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| Volume 23 -- Issue 5
May 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 visible planets can satisfy both night and morning people as the planets are evenly divided with Jupiter rising late in the evening and
being visible all night. Mars is the other evening planet but is visible over the western horizon at sunset. In the mornings before the Sun rises
look eastward for Venus to be at its brightest this month. Mercury will be visible but low for much of the month, and further east over the southern horizon look for Saturn.
For those keeping track of lunar perigees the new Moon will be not quite 6 hours before its perigee making this new Moon the 'Super New Moon' of the year. Not that anyone will see it!
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