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   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   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   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   Well, shoot. I guess that class wasn't worth the money I paid!!! hahahahahahah..... |
Weinermr | Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:40 am   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   It might also be Jupiter, very prominent in the sky at this time. |
Spygirl | Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:46 am   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   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   I've looked at the sky map, and I'm pretty sure it was Jupiter. |
Cablejockey | Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 08:55 am   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   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   I believe we have a winner! Jupiter it is! |
Solidsnake | Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 09:23 am   no its not jupiter its mahrajah |
Juju2bigdog | Sunday, December 30, 2001 - 09:46 am   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   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   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   Few days late but yes, it WAS def Jupiter. Saw big thing on TV about it. |
Babyruth | Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 07:11 am   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   Wellll... if that BIG white round thing was Babyruth's full moon, then what was the little bright thing underneath it?
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Heyteach | Saturday, January 05, 2002 - 10:30 am   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   Hmm, maybe one of the little rhinestones on my garter caught the moon's glow and reflected it to you, Juju.....?  |
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