As you may have noticed, we're still having the same old problems in getting this news updated. At home, I can do it with ease. At work, on the farflung end of a primitive phone line and with having to route the updates through our head office server/s and firewalls, the messages get lost among the obstacles and may never see the light of day.
- Greg.
posted by Greg at 3:42 AM
'Night Sky' for April 19, 2004 -
Today's new moon (phase zero at 9:21pm) brings a partial solar eclipse to Southern Africa and Antarctica. So what? Well, it means that the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth are all in a line. Also, it's a forewarning of the rather good total lunar eclipse due on May 5. Of that, more in a fortnight's time. Starting tomorrow, evening observers can enjoy the waxing crescent moon. Watch for Venus near the Moon at dusk on Friday.
Brilliant Venus continues as the "star of the show" in the north-western sky at dusk. She'll be on show for about another 5 weeks. Above and a bit to the right of Venus is Mars, where the successful NASA rovers Spirit and Opportunity have just had their exploration missions extended till about September. Not bad. The original plan was for 3 months, which has elapsed already.
Bright Jupiter stands out in the north-east at dusk. About midway between Venus and Jupiter you'll find Castor and Pollux, the main stars of Gemini. Well to the left of Castor and Pollux is Saturn. The Cassini probe is heading there for a July 1 rendezvous.
Information provided by Perth Observatory, 337 Walnut Rd, Bickley 6076. Ph 9293-8255, fax 9293-8138.
posted by Greg at 3:37 AM
'Night Sky' for April 12, 2004 -
While the Moon is out of the way during the evenings, its a good time to notice all the planets that are now on display. The brilliant Venus is still with us for 2 hours after sunset, but is heading for a passage between Earth and Sun and a transit across the face of the Sun on June 8. Slightly above and to the right is Mars, and then further N and East to Saturn ( which is slightly to the R of Tejat Posterior in Gemini. If you can imagine a line drawn between these planets, and then extend it over to the bright Jupiter in the NE, you have the ECLIPTIC. This is the path that the Sun travels when it is in this part of the sky. Because the planes of the planetary orbits are only inclined by a few degrees to the Earth Sun plane, the planets are always quite close to this path.
There are a few notable events coming up. May 5 ( Wednesday morning ) there will be a total Lunar Eclipse . June 8 will be the transit of Venus. IN May we are looking forward to the passage of two bright comets in the evening sky. Just how bright they will get is uncertain right now but we will keep you informed on all these events.
posted by Peter at 10:11 PM 
