For your enjoyment and planning purposes

clear skies

Bear


March Calendar by Dave Mitsky

All times are UT (subtract 5 hours and when appropriate 1 calendar
day for EST)

3/1   Comet C/2003 K4 (LINEAR) passes to the east of the face-on
spiral galaxy NGC 1300
3/2   The Galilean satellite Io enters into eclipse at 05:31
3/3   Mercury is at the ascending node; the Moon is 0.8 degree north
of the first magnitude star Antares (magnitude 1.1) at 11:00 - an
occultation is visible in the northern portion of South America,
Central America, the Caribbean, and most of North America; Last
Quarter Moon occurs at 17:36
3/4   Maximum lunar libration of 7.4 degrees occurs at 16:00
3/5   The eclipsing variable star Algol (Beta Persei) is at minimum
brightness (magnitude 3.4) at 09:43
3/6   The Moon is 5 degrees south of Mars at 06:00
3/8   Mercury is at perihelion; the Moon is 5 degrees south of
Neptune at 00:00; the Moon is at perigee, subtending 32'54" from a
distance of 363,232 kilometers, at 03:39; Algol is at minimum
brightness at 06:33
3/10 New Moon (lunation 1017) occurs at 09:10; minimum lunar
libration of 5.4 degrees occurs at 12:00
3/11 Algol is at minimum brightness at 03:22; the Moon is 3 degrees
south of Mercury at 17:00
3/12 Mercury (magnitude -0.4) is at greatest eastern elongation (18
degrees) at 18:00
3/13 The Galilean satellites (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto)
appear to the east of Jupiter in the order of their respective
orbital distances at 03:00
3/14 Algol is at minimum brightness at 00:11
3/15 The Moon is 1.0 degree south of the open star cluster the
Pleiades (M45) at 13:00
3/16 Algol is at minimum brightness at 21:00
3/17 Maximum lunar libration of 7.0 degrees occurs at 11:00; First
Quarter Moon occurs at 19:19
3/18 Mercury is at its greatest heliocentric latitude north
3/19 The Moon is 5 degrees north of Saturn at 16:00; Mercury is
stationary at 16:00; the Moon is at apogee, subtending 29'31" from a
distance of 404,846 kilometers, at 22:53
3/20 The vernal equinox occurs at 12:33
3/21 Asteroid 1 Ceres, the first asteroid to be discovered, is
stationary at 20:00
3/22 The Martian equinox (the start of autumn in the northern
hemisphere) occurs today; Saturn is stationary at 00:00
3/23 Asteroid 2 Pallas (magnitude 7.1) is at opposition at 07:00
3/25 Full Moon (known as the Worm, Crow, Crust, Sugar, and Sap Moon)
occurs at 20:58
3/26 The Moon is 1.0 degree south of Jupiter at 16:00; minimum lunar
libration of 5.1 degrees occurs at 21:00
3/27 Asteroid 10 Hygiea (magnitude 9.2) is at opposition at 01:00;
Pluto is stationary at 08:00
3/29 Mercury is in inferior conjunction at 16:00
3/30 Asteroid 29 Amphitrite (magnitude 9.2) is at opposition at
10:00; the Moon is 0.7 degree north of Antares at 17:00 - an
occultation is visible in the region from the Hawaiian Islands to
northeastern China
3/31 Venus is in superior conjunction with the Sun at 03:00; Algol is
at minimum brightness at 05:06

Times and dates for the lunar light rays predicted to occur this
month are available at http://www.lunar-
occultations.com/rlo/rays/rays.htm

Mercury undergoes its best evening apparition of the year for
northern observers this month.  During the first half of March it
decreases in brightness from -1.4 to 0.0 magnitude.  On March 12 it
can be seen shining at –0.4 magnitude in Pisces about 11 degrees
above the western horizon a half hour after sunset.

Venus is not readily observable as it heads towards superior
conjunction on March 31.

Mars continues to brighten as it leaves Sagittarius and enters
Capricornus in the second half of March.  By the end of the month,
it's a 1.0 magnitude object that spans only 5.6".

