Astronomy thread!

[RICHARD]

Lunar Eclipse on Aug, 5 2009
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html

[Cinder & Smoke]

Lunar Eclipse on Aug, 5, 2009
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2009.html

Those pages need a Translator to ride along with you!


Looks like Wednesday's Lunar offering won't be much of a show in the USA.
(IF I read the chart properly.)

[Karen]

Cool, but we only get to see it at moonrise. Thankfully, I scrolled down to the part of the pdf I could understand!

[RICHARD]

I went to 6 sites before I could get something that I may have understood!

4 had to do with how the eclipse affects your astrology forecast!

I tried to do some homework, I need a dog to eat it maybe?

[Cinder & Smoke]

Cool, but we only get to see it at moon rise.

I scrolled down to the part of the .pdf I could understand!

I didn't find ANY part that was "understandable"!

OK, Miz Smartie-Pantz ...
Just tell me WHEN and WHERE to look.

/s/ Dummie

[RICHARD]

I was looking for some info about a missle launch from Vandenberg AFB on the 23 of this month and found this page.

http://www.spacearchive.info/vafbmultimedia.htm


These are some of the pics that us left coasters get to see when they shoot off a rocket from VAFB!

In years past, there was no media coverage for launches-now it's more accessible and if they post the time for launch-and it's a early evening or early morning launch, you get a show!

Growing up in the 70's and 80's if I was out and saw something lighting up the sky, I had to stop and wonder if it was the 'War' starting!

[RICHARD]

Tomorrow, NASA will launch the Discovery after two delays.

One of the highlights of the launch is the crew - For the first time there will be two Hispanics on board as crewdogs.

Jose Hernandez is a California (Stockton) native and his story is a pretty good one.

He came from a family of braceros, migrant farm workers, who chased seasonal crops, and work, from Central CA down to Mexico.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sh...hernandez.html

An especially good story. Where else can you go from picking fruit as a kid to putting together pieces of the International Space Station as an adult?

[RICHARD]

Great launch and good luck and godspeed to them all!


http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata...=United+States

There are many sighting opportunities to see the ISS and the Shuttle on this mission!

There are some long passes - 4+ minutes this time out.

13 days - try to catch it at least once, you won't be disappointed!

[RICHARD]

Got to see the short ISS flyby this morning.

WOW, it was really cool. Especially when it catches the sunlight and BOOM it lights up like a light bulb.

Again, If you get a chance check it out. It's fun when you drag someone outdoors and point it out to them!

[RICHARD]

On friday Nov, 27 the shutle and space station will have separated and will be seen 'chasing' each other acrioss the sky about one minute apart.

A fascinating opportunity to go outdoors and look at the stars.

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata...ngs/index.html

The link is on the left hand side under "sightings"!

Pick your country and follow the instructions!

[Karen]

You know, it is almost always cloudy when the Leonids are expected overhead here. I suppose that, being that it's always happening in November, that's to be expected, but every once in a while it's a clear night. Maybe next year.

[RICHARD]

The other night I was watching a special on the Cassini/Huygens probe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassini-Huygens

The tech is pretty remarkable, but, I am always facinated by the timing.

NASA took this ship, flew it to Venus and used the planet to slingshot it out to Jupiter.

They know where the planets will be in the future but to plan thing out that far in advance.......incredible.

-----------------------

The last few nights were great for watching the shuttle and ISS pass overhead.

The best possible sighting is after the split up and chase each other across the sky. Last night they were both visible for two passes.

I also got a glimpse of another satellite passing overhead.


Again, NASA tells you when and where to look and they always deliver.

(they did have a typo/error in the listings this mission, They fixed it later on!)

[RICHARD]

WOW.

I got a double dip last night.

And boy am I tired.

The Geminid meteor shower was last night and tonight, and Vandenberg AFB launched a rocket this morning that was not as spectacular as the early evening launches, but still was a sight to see.

It left a nice luminescent trail in the sky.