May, 2005

Tuesday, May 31st, 2005

Mars & The Moon
 The Moon & Mars as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
Early risers were treated to a sweet alignment this morning involving the Moon and the red planet, Mars. The pair can be see here climbing above the eastern horizon together... around 4:30am. Click here to view an annotated version of the event.... and here to visit our conjunction pics page.

Monday, May 30th, 2005

Mars & The Moon
 The Moon & Mars as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
Early risers will get to see the Moon posing alongside the red planet, Mars on Tuesday morning. Look for the pair to rise above the eastern horizon together... around 3:00am... then cruise westward until the light of the Sun hides Mars. Click here to view a sky map for the event.... and here to visit our conjunction pics page.

Saturday, May 28th, 2005

Saturn Down Under
 Saturn's southern hemisphere as imaged by Cassini
The orbiting Cassini Spacecraft recently snapped this gorgeous shot of Saturn's southern hemisphere. Visible in the shot are several small dark storms and the faint "C" ring silhouetted at the top of the image by the planet itself. Saturn is currently sinking in the west among the stars of Gemini... shortly after dark. Those interested in viewing the ringed planet should do so quickly as it'll sink from view in the coming weeks.

Friday, May 27th, 2005

Venus Returns To The Night
 Venus sits low above the western horizon as imaged by Utah Skies member Brian Jolley
Sharp eyed observers with a clear horizon to the west can now catch a glimpse of the 2nd rock, Venus shortly after sunset. It hangs low above the horizon in this sweet shot by Utah Skies member, Brian Jolley. Venus will continue to climb each night and will come to dominate the night sky in coming weeks.

Thursday, May 26th, 2005

Radio Rings
 Saturn and its spectacular rings as imaged by Cassini
The orbiting Cassini Spacecraft took advantage of a recent occultation of the Earth by Saturn's spectacular rings to make some incredible measurements of the rings internal structure. Radio waves were beamed from Cassini to the Earth through the rings. This allowed mission scientists to measure the size and composition of the material making up the rings. The measurements were used to construct this beautiful image. Checkout the Cassini-Huygens website for more information.

Spotted Titan
 A bright infrared spot on Titan as imaged by Cassini
Infrared imaged of Saturn's moon Titan recently revealed a puzzling hotspot. The hotspot, which is "approximately the size and shape of West Virginia" could have been caused by a recent meteor impact or volcanic activity has caught everyone's attention. Mission specialists are using the full array of detectors available to them to unravel this mystery. Checkout NASA's Planetary Photojournal for all the details.

Wednesday, May 25th, 2005

Voyage To The Edge Of The Solar System
 Voyager at the limits of our solar system
27 years after it was launched, NASA's Voyager 1 Spacecraft is at the solar systems fringes. It is currently in a region at the limits of the Sun's influence... a region where the solar wind meets the vastness of interstellar space. Voyager has traveled an estimated 8.7 billion miles. Read more at SpaceDaily.com.

Tuesday, May 24th, 2005

Darkest Skies In The Country
 Star Trails as captured by Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune
Known for some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth, southern Utah also has some of the darkest skies on Earth. So, after you've hiked spectacular red rocks, kick back and take in the sky like you've never seen it before. Checkout this Salt Lake Tribune article for more details.

Monday, May 23rd, 2005

The Moon & The Belt of Venus
 The Moon & The Belt of Venus as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
Look towards the east around sunset tonight and you'll see The Full Moon rising in The Belt of Venus. The Belt of Venus is Earth's shadow projected onto its atmosphere. The combination can be quite beautiful. The Belt of Venus can be seen just before sunrise...or just after sunset in the direction opposite the Sun. Check it out next chance you get!

Sunday, May 22nd, 2005

Flower Moon Tonight
 February's Snow Moon as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
Skywatchers will find themselves under a flower moon tonight. The Flower Moon is the name given to the May full moon because it shines down on an abundance of spring flowers. Look for the Moon to rise in the east as the Sun is setting in the west. The full moon completely dominates the night sky. Those of you with a telescope may want to employ a moon filter to reduce the overwhelming brightness.

Saturday, May 21st, 2005

Icy Worlds
 Saturn's moon Enceladus floats above its beautiful rings in this Cassini image
Saturn's moon Enceladus floats quietly above its beautiful rings. Both Enceladus and the rings are made up of the same pure water ice. The rings have gotten discolored through the years... whereas Enceladus has remained clean through some as yet unknown resurfacing process. Checkout NASA's Planetary Photojournal for more details. Saturn is currently sitting towards the west among the stars of Gemini... shortly after dark. Those interested in viewing the ringed planet should do so quickly as it'll sink from view in the coming weeks.

Friday, May 20th, 2005

One of the Pair
 ...an 82% moon as imaged by Don Brown of Utah Skies
waxing gibbous moon was beautiful in conjunction next to bright Jupiter last night, but to capture them together in an image required an early start; this picture of the moon was taken around 9:30pm MDT when it was separated by nearly 4 degrees from the gas giant.