Jupiter shines at –2.4 magnitude between the bright stars Spica
and Porrima in Virgo.  The Great Red Spot transits Jupiter's central
meridian at the indicated UT times on the following dates: 3/1at
02:17; 3/2 at 08:04; 3/3 at 03:55; 3/4 at 09:42; 3/5 at 05:33; 3/6 at
11:19; 3/7 at 07:11; 3/8 at 03:02; 3/9 at 08:49; 3/10 at 04:40; 3/11
at 10:26; 3/12 at 06:18; 3/13 at 02:09; 3/14 at 07:55; 3/15 at 03:47;
3/16 at  09:33; 3/17 at 05:25; 3/18 at 11:11; 3/19 07:02; 3/20 02:54;
3/21 08:40; 3/22 at 04:32; 3/23 at 10:18; 3/24 at 06:09; 3/25 at
02:01 and 11:56; 3/26 at 07:47; 3/27 at 03:38; 3/28 at 09:25; 3/29 at
05:16; 3/30 at 11:03; 3/31 at 06:54.

Saturn still resides in Gemini.  Direct (eastward) motion resumes the
night of March 22.  Titan (magnitude 8.3), Saturn's brightest
satellite, is due north of the planet on the nights of March 3 and
March 19. It is due south of it on the nights of March 11 and March
27.  Twelfth magnitude Iapetus is about 33" east of Saturn on the
evenings of March 5, March 6, and March 7.

The outer gas giants, Uranus and Neptune, are not visible this month.

Pluto has not yet reached its prime observing period.

Comet C/2004 Q2 (Machholz) now glows at only sixth magnitude.  It
passes by Polaris during the first half of the month and may sport a
one to two degree long tail.

Comet C/2003 K4 (LINEAR) dims from ninth to tenth magnitude as it
journeys northward through Eridanus.

The tenth magnitude asteroid 532 Herculina passes to the south of
Castor near the end of the month.  Also located in Gemini, asteroid 8
Flora lies to the southwest of Pollux.

During March asteroid 2 Pallas enters the Virgo Cluster as it heads
northward through Virgo.  The seventh magnitude minor planet passes
very close to the elliptical galaxy M49 around March 19.  Two ninth
magnitude asteroids 29 Amphitrite and 10 Hygiea are located to the
south of 2 Pallas.

Look for the zodiacal light in the western sky after sundown from
dark sites in early March.

Thirty binary and multiple stars for March: Struve 1173, Struve 1181,
Struve 1187, Zeta Cancri, 24 Cancri, Phi-2 Cancri, Iota-1 Cancri,
Struve 1245, Iota-2 Cancri, 66 Cancri, Struve 1327 (Cancer); Struve
1270, Epsilon Hydrae, 15 Hydrae, 17 Hydrae, Theta Hydrae, 27 Hydrae,
Struve 1347, Struve 1357, Struve 1365 (Hydra); 3 Leonis, Struve 1360,
6 Leonis, Omicron Leonis (Leo); Struve 1274, Struve 1282, Struve
1333, 38 Lyncis, Struve 1369 (Lynx); h4046 (Puppis)

Challenge binary star for March: Struve 1216 (Hydra)

Twenty deep-sky objects for March: M44, M67, NGC 2775 (Cancer); M48,
NGC 2610, NGC 2642, NGC 2811 (Hydra); NGC 2903, NGC 2964 (Leo); NGC
2859 (Leo Minor); NGC 2683 (Lynx); NGC 2567, NGC 2571 (Puppis); M81,
M82, NGC 2681, NGC 2841, NGC 2950, NGC 2976, NGC 2985 (Ursa Major)

Challenge deep-sky object for March: Abell 30 (Cancer)

Stargazers,

I must be a more than just a little off. I really enjoyed the computer
program demonstrations last Monday night at the NAS meeting. Kent
suggested that nothing can really replace Uranometria and that even an
old version is worth owning and using. This is where my obsessive
personality kicks in. I just ordered all three volumes from
Willman-Bell. Now be aware that I have the Sky Atlas field edition, the
Night Sky Guides, and Cambridge Star Atlas. So I thought I'd surf on
over to Cloudy Nights and see what they have to say about Uranometria.
This is of course after I had already ordered them, and came across the
AstroAtlas out of Australia. I just ordered that, too. No more astronomy
purchases for the year, but what a way to go out!!

I did load AstroPlanner and have been playing with it. I make my living
by designing aerospace planes on the computer all day, and still,
nothing beats a book to me. I spend an inordinate amount of time on my
six year old iBook, web surfing every night, but books are still my
favorite. Thanks for the advice Kent. You just cost me $300. Actually,
with the price of Naglers, that isn't such a bad deal now is it?

