Posts Made By: Curt Renz

In your example the Earth would be on the order of 10 meters from the Sun, not 100. The key elements to the process are immense periods of time and a multitude of objects. Such factors are far beyond a person's ordinary experience, thus diffucult for many to visualize. It is similar for those who fail to grasp the vast time and numbers of indviduals involved in the biological process of evolution.

I checked with the college and only four people out of a limit of sixteen have registered. If a couple more don't sign up, they may cancel the class. It's non-credit, so there will be no tests. The tuition is a bargain at only $59, especially with use of the observatory. And for qualified military veterans like me, that's paid for by the Illinois Veterans Grant program. People over 65 may also qualify for a waiver of tuition.

I checked with the college and only four people out of a limit of sixteen have registered. If a couple more don't sign up, they may cancel the class. It's non-credit, so there will be no tests. The tuition is a bargain at only $59, especially with use of the observatory. And for qualified military veterans like me, that's paid for by the Illinois Veterans Grant program. People over 65 may also qualify for a waiver of tuition.

I turned 61 in early December. In 1957 I received a nice 3" reflector called a "Moonscope" for Christmas just after I had turned 12. There was initially a great burst of usage, which actually continued rather unabated until I moved away to attend college in 1963. After college there was the Army and Vietnam. Upon my return to the "World" I resumed the hobby, but it took up far less of my time than when I was a kid. Nevertheless, the pace of interest has remained at a fairly steady level right up to this day.

The forecast was for continuous snow flurries. Then I had a little surprise here in northwest suburban Chicago after all. For a couple of minutes the Moon shone through a tiny gap in the clouds while it was still covered by 25% of the umbra. I grabbed my camera and ran out into the cold. But the Moon only provided a slight glow behind the clouds. At least there will be more opportunities in the future.

Prior to late 2010 there will be two more total lunar eclipses. They often come in groups of three over a period of less than a year. The next one will be on 2007 AUG 28 with maximum eclipse occurring at 10:37 UT. The following one will be on 2008 FEB 21 with maximum eclipse occurring at 03:26 UT.

Remember, lunar eclipses only occur at the time of a Full Moon. Only observers experiencing nighttime can witness a lunar eclipse. Full Moons are separated by an average of 29.53 days, but not every Full Moon goes into eclipse. During the 50-year period beginning tomorrow, 7.0% of the Full Moons will become totally eclipsed in the umbra (dark shadow). 4.4% will be no better than partially eclipsed in the umbra. And 6.8% will enter the penumbra (fringe shadow) but not the umbra.

Since this is the forum for Solar System Observing, I thought I'd ask how many Messier objects can be found in the solar system?

Here's the photo I shot this evening of the Moon and Mercury. It was taken from Arlington Heights, Illinois on 2007 MAY 17 at 21:09 CDT with the Moon aged 30:42 hrs.

Here are my calculated data for angular size, percentage illuminated and stellar magnitude of Venus for the coming evenings at 21:00 CDT.

JUL 27 -- 47.7" -- 12.7% -- -4.3
JUL 28 -- 48.4" -- 11.9% -- -4.3
JUL 29 -- 49.2" -- 11.0% -- -4.2
JUL 30 -- 49.9" -- 10.1% -- -4.2
JUL 31 -- 50.6" -- 09.3% -- -4.1
AUG 01 -- 51.3" -- 08.4% -- -4.0
AUG 02 -- 51.9" -- 07.6% -- -4.0
AUG 03 -- 52.6" -- 06.9% -- -3.9
AUG 04 -- 53.2" -- 06.1% -- -3.8
AUG 05 -- 53.8" -- 05.4% -- -3.7
AUG 06 -- 54.4" -- 04.7% -- -3.5
AUG 07 -- 54.9" -- 04.1% -- -3.4
AUG 08 -- 55.5" -- 03.5% -- -3.3

And here’s a photo I took the next evening (2007 JUL 30 at 20:59 CDT) of the Moon rising while one day past full from Arlington Heights, Illinois. That was 5 minutes after moonrise and 45 minutes after sunset. There was summer haze along the horizon.

The Moon had not set. In fact, it was even higher when you were looking at 07:45. Once the Sun came out you simply had a hard time locating the slender crescent Moon. Conjunction with the Sun will not occur until Sunday. Due to the celestial geometry at this time of the year, Tuesday after sunset is likely the earliest you will witness the Old Moon in the New Moon's Arms. Perhaps not until Wednesday for Diana's Bow (3-day-old Moon).