Click here to read or
download scanned copies of
Peon, one of the original Scifi FanZines.
Click on the graphic to
go to the website.
Volume 18 -- Issue 4
April 2012
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.
Qué tal is also available in the Adobe PDF version and may be downloaded by
clicking on the graphic to the right. This version may also be read with an e-reader that can load
PDF files.
Do you use the Starry Night program? Are you playing Skyrim: The Elder Scrolls by any chance? Someone please say
yes so I don't start thinking I'm a bit strange!! The point in asking is that I have created several panoramas for Starry Night
using some of the remarkable scenery in Skyrim. Click here to view and/or download the panoramas.
This month is a transition month for planet viewing and planet orbital motions. Several ends of retrograde
motion; Jupiter ends its evening sky visibility and reappears in the morning skies in a couple of months;
and Saturn reaches opposition and is visible all night.
Dark Matter Returns! Fly with us to the edge of the atmosphere this spring! Attend a live music performance accompanied by a full dome video of two high altitude
balloon flights. Built and flown by a small group of engineering students one flight reached an altitude of 96,000 feet and landed 11 miles away,
while the second flight climbed to 86,000 feet but landed more than 240 miles away in Illinois.
This community-based project is funded in
part by a Rocket Grant from the Charlotte Street Foundation and Spencer Museum of Art.
Click here to watch the official teaser trailer for "Dark Matter presents 'Ascent'.".
Click here to go to the Dark Matter web site for more information.
Tell someone about Qué tal?
in the Current Skies. Click here.
