude. It's forming a compact triangl
e with the stars Gamma Leonis and 40 Leonis in "the sickle". Gamma Leoni
s is also known as Algieba. The next opposition of Vesta will be in Augu
st of 2011.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100217T043243Z
UID:DDF89588-E404-4323-A495-9652B57A5FCB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100217
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus passes within 0.6° south of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100216
DTSTAMP:20100217T043243Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the pair of bright planets in the early evening twi
light. Venus and Jupiter will be low in the WSW. Look about 23° below th
e waxing crescent Moon. In the coming days and weeks\, Venus will be eas
ier to see. Jupiter is dropping lower each day\, moving behind the Sun b
y the end of the month.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100217T043250Z
UID:5C97A99A-530A-460E-A2CD-454E1D0DB9DD
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100216
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus is 1.2° below Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100215
DTSTAMP:20100217T043250Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Use the thin crescent Moon to help find the pair of planets
in the bright early twilight. Jupiter and Venus are about 12° below the
Moon. Look about 20 minutes after sunset\, low in the WSW sky.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100217T043259Z
UID:8087DC37-BBAB-499B-B8F8-2FF30B3FC431
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100215
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The very young thin crescent Moon is to the left of Venus (the g
oddess of love) and Jupiter (the king of the gods).
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100214
DTSTAMP:20100217T043259Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look low in the WSW 20 minutes after sunset. Binoculars will
help you find the Moon\, Venus and Jupiter in the bright evening twilig
ht. The Moon will be about 20 to 21 hours old for observers on the east
coast\, 23 hours old for west coast observers. Tomorrow's Moon will be e
asier to spot.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100218T052219Z
UID:619D0124-4941-44A0-A3B0-9C2A15326BC9
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100220
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Jupiter is now 3° to the lower right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100219
DTSTAMP:20100218T052220Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the pair low in the WSW. Use binoculars. Look about
15 minutes after sunset. Jupiter may be too low to see as it gets lost
in the bright evening twilight. The waxing crescent Moon is near the st
ars of the constellation Aries the Ram.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100219T184521Z
UID:F3BB5477-F537-43F0-81FC-FF040AC28509
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100222
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The First Quarter Moon is closely to the east of the Pleiades st
ar cluster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100221
DTSTAMP:20100219T184521Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the lower right of the Moon for the star cluster.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100219T184526Z
UID:6DEC3C17-FD82-46C6-B1A9-96CA5A0BF59F
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100221
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The crescent Moon is to the west of the Pleiades star cluster.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100220
DTSTAMP:20100219T184526Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the upper left of the Moon for the star cluster.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100220T041058Z
UID:2B0EFD37-6A6C-49B9-A9D5-16698A0EB6D9
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100223
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing gibbous Moon is near the horns of Taurus the Bull.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100222
DTSTAMP:20100220T041058Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The Moon is at its most north for the month. The crater Cope
rnicus is near the lunar terminator and easily visible in a small telesc
ope or binoculars.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100223T192326Z
UID:890B73A2-2410-488A-92A1-F824025CE6E3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100226
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waxing gibbous Moon is about 5° south of Mars.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100225
DTSTAMP:20100223T192326Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look closely at the Moon with binoculars or a telescope and
find the Aristarchus crater region. The crater Aristarchus is one of the
brightest lunar features. It has nearly twice the albedo of most other
craters. Aristarchus is about 30 miles in diameter.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100223T192331Z
UID:AE489AB7-34CF-4E69-A856-6B9107B22ABE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100225
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Mars are 135° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100224
DTSTAMP:20100223T192331Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus low in the WSW 20 minutes after sunset. Mars
will be easy to see as the sky darkens. Mars is in the east below the st
ars Castor and Pollux in Gemini.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100223T192336Z
UID:1FF6A740-E053-46CB-81F7-AA4A043203D6
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100224
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus sets about 50 minutes after the Sun sets.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100223
DTSTAMP:20100223T192336Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Venus very low in the WSW 20 minutes after sunset.
Saturn rises in the east about an hour and ten minutes after sunset. At
dusk Mars is about half way up in the east. Watch these three planets th
rough the spring and summer as they converge. Mars\, Venus and Saturn wi
ll form a tight trio in the western evening sky in early August.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100225T030134Z
UID:A0AFA776-6FFC-4BFE-9EBA-02AA388EF30D
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100227
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn's rings are tilted 4° from edgewise.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100226
DTSTAMP:20100225T030134Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The tilt of the rings will decrease through the spring. By M
ay\, the ring tilt will be just 1.7°. After May the rings will start to
open again. Look for Saturn to rise in the east less than two hours afte
r sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100226T175343Z
UID:ED0AD5D7-1EAA-434B-BEB2-E14DAEBC3767
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100302
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is near Saturn. (Use Show Info in the View menu or in
older iCal versions the Notes tab in the Inspector for more details.)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100301
DTSTAMP:20100226T175343Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon and Saturn to rise in the east about two h
ours after the Sun sets.\n\nThese entries are from the new Abrams Planet
arium Night Sky Notes \nThe Night Sky Notes is a place on our web site t
hat we use to keep skywatchers up to date on what's up in the sky. Check
back often to find out what's new and visible in our ever changing sky.
