civicminded
Community Guide
Posts: 9576
Loc: Lone Star State
Reg: 04-24-02
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02-26-12 12:27 AM - Post#145897
I hope lots of folks are watching our evening show these days? The Moon, Jupiter, and Venus seem to be in the same neighborhood. Very neat!
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Jimi Ray Clapton
enthusiast
Posts: 2395
Reg: 09-03-07
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02-28-12 01:36 PM - Post#145986
In response to civicminded
Yep - the telescope is out and getting used right now.
; - )
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nomoon
enthusiast
Posts: 1026
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-31-06
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02-28-12 02:56 PM - Post#145989
In response to Jimi Ray Clapton
I got a peek at Mercury in the early evening on some of these clear nights late last week.
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Jimi Ray Clapton
enthusiast
Posts: 2395
Reg: 09-03-07
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02-28-12 03:30 PM - Post#145993
In response to nomoon
Hmmm... Mercury wasn't even on my radar because I thought it would just be to bright out to see it.
I'm thinking of staying up late one clear night in the near future and seeing if I can grab a glimpse of Saturn.
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Jimi Ray Clapton
enthusiast
Posts: 2395
Reg: 09-03-07
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02-28-12 03:34 PM - Post#145994
In response to Jimi Ray Clapton
Ah... I'm learning:
Because Mercury is between the Earth and the sun. Most of the time it is lost in the sun's glare. For half of Mercury's year, it's right there hanging above us in broad daylight. Of course we can't see it. The best time to view Mercury is 30 minutes before sunrise or 30 minutes after sunset when Mercury and Earth form a 90 degree angle with the sun at the vertex. Observers just inside the night shadow can see the planet under ideal conditions, very low above the horizon.
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civicminded
Community Guide
Posts: 9576
Loc: Lone Star State
Reg: 04-24-02
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02-28-12 05:04 PM - Post#145999
In response to Jimi Ray Clapton
Hmmm... Mercury wasn't even on my radar because I thought it would just be to bright out to see it.
I'm thinking of staying up late one clear night in the near future and seeing if I can grab a glimpse of Saturn.
Love watching Saturn and Jupiter both, but I admit to not thinking of Mercury for some time. Sorry Merc!
Edited by civicminded on 02-28-12 05:05 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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Maurice
Community Expert
Posts: 4107
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 12-03-01
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02-28-12 05:10 PM - Post#146000
In response to civicminded
Mercury and Venus are rather difficult to observe, pretty much get washed out in sunlight even when visible you'll not see a whole lot. Saturn, Jupiter and Mars are the go-to planets (a little telescope humor lol) for viewing fun, you can catch Uranus and Neptune too but Neptune will be more difficult and will be better under steady seeing conditions.
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nomoon
enthusiast
Posts: 1026
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-31-06
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02-29-12 10:01 AM - Post#146006
In response to Jimi Ray Clapton
I just happened to have seen one of these articles. Mercury is not something that I'd usually notice on my own.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights/ See-the-Nights-6-or-7-Bri ghtest-Objects-140027833.html
My has been collecting dust, but we did take it out on a very cold night a couple of weeks ago and saw Venus, Jupiter, and Mars.
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Jimi Ray Clapton
enthusiast
Posts: 2395
Reg: 09-03-07
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02-29-12 10:32 AM - Post#146009
In response to nomoon
As it turns out, this Feb and March are a couple of the best months for sky gazing.
Look for Venus and Jupiter to pass very close to each other (from our vantage point) on March 11, 12, 13th.
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Maurice
Community Expert
Posts: 4107
Loc: Allen, TX
Reg: 12-03-01
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03-02-12 03:28 PM - Post#146158
In response to nomoon
Mine's been in the same boat, haven't had the time to get the scope out there in too long a while. Need to get time sometime, somehow to get back under the night sky.
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nomoon
enthusiast
Posts: 1026
Loc: Allen
Reg: 05-31-06
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03-05-12 08:28 AM - Post#146271
In response to nomoon
Mercury was still visible last night!
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civicminded
Community Guide
Posts: 9576
Loc: Lone Star State
Reg: 04-24-02
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03-12-12 12:23 PM - Post#146529
In response to nomoon
I missed Mercury, but the news keeps talking about the interesting view of Jupiter and Venus. These planets appeared close to each other last night, and will grow even closer for us. Cool! 
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Anonymous
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03-21-12 11:02 AM - Post#146875
In response to civicminded
From Mexico last week, the view of Jupiter and Venus were spectacular. Also got to see almost the full Feathered Serpent during an afternoon visit to Chichen Itza. The fact ancient Mayan's could track the moon and stars as well as they did amazes me more every time I see it.
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lostyankee
enthusiast
Posts: 1336
Reg: 10-27-05
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03-21-12 06:56 PM - Post#146907
In response to MissingChico
Spent last week in Sedona, great views of the sky there for sure.
Chico, I've always been amazed at the ancient cultures and their knowledge of planetary movements. Visited many passage tombs and other prehistoric sites with cave drawings depicting the seasons.
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civicminded
Community Guide
Posts: 9576
Loc: Lone Star State
Reg: 04-24-02
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03-27-12 07:04 AM - Post#147100
In response to lostyankee
Sedona is on my to-do list someday. I enjoy anywhere away from these light polluted cities....
And besides Moon, Venus, and Jupiter last night...who saw Saturn and Mars? Keep looking up.
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