US says No Billboards in Space

The U.S. government does not want billboards in space. The Federal Aviation Administration proposed on Thursday to amend its regulations to ensure that it can enforce a law that prohibits "obtrusive" advertising in zero gravity. See the Reuters report for more info...

Thursday, May 19th, 2005

Conjunction Tonight!
 The Moon & Jupiter as imaged by Don Brown of Utah Skies
Skywatchers are in for a treat Thursday night. Two of the night sky's brightest objects will cross the sky together. Jupiter and The Moon will pass within 1° of each other this evening... that's within two lunar diameters. All you need to do to view the event is head outside shortly after dark and look to the east. No special equipment is required... though binoculars or a small telescope will certainly add to the experience. This sweet shot was taken back in January by Utah Skies own Don Brown. Click here to view some previous conjunctions.

Wednesday, May 18th, 2005

New Approach To Understanding Dark Energy
 Dark energy may be driving our expanding universe
Princeton University Cosmologists have come up with a fundamentally new way to understand the accelerating expansion of our universe. At issue are some of the most basic issues of physics. Does a mysterious form of dark energy really exist? Or, are we observing the breakdown of Einstein's theory of General Relatively. Either way, our understanding of the universe could be fundamentally changed. Checkout SpaceDaily.com for all the details.

Tuesday, May 17th, 2005

SOHO 1000th Comet Contest
 Comet Bradfield as imaged by SOHO
The folks at the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), one of the most prolific comet hunting teams assembled, are holding a contest to predict the date and time of their 1000th comet discovery. Visit SOHO to sign up.

Monday, May 16th, 2005

Martian Icecap Mystery Explained
 Mars as imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope
A team of scientists has come up with a theory to explain why the permanent icecap found on Mars' south pole is offset from the pole. It comes down to climate issues. The weather patterns in the respective polar regions are quite different. Additionally, the two polar icecaps are very different in composition. The northern icecap is very large and made up primarily of water ice... while the southern icecap is much smaller (only 1/10 the size) and made up mostly of carbon dioxide. Checkout SpaceDaily.com for all the details.

Sunday, May 15th, 2005

Park City Aurora
 A weak Park City aurora as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
A weak display of the northern lights were seen last night here in Park City... and more might hopefully be visible tonight. Skywatchers should keep an eye on the northern horizon after dark. Checkout the Spaceweather Aurora Gallery for some sweet pics!

Saturday, May 14th, 2005

Impact!
A solar wind gust (probably from yesterday's CME) just reached Earth. Skywatchers at all latitudes should remain alert for aurora after dark tonight. Checkout Spaceweather.com for more details.

Solar Activity Springs Into Gear
 A large Coronal Mass Ejection as imaged by SOHO
The orbiting Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) recorded a M8 Class Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) early Friday afternoon. This earth-directed event should arrive after dark Saturday night (5/14). Skywatchers at all latitudes should remain alert for aurora.

Cassini Images Rings From Above
 Saturn's rings as viewed from above by the Cassini Spacecraft
The orbiting Cassini Spacecraft has found yet another moon of Saturn. This one, designated S/2005 S1 can be seen orbiting inside the narrow Keeler gap of the rings. Don't quite see it? Checkout this time-lapsed exposure. Then visit The Cassini Website for more details. Saturn is currently sitting high overhead among the stars of Gemini... shortly after dark.

Friday, May 13th, 2005
Mars Continues To Grow/Brighten
 Mars as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
The red planet, Mars, continues to grow in apparent size and brightness. It's currently 7" in diameter on its way to 21" this fall. Mars is currently rising just before 4am... putting it low in the southeastern sky before sunrise. Mars will climb throughout the spring and summer on the way to an excellent showing this fall.

Thursday, May 12th, 2005
First MARSIS Boom Deployed
 Artist impression of Marsis' three radar booms deployed
Flight controllers from the European Space Agency (ESA) successfully deployed the first of three radar booms on the Mars Express Spacecraft. The MARSIS radar will be used to study sub-surface structures on the red planet. Read all about it at SpaceDaily.com.

Wednesday, May 11th, 2005
Cassini Finds New Saturn Moon
 Saturn's newest moon, as imaged by Cassini
The orbiting Cassini Spacecraft recently discovered Saturn's newest moon. Temporarily named S/2005 S1, it was first seen during a review of some time-lapsed images taken on May 1st. The tiny moon is only about 4 miles across and sits just within Saturn's A Ring. Checkout NASA Mission News for all the details.

Tuesday, May 10th, 2005
Astronomers Seek Earth-Sized Planets
 The quest for extrasolar planets continues
It's been a decade since the first Jupiter-sized extra-solar planet was discovered. In that time, the technologies and techniques involved have improved significantly. Astronomers are now setting their sights on the discovery of Earth-sized planets. Checkout CNN.com/SPACE for more details.

