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    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 22 -- Issue 10
October 2016

   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 observing information and other useful Earth and Space news posted several times each week follow my WordPress Blog at bobs-spaces.

At A Glance: Welcome to this issue of Qué tal.
   This month Jupiter and Mercury will be visible over the eastern skies before sunrise. However Jupiter will be higher above the horizon each morning while Mercury, moving east, will be getting lower and closer to the Sun and superior conjunction. The evening skies have a nice planetary arrangement. Over the south to the western horizon are Mars, Saturn, and Venus - in that order from east to west.
   Coastal areas be forewarned! The full Moon will be very close to perigee, its closest to the Earth for a particular orbit, around the middle of the month. This results in higher tides on the days following full Moon, 17th-20th.