Full Moon and Planet - Anybody Know the Planet?

The ClubHouse: Archives: Full Moon and Planet - Anybody Know the Planet?

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 07:59 am Click here to edit this post
When I arose before dawn this morning (and presumably all last night) there was a gorgeous full moon with a dot of light below it that could only be a planet.

Do we have any astronomers amongst us? What is the planet? Is there any significance to this particular configuration of moon and planet?

Spygirl

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:37 am Click here to edit this post
If I had my guess it would be Venus, but I honestly don't remember. I took astronomy in college, but I'm pretty clueless.

I think the only choices are Mars and Venus. Anybody else know?

Weinermr

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:38 am Click here to edit this post
Juju - It may have been the International Space Station, or possibly the planet Saturn. Check out the following link.

December Night Sky

Spygirl

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:40 am Click here to edit this post
Well, shoot. I guess that class wasn't worth the money I paid!!! hahahahahahah.....

Weinermr

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:40 am Click here to edit this post
Spygirl, it might be Mars, but according to this website, Venus is not visible at sunrise at this time.

Weinermr

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:45 am Click here to edit this post
It might also be Jupiter, very prominent in the sky at this time.

Spygirl

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:46 am Click here to edit this post
Cool!!! I realized that I took the class in the spring semester, meaning we mapped the sky starting in February. I have to remember that the sky is different at different times of the year.

Who knew you could see Jupiter??? Amazing!

Weinermr

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:48 am Click here to edit this post
Juju - Try the "Your Sky" link on that page. You can input the time and place of your viewing, and they will recreate the sky you were observing. Please let us know what you find out.

Weinermr

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:54 am Click here to edit this post
I've looked at the sky map, and I'm pretty sure it was Jupiter.

Cablejockey

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:55 am Click here to edit this post
According to my newspaper, Jupiter is going to be closest to earth as it will get all year this winter. But its supposed to be seen after 7pm in the east. Also in case anyone is interested. from middle of April to middle of May all 5 of the solar systems naked eye planets will be visible in the west after 9pm, roughly lined up as mercury, venus,mars,jupiter and saturn. These planets have not been seen in such a configuration since 1940. One last thing, June 2-4, venus and jupiter will pass each other in the night sky. They will be so brilliant only the moon will outshine them.

Weinermr

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 09:00 am Click here to edit this post
Approximately that time, the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn were all in the sky, and the other planets were set. Jupiter is larger, and closer to the Moon according the map at the "Your Sky" link. I think Jupiter's your candidate Juju.

Spygirl

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 09:05 am Click here to edit this post
I believe we have a winner! Jupiter it is!

Solidsnake

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 09:23 am Click here to edit this post
no its not jupiter

its mahrajah

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 09:46 am Click here to edit this post
Wow, y'all are way ahead of me. (but then, I stopped to eat breakfast) First I realized the link is for UK. Now, I am just at the point where I am eliminating the International Space Station. I found the link to check on its viewing dates from various parts of the world. I am on the coast of Washington state between Seattle and Vancouver, BC. I checked both Seattle and Vancouver. You could only see the space station from those places on Dec. 20, 21, and 22.

Going back to look at the Your Sky link. I have not come to that one yet.

As an aside, when I was checking the position of the satellite earlier, the link with the orbits, trajectories and maps, there was a Greenwich Mean Time clock on there. Both my computer and wristwatch have the correct time (thanks to Tess from about a month ago).

As another aside, it is so wonderful to have a crack research team on EVERY subject right at one's fingertips. No wonder I can't leave this spot.

Juju2bigdog

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 10:15 am Click here to edit this post
Okay, I am done studying the Your Sky link. I input both Seattle and Vancouver for 7:30 a.m., which is predawn up here. It was definitely Jupiter!!!

Thanks, Weinermr! Thanks, Spygirl. Thanks, Cablejockey.

Cablejockey, if you remember to do it, start a thread later on in the year letting us know when this stuff is going to happen and our best viewing times.

<wait a minute! How is Spygirl in here posting? Wasn't she out eating breakfast with Merlin at the times she was posting? How do these people DO these things?>

Littlebreeze

Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 07:06 pm Click here to edit this post
It sure was Jupiter. Here's last night's/this morning's sky (hope this works).....

http://www.earthsky.com/Features/Skywatching/swg011229-n.html

Braveheart61901

Friday, January 04, 2002 - 08:50 pm Click here to edit this post
Few days late but yes, it WAS def Jupiter. Saw big thing on TV about it.

Babyruth

Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 07:11 am Click here to edit this post
That might have been my full moon you saw, if I was waking and getting up around then and my shades were up.

Juju2bigdog

Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 08:30 am Click here to edit this post
Wellll... if that BIG white round thing was Babyruth's full moon, then what was the little bright thing underneath it?

Heyteach

Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 10:30 am Click here to edit this post
Ah, such an erudite bunch of people here! One always learns something (In Babyruth's case, maybe too much...) Thanks for the interesting link! I have bookmarked it for future reference.

Babyruth

Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 02:32 pm Click here to edit this post
Hmm, maybe one of the little rhinestones on my garter caught the moon's glow and reflected it to you, Juju.....?