This Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter image shows the major features of Mare Imbrium “he Sea of Rains”, including its eastern ring of mountain ranges,dark crater Plato, the “islands” in the north, Archimedes, and the subtle wrinkles. Other lunar maria are out of frame below the large crater Copernicus (botton centre). NASA Hello, Spring Stargazers! Here are…
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As shown above, on Sunday, March 17, 2024 from 8:09 to 8:15 pm EDT, the International Space Station will be visible flying overhead of the GTA in an extremely bright pass, rising from the west-southwestern horizon near Jupiter and flying past the bright star Mirfak and then through the Big Dipper before entering Earth’s shadow…
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Malcolm Park captured this terrific widefield image of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks on March 4 2024. The Andromeda Galaxy is prominent at the upper right, and the triangulum galaxy is fuzzy at top left. This week the comet will travel between the two widely separated bright stars Mirach (above centre) and bluish Alpheratz (below centre). Enjoy more…
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As shown above, on Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 8:54 to 8:59 pm EDT, the International Space Station will be visible flying overhead of the GTA in a very bright pass, rising from the west-southwestern horizon near Jupiter and flying past the bright star Mirfak and then Polaris before entering Earth’s shadow in the northeastern…
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This image by Martin Gembec of the Czech Republic shows the rich starfield of the Alpha-Persei Moving Group stars surrounding Mirfak (above centre), the brightest star in Perseus (the Hero). The photograph spans about 3.5 degrees of the sky, nearly filling the view in binoculars. Mirfak is the very bright star shining about halfway up…
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As shown above, on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 from 5:36 to 5:41 am EST, the International Space Station will be visible flying overhead of the GTA in an extremely bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow above the west-northwestern horizon and flying above the bright star Arcturus before setting below the southeastern horizon near the moon. (courtesy:…
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This spectacular image by my friend Andrea Girones was taken recently at Morant’s Curve, Alberta using a DSLR with a 20mm lens on a star tracking mount. It captures the arc of faintly glowing reddish hydrogen gas around Orion and the nimbus around his head (at left), the bright compact Rosette Nebula (upper left), Mars…
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As shown above, on Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 6:14 to 6:21 am EST, the International Space Station will be visible flying overhead of the GTA in an extremely bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow just above the northwestern horizon and flying through both dippers before setting below the east-southeastern horizon near Venus. (courtesy: Heavens-above.com) Artificial…
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Prominent features on the moon for unaided eyes, binoculars, and backyard telescopes have been marked on this image by Michael Watson of Toronto. While none of the equipment is visible from Earth, the red numerals mark the Apollo landing sites. Hello, Mid-winter Stargazers! Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of February 18th, 2024…
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As shown above, on Monday, February 19, 2024 from 6:17 to 6:23 am EST, the International Space Station will be visible flying over the GTA in an extremely bright pass, exiting Earth’s shadow above the west-southwestern horizon and flying through both dippers before setting below the northeastern horizon. (courtesy: Heavens-above.com) Artificial satellites are visible because…
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