Quarter 4 Astronomy Observations Part One

Monday April 7, 2014                                  8:00-10:00

Location: Sarasota, FL

Instruments used: Naked eye, binoculars

Weather: Good

Visibility: Fair – some low lying clouds

Moon Phase: First Quarter

Stars: Alphard, Aldebaren, Rigel, Gamma Leonis, Castor, Pollux, Betelguese

Planets: Jupiter

Constellations: Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Orion, Hydra

Observations: A pretty night, nice for observing,

Monday, April 14, 2014                   2:30 a.m. – 3:30 a.m.

Location: Sarasota, FL

Instruments used: Naked eye, binoculars

Weather: Good

Visibility: Great

Moon Phase: Full Moon, woke up to see “blood moon” eclipse

Stars:

Planets:

Constellations:

Observations: Best view 3:06 a.m. great visibility full eclipse – more red hue when viewed with the naked eye – well worth getting up for. I’m sure there were also constellations to be recorded, however I woke up to sit out and watch the blood moon, in other words this is not my most detailed observation.

Monday, April 21, 2014                               8:00-10:00

Location: Sarasota, FL

Instruments used: Naked eye, binoculars

Weather: Good

Visibility: Great

Moon Phase: Last Quarter

Stars: Regulus, Spica, Cor Caroli, Gamma Leoni, Alpha Centauri, Beta Centauri

Planets: Jupiter

Constellations: Centaurus, Gemini, Virgo, Leo, Leo Minor, Canes Ventici

Observations: Another successful observation night, studying the last of the constellations allowed me to identify Alpha Centauri

APOD: Warped Sky: Star Trails over Arches National Park

It looks to cool to be real but in its own way; it is. The photo here was created using a time-warp. The time warp occured due to digital exposure to the night sky over a span of 2.5 hours. The comings and goings of prominent stars are visible due to this concept. The panorama was captured in Utah, USA during early morning hours. The arch seen on the right is the park's Delicate Arch. Towards the center, you can see the Milky Way.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140317.html

APOD: M78 and Reflecting Dust Clouds

A very cool looking scene, M object 78 and reflecting dust clouds. A blue glow and columns of dark dust highlight M78 and other bright reflection nebula in the constellation of Orion. The filamentary dust not only absorbs light but also reflects light of recently formed blue stars. The famous M78 nebula is the image center, while NGC 2071 can be seen to its lower left.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140326.html 

APOD: Mars Red and Spica Blue

A lovely contrast from each other and the trees blackened by the night sky. Mars and Spica will be spotted together for the next few months. Mars is the object on the left, shining in its usual rusty red hue. The blue object on the right, is the star, Spica. Mars can be seen like this because it is currently close to Earth. Spica always shines as the brightest blue star.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140402.html