Monday, May 9th, 2005
Northern Lights!
 The northern lights as imaged by Hanne Søvik of Norway
A gusty solar wind and an indirect strike from a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) triggered bright aurora last night into this morning. Skywatchers in northern Europe, Canada and Alaska saw some incredible displays. The likelihood of more displays is fading.

Mission To Pluto Preparations Continue
 The possible wreckage of the 1999 Mars Polar Lander
Preparations for a planned January 2006 New Horizons Mission to Pluto are continuing. April saw the assembly of the mission spacecraft as well as a series of comprehensive tests. Checkout SpaceDaily.com for more details.

Sunday, May 8th, 2005
Mars Polar Lander Found?
 The possible wreckage of the 1999 Mars Polar Lander
A re-examination of some Mars Global Surveyor images has lead the potential discovery of the ill-fated Mars Polar Lander. The lander disappeared in 1999 due most likely to a crash triggered by a premature engine shutdown. Checkout CNN.com/Space for more details.

Saturday, May 7th, 2005
Tiniest Crescent Moon?
 A tiny waning crescent Moon as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
A tiny waning crescent Moon rose just before sunrise this morning. The moon will be new tomorrow morning around 1:30am.... making this mornings crescent only about 18 hours before new. That's pretty small, but...  By sunset on Sunday evening, the moon will be about 16 hours old.... making it even smaller still. Those with a clear view to the western horizon might be able to spot an incredibly thin waxing crescent Moon that'll make this 23 hour old lunar view look portly. As an added bonus, you just might be able to spy the 2nd planet Venus a couple of degrees to the northeast. Here's a map to guide you... courtesy of the folks at Spaceweather.com.

Friday, May 6th, 2005
Colorful Sky
 A Park City (double) Rainbow as imaged by Anthony Arrigo of Utah Skies
A partial break in the late afternoon showers allowed for a spectacular rainbow east of Park City. This beauty seemed to come right off a neighbors deck..

Thursday, May 5th, 2005
eta Aquarid Meteor Shower
 The radiant of the eta Aquarid meteor shower, courtesy of Spaceweather.com
The peak of the annual eta Aquarid Meteor Shower is upon us again. The eta Aquarids are the dusty remnants of Halley's Comet which swings on by every 76 years. While this is more of a southern hemisphere event with 50+ meteors visible at the peak, northerners can expect to see 10-15 from a dark location. While you're outside, be sure to look for the red planet, Mars. It's currently cruising through Aquarius, the shower's host constellation  Head outside after dark tonight... and especially into the wee hours tomorrow morning. Visit Spaceweather.com for the complete story.

Wednesday, May 4th, 2005
Sweet Spot
 Saturn's moon Helene sits below its rings in this Cassini image
The orbiting Cassini Spacecraft recently snapped this sweet shot of Saturn's moon Helene sitting just below its nearly edge-on rings. Visit NASA's Planetary Photojournal for more details.

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2005
Sweet Spot
 Saturn's moon Helene sits below its rings in this Cassini image
The orbiting Cassini Spacecraft recently snapped this sweet shot of Saturn's moon Helene sitting just below its nearly edge-on rings. Visit NASA's Planetary Photojournal for more details.

Monday, May 2nd, 2005
Ringside Seats
 Saturn's magnificent rings as imaged by Cassini
The orbiting Cassini Spacecraft is about to switch gears. After months focusing on Saturn's moons, it'll begin to focus on its spectacular ring system. For the next 5 months, Cassini will image the rings from virtually every angle imaginable. Cassini will image the rings from the top, from the bottom, lit, unlit, towards the Sun, away from the Sun. We ought to get some serious eye-candy (and scientific data) from this next phase. Checkout the Cassini-Huygens Press Release for more details. Saturn is currently sitting high overhead among the stars of Gemini... shortly after dark.

Sunday, May 1st, 2005
Astronomers Confirm the First Image of a Planet Outside of Our Solar System
ESO PR Photo 14a/05 -- First image of an exoplanet
The first planet outside of our solar system to be imaged orbits a brown dwarf (centre-right) at a distance that is nearly twice as far as Neptune is from the sun. The photo is based on three near-infrared exposures (in the H, K and L' wavebands) with the NACO adaptive-optics facility at the 8.2-m VLT Yepun telescope at the ESO Paranal Observatory.

Extra-solar Planet Confirmed
 Comparing ours with other solar systems
An international team of astronomers have confirmed the discovery of a planet orbiting another star. The giant Jupiter-like star orbits its brown dwarf star at a distance of 55Astronomical Units (AU). For comparison, this distance is well beyond the orbit of Pluto in our solar system. Astronomers now estimate that up to 1/4 of all stars have planets orbiting them. Given the billions and billions of stars in each galaxy out there, that's an awful lot of planets out there. Checkout Astrobiology Magazine for all the details.