Posts Made By: Curt Renz

On Saturday, 2004 JUL 10, Mercury will appear separated by only 9.4 arcminutes (0.16 degrees) from Mars. They will be elongated from the Sun by 21.8 degrees.

Note: Closest approach will actually be on JUL 11 @ 00:18 UT.

I have created 2 graphical previews of the event. They are customized for Chicago, but should well serve most observers. Click below.

Wide view of western sky after Sunset:
http://www.curtrenz.com/astro3.html

Close-up view with details of closest approach:
http://www.curtrenz.com/astro2.html

The graphics may be replaced soon after the event occurs.

I captured an unusual nature scene on 2003 JUL 06, just after sunset from northwest suburban Chicago. The photo depicts a thunderstorm that's still being lit by the Sun, with a Half Moon peeking through. It's large enough to serve as a computer desktop wallpaper.

Click link below to see:
http://www.curtrenz.com/astro4.html

To make it your wallpaper, right click the picture after it fully loads, then click "Set as Background". Don't worry if it seems the wrong size; your operating system will adjust it to fit.

The picture will not remain there permanently.

Who will be the first to spot a slender crescent Moon by naked-eye following its conjunction with the Sun on 2004 JUL 17 @ 11:24 UT? Since I started this series in 2004 MAR, the overall record is from DanielO in Michigan who witnessed a Moon aged 25:37 that first month. Last month I was the winner after seeing the Moon aged 29:44.

Please add your observational report to this thread, including details such as time (with zone) and location. Photos are welcome. No prizes - just bragging rights.

Click below for a graphical preview of the western sky on the evening of JUL 18:

http://www.curtrenz.com/astro1.html

The graphic will be replaced soon after the event occurs.

Originally, it was this young Moon at its earliest sighting that was termed the New Moon. At the time of conjunction, it was traditionally called the Dark of the Moon or simply the Dark Moon. Most modern calendars label the time of conjunction as the New Moon.

Below is a link to a Sky and Telescope article on sighting a New Moon.

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/article_1173_1.asp

I have created graphics previewing the Total Lunar Eclipse in October. The times are CDT which is UT-5. They are calculated using the "French Rule" for shadow sizes. Additionally, I take into account the oblate shape of the Earth, which others do not.

The charts should be useful for anyone on the night side of the Earth during the event. The celestial altitudes and position angles, though, are customized for Chicago. Click the links.

Total Lunar Eclipse Details:
http://www.curtrenz.com/astro1.html

Total Lunar Eclipse Sequence:
http://www.curtrenz.com/astro2.html

The graphics will be removed soon after the event occurs.

I've created an Astronomical Calendar for August which can be made into your computer's desktop wallpaper or printed to paper.

The Moon's daily phase, size, earthshine and opposition flash are all still featured. But the images are smoother than before, and more room is allowed for desktop icons. Information on the periods of visibility of the planets has been added.

The daily Moon is depicted as it will appear on the night between two dates. Specifically, a waxing Moon is shown at the time midway between Sunset and Moonset. A waning Moon is shown at the time midway between Moonrise and Sunrise.

1) Click http://www.curtrenz.com/calendar2.html
2) Right-click the calendar after it fully downloads.
3A) Click "Set as Background" to make it your wallpaper.
3B) Click "Print Picture" to print to paper.

Don't be concerned if the image seems the wrong size. Your computer will adjust it to fit as a wallpaper. If printing to paper, choose Landscape Mode.

Who will be first to spot the New Moon by naked-eye after its conjunction with the Sun on 2004 AUG 16 @ 01:24 UT?

This slender crescent Moon was traditionally referred to as the New Moon. On the day of conjunction it was called the Dark Moon. Most modern calendar makers, however, mark the conjunction day as that of the New Moon.

Last month the winner was Navneeth (SN1987A) in Madras, India who reported seeing the Moon aged 26:10. Since I began this series began in March, the overall champion is DanielO in Michigan with a March sighting at 25:37 after conjunction.

Please report your August observation within this thread including location and time with zone. Even negative results would be interesting. Photos would be especally nice.

I've created a graphic previewing the western sky soon after Sunset on MON AUG 16 as seen from Chicago, although it should be useful for most North American observers. To see it click:

http://www.curtrenz.com/astro3.html

Venus will pass 2 degrees south of Saturn on Tuesday, AUG 31. They will be seen together in the pre-dawn eastern sky.

I've created a graphic previewing the event. It can be made into your computer desktop background wallpaper. If you'd rather not make it your wallpaper, then don't follow the directions for creating one.

To see the graphic, click:

http://www.curtrenz.com/wallpaper.html

Then go to Astronomical Graphics.

The graphic will be removed soon after the event occurs.

I have created a September astronomical calendar that can be made into your computer desktop background wallpaper or printed to paper. It contains information for daily lunar and planetary observing. To see it, click:

http://curtrenz.com/astronomical.html

The Moon will have a geocentric angular separation of only 1.7 degrees from Alcyone (brightest of the Pleiades) on Sunday, 2004 SEP 05. Each month these conjunctions will come a little closer until a series of occultations begins in early 2005 and runs through late 2010. The early and late events in that series will be seen by southern hemisphere observers. The middle portion will be for those of us in the north.

I have created a graphic which previews the September 5 conjunction. The Moon and Pleiades will be high in the pre-dawn southern sky. Mercury, Venus and Saturn wlll be in the eastern sky. To view it, click:

http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html

Then go to Moon Conjuncts Pleiades.

The graphic may be removed shortly after the event occurs.

I took a photo of a half moon over a thunderstorm at sunset from my home in suburban Chicago. It can be made into your computer desktop background wallpaper or printed to paper. To see it, click:

http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html