A rotating model of Saturn’s moon Iapetus. Its variation in surface brightness causes it to change in apparent brightness as it travels around Saturn over 80 days. On November 29, 2023, Iapetus will appear brighter as its reaches it western elongation. (Wikipedia) Hello, Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of November 26th,…
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As shown above, on Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 5:41 to 5:47 pm EST, the International Space Station will be visible flying over the GTA in an extremely bright pass, rising from the northwestern horizon and then flying closely past Polaris before entering Earth’s shadow low in the eastern sky near Jupiter. (courtesy: Heavens-above.com) Artificial…
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This image taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the fascinating Aristarchus Plateau. The crater Aristarchus at lower right is very prominent, and can be seen even with unaided eyes as a very bright patch. To its left is the similar-sized, but darker crater Herodotus. Vallis Schröteri, the largest sinuous rille on the moon, starts…
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As shown above, on Monday, November 20, 2023 from 5:38 to 5:44 pm EST, the International Space Station will be visible flying high overhead of the GTA in an extremely bright pass, rising from the southwestern horizon and then flying through the summer triangle before entering Earth’s shadow low in the east-northeastern sky. (courtesy: Heavens-above.com)…
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My friend Lisa Ann Fanning of New Jersey captured the spectacular morning conjunction of the crescent moon and Venus from the Cape May Lighthouse on November 10, 2023. Hello, November Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of November 12th, 2023 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free to pass this along to your friends…
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As shown above, on Saturday, November 18, 2023 from 5:36 to 5:42 pm EST, the International Space Station will be visible flying over the GTA in an interesting bright pass, rising over the south-southwestern horizon and then flying closely past the crescent moon, passing Saturn, and then closely above Jupiter before entering Earth’s shadow low…
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Mirach’s Ghost aka NGC404 is the elliptical / lenticular galaxy sitting to the upper left of the bright star Mirach in Andromeda. Other smaller galaxies are scattered around the region. This terrific image by Kent Wood of Utah was the NASA APOD for Oct 27, 2017. Kent’s original image with details of his equipment is…
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As shown above, on Monday, November 6, 2023 from 5:41 to 5:45 am EST, the International Space Station will be visible flying over the GTA in a bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow in the west-southwestern sky near Aldebaran, and then flying past Sirius before setting in the south-southeast. (courtesy: Heavens-above.com) Artificial satellites are visible because…
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NGC 457, better known as the Owl Cluster, ET Cluster, and Dragonfly Cluster, was imaged by “Astrodoc” Ron Brecher of Guelph, Ontario. The bright stars are the eyes. The body and feet extend down to the right. Squint to see the upswept, curving chains of stars for the wings.This image covers a finger’s width of…
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As shown above, on Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 6:41 to 6:46 am EDT, the International Space Station will be visible flying high overhead of the GTA in an extremely bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow in the west-northwestern sky, then flying past the moon and Venus before setting in the east-southeast. (courtesy: Heavens-above.com) Artificial satellites…
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