For the Northern Hemisphere June 20 - July 22, 2008 Look Up!
Planetary Treats Hubble
Sees Jupiter's 3 Red Spots
The Following is culled from Hubble News Release 5/22/08 Planetary Measles? In what's beginning to look like a case of planetary measles, a third red spot has appeared alongside its cousins — the Great Red Spot and Red Spot Jr. — in the turbulent Jovian atmosphere. This third red spot, which is a fraction of the size of the other two lies to the west of the Great Red Spot in the same latitude band of clouds. The new red spot, previously a white oval-shaped storm, changed to a red color indicating its swirling storm clouds are rising to heights like the clouds of the Great Red Spot. It is thought the red storm is so powerful it dredges material from deep beneath Jupiter's cloud tops and lifts it to higher altitudes where solar ultraviolet radiation — via some unknown chemical reaction — produces the familiar brick color. Global Climate Change on Jupiter? The latest Hubble and Keck images reveal the turbulence and storms first observed on Jupiter more than two years ago are still raging. They also reveal the change from a rather bland, quiescent band surrounding the Great Red Spot just over a year ago to one of incredible turbulence on both sides of the spot. Jupiter may be in the midst of global climate change. The giant planet is getting warmer near the equator and cooler near the South Pole. The planet's temperatures may be changing by 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Note: The Great Red Spot has been in existence for around 300 years, while Red Spot Jr. appeared in spring of 2006 and the new red spot in late February 2008. If the new red spot and the Great Red Spot continue on their courses, they will encounter each other in August, and the small oval will either be absorbed or repelled from the Great Red Spot. Red Spot Jr. which lies between the two other spots, and is at a lower latitude, will pass the Great Red Spot in June. Complete News Release Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, 11x Earth’s diameter, is at its closest Earth approach, reaching opposition July 9. The gaseous giant gives its best performance for the year during Cancer. Now at its biggest and brightest, magnitude -2.7, it can be observed all night long. It's a welcome treat to obsesrve the brilliant planet for the entire evening, especially when short summer nights limit dark sky viewing. This breathtaking brilliant beacon of light rises in the southeast within an hour of sunset, reaches its zenith around 1:00am, and sets in the southwest around sunrise.
Observing Jupiter Jupiter, the brightest object in the sky, with the exception of the Sun and Moon, is easy to find, just look along the southern horizon. The planet rises in the beginning of Cancer around 9:30pm and at its end at 8:00pm. June 19-21, Thursday evening to Saturday morning, night owls and early birds can enjoy lovely Luna approach and pass brilliant Jupiter. Click Moon Dances for a map and reflections. Jupiter retrograde (5/9 - 9/6) remains located at the eastern border of the constellation Sagittarius throughout 2008. 7/10 10:00pm Sky Chart July 13-17, Sunday-Thursday, watch the Moon approach Jupiter's beacon of light from the west and then pass it to the east. Click Moon Dances for a map and reflections. July 17-18, Thursday-Friday, Jupiter is a point of light in an impressive Full Moon triangle. Click Moon Dances for a map and reflections. Try observing this giant with binoculars or a telescope. Can you see its four largest moons, which appear as points of light around the planet? Best viewing occurs late evening or early morning, when the planet is above the turbulent atmosphere. The planet makes a complete rotation in less than 10 hours, so every 10–15 minutes its face changes! Locate Jupiter’s Four Brightest Moons Jupiter ~ The Fun To Watch Planet Transit Times of Jupiter's Great Red Spot Did you know? Jupiter’s equatorial diameter is 7% larger than its diameter at the poles giving it a squished appearance?
Mars and Saturn in the constellation Leo the Lion are getting closer to each other, to the western horizon and the Sun's glowing light. Regulus, the Lion's heart star initially lies between the two planets. 6/27 Map As Mars nears Regulus, Saturn moves further away from the star. View this star and both planets now, before they disappear into the solar glare. Use binoculars to really enjoy the different hue of each; Mars glows orangy-red, Saturn is yellowish and Regulus sparkles blue-white. Saturn outshines the three and Mars is slightly dimmer than Regulus. Begin your western observation around sunset several times a week to witness the approach, conjunction and separation of the two planets. Mars sets around 11:30pm at the beginning of Cancer, Saturn a half hour later at midnight. By the end of Cancer Mars sets at 10:45pm, Saturn 15 minutes earlier at 10:30pm. As Mars and Saturn sink in the west, brilliant Jupiter rises in the east. The Journey ~ Mark Your Calendar! While it appears that Mars is moving up toward Saturn, the fact is that Saturn, Regulus and Leo the Lion are sinking faster toward the Sun than Mars. June 20-29 watch the Red Planet move closer and closer to Leo the Lion's blue-white heart star, Regulus. Saturn's yellow orb is gradually moving eastward further away from the star. 6/27 Map June 30 Mars and Regulus are at their closest approach. Map July 1-3 Mars slides past Regulus and heads toward Saturn. July 4-6 the waxing Crescent Moon lines up with the trio. 7/5 Map ... 7/6 Map Also see Fourth of July ~ Holiday and Holy Day sunset map. July 7-9 Mars closes in on Saturn. July 10 Mars lies south of Saturn in their closest approach until 2022. Constellation/Binocular View ... 10:00pm All-Sky Chart The exact conjunction occurs at 11:12am PDT; 18:12 UT. July 11-22 Mars passes Saturn to the southeast. Saturn lies between Mars and Regulus now. Reflections ~ Leo, Regulus, Mars, Saturn Leo the Lion, Regulus the lawgiver, Mars the spiritual warrior and Saturn the lord of karma are preparing us to work together with the will and purpose of Deity. They are evoking the Law of the Soul within humanity. Leo's highest expression is the fully integrated personality who stands out from the "herd" and is ignited by the fire of Divine Will. The one who masters Leo's energies can begin the group work of the Soul. Regulus the Lion-Hearted Lawgiver acts as a regulator for the evolutionary energies of Sirius. Its emanations stimulate a response in humanity that expresses the love-wisdom of the Christ consciousness—the requirements of which are to love all of humanity, lead a disciplined life, recognize the divinity in all, and rule one’s daily life with Love. Saturn stands at the Gates of Initiation ready to put all who approach to the test. This lord of karma utilizes limitation, pain, restriction and discipline to lead humanity to an expansion in consciousness and eventual freedom. When Saturn resides in the Lion's den we face tests of leadership, honesty and integrity.
