Hey, Space Placers!
Be sure to enjoy the sky show in the West tonight after sunset as the 3.7 day-old Waxing Crescent Moon and Jupiter will be three degrees apart.
If you have binoculars the celestial pair are worth checking out. You will see the ghostly glow of Earthshine on the Moon and many craters s along the terminator.
Viewing Jupiter with binocs Jupiter will show you the four main moons of Jupiter. Use this tool to identify the moons you are observing.
If you have a clear view of the Western horizon try for the planet Mercury. It will be a bright yellow-ish "star" directly below and slightly to the right of Jupiter and the Moon about a fist-width above the horizon.
Try taking a photo with your smartphone.
If you are in the path of totality on April 8th, the Moon and Jupiter will be visible again along with Saturn, Mars, Mercury and quite possibly Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. The Comet will be very near Jupiter which will be a convenient marker to spot the Comet.
Dave Weixelman used SkySafari to create this simulated view looking south from southern Texas during totality on April 8. 2024. The image also shows the predicted orientation of Comet Pons-Brooks’ tail, at an angle of 68° from celestial north.
CREDIT: Dave Weixelman (highsierraimaging.com) via Astronomy Magazine
Wishing you clear skies!
Sky Guy in VA
No comments:
Post a Comment