Today and tomorrow only: Venus/Moon/ISS/Space Shuttle Atlantis

[Jean in Wisc]

Today would be a good day to look for Venus during the day. I always insist that the students stand beside a building so that they cannot see the sun but can see the sky to the left (east) of the sun so they don't accidentally get the sun in their binoculars. The crescent moon is below and a bit to the right of Venus today, following the path of the sun (http://earthsky.org/es-tonight/crescent-moon-venus-after-sunset-may-15). If you use the crescent moon to guide you, you might be able to find Venus with binoculars--there have been times I have been able to see Venus with the naked eye once I've located her even in bright sunlight.

 

WARNING!!!!! BE SAFE.!!!! DO NOT TAKE ANY CHANCES OF LOOKING AT THE SUN WITH BINOCULARS--YOU COULD LOOSE YOUR EYE SIGHT! STAND BEHIND A BUILDING SO THAT THE SUN IS NOT VISIBLE TO YOU WHEN YOU LOOK FOR VENUS! IT IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK TO ACCIDENTALLY SWING THOSE BINOCULARS AROUND AND HIT THE SUN!!! CHILDREN SHOULD BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT!

 

Tomorrow the moon will be "behind" Venus (http://earthsky.org/es-tonight/moon-moving-away-but-still-near-venus-on-may-16), so if you miss her today, you might see her tomorrow.

 

Also, tonight in the western sky there is going to be a conjunction of the moon and Venus (meaning they will be close together) at the same time as the space shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station go over! In my area they are going over around 8:30 p.m...check this site to see when (and if) you can see them in your area (click on the links for ISS and STS132): http://www.heavens-above.com/ I was told that this is the space shuttle's last mission, so if you want to see them together, you need to do it now! They are visible with the naked eye.

 

Here is an article that might interest you:

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/13may_planetsandspaceships/

"This weekend, Venus and the crescent Moon are gathering in the western sky for a spectacular conjunction, and they're not alone. The International Space Station and, very likely, space shuttle Atlantis will join them for a rare four-way meeting of spaceships and planets over many locations."

 

Blow those clouds away!

Jean

[JennW in SoCal]

Here's hoping for clear skies!

 

Those of us in more southerly latitudes wouldn't get to see this cool conjunction of heavenly and man-made bodies. The Moon/Venus combo will be in the West and the shuttle/ISS combo will (in my area) barely skim the NE horizon. Its next orbit puts it in the earth's shadow for most of time it is above us!!

 

Californians will get lots of chances to see the Shuttle/ISS combo later this week.

 

Jean, we were at the Kennedy Space Center about 10 days ago and got to see Atlantis already on the launch pad. It was so cool to finally visit there as I'm a big NASA nerd. My ds is working in Orlando and watched the night time launch last month. He described it as the coolest fireworks show he had ever seen. Haven't asked him about Atlantis yet, though.

Edited May 15, 2010 by JennW in SoCal
shouldn't post before 1st cup of coffee....

[Jean in Wisc]

Here's hoping for clear skies!

 

Those of us in more southerly latitudes wouldn't get to see this cool conjunction of heavenly and man-made bodies Moon/Venus combo will be in the West and the shuttle/ISS combo will (in my area) barely skim the NE horizon. It's next orbit puts it in the earth's shadow for most of time it is above us!!

 

Californians will get lots of chances to see the Shuttle/ISS combo later this week.

 

Jean, we were at the Kennedy Space Center about 10 days ago and got to see Atlantis already on the launch pad. It was so cool to finally visit there as I'm a big NASA nerd. My ds is working in Orlando and watched the night time launch last month. He described it as the coolest fireworks show he had ever seen. Haven't asked him about Atlantis yet, though.

 

How fun! I'd love to see a liftoff!

 

Jean

[Jean in Wisc]

I saw the moon and Venus at sunset and the ISS and Atlantis as they flew overhead.

 

We had too many clouds to find Venus during the day--I'll try again today.

 

I posted a photo of the conjunction on my blog here.

 

I'm glad people got to see it! :D

[Teachin'Mine]

Thanks to this thread we saw the beauty of the moon and Venus together too. :) Unfortunately we were driving at the time the shuttle would be visible, and the trees prevented us from seeing the Western sky, but we did see a really bright light that we're assuming was the ISS. If it was moving, it was very slowly. But there were no stars visible at the time we saw this, and it was much larger and brighter than a star. Was that it?

[Jean in Wisc]

Thanks to this thread we saw the beauty of the moon and Venus together too. :) Unfortunately we were driving at the time the shuttle would be visible' date=' and the trees prevented us from seeing the Western sky, but we did see a really bright light that we're assuming was the ISS. If it was moving, it was very slowly. But there were no stars visible at the time we saw this, and it was much larger and brighter than a star. Was that it?[/quote']

 

Usually people are surprised at how quickly the ISS and the shuttle move across the sky--I think it is closer to the speed of an airplane--perhaps a bit slower (just trying to recall that from memory. LOL!), but it can cross from horizon to horizon in 3 minutes or so. The ISS is quite bright when the sun hits it, so it can be much brighter than a star. Its iridium panels are the size of a football field, and when the sun hits them directly, it can be stunning. Often it is closer to the brightness of Venus.

 

When I went out last night to watch them go over, Arcturus, the largest star in the constellation Bootes was out, quite high in the eastern sky. I did not see any other star. It was very visible and bright, but not as big as Venus.

 

Do you know what direction you were looking when you saw it? In my part of Wisconsin, the ISS became visible about 10 degrees above the northwestern horizon, reached its zenith at about 76 degrees above the horizon in the north northeast, and sunk into east southeast about 10 degrees above the horizon (don't know if that kind of info helps you any. LOL!)

 

:)Jean

[Jean in Wisc]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100516.html

 

Taken in 2004, this is the crescent moon with a small crescent Venus next to it.

 

AMAZING!!

[Mama Lynx]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap100516.html

 

Taken in 2004, this is the crescent moon with a small crescent Venus next to it.

 

AMAZING!!

 

WOW!!!!!!!!!!

[Teachin'Mine]

Usually people are surprised at how quickly the ISS and the shuttle move across the sky--I think it is closer to the speed of an airplane--perhaps a bit slower (just trying to recall that from memory. LOL!), but it can cross from horizon to horizon in 3 minutes or so. The ISS is quite bright when the sun hits it, so it can be much brighter than a star. Its iridium panels are the size of a football field, and when the sun hits them directly, it can be stunning. Often it is closer to the brightness of Venus.

 

When I went out last night to watch them go over, Arcturus, the largest star in the constellation Bootes was out, quite high in the eastern sky. I did not see any other star. It was very visible and bright, but not as big as Venus.

 

Do you know what direction you were looking when you saw it? In my part of Wisconsin, the ISS became visible about 10 degrees above the northwestern horizon, reached its zenith at about 76 degrees above the horizon in the north northeast, and sunk into east southeast about 10 degrees above the horizon (don't know if that kind of info helps you any. LOL!)

 

:)Jean

 

Thanks Jean. It was NW and just over the tree line as we were driving - I know not much help about how many degrees! But it definitely wasn't moving quickly - if at all. But it was way brighter than a star and at least as bright as Venus, if not brighter.

 

Wow to that photo of the crescent Venus and crescent moon!!!

Edited May 16, 2010 by Teachin'Mine