As we learn about something new\, we'll post it to this page as soon as
we can. If you like to subscribe to news feeds\, click the RSS link bel
ow. The posts will automatically show up in your news aggregator or feed
reader.\nIf you would like more detailed information including star cha
rts\, check out our Sky Calendar. For just $11.00 per year\, you'll get
12 issues mailed to you. Proceeds from the Sky Calendar help support the
Abrams Planetarium and Night Sky Notes.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100226T175349Z
UID:22D6382F-B49F-42E5-B946-852FAEE7A44E
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100301
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Full Moon will rise in the east about 25 minutes after sunse
t.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100228
DTSTAMP:20100226T175349Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:When the Full Moon is close to the horizon\, people often pe
rceive is to be larger than it is when it's high in the sky. The big moo
n is just an illusion. Look for the big moon illusion around moonrise to
night. Jupiter is at conjunction with the Sun. It re-emerges from behind
the Sun in the dawn sky late next month.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100226T175353Z
UID:F4D1668C-EF37-4CDD-A62E-FF55F8C4E3CB
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100228
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The Moon is at perigee\, 222\,345 miles from the Earth.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100227
DTSTAMP:20100226T175353Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:This is the 3rd closest perigee of the year. Tonight and tom
orrow\, look for a big Full Moon in the east around sunset. Tonight the
star Regulus is near the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100303T072102Z
UID:AACB136A-2997-4BE2-92F1-D256748F7EB3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100304
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Venus are 125° apart. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100303
DTSTAMP:20100303T072102Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Over the next several month\, watch as the distance between
Mars and Venus shrinks. In early August\, Mars\, Saturn and Venus will c
onverge into a group less than 5° apart. Venus is now setting an hour af
ter sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100303T072105Z
UID:2C75851D-8A3E-408E-9566-A9D707B6387C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100303
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars and Saturn are 62° apart. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100302
DTSTAMP:20100303T072105Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Over the next several month\, watch as the distance between
Mars and Saturn shrinks. In early August\, Mars\, Saturn and Venus will
converge into a group less than 5° apart. Saturn is now rising before th
e end of astronomical twilight. Look for Saturn to rise in the east an h
our and a half after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100304T063155Z
UID:182E7B60-7A00-4A12-B157-B5FCE50A91EE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100306
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The distance between Mars and Earth is increasing. (Use Show Inf
o)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100305
DTSTAMP:20100304T063155Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Mars is now 74 million miles from the Earth. By the end of M
arch\, the red planet will be 94 million miles distant. This 20 million
mile change will cause Mars to dim a bit in our skies. Compare the brigh
tness of Mars today with the view at the end of the month. Look at other
nearby stars as brightness references. The stars Pollux and Castor in G
emini are just to the west of the red planet Mars.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100304T063201Z
UID:4D62A044-EDB9-411E-B8E7-52DEDD14B2C4
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100305
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Leo is easily visible in the east after dark. (Use Show Info)
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100304
DTSTAMP:20100304T063201Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Leo is a sign of spring. When Leo is seen in the evening sky
\, one knows spring is not too far away. Look for the 1st magnitude star
Regulus which marks the dot at the bottom of the backwards question mar
k shape known as the Sickle.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100305T053333Z
UID:02052F43-04D0-487C-9735-755B5553C3B8
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100307
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning gibbous Moon is near the head of the Scorpion.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100306
DTSTAMP:20100305T053333Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:In the morning\, look for the star Antares to the left of th
e Moon. Two craters that are easily visible on the Moon with a telescope
this morning are Aristoteles and Eudoxus. Aristoteles and Eudoxus were
named after the ancient Greek scientists Eudoxus of Cnidus and Aristotle
\, both who were students of Plato. Plato also has a lunar crater named
after him. It's to the left of the craters Aristoteles and Eudoxus.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043648Z
UID:5452FA5C-40A2-4A6C-B3AE-0669C4101FD6
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100316
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Saturn are about 170° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100315
DTSTAMP:20100314T043648Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for both planets on opposite horizons. Venus is low in
the west. Saturn is low in the east. Try and see both at the same time.
