Utah Skies » The Moon

Wolf Moon Rising

anthonya — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:59:27 +0000

A full wolf moon rose over Park City the other day. Known as the Full Wolf Moon by native Americans (likely) because of the sound of hungry wolves howling in the distance, this full moon was a bit extra special. This was also a perigee moon. Perigee is the point in the Moon’s eliptical orbit around Earth where it is at its closest. This, combined with the fact that Earth is at Perihelion (closest point in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun), made for a much bigger and brighter full moon than normal. Those of you out walking after dark might have noticed that much more light was available? If not, that’s ok. Hopefully, you at least enjoyed a nice view of Earth’s nearest celestial neighbor.

Celestial Neighbors Gathering

anthonya — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 18:25:34 +0000

Skywatchers are encouraged to head out after dark this weekend for a special gathering of our nearest celestial neighbors. Starting on Saturday night (12/28/08), a tiny waxing crescent moon will be found low above the western horizon shortly after sunset. Use the bright planet Jupiter as your guide. The moon will sit just a few degrees below Jupiter. Once you’ve found these, look for tiny planet Mercury sitting between the two. I should mention, that you’ll need a nice, low western horizon to see this, as Mercury is never very far from the Sun. Over the next several nights, the moon will grow in phase as it climbs higher in the sky, working its way towards bright Venus on Tuesday night (12/30). Events like this are known as conjunctions. These can be quite beautiful and have been viewed as highly significant events by people throughout history. Checkout Sky & Telescope for more information.

Earthrise Revisited

anthonya — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:58 +0000

40 years ago this week, astronauts aboard Apollo 8 travelled where no one had gone before, the Moon. As they circled around the back side of the moon, they saw the very first ‘Earthrise’; planet Earth rising above the horizon of another celestial body. At that moment, they were able to see Earth as it truely was, a tiny, fragile planet orbiting in the vastness of space. The accompanying image is one of the most spectacular ever taken. The Apollo 8 mission in December of 1968 marked mankinds first ever journey to another celestial body.

Moon Approaching Last Quarter

anthonya — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:37:57 +0000

Here’s a quick shot I took the other night shortly after moonrise. I caught the moon just after it appeared above the eastern horizon. It is a couple of days prior to last quarter (when the moon is 1/2 illuminated). Still, catching the moon low to the horizon is always a bit interesting… with the awesome colors it tends to display.

The moon is an easy target for backyard astronomers. You don’t even need a telescope to see it. Of course, if you have one (or even binoculars) you can see an incredible amount of detail. Mountains, valleys, lava flow even shadows from objects on the surface are within reach. Additionally, the view of the moon is always changing. As the moon orbits the Earth, it’s phase changes, offering a better view of different aspects of the lunar surface. Check it out the next clear night.