Spectacular Sky Scene Monday Evening

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » November 30, 2008 7:16 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20081128/ ... ho3Uus0NUE

Every once in a while, something will appear in the night sky that will attract the attention of even those who normally don't bother looking up. It's likely to be that way on Monday evening, Dec. 1.

A slender crescent moon, just 15-percent illuminated, will appear in very close proximity to the two brightest planets in our sky, Venus and Jupiter.

People who are unaware or have no advance notice will almost certainly wonder, as they cast a casual glance toward the moon on that night, what those two "large silvery stars" happen to be? Sometimes, such an occasion brings with it a sudden spike of phone calls to local planetariums, weather offices and even police precincts. Not a few of these calls excitedly inquire about "the UFOs" that are hovering in the vicinity of our natural satellite.

There's more to the article (of course).
I just wanted to remind everyone to
LOOK UP MONDAY NIGHT!

Post by **SMLCHNG** » November 30, 2008 8:07 pm

COOL! I hope the clouds clear!

pbans · Post by **pbans** » November 30, 2008 8:50 pm

I could see them tonight!!!
They're super bright!

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » November 30, 2008 9:05 pm

pbans wrote:I could see them tonight!!!
They're super bright!

I've been noticing the planets together over the past week or two,
but this is the first article I've stumbled across about them and their
appearance in the sky together now. Just wanted to give a heads up.

oops.. ... heads up ... I made a punny.

pbans · Post by **pbans** » November 30, 2008 9:12 pm

Desdamona wrote:
pbans wrote:I could see them tonight!!!
They're super bright!
I've been noticing the planets together over the past week or two,
but this is the first article I've stumbled across about them and their
appearance in the sky together now. Just wanted to give a heads up.

oops.. ... heads up ... I made a punny.

Heads up....hee hee!

I was glad to read the article so I knew exactly what they were!
I'm not very "sky smart".....

docandjeanie · Post by **docandjeanie** » November 30, 2008 9:16 pm

We saw Venus and Jupiter lined up last night, no moon last night, and tonight there are clouds

Hoping tomorrow for a clear night.

Grams · Post by **Grams** » November 30, 2008 10:23 pm

I saw it tonight on the way to CVS and thought gee those stars are bright.. Now I know what I saw!! Thanks for posting... It really was pretty!!!

Bring Back the Magic · November 30, 2008 10:38 pm

Saw them tonight too.....it is beautiful!

Thanks for posting the info.

blackjack · Post by **blackjack** » December 1, 2008 3:43 pm

bumping as a reminder to look to the sky tonight.

chippewa · Post by **chippewa** » December 1, 2008 4:01 pm

Very cloudy here today, but we did have a great show of Venus & Jupiter on Friday.

Frank4 · Post by **Frank4** » December 1, 2008 4:43 pm

It's cloudy here, but I am hoping that it clears up around the time I leave work for the evening.

citcat · Post by **citcat** » December 1, 2008 4:45 pm

Yeah, my astronomy-nut dad told me a few days ago to look for this. Unfortunately, there are clouds.

And a few snowflakes. ugh.

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » December 1, 2008 5:44 pm

I've only got one planet and that Cheshire cat smile of a moon so far,
but the sun hasn't really totally set yet.

A crescent moon is seen below the planets Jupiter (L) and Venus (R) in
the sky over Amman December 1, 2008. Astronomers and skygazers
across the world are keeping watch on Monday night for a rare astronomical
phenomenon as two of the brightest naked-eye planets, Venus and Jupiter,
join a thin crescent moon to create a brief "unhappy face" in the sky. On
Sunday night, the two planets appeared closest together in an event known
as "Planetary Conjunction".

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » December 1, 2008 5:59 pm

UPDATE at 6pm... NOW we have the cockeyed frowny face. (I think the smile
is reserved for Jenny and her neighbors in the southern hemisphere.) It's PURDY!

Of the three participants, Venus is the most impressive. Although it’s 93
million miles from Earth about now, it shines with a brilliance people have
mistaken for UFOs or landing lights from a incoming airliner. But the
moon is no slouch, either.

View the moon with a slightly averted glance and you’re likely to pick up
the dull but noticeable glow of Earth light reflecting off the darkened lunar
surface. As for Jupiter’s brightness? Cut it some slack. Despite it’s
enormous size, it’s currently about 472 million miles away.

If you’re looking for something musical to accompany the view, we
suggest a bit of Gustav Holz’s “The Planets.” And as you watch, consider
that humans are virtual visitors to two of the objects. And a new mission
is planned to the third.

http://features.csmonitor.com/innovatio ... oon-oh-my/

carolinagirl · Post by **carolinagirl** » December 1, 2008 7:03 pm

It's very bright here in Tifton, Ga., but it doesn't photograph well.

springparrot · Post by **springparrot** » December 1, 2008 7:12 pm

Desdamona wrote:I've only got one planet and that Cheshire cat smile of a moon so far,
but the sun hasn't really totally set yet.

A crescent moon is seen below the planets Jupiter (L) and Venus (R) in
the sky over Amman December 1, 2008. Astronomers and skygazers
across the world are keeping watch on Monday night for a rare astronomical
phenomenon as two of the brightest naked-eye planets, Venus and Jupiter,
join a thin crescent moon to create a brief "unhappy face" in the sky. On
Sunday night, the two planets appeared closest together in an event known
as "Planetary Conjunction".

ours is upsidedown...the planets are at the bottom???

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » December 1, 2008 7:13 pm

carolinagirl wrote:It's very bright here in Tifton, Ga., but it doesn't photograph well.

You'd need a zoom and a tripod. I'd do it, but my car isn't here,
and that's usually my tripod base. Maybe in a bit...

flipflopgirl · Post by **flipflopgirl** » December 1, 2008 7:19 pm

I got to see it here just as the sun was setting!!! Very nice!!! Then the clouds rolled in...can't see it anymore!

Touch O Parrotdise · Post by **Touch O Parrotdise** » December 1, 2008 7:22 pm

saw it here... thought of the wings song venus and mars... (i know it's jupiter ).

Post by **SMLCHNG** » December 1, 2008 8:35 pm

It's just from our patio.. and lots of lights in the parking lot, but I got it.