The Night Sky

[Roccus7]

Figure we need one of these threads. Lot's going on space exploration right now, with the Ultima Thule flyby and the Chinese's successful landing of a lunar probe and deployment of a desk-sized rover, Jade Rabbit 2, on the Far Side of the Moon (below). Lot's of planning involved here, 2 years ago they put a satellite in geosynchronous orbit above the Moon's far side so they would have radio contact with any probes sent to that side. They will be the second country to have a manned landing there, and if we don't get our act together, will be first to Mars.

 

[wader]

The Next Lunar Eclipse Will Be Visible From Virginia And You Won’t Want To Miss Out

On January 20th, 2019, the US will have a front row seat to the first total lunar eclipse in three years. Yet there's something extra special about this month's phenomenon.

 

[Roccus7]

Well astronomer have their first picture of a black hole, taken by linking up multiple radiotelescopes.

Very interesting that it's not too different than "The Eye of Sauron" for all you LOTR fans out there...

 

[wader]

"The Eye of Sauron"






what if they just doctored the "eye" photo from LOTR & told us it's the first picture of a Black Hole?

 

[CELLFISH]

Well astronomer have their first picture of a black hole, taken by linking up multiple radiotelescopes.

Very interesting that it's not too different than "The Eye of Sauron" for all you LOTR fans out

Nice...

 

[Roccus7]

We've all played "Hey that cloud looks like a giant..." Well seems astronomers have upped that game and play "Hey that cloud on Jupiter looks like a...!!!"

If you want to play, look at this picture and find the "Dolphin Cloud"!!




In case you missed it, here it is:

 

[Roccus7]

Today's NASA Astronomy Photo of the Day is very cool. Open the link to get the explanation, it's not what you think, at least the "Eclipse Part".

 

[CELLFISH]

Yeah and just below the dolphin is a ghost screaming... cellie...
.

 

[Roccus7]

Yeah and just below the dolphin is a ghost screaming... cellie...

I hear you. Had to enlarge the photo a ton to see the ice jet on EnCELadus (Hey, it's YOUR moon Cellie!!). It also helped if I played Strawberry Fields Forever in reverse while viewing...

Here's a better shot of you "blowing off ice" from last year...

 

[Roccus7]

Nice video that shows the direction, tilt and speed of all the planets' rotations. I knew that Uranus, no not yours Cany, was weird and tilted, but didn't realize that Venus' rotated in an opposite direction to all the other planets.

 

[Roccus7]

Southern Hemisphere had a July Solar Eclipse. Here's a really great photo of it, reflection included...

 

[Roccus7]

Another thing about Maine that can't be beat are the night sky views. I can walk out my front door on a moonless night and immediately see the Milky Way, no dark adapting time needed...

Maine Night Skies

 

[Old Mud]

Nice video that shows the direction, tilt and speed of all the planets' rotations. I knew that Uranus, no not yours Cany, was weird and tilted, but didn't realize that Venus' rotated in an opposite direction to all the other planets.

Venus ??????? you mean Uouranus ?? That's because it's South of the equator.

Nice pics.

 

[Chevy1]

My night sky ?

 

[WhatKnot]

Nice video that shows the direction, tilt and speed of all the planets' rotations. I knew that Uranus, no not yours Cany, was weird and tilted, but didn't realize that Venus' rotated in an opposite direction to all the other planets.

Pluto got a bum deal.

 

[dsedy]

Love looking at Orion in the winter months. So awesome!

 

[Dx life Rx fishing]

ANyone look up at the Perseid meteor shower? I was working so I couldn't. Will try tomorrow night

 

[Roccus7]

ANyone look up at the Perseid meteor shower? I was working so I couldn't. Will try tomorrow night

I forgot, will be out there tonight IF it's clear...

 

[Roccus7]

Love today's Astronomy Picture of the Day since it reminded me what I saw when I had my 4" telescope. It gives you the proper perspective of what you'd see when you had things set up so the entire Moon was visible in your field and Saturn happened to be in the same field. IIRC, if you maxed up the magnification, you'd only get Saturn to be around 5X larger than this photo. On my 8" scope, which I haven't had out in eons, I can get Saturn to be about 1/5 of a field at max practical magnification, but that does let you discern at least 1, sometimes 2, of the Cassini Divisions (breaks) in the rings.

 

[jpd]

I grabbed this pic off the web, it's a dock on Ram Island in Maine. Even with the floodlight the Milky Way is very clear.