by Jim Stratigos | Apr 21, 2021 | Astronomical events, Balsam skies
Its usually a minor shower with a very broad peak that extends from about April 16-26. Tomorrow morning is the theoretical peak with rates that average about 10-20 per hour. The Geminids and Perseids can have rates of up to 100 per hour. As usual the best time to see...
by Jim Stratigos | Nov 15, 2020 | Astronomical events
After several attempts at getting a good shot of Mars with a new camera, I managed to capture a so-so image last week. You can see the south polar ice cap and portions of Syrtis Major, the dark band just shout of the equator. Due to atmospheric turbulence caused by...
by Jim Stratigos | Oct 11, 2020 | Astronomical events
If you haven’t noticed already, Mars is making itself noticed in the southeast after sunset. Mars reaches opposition in October when in its roughly 26 month orbit around the Sun, it appears on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. Mars’ orbit is...
by Jim Stratigos | Apr 25, 2020 | Astronomical events
The waxing crescent phase of the moon was just over one day past new last night (April 24th). As the moon draws away from the sun more of its surface will be illuminated and it will rise later in the day. In about 27 days it sill be full, rise at sunset and set at...
by Jim Stratigos | Mar 8, 2020 | Astronomical events
Last month I was lucky to witness one of the more exciting events in the sky – a daytime meteor or fireball. Fireballs are just very bright meteors – typically brighter than Venus in the night sky or bright enough to be seen in daylight. At our home in...
