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| Volume 23 -- Issue 3
March 2017
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 the two inner planets, Mercury and Venus will be on opposite sides of the Sun with Venus moving
into inferior conjunction and Mercury into superior conjunction. Watch for Mercury later in the month as it moves into the evening skies.
In the evening look west for bright Venus, but each evening it will be lower and closer to the Sun. Setting a few hours after Venus
and visible over the southwestern horizon at sunset is the planet Mars. Jupiter rises during the evening and is visible the remainder of the night hours, and
Saturn rises a couple of hours before sunrise and is visible over the southeast horizon at sunrise.
Remember to set your clock forward one hour. In the United States of America Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday March 12th,
while on Sunday March 26th members of the European Union begin European Summer Time.
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