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Hey Kimberly,

Check out our Yahoo!Group for the latest information on events and
goings on for the Virginia Peninsula Astronomy / Stargazers:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vpas/

Our next event is observing this Friday night at the GAP (Grundland
Astronomy Park). We start at dusk and go until everyone has headed
home. It's not unusual to go past midnight. There are maps in the Files
section. Events are in the Calendar section along with emails that
usually give you a heads-up, too. We have a Planetarium show on the
second Wednesday each month at 7 pm at Jones Magnet Middle School. We
also have an annual all night viewing session Messier Marathon on the
12th at the GAP this year. The first and third Friday is viewing at the
GAP each month. The Virginia Living Museum has viewing on the first
Thursday each month from 7-9 pm until the Summer. They'll be viewing
tomorrow night, and the sky should be really clear. There is a nominal
fee for VLM. All of the VPAS events are free and open to the public. It
isn't advisable for itty-bitty kids, or real young ones. They might be
scared by the dark or get bored too quickly inside. The Planetarium is
indoors. All of the observing and viewing is like camping out. The only
amenities that we have out at the GAP is an outhouse. The skies are
beautiful, though.

I've rambled enough. Check out the site and feel free to post emails
and add you favorite astronomy links. I'm looking forward to meeting
you and your family.

Clear Dark Skies,
Lawrence

On Mar 2, 2005, at 13:36, K L wrote:

> Hello  I saw a small article in the paper and i cut it out a while
> back.
>  
> I would love to know more about the activities that you plan.
>  
> My brother has always been involved with this on his own and he and my
> children have been
>  trying to learn more as they go.
>  WE are down to the last child  9 years old.
>  And they are so into it.  So i saw the article and thought maybe it
> would be fun to get them
>  together with other amateur astronomers.
>  
> If i knew of the times and dates i could bring them out to see if they
> would like to pursue this activity in their future plans.
>  
> Thank you so much for your time.
>  
> Kimberly Lease
>
> Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
> Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

Hey Kimberly,

Grundland is the peninsula just west of Grandview. It's an old Nike
missile site. If you know east Hampton, it's off of Foxhill, then
Beach, and it's the first left past the water tower, Grundland Drive.
Here are some maps:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vpas/files/GAP_maps/

Hope to see y'all soon.

Clear Dark Skies,
Lawrence

On Mar 2, 2005, at 15:16, K L wrote:

> Thank you for infor.
>  
> I have lived here all my life in nn and never heard of grundland park
>  We have plans for this weekend
>  however we will try to catch you on the next round.
>  Thanks for the wonderful information.
>  
> Kimberly
>
> Lawrence Taylor <l.w.taylor@...> wrote:
> Hey Kimberly,
>
> Check out our Yahoo!Group for the latest information on events and
>  goings on for the Virginia Peninsula Astronomy / Stargazers:
>
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vpas/
>
> Our next event is observing this Friday night at the GAP (Grundland
>  Astronomy Park). We start at dusk and go until everyone has headed
>  home. It's not unusual to go past midnight. There are maps in the
> Files
>  section. Events are in the Calendar section along with emails that
>  usually give you a heads-up, too. We have a Planetarium show on the
>  second Wednesday each month at 7 pm at Jones Magnet Middle School. We
>  also have an annual all night viewing session Messier Marathon on the
>  12th at the GAP this year. The first and third Friday is viewing at
> the
>  GAP each month. The Virginia Living Museum has viewing on the first
>  Thursday each month from 7-9 pm until the Summer. They'll be viewing
>  tomorrow night, and the sky should be really clear. There is a nominal
>  fee for VLM. All of the VPAS events are free and open to the public.
> It
> isn't advisable for itty-bitty kids, or real young ones. They might be
>  scared by the dark or get bored too quickly inside. The Planetarium is
> indoors. All of the observing and viewing is like camping out. The only
>  amenities that we have out at the GAP is an outhouse. The skies are
>  beautiful, though.
>
> I've rambled enough. Check out the site and feel free to post emails
>  and add you favorite astronomy links. I'm looking forward to meeting
>  you and your family.
>
> Clear Dark Skies,
> Lawrence
>
> On Mar 2, 2005, at 13:36, K L wrote:
>
> > Hello  I saw a small article in the paper and i cut it out a while
>  > back.
> >  
> > I would love to know more about the activities that you plan.
> >  
> > My brother has always been involved with this on his own and he and
> my
>  > children have been
> > trying to learn more as they go.
> > WE are down to the last child  9 years old.
> > And they are so into it.  So i saw the article and thought maybe it
> > would be fun to get them
> > together with other amateur astronomers.
> >  
> > If i knew of the times and dates i could bring them out to see if
> they
>  > would like to pursue this activity in their future plans.
> >  
> > Thank you so much for your time.
> >  
> > Kimberly Lease
> >
> > Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
> > Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web
>
> Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
> Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

