Sunday, July 8, 2012

July's Magnificent Sky Show at Dawn

Look! Up in the Sky! It's a... planet? A star?

Science@NASA has released this video highlighting the early morning sky show put on by Venus, Jupiter, and a few other celestial objects. The video is self explanatory. Puerto Penasco area residents should have some excellent viewing opportunities, so I highly recommend you watch it, note some interesting dates and sights, and get up to view them. You don't even need a telescope, though a good pair of binoculars will make the viewing even more exciting.



For the best conditions with dark sky, get out there an hour before sunrise. You can see the rise and set times for a whole year for your location using this tool from the US Naval Observatory. (Add 1 hour for DST)

So get up early and go outside. Look to the east. You will be rewarded with a beautiful and changing view in the days ahead. The one date I am especially looking forward to is Sunday July 15, when the Moon will join the trio and the background stars for a special performance.

Don't miss out!

Contact me at lahuerita2@gmail.com

Awaken your inner beachbum
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. -Mark Twain