2015: An Astronomical Year: A Reference Guide to 365 Nights of Astronomy
Richard J. Bartlett
Language: English
Pages: 106
ISBN: 1502511703
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
***PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ONLY THE KINDLE VERSION IS WRITTEN FOR BOTH BEGINNERS AND EXPERTS**** Amazon have combined the reviews for both versions, so *please* check the "Look Inside" feature to make sure it's what you want before buying. Thank you. Designed for astronomers worldwide, The Astronomical Year details hundreds of astronomical events throughout 2015. Written by Richard J. Bartlett, a former freelance writer for Astronomy magazine, the guide includes almost daily data and information on the Moon and planets, as well as Pluto, Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta: * The phases of the Moon * Conjunctions between the Moon, planets and asteroids. * Lunar and Solar eclipses * Annual summaries of when to observe the planets and asteroids * Annual summaries of notable close planetary conjunctions * Peak dates for the major meteor showers with moon phase * Dates of perihelion, aphelion, perigee and apogee for the planets and asteroids * Inferior and Superior conjunction for Mercury and Venus * Greatest Eastern and Western elongation for Mercury and Venus * Opposition and solar conjunction dates for the outer planets and asteroids * Apparent diameter changes for the planets * Magnitude changes for the planets and asteroids * Constellation changes for the Sun, planets and asteroids * Dates of the equinoxes and solstices The Astronomical Year is the essential guide for observers everywhere.
Impact!: The Threat of Comets and Asteroids
The Sun and How to Observe It (Astronomers' Observing Guides)
Edge of the Universe: A Voyage to the Cosmic Horizon and Beyond
Can You Play Cricket on Mars? And Other Scientific Questions Answered
M45, the Pleiades open star cluster, in the evening sky on the 30th. Unfortunately, it will be fairly close to the western horizon and may be difficult to see. Venus has moved on since its own conjunction with M45, three weeks ago, but is still very prominent and appears close to the star Alnath. Image courtesy Mobile Observatory. May Image courtesy of Mobile Observatory. May 1st – Midnight May 15th – 11pm May 31st – 10pm Venus still lingers in the evening for some time after sunset.
In the details. (For example, superior and inferior conjunctions.) Free Sample If you’re reading this as part of a free sample that was downloaded from Amazon and you’d like to read a little more, email me at the address below and I will send you the whole of January completely free of charge. Likewise, if you’d like a sample to send to a friend, please feel free to let me know and, again, I’ll be happy to send you a sample that includes the full month of January. Feedback If you’d like to.
Magnitude: 7.3 (Microscopium, all night.) July 25th Dwarf planet Ceres leaves Microscopium and returns to Sagittarius. (Magnitude 7.3. All night.) The constellation Vulpecula (the Fox) culminates at midnight tonight. (All night.) July 26th 08:04 UT – The waxing gibbous Moon passes Saturn. (Saturn: magnitude 0.4, diameter 17.4”. Naked eye, Libra, evening sky.) 13:09 UT - Uranus is stationary prior to beginning retrograde motion. (Magnitude 5.8, diameter 3.5”. Pisces, pre-dawn sky.) 21:37 UT.
Uranus also sinks lower in the south-west. Monthly Summary Naked Eye Highlights December 6th – The waning crescent Moon appears close to Mars. Venus and the bright star Spica appear nearby. (Pre-dawn sky.) December 7th – The waning crescent Moon appears close to Venus. Mars and the bright star Spica appear nearby. (Pre-dawn sky.) December 13th – The constellation Orion culminates tonight (all night.) and the Geminid meteor shower reaches its peak with a maximum zenith hourly rate of 120.
(Pluto: magnitude 14.2. Sagittarius, not visible.) 21:21 UT - Mars appears 13’ south of Neptune. (Mars: 95% illuminated, magnitude 1.2, diameter 4.6”. Neptune: magnitude 8.0, diameter 2.2”. Aquarius, evening sky. See image below.) Bright orange Mars appears very close to faint blue Neptune in the west/south-west evening sky after sunset on the 19th. Although Neptune cannot be seen with the naked eye, this is an excellent time to find Neptune for the first time with binoculars or a telescope.