Thursday, May 27, 2010

Izar

The constellation Bootes is in the east at nightfall. Its brightest star is brilliant yellow-orange Arcturus. To the left of Arcturus is fainter Izar. A telescope reveals that Izar is really two stars, one of which is orange, the other blue-white.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Saturn appears

The planet Saturn appears near the Moon tonight. They are high in the south at sunset, with Saturn above the Moon. It looks like a bright golden star.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Friday, May 21, 2010

Scorpius

Scorpius, the scorpion, is entering prime evening viewing time. Its brightest star, Antares, rises about an hour after sunset, with the scorpion's "stinger" following about an hour later. Look for bright orange Antares low in the southeast around 10 p.m.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Mars is in good view tonight

The planet Mars is in good view tonight. It stands above the Moon as night falls this evening, and follows the Moon down the sky. Mars looks like a bright orange star.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Plenty of bright stars

Plenty of bright stars twinkle across the sky tonight. As it gets dark, for example, Vega is climbing into view in the northeast, with yellow-orange Arcturus high in the east-southeast, and the twins of Gemini to the right of the Moon.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Monday, May 17, 2010

Corona Borealis

Corona Borealis, the northern crown, soars high across the sky tonight. It is fairly low in the northeast at sunset, but stands high overhead around midnight. Although its individual stars are modest, combined they form a striking semicircle, like a crown.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Saturday, May 15, 2010

evening star

Venus, the dazzling "evening star," stands to the upper left of the Moon this evening. A star known as El Nath, "the butting one," is about the same distance to the Moon's upper right. It represents the tip of one of the horns of Taurus, the bull.

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

ISS Tonight

15 May -3.3 20:30:46 WNW 81

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

the combined light of millions of stars

Although it is the combined light of millions of stars, the Milky Way is so faint that almost any artificial light source blocks the view. To see the Milky Way, get away from city lights, then look low in the east not long after twilight ends.

ISS Tonight

12 May -2.2 20:53:07 NW 38

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Alkaid

The star at the tip of the Big Dipper's handle, Alkaid, is 100 light-years away, so the light you see from the star tonight began its journey in 1910. Alkaid is much larger, brighter, and heavier than the Sun, and has a bluer color.

ISS Tonight

9 May -1.7 22:48:44 WNW 34

Sunday, May 2, 2010

ISS Tonight

2 May -1.6 21:09:45 W 34

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill

Saturday, May 1, 2010

ISS Tonight

1 May -3.3 20:47:08 WSW 80

- Quads, hailing from Grand Marsh Observatory atop Elk Castle Hill