Astronomy Buffs Please Help!

[Muffit]

Hey there! Any astronomy buffs among us? I have a couple questions.

One, I saw my first shooting star last night -- was that a meteor shower? Which one?

And my main question, on Tuesday evening around 9:00PM very near the full moon there was this BRILLIANT reddish star (south in the sky). It's been out every night for the past weeks but was really obvious Tuesday. Anybody know what it is? Is it a planet??? Wish I had a telescope but all I have is binocs :(.

Thanks for any help!!! :D
:muffit:

[Dawg]

I am not an astronomy buff, Muffit, but I think I know the answer.

The Persiedes (sp?) is a large bunch of meteors that the Earth passes through periodically (at least annually). I read that we're going to see them in the latter half of this month.

In general, shooting stars are meteors. In recent history, though, they are also old satellites, Space Lab, and other debris we've left in orbit.

And watch out for the reeeely big ones - those are asteroids, and could ruin your whole day.

The red star is Mars. We're the closest we've been to the red planet in 60,000 years - this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event. Go look at it again tonight, and show your kids, too - they'll never see it this close again.

Not bad for somebody who never goes outside, huh? ;)

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[jjrakman]

Tha shining read star, depending on it's position in the sky, could actually be the planet Mars. Normally Mars is not visible with the naked eye. However right now, or soon to now I not sure which, Mars will be closer to Earth than it has in 65,000 years or somewhere in that neighborhood. So right now is the first time in a very long time that Mars will be visible to the naked eye.

[Artemis]

Your are right about Mars being the closest it has been in 60,000 years but that is not why it is visible with the naked eye. When it is in the night sky it is one of the 7 original celestial bodies visible by the naked eye, light pollution not with standing. Mars has been known since prehistoric times. It was through the close observations of its movements that the retrograde movement of the planets was observed, however it was not understood what caused this movement until the Earth was properly moved from the center of the solar system to its actual position as the third planet. It was because of its retrograde movement through the sky that the planets were given the name "planet" which means 'to wander'.
:colwar:
"closet astronomer"

[Stevew]

It was probably Mars


http://www.astronomy.com/Content/Dynamic/Articles/000/000/001/422xesjq.asp

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/2mass/gallery/second/index.html

http://www.msss.com/mars_images/

http://pegasus.astro.umass.edu/

A few sites that may interest you
S:D

[BST]

Muffit,

Dawg was right on target about the Perseides meteor shower, they occur every year during the month of August. There is also another meteor show that occurs annually, during the month of November, called the Leonid meteor shower. Really cool to watch, if you have clear skies and are away from 'city lights'.

(I'll check the NASA website to see if they have a schedule for the Leonid meteor shower and if so, I'll post another reply to this thread.)

BST :)

[BST]

I couldn't find a schedule for the Leonids but, I did find some interesting information regarding the Perseid meteor shower -- what causes them, etc.

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/9-12/features/F_2003_Perseids.html


I'll keep looking and let you know when I find something. (Probably more information as we get closer to November). BTW, I think the name "Leonid" comes from the location of the meteor shower, in the vicinity of the constellation, Leo.

BST

[Artemis]

Originally posted by BST
BTW, I think the name "Leonid" comes from the location of the meteor shower, in the vicinity of the constellation, Leo.

Exactly right, it is named for the constellation it appears to come from. The Perseids appear to come from Perseus. However there is a constant bombardment of particles hitting the Earth, not all meteors are associated with a meteor shower. The Perseids are traditionally one of the more spectacular showers. The best method of watching is to go to a high, dry place, the desert is best, and lay on your back and just watch the entire sky.

[BST]

Yep. Standing is definitely not an option, if you want to avoid a stiff neck!!

[Muffit]

Thank you all /so/ much :). It's so nice to have so many friends :).

:muffit:

[shiningstar]

Yes it was and it was the persiedes.
I was sooooooo Mad I was up waiting for the
meteor shower and it clouded up and rained so
I couldn't see any .......WAHHHHHHHHHH!!! :(

[amberstar]

Same thing happened here shiningstar, I missed it due to rain.
Muffit, I think that mars will be the closest to Earth on the 27th of this month. It will be great to see it then, just hope it doesn't rain!
Amberstar

[Muffit]

Thanks! I was really hoping the rental place in our little town would have telescopes, but alas, no go. Guess I'll have to gander with the naked eye. Naked eye? Is there such thing as a clothed eye??? How dare me run around bare-eyed!!! :)

:muffit:

[Raymar3d]

http://www.blogjam.com/neil_armstrong/

This is the real version....

LOL,

Ken

[Artemis]

LOL :laugh:
Sounded like my boss when he gets worked up about something.

[shiningstar]

LOL!

[emerita]

To get the the best of Mars go out on the night of August 27th. I have it marked on my calander. I will not miss something that will not re-occur in my lifetime......I can't wait to see it....

