Tag Archives: open star cluster

Mars, the Pleiades and the Hyades

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   The planet Mars has been steadily orbiting eastward and is currently moving past the open star cluster the Pleiades. On Wednesday evening March 3rd Mars will be at its closest to the Pleiades coming within about 3-4o from the open star cluster as it passes by.
   Mars and the Pleiades on March 2nd.
click on picture to see it larger   Mars near the Pleiades and the Hyades on March 3rd.
   Mars near the Pleiades and the Hyades on March 4th.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.

Moon on the Move – Always

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   Over the next few evenings the waxing gibbous Moon will move eastward passing by the open star cluster known as the Beehive Cluster this evening and then in a couple of days, as a full Moon, will be close to the heart of Leo the Lion the star Regulus.
   While the Moon may be close to the open star cluster the waxing gibbous Moon with its considerably greater apparent magnitude will outshine the star cluster making it not visible. Wait a few days and then aim your binoculars or low power eyepiece for a better view.

   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.

February Moon at Ascending Node

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   Saturday February 20th the 9-day old waxing gibbous Moon will be crossing the plane of the ecliptic moving north. This is known as the ascending node, one of two intersections the Moon’s orbital path has with the ecliptic. The ecliptic is actually the Earth’s orbit, and the Moon’s orbit is inclined about 6o from the ecliptic. So there are two node intersections, the ascending and descending nodes.

   On the day of the node crossing the 9-day old waxing gibbous Moon will be over the southwestern horizon later during the evening after sunset local time. Watch for the Moon to be about 8o from the reddish star Aldebaran in the open star cluster the Hyades in Taurus the Bull.

   Does our Moon actually go around the Earth as many graphics show? From our perspective on the Earth the Moon appears to circle around the Earth. However, in reality, the Moon orbits the Sun together with the Earth*
*Click here to read my Scope on the Sky column “The Real Shape of the Moon’s Orbit”. (PDF)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.

Take a Deep Dive into Deep Space

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   Take a deep dive into deep space at the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys web site. This is an interactive display using a 10 trillion pixel composite picture of much of the night sky, based on different imaging data sets to create the image. The zoom-in is incredible as the billions of points of light resolve into galaxies, nebulae and other deep sky objects. Some of the datasets even show a spectral display. There are a number of ways to interact with the images including a way to flip back and forth between two images to watch for any objects in motion. Clicking on the screen will bring up options for joining a forum to ask or discuss what you are viewing. There are links to other information about that object or part of the sky.
   The video is a short tour of around Taurus and Orion.

   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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A Missouri Morning with the ISS

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   This morning opened up with a colorful sunrise as the background for the ISS as it orbited toward the southeast. High overhead toward the south was the near last quarter Moon brightening the sky in that direction. However this was not a morning for taking pictures of the Moon.
   Right on time the ISS appeared over the northwest horizon and steadily moved past Polaris, the North Star, then past the Big Dipper’s Dipper heading toward the star Arcturus in Bootes the Herdsman. On its way toward the southeastern horizon the ISS went past Venus, Mercury and the star Spica in Virgo the Harvest Maiden.
   While waiting and taking random pictures in different directions I managed to catch a Taurid Meteor!

   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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the Moon and the Beehive Cluster

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   During the early morning hours of November 7th and 8th our Moon, as it wanes from gibbous to last quarter, will be passing by M-44, an open star cluster. M-44 is also known as the Beehive Cluster, and is located within the constellation Cancer the Crab.

   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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Moon Faces Off With Taurus

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   Monday evening November 2nd the 17-day old waning gibbous Moon will be alongside the open star cluster the Hyades, a v-shaped group of stars making up the face of Taurus the Bull. The ‘angry eye’ of the Bull, the reddish star Aldebaran, is about 2-3o from the Moon.

   Look for Mars off to the west from the Moon, and Jupiter and Saturn further west over the southwestern horizon.

   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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Moon and the 7 Sisters

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   Sunday evening November 1st the 16-day old waning gibbous Moon will be about 5-6o from the open star cluster the Pleiades, also known as the ‘Seven Sisters’.
   Look for Mars off to the west from the Moon, and Jupiter and Saturn over the southwestern horizon.

   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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Moon May Get Stung!

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   Sunday morning October 11th the 23.6-day old waning crescent Moon will be about 2o from the open star cluster M-44, also known as the ‘Beehive Cluster‘. This is a group of a few hundred stars located within the constellation Cancer the Crab.
click on graphic to see it larger
   Despite the large difference in apparent magnitude (Moon: -11.4 : Beehive Cluster: 3.4) The Beehive Cluster could still be visible with an optical aid or camera.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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Last Night Had It’s Hang-ups!

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   Last evening was another opportunity to image the ISS as it passed over my part of the world. So I did!
   While out in the backyard I aimed my camera nearly straight up to get a picture of one of my favorite parts of the sky. This is near the star Altair in the constellation Aquila the Eagle. Near Altair is the ‘tiny’ constellation of Delphinus the Dolphin. Looking further upward from the kite or diamond-shape stars there is another smaller constellation, Sagitta the Arrow.
   If you find Sagitta use the two stars at the end as ‘pointer stars’ and they will direct your eyes to a neat little star cluster, Brocchi’s Custer, also known as the Coathanger Cluster.

   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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