July, 2003

Thursday, July 31st, 2003

Magnificent Mars

Mars as imaged by Utah Skies own Don Brown

Utah Skies own Don Brown created this beautiful series depicting the growth of Mars over the last couple of months. Between May 20th and July 28th, Mars doubled in size... growing from 11" to 22". Mars will reach an incredible 25" by the end of August for it's best showing in over 60,000 years 

Wednesday, July 30th, 2003

Aurora Watch

Earth has been inside a high speed solar wind since the weekend. Our magnetic field has been buzzing since. Skywatchers should be alert for auroras.
For more information, checkout our Spaceweather.com

Saturday, July 26th, 2003

Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower
A Leonid Meteor by Mike Biesele
The annual Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower is getting under way. The event, which peaks on July 28/29 this year, typically produces about 15 meteors per hour. So, while you're out observing Mars from Midnight till sun up, don't be surprised if you also spy a bunch of meteors.
For more information, checkout our Meteor Page.

Wednesday, July 23rd, 2003

70,000,000,000,000,000,000,000
Just of few of the 70 Sextillion stars in the visible universe
70 Sextillion Stars. That's how many a team of researchers from the Australian National University came up with. The team made use of two of the most powerful telescopes in the world to carry out their observations. Checkout CNN.com/SPACE for the full story..

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2003

Huge Sunspot Region
Sunspot #410 as imaged by William Trost of New Carlisle, Ohio
Sunspot region 410 is as large as the planet Jupiter. It's magnetic fields are weakening though and it no longer poses a major threat of X-Class Solar Flares. This beautiful shot was taken by amateur astronomer William Trost of New Carlisle, Ohio using safe solar projection techniques.

Friday, July 18th, 2003

Farewell to Planet Earth
Earth as viewed from Mars Express
The Mars bound Mars Express spacecraft sent back this picture of our planet taken on July 3rd when the spacecraft was 8 million kilometres from Earth.

Friday, July 11th, 2003

Aurora Watch

 Earth is set to enter a high speed solar wind this evening. Skywatchers should be on the lookout for northern lights after dark tonight. Checkout Spaceweather.com for the latest information.

Oldest Known Planet Discovered

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have discovered the o ldest, most distant planet known. Located some 5600 light years away in the anci ent globular cluster M4, the planet is estimated to be nearly 13 billion years o ld. Checkout CNN.com/SPACE for more details.

Saturday Night's Star Party
Utah Skies and Basin Recreation would like to thank the many people who came out to join us for a night under the stars Saturday, July 5th at Park City's Trailside Park.
The event ran from 10:00pm until 2:00am. Numerous telescope were on-hand... pointed at the wide range of summer treasure currently inhabiting the skies over Park City.

Tuesday, July 1st, 2003

Utah Skies, Uinta-Style
SummerMilkyWay.jpg (242062 bytes)
This magnificent image was captured by Utah Skies' own Anthony Arrigo last weekend from high in the Uintas -- the summer Milky Way at it's best...