Look 45 minutes after sunset.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043655Z
UID:BBFFEC3F-6734-4E25-BAA2-24345DE05289
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100315
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:March 14th is Pi Day.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100314
DTSTAMP:20100314T043655Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Tradition says you should eat a pie today. A very thin old M
oon is very low in the east at dawn. Look for the Moon about 30 minutes
before sunrise. The Moon will be just 2% illuminated. Binoculars will he
lp you find this old Moon. Mercury is at superior conjunction. Daylight
Saving Time begins in the USA.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043659Z
UID:57430968-D49E-4E77-94AF-BBE7AC9CA90A
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100314
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A thin old Moon is low in the east at dawn.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100313
DTSTAMP:20100314T043659Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon about 45 minutes before sunrise. The moon
will be only 5% illuminated.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043703Z
UID:C50D9317-BDBE-4E51-981D-DE926A04A3CE
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100313
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:A thin waning crescent Moon is low in the ESE an hour before sun
rise.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100312
DTSTAMP:20100314T043703Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Can you see the earthshine? Earthshine is the faint light th
at illuminates the dark side of the Moon. It is caused by sunlight refle
cting off the Earth and onto the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043708Z
UID:6A500B2A-829F-4A03-A5A3-72673C7F4F52
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100312
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is low in the southeast an hour before
sunrise.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100311
DTSTAMP:20100314T043708Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The bright crater Aristarchus is visible with a small telesc
ope near the lunar terminator. Aristarchus is one of the brightest crate
rs on the Moon. Its albedo is nearly double that of most lunar features.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043712Z
UID:F7C61609-2D93-4A5C-839A-F30115043E67
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100311
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Mars ends its retrograde motion.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100310
DTSTAMP:20100314T043712Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Since December 2009\, Mars has been moving west to east. Tod
ay it will start moving east to west. Mars is now at its minimum distanc
e from the star Pollux in Gemini\, 7.5°.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043716Z
UID:923D04AD-88E3-40A6-9E13-AE12BD13C613
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100310
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The waning crescent Moon is in the dawn sky.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100309
DTSTAMP:20100314T043716Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the Moon among the stars of Sagittarius. The crater
Copernicus is visible near the lunar terminator through a small telesco
pe or binoculars. Copernicus is about 56 miles in diameter. That's a lit
tle bit more than half the size of the big island of Hawaii.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043721Z
UID:99A24E5A-E6B6-4F61-B571-814E7E817CAC
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100309
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Saturn rises just about five minutes before Venus sets.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100308
DTSTAMP:20100314T043721Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Soon you will be able to see both simultaneously as the plan
ets converge. On what date will you first see them both at the same time
? Venus and Saturn are moving closer towards each other and will pass in
August of this year.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100314T043725Z
UID:705DB97D-DBB5-4E24-9AB1-05D8AB3D0667
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100308
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Mars are 120° apart.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100307
DTSTAMP:20100314T043725Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for Mars high in the ESE at dusk. Venus is very low in
the west at the same time. The two planets are moving closer to each oth
er by about a degree each day.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100318T210011Z
UID:4A88066A-FF1E-4852-8AC1-E5E7B52A4FD8
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100320
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus and Saturn are getting easier to spot simultaneously.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100319
DTSTAMP:20100318T210011Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Venus is sets in the west about and hour and twenty minutes
after Saturn rises in the east. From now until late May\, Venus and Satu
rn appear higher each evening at the same stage of twilight.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100318T210016Z
UID:235B33D2-A59F-41D6-AEAA-3F45B100640C
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100319
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The three day old crescent moon is smiling in the west after sun
set.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100318
DTSTAMP:20100318T210016Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:The stars to the left of the Moon are the stars of the const
ellation Aries the Ram. Venus is about 20° below the crescent Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100318T210022Z
UID:A7B0C863-10A0-48A7-9D79-E5E0685486C5
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100318
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The thin crescent moon is to the upper right of Venus.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100317
DTSTAMP:20100318T210022Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look to the west after sunset. Try and see the "old Moon in
the young Moon's arms" also known as earthshine. Earthshine is the faint
light the lights up the dark side of the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100318T210027Z
UID:E11AC0BC-6AC2-4A77-A61B-CB0777D50CC3
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100317
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:The young Moon is low in the west.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100316
DTSTAMP:20100318T210027Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look 45 minutes after sunset. The hairline thin Moon is to t
he right of Venus. Binoculars will help you see the Moon.
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
CREATED:20100319T041842Z
UID:55606E37-096D-4B35-A4A1-E7CC77EA1D0B
URL;VALUE=URI:http://www.pa.msu.edu/abrams/nightskynotes/index.php
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20100217
TRANSP:TRANSPARENT
SUMMARY:Venus passes within 0.6° south of Jupiter.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20100216
DTSTAMP:20100319T041842Z
SEQUENCE:7
DESCRIPTION:Look for the pair of bright planets in the early evening twi
light. Venus and Jupiter will be low in the WSW. Look about 23° below th
e waxing crescent Moon. In the coming days and weeks\, Venus will be eas
ier to see. Jupiter is dropping lower each day\, moving behind the Sun b
y the end of the month.
Please send any comments\,
suggestions\, or questions to
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR