RASC Hamilton - Members Only Three days, four events...

[Roger Hill]

Just north of the observatory, at about Milborough and Britannia, there's a nice view west over open fields.

 

I'm heading there now to try to catch this very thin crescent.

 

Sunset                   17:55                 

End civil twilight     18:24                 

Moonset                 19:09

 

From: members [mailto:members-bounces at hamiltonrasc.ca] On Behalf Of Roger Hill
Sent: February 19, 2015 7:43 AM
To: members at hamiltonrasc.ca
Subject: RASC Hamilton - Members Only Three days, four events...

 

Three events in the upcoming days you may be interested in.

First of all, if you want to see a very young Moon, less than 24 hours old, then tonight is your night.  The ecliptic at this time of year in the Northern hemisphere is almost vertical, which means that with good, clear, transparent skies like those forecast for tonight, a very thin sliver of a Moon just might be found in a darkening sky.  You'll need a good, flat, distant western horizon, and start looking above the point where the sun set with binoculars.  DO NOT start using binoculars until after the sun has gone down!  Pictures of this could be very difficult to get, but if you manage, I'd love to see them, and publish them in Orbit.

Tomorrow evening, on Friday, February 20 after sunset, expect to see Mars 0.75° above Venus with a nice thin crescent Moon 1.5° to the right.  Put your DSLR on a tripod and zoom right in for this one.  If it's clear enough, try to get some distant terrestrial building (a barn or silo) in the shot, for a lovely photo.  If you manage it, submit it to me for inclusion in Orbit!

That same evening, there will be a Comet Lovejoy observing event at the Observatory.  I believe the starting time is 8pm, but you may want to get there a little earlier...it looks like it will be clear and the parking lot will fill up quickly!

Lastly, on Saturday evening, February 21, the crescent Moon will occult (pass in front of) Uranus.  The disappearance will occur at the dark limb at 17:48:19 EST.  I'd suggest finding the Moon at least 10, and preferably 15, minutes beforehand.  Binoculars will be handy for this.  If your camera is capable, I'd suggest a movie.  The re-appearance on the bright limb will happen at 18:45:22 EST.  Again, pictures will be appreciated.


Roger Hill



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