Mars insures we interact with and take action on the physical plane. This can often mean a war with opposing forces. Mars the spiritual warrior gives us the needed courage and discipline to transform ourselves from within, to transcend our inner demons, take action for the greater good and die to our former self.
It’s as if humanity is being given the opportunity to face the "enemy" and take action in accordance with Divine Will and the Law of Soul.
It's Snowing Iron Deep Inside Mercury?!
It's Snowing Iron Deep Inside Mercury?! The following is culled from: U of I News Bureau 5/7/08 Researchers created conditions believed to exist within Mercury. Mercury's mostly iron core is also thought to contain sulfur, which lowers the melting point of iron and plays an important role in producing the planet’s magnetic field. Scientists melted an iron-sulfur mixture at high pressures and high temperatures.
Researchers report that Mercury’s core is most likely precipitating iron snow in two distinct zones. This double-snow state may be unique among the terrestrial planets and terrestrial-like moons in our solar system. NASA
Sends a MESSENGER to Mercury! Mercury is a predawn twilight delight. It pops up above the eastern horizon around 5:00am during Cancer. Begin looking low in the northeast during the last few days of June. June 28 the planet lies northeast of Aldebaran and outshines the star. 5am Map 6/28 Watch the waning crescent Moon move nearer to Mercury until the last vestige of the old Moon is at its closest approach to the planet the morning of July 1. Mercury also reaches greatest elongation (22º) July 1 and the Moon is at perigee on this day. Click Moon Dances for a map and reflections. Fourth
of July ~ Holiday and Holy Day By mid-July Mercury sinks quickly out of sight, reaching superior conjunction July 29.
Venus Emerges from the Sun's Embrace
SOHO Saw Sun-Hidden Venus Venus, hidden by the Sun’s glaring light, was captured in the above image by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). The SOHO spacecraft's coronagraph blocks out the Sun's glare to reveal Sun-hidden objects. June
4 SOHO
saw Venus approaching the Sun from the right side. Image Venus begins to leave the Sun's glowing embrace and emerge above the sunset horizon during Cancer. With sharp eyes, an unobstructed northwestern view and right timing one can begin their Venus watch July 1. At this time the planet sets only 30 minutes after the Sun. Set Times Most of us can expect to see Venus to pop through the sunset's twilight glow during mid-July. Venus sets just before 9:00pm in the beginning of Cancer and shortly after 9:00pm at its end. The energies of Venus significantly affect the New Moon cycle beginning July 2. Click Moon Dances for a map and reflections. The
Planets
Celestial
Delights The
Summer Solstice [Return to Menu at top]
[Image]
Aphelion Day is the day that the Earth and Sun are at their furthest distance from each other. In 2008 the exact time this occurs is July 4 at 1:00am PDT; 08:00 UT. In fact, every July the Earth is at aphelion, the furthest from the Sun for the year and in January it is at perihelion, the closest to the Sun for the year. On July 4 we are 94.5 million miles away from the Sun, which is 3 million miles further away than when our Earth was at perihelion on January 2, 2008 at 5:00pm PST; 00:00 UT 1/3. We are so far away from the Sun in July that its light is 7% less intense than it was in January!
Sun ~ Perihelion and Aphelion [Image]
Hmmm ... why is it colder in January and hotter in July for the northern hemisphere? What's the weather like in the southern hemisphere right now? The tilt of the Earth plays a big role in answering these questions. Here's a fun and simple explanation about the winter and summer Sun ... with the following disclaimer! Does
one hemisphere have a hotter summer
Earth at Aphelion ~ A Global View Here are a few more Earth/Sun facts as well as a review of perihelion and aphelion. Here's a year to year chart of Equinoxes, Solstices, Perihelion, and Aphelion. Enjoy! Fourth
of July
We
build a lighted world and therein dwell ...
June 20 - July 22, 2008
I'd
like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky and |
||||||
