What's Up? The Space Place

Hey Space Placers! Look at this, can you believe that you are seeing a COMET less than 5 miles away? Make sure you download the hi-res JPG   to see every nook, cranny and pebble on Comet 67/P. This picture was taken by European Space Agency's (ESA) magnificent Rosetta spacecraft that will be orbiting and following the comet as it gets closer to the Sun this year. I have always tried to visually see (and photograph) every comet I could and the short list (like my memory) is as follows:  IRAS Hale Bopp Hyakutake Panstarrs Lovejoy  But when you work, have a family and lots of commitments it is tough to see them all. I missed   :-(   the northern hemisphere comet classics of Ikeya-Seki and West due to school and being in the Navy. Comet ISON in 2013 was a real joy to follow on the Internet as was Comet Siding SPring that flew so close to Mars last October. But I think it is Rosetta that has really showed us how insanely complex a...

Hey Space Placers! Come Lovejoy is at its best right now in the Northern Hemisphere and will be for the next several days as the Moon is out of the sky and the comet is riding high in the sky. These pics were taken at the same time on 1-15-15 using a 200 mm telephoto, a 3 inch refractor and a 10 inch reflector. Some nice detail in the tail; sky had a thin haze but still showed the comet. I hope you enjoy them. Check here on how to see  the comet for yourself. Sky Guy in VA

Hey Space Placers! UPDATED: I have updated the links for Mercury-Venus pairing and Comet Lovejoy. All 3 are STILL prime time viewing objects as it gets dark. Here is my pic of Comet Lovejoy from 1/10/15 I know it is cold - hey, it IS winter - but there are some sights to see in the night sky that ARE worth bundling up and getting out to see. First up right after sunset is the pairing of bright Venus and Mercury in the Southwest sky. Venus is easy to see when it starts to get dark and Mercury is just to the lower right. These two inner planets of our solar system have been getting closer to one another each night and they will be closest, less than the width of your little finger at arm's length, on Saturday. Use this to help find them . Binoculars are a big help and will show the color contrast between the two. To me Venus is a greenish-white while Mercury is a yellowish-golden-white color. If you have never seen Mercury, most of humanity hasn't, this is your c...

Hey Space Placers! UPDATE: Here is the latest info and sky chart for finding Comet Lovejoy which has continued to brighten and is reported to be at naked eye visibility from dark sky sites. Tonight, 1/4/15. the comet is near Rigel in Orion. Here is what it looks like in the sky - it is the bright green object near the center of the camera. This was taken in strong moonlight which interferes with seeing the comet until 1/7/15. Using binoculars will really help with the view, even in moonlight and urban settings. Now is the time to try and see Comet Lovejoy as it has been reported as being visible to the unaided eye from dark sky sites. I have seen the comet in 10x56 binoculars and I have photographed it with a telescope several times, including last night as it passed by the M-79 Globular Cluster: Read this article and use the finder chart to try and see this beautiful visitor from the beginning of our solar system; Try and find a site that is free of lights...

Hey Space Placers! Today is the 1st day of astronomical winter as the winter solstice occurred at 1230 a.m. EST, 12-22-11. The Sun will now begin to rise a little higher in our sky at local noon and move along the eastern horizon towards the North each day. Here in Northern VA our temp will be in the 60's(!) today, and we have had a few days of these temps off and on for the past week. The nights will remain long during winter so take advantage of seeing the stars and planets - Venus is in the southwest right after sunset blazing away and Jupiter is king high in the southeast. The winter constellations are rising in the east so be sure to look for Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Taurus and Auriga. If you have clear skies tomorrow before sunrise, at about 6:15 to 6:30 a.m., be sure to go out and look in the east. I saw Mercury today through some clouds and it was bright and a fist or two width above the eastern horizon. It was bright and golden-yellow in color. It is brighter...