Welcome to this issue of Qué tal. Here you will find useful observing information
about the visible planets, our Moon and other
moons, the Sun, as well as various 'things' celestial.
Among
these web pages you will find monthly star maps for either the northern
or southern hemisphere that are suitable for printout. Animated
images are utilized to illustrate celestial motions such as orbital
motions of the planets, and other solar orbiting objects or apparent
and real motions along the ecliptic and the local horizon. Regular
features include plotting the monthly positions of the visible planets
using heliocentric coordinates; following moon phases; conjunctions; the sun's
apparent motion and the Earth's real motion along the ecliptic.
This month most of the planet viewing action is still in the morning skies. However Mercury quickly moves eastward
toward the Sun and superior conjunction at mid-month. Mars and Jupiter slowly but steadily move higher above the eastern horizon at sunrise, while
Venus continues shinging brightly down to the left from the much dimmer Mars. Still close to opposition Saturn is visible all night and very close to
Porrima, a star in the constellation Virgo.
Dark Matter returns! Join us at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art this month for
a performance of live electro-acoustical music accompanying video visuals of our solar system against the background of a major art exhibit
showing the the work of Jules Olitiksi.
Click here to go to the Dark Matter web site for more information.
Tell someone about Qué tal?
in the Current Skies. Click here.
