* Astronomy

Eyes on the Sky: Feb 27 thru Mar 4


Credit eyesontheskyDOTcom

The Moon occults the 3rd magnitude star Zeta Tauri this week for many northern observers (though observers south who can't see the occultation can still see the Moon graze past the star), and Mars reaches opposition this week, setting up it's largest appearance in telescopes until 2014. Also discussed: Where to find Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn in the sky this week.

Venus is so bright it can be seen even during the day when the Sun is up. I've seen it many times before even at noon - but it ain't easy. The problem is that the sky is big and bright, and Venus is small, just a dot, and can be very difficult to find initially. And even after you find it in the sky it's really easy to lose it among all that blue.
Read more 

Titan is north of Saturn on the 23rd February, 2012.

 

Planet Saturn and its moon Titan at 360X Magnification level on 12th May 2009

Credit aceofbase040

Saturn and its largest moon Titan (second largest moon after the largest moon Ganymede of planet Jupiter in our Solar System) as seen at 360X magnification with a 8" Dobsonian mount (Altitude Azimuth mount) Newtonian Reflector Telescope from Charlotte city North Carolina State USA.

New Moon (diameter: 30.514', declination: -5.88°) at 22:34.6 UT, 21st February.