Stargazing - Happening's in the 'Verse

This is a discussion so we can notice happening's in the Cosmos.
There are beautiful and amazing things happening out there, I'll post items of interest here, but would like to hear your stargazing stories, see pictures and hear of cool spacy happenings you find out about.

I am huge fan of all things "Cosmic".
I'm sure it came from watching the Moon Landings when I was a kid.
My Dad gathered us around and we listened to those famous words from Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969....
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".

From my point of view stargazing allows the contemplation of infinity.
Besides, I'd like to find those 'Cosmic Bakers' Jimmy talks about, cuz I have a feeling they're cookin' up some mighty good stuff.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by surfpirate on December 1, 2008 at 3:51pm

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1st, 2008
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20081128/sc_space/spectacularskyscene...

"Every once in a while, something will appear in the night sky that will attract the attention of even those who normally don't bother looking up. It's likely to be that way on Monday evening, Dec. 1.

A slender crescent moon, just 15-percent illuminated, will appear in very close proximity to the two brightest planets in our sky, Venus and Jupiter.

People who are unaware or have no advance notice will almost certainly wonder, as they cast a casual glance toward the moon on that night, what those two "large silvery stars" happen to be? Sometimes, such an occasion brings with it a sudden spike of phone calls to local planetariums, weather offices and even police precincts. Not a few of these calls excitedly inquire about "the UFOs" that are hovering in the vicinity of our natural satellite."

Permalink Reply by Dezdmona on December 1, 2008 at 5:19pm

Here's a pix of this stunning sky show taken in Australia...
...look to the south and the sky will smile at you tonight! ;)

Permalink Reply by UnkFrank on December 2, 2008 at 9:18am

Dezdmona said:

Here's a pix of this stunning sky show taken in Australia...
...look to the south and the sky will smile at you tonight! ;)

Way cool! Thanx!

Permalink Reply by Dezdmona on December 12, 2008 at 1:16pm

BIGGEST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR: The Moon that's causing trouble for the Geminid meteor shower happens to be biggest full Moon of 2008, as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than lesser Moons we've seen earlier this year. An astronomer would say this is a "perigee Moon" because it occurs at perigee, the side of the Moon's elliptical orbit closest to Earth.

Go outside tonight and take a look.
The meteor rate may be low, but the lunar beauty index is off the charts.

Permalink Reply by Dezdmona on February 8, 2009 at 8:48am

DUSKY LUNAR ECLIPSE:

On Monday, Feb. 9th, the full Moon will pass through the outskirts of Earth's shadow, producing a penumbral lunar eclipse. The event will be visible to the naked eye as a dusky shading of the northern half of the Moon. Maximum eclipse occurs between the hours of 1400 and 1520 UT (6:00 am - 7:20 am PST). The timing favors observers in east Asia, Australia, Hawaii and western parts of North America. Click for an animation & visibility map.