IS THERE ANOTHER YOU OUT THERE?

Hey Space Placers!

A fascinating read from Forbes' Ethan Siegel......

Sky Guy in VA

The Sky For A Few Nights

Hey Space Placers!

As it gets darker earlier take the time to see brilliant Venus in the SW after sunset. Mars is to the left of Venus and a dimming ember of itself from back in May when it was closest to the Earth.

The bright Summer Triangle is setting in the West and the Great Square Pegasus flies high overhead while Orion rises in the East with Sirius.

I hope to get some nice pics at sea and sharing them with you.

Sky Guy in VA

GIFTS FOR STARGAZERS!

Hey Space Placers!

IT'S BLACK FRIDAY. Here are some suggestions for that stargazer on your gift list.

Good hunting!

Sky Guy in VA

More Water Found on Mars

Hey Space Placers!

Check out this story about more water found on Mars. This subsurface deposit has more water than Lake Superior on Earth!

Sky Guy in VA

Good Advice on Buying 1st Telescope

Hey Space Placers!

As we zoom into the holidays here are some great tips on buying a telescope.

Sky Guy in VA

Latest on Ceres

Hey Space Placers!

Here's the latest on the Dawn mission to the dwarf planet Ceres. 

Sky Guy in VA

Latest on Pluto

Hey Space Placers!

Read this great article on the latest findings about Pluto from the New Horizons mission.

(Image: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute)

What a fascinating world!.

Sky Guy in VA

It Was a SUPERMOON!

Hey Space Placers!

It was so uplifting to see the whole world involved in the Full Super Beaver Moon. Twitterverse, media and people were excited about the whole event AND went outside to see it and photograph it.
I watched and photographed the event at Shenandoah National Park and wanted to share my pics with you which span 11/13 and 11/14.

The Supermoon Rises in the Piedmont of Virginia

The Earth's Shadow & Belt of Venus

The Supermoon Rises Above the Earth's Shadow 

The Color of Night Via A Supermoon

The Supermoon Over Shenandoah Valley

The Supermoon at 221,524 Miles-Closest Until 11/25/20134

Wonderful Color As SuperBeaverMoon Sets over the Massanuten Range

Wonderful Color As SuperBeaverMoon Sets over the Massanuten Range

I hope you got to see it as well......

Sky Guy in VA

Sky Guy Viewing ALERT!!! See The CLOSE Super Full Beaver Moon TONIGHT

Hey Space Placers!

Got plans tonight, tomorrow morning? Whatever they are and wherever you are, you should include taking a peek at the Moon. Depending on when you were born doing so may be a once in a lifetime event as November’s Full Moon will be the closest one since January 26,1948 and will not be as close again until November 25, 2034  http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/see-the-biggest-supermoon-in-68-years/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=sky-mya-nl-161111&utm_content=896725_SKY_HP_eNL_161111&utm_medium=email   .

November’s Full Moon will also be a Supermoon, a phrase that has become part of our popular culture in recent years but has been around since 1979  http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-supermoon  . Just to be clear Supermoon is not an astronomical term. In each monthly lunar cycle while orbiting the Earth our Moon has a point where it is closest to the Earth - perigee - and when it is farthest - apogee. When the Full Moon occurs the same day as perigee, that is when it is a Supermoon. This can occur several times a year. In fact, we are in a stretch of  3 Supermoons in a row that ends with December’s Full Moon  https://science.nasa.gov/news-articles/2016-ends-with-three-supermoons .

The closest the Moon can get to Earth is 221,500 miles  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_distance_(astronomy)    and this month’s Supermoon will be 221,524 miles from Earth, so that is close! The actual moment when the Moon is closest will be tomorrow morning at 6:23 a.m. EST, just before the Moon will be setting in the West at 6:36 a.m. EST in Washington, D.C. The Moon is actually at Full phase later in the morning at 8:52 a.m. EST so observers out west will be able to view the Full Moon at its closest.

2015 Full Beaver Moon
Greg Redfern

Tonight you will see a glorious nearly Full Moon rising in the East after sunset. To find out when the Moon rises and sets for your location use this website  https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/    . For Washington, D.C. moonrise is at 4:43 p.m. EST tonight. 

To observe the Moon tonight and tomorrow morning try to find a horizon in the East and West that are clear of obstructions so you can see the Moon near the horizon. The Moon may have some color and it may appear large due to the Moon Illusion http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/moon-illusion-confusion11252015/ .  The Supermoon is actually bigger than an average Full Moon but is hard to detect by eye. The Supermoon will also be brighter which may be apparent to observers.

This month’s Full Moon is also known as the Full Beaver Moon http://www.space.com/34662-november-supermoon-full-beaver-moon.html .  If you want to photograph the “Full Beaver Supermoon”  get these tips from NASA  https://www.nasa.gov/feature/shoot-the-supermoon-like-a-pro .

Tonight at 8 p.m. I will be at Shenandoah National Park’s Skyland  Conference Center talking about, what else, the Moon  http://www.goshenandoah.com/activities-events/astronomy   . Afterwards if the sky is clear we will enjoy views of the Moon and night sky. I hope you can join me.

To me the Moon is always special but tonight/tomorrow will be an event you can take part in that doesn’t happen very often - a really close Full Moon. Enjoy.

Sky Guy in VA

NASA Upgrades ISS Spotting Tool

Hey Space Placers!

NASA has added a new feature to its very popular "Spot the Station" website. The new interactive map makes it easier than ever to pinpoint your location and get alerts from NASA as to when the International Space Station will be visible to you.

It is truly amazing to watch 1 million pounds of space hardware inhabited by humans soar silently overhead.

Sign up today...

Sky Guy in VA

Incoming! Prepare to Evacuate!

Hey Space Placers!

Read this - it WILL HAPPEN SOMEDAY......We need to be prepared just like we are for all natural disasters.

Sky Guy in VA

2 Years to Launch For JWST

Hey Space Placers!

Here is my story on my visit to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center yesterday to participate in Media Day.

The JWST Optical Telescope Element
Greg Redfern

Be sure to click the links in the story.

Sky Guy in VA