[Senmut]

Actually, the meteor shower is the result of debris from a destroyed BaseShip. ;)

[emerita]

even though that does sound funny... you never know how real that may be..... :D

[Muffit]

Am so disappointed. Once in 60,000 years and no telescope to see it (sigh). I remember another disappointment, when Halley's came and I trekked all the way to the observatory to see it. It had been clear every day for weeks. And suddenly it was overcast -- impossible to see anything. Only chance to see it in my lifetime and I missed it.

Big sigh. Maybe I'll drive around the neighborhood on the 27th and see if anyone else has a scope? Silly me, always thinking of hope...

:muffit:

[Stevew]

Just 4 U Muff Binocks will do very nicely
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
S:D

[emerita]

From what I hear and have read we will be able to see some amazing things through just binoculars. Also do you have a college near you? You can bet they will have students out watching. Our Jr. college sets up around ten or so telescopes and invite the public to come and look. But I'll be on the beach with my binoculars......
Thanks for the link, Steve....I have bookmarked it....just wish all of us could be together to watch it.

[Muffit]

Wow, thanks SteveW and Em, I do have a set of binoculars (from the time of Halleys in fact). We also have a small college annex nearby, perhaps someone will be out.

Thanks so much :)

:muffit:

[Artemis]

The planetary society has a list of events, maybe there is one in your area.
http://planetary.org/marswatch2003/events.html

[Stevew]

Are you a member of the planetary society ?
S

[Muffit]

Thanks Artemis(!) There was one event at the link you gave me within driving distance but unfortunately it has passed already. Darn. Thank you very much though :).

SteveW, no am not a member, this is the first I've heard of it. I am a member of the Daggits for Donuts foundation though :D. I got into this too late I think. We had been talking about getting a star program (like Starry Night) and a scope for the last 6 months or so but you know how it goes, I kept putting it off.

There's still hope! Maybe someone will be out and will let me share their eyepiece for a few moments. :)

Thanks all!
:muffit:

[emerita]

I was sent the information on joining the Planetary Society but I just haven't had the entry fee. I think it is $125.00 to join. I do plan on doing it though. It is so cool.

[Artemis]

Originally posted by emerita
I was sent the information on joining the Planetary Society but I just haven't had the entry fee. I think it is $125.00 to join. I do plan on doing it though. It is so cool.

It is $30 a year. You can join at https://planetary.org/JoinUs.html but it seems to only work in explorer, not on Netscape. I've been a member since it first started. There are other levels of donation but $30 in the basic membership and gets you the bimonthly magazine.

[Muffit]

Hi Artemis(!)

What sorts of things does the Planetary Society do?
Thanks,
:muffit:

[Stevew]

It is a nice group of very qualified people that support space exploration. They have a nice little mag. I was a charter member and have tried to support their causes
http://planetary.org/html/news/articlearchive/headlines/2003/tpr07_08_03toc.html
S:D

[Muffit]

Thanks SteveW! :)
:muffit:

[Stevew]

:D :D :D
S

[shiningstar]

That's great STeve!

[thomas7g]

Hey Steve, just for us dummies out in CA, about what time is Mars viewable?

[Muffit]

I'm not sure what the best time is myself, but I have noticed that it rises above the rooftops about 9:00 PM and starts to be in a good high position around 10:00. I'm willing to bet it gets even better the later you look. I'm sure SteveW knows even better than me though the best time to view it. Heck, I didn't even know what it was a week ago :).

:muffit:

[thomas7g]

I think i saw it. It looks like a VERY VERY bright star. :D

[amberstar]

I saw Mars last night, and it was a beautiful sight to behold!
My son and I were in the back yard and I guess he was so excited our voices aroused some neighbors. I had about 10 people in my back yard looking up at the heavens and all were awe struck!
Amberstar

[Artemis]

Originally posted by Muffit
Hi Artemis(!)

What sorts of things does the Planetary Society do?
Thanks,
:muffit:

What Stevew said.
Incidentally, my avatar, the solar sail, is from their site, it is the first international privately funded space mission.
:colwar:

[Stevew]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=10169
http://www.msnbc.com/news/957828.asp
http://planetary.org/html/news/articlearchive/headlines/2003/mars_closest-approach3.html
The next week or so should be very good I believe
S:D

[Muffit]

HI ALL!!!

Results from the monumental night are in! I took my daughter out and we went looking for telescopes at the nearby college extended campus. Nothing there, but as we drove we noticed a group of people out on their front lawn setting up a telescope. By now you must know I am pretty shy, but I said what the heck and we went right up to them and introduced ourselves! These people were SO wonderful. They let us look through their nice telescope and my daughter whooped excitedly when she caught her first closeup of Mars!!!

I giggled like a kid and we had SO much fun sharing this unique experience with our newfound friends. Mars /filled/ the scope. We laughed so hard cuz the tripod was unsteady on the grass and the owner had to keep retraining it as she cracked jokes about it.

I want to thank you my BSG friends SO MUCH for encouraging me. Because of you, my daughter and I have a moment in time we will always treasure.

Hugs all!
:muffit: