Astronomy web links
used with my classes.
Click here.
Click here to read or
download scanned copies of
Peon, one of the original Scifi FanZines.
Volume 20 -- Issue 4
April 2014
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.
For additional useful Earth and Space news, information, and graphics follow my WordPress Blog at bobs-spaces, or as Tweets,
or as an RSS feed.
Click here to watch some of my video work posted on You Tube.
At A Glance:Welcome to this issue of Qué tal.
During April the visible planets with the exception of Mercury will all be visible in the predawn skies. The highlight
for April is the total lunar eclipse occurring between midnight and sunrise local times. The star Spica and the planet Mars will be close to
the eclipsed full Moon. Off to the west is Jupiter, while Saturn is in the east. In the last hours of the ecli[pse the planet Venus becomes visible as it
rises above the eastern horizon.
Mars reaches opposition and is closest to the Earth this month.
Comet 2012 PanSTAARS K1 also is at opposition and may brighten enough to be seen with binoculars.
Lee's Summit, MO 