Stargazers,

It looks like we'll have some clear skies tomorrow night at the GAP. I
understand that several of you will be heading on down to Kent's East
Coast Star Party, but for those of you in town, I'll unlock the gates at
dusk. It has been really cold lately, so please dress for the weather.
We can practice for next week's Grundland Messier Cup (GMC) event. That
might just provide the edge I'll need to beat Tom, the Messier King.

I hope to see you at the GAP tomorrow night. I'll stay as long as I have
AstroBuddies viewing with me.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Stargazers,

There is a little something for every astronomer tonight. Clear skies
for viewing at the Virginia Living Museum in Newport News from 7-9 pm.
Clear dark skies for viewing at the pre-East Coast Star Party tonight in
Coinjock after 12-noon. And for those that need that astronomy meeting
fix, the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers have their monthly meeting at TCC,
Virginia Beach campus at 7:30 pm. Decisions, decisions, what is the
local astronomer to do?

I'm leaning toward taking a half day off of work and driving down to
Coinjock for the AstroBuddies and clear DARK skies. I need to be back in
town tomorrow, so this might be all that I can do this weekend. Judy has
given me the OK, and Scott might go down with me, too. I only hope that
Kent's 25-inch doesn't grab all the photons so that the rest of us get
to enjoy some of the sky.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Mega-stargazers,

Ne-ne-ne-ne-ne-ne. Nebulas, galaxies, star clusters, Messiers to the
left of me, Herschels to the right, AstroBuddies sharing the views, my
BTI collimated, car chocked full of breakfast bars, Kent has a spread
of donuts and two thermoses of piping hot coffee. How could it get any
better than that? ... arriving home at 4:30 am and finding my new
Uranometria 3-volume set waiting for me on the kitchen table. Wow.
Thank you ever so much Kent and Ted for all of the guidance, tours, and
spectacular views through your light buckets. And thank you everyone
for sharing such a wonderful night in Coinjock. I don't think that I've
ever seen such beautiful skies before.

I have the GAP tonight and my son is visiting tomorrow, so I don't know
if I'll be able to get back down for the East Coast Star Party. This is
such a fantastic event and it's twice a year! Thank you very much Kent
for doing all the hard work so that the rest of us can just kick back
and drool at our scopes. I feel rejuvenated. Just what the stress
relief doctor ordered.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Stargazers,

I drove on out to the GAP and sat out in my car waiting for someone to
show up for an hour. April and Dave were both coming in as I was going
out at 7 pm. We drove back in and waited for the sky to clear. There
were a couple of sucker holes, so I set up the BTI and sure enough, it
clouded over again. Dave wanted to practice his constellation
identification so we decided to head on over to the Jones Planetarium
and spun the stars for over an hour. What a fantastic resources to have
within our community. Thank you Hampton Parks & Recreation and Hampton
City Schools for your continual support of local amateur astronomy. It
was nice meeting you April. She is going to bring her Girl Scout Troop
this Wednesday night. Dave came all the way from Suffolk to view again.
Thanks for taking the time and for being such a great sky tour guide in
the Planetarium. You should ask and see if you can get extra credit if
you put on a Planetarium show. We can do a special show if your class is
interested.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Fellow stargazers,
 
This past Thurs. I was out looking at the stars through my scope. I noticed this intriguing star rising abouve the neighbors house in the east. I pointed my scope at it to see what it was. I noticed a kind of flashing, rainbowish glow to it.I have no idea as to what this could be. Can anybody ID this for me? I am rather curious as to what it might be.
 
Clear, dark skies
Chris

---

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----- Original Message -----

From: Chris Hendricks

To: vpas@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Sunday, March 06, 2005 2:46 PM

Subject: [vpas] While I was stargazing Thursday night

Fellow stargazers,

 

This past Thurs. I was out looking at the stars through my scope. I noticed this intriguing star rising abouve the neighbors house in the east. I pointed my scope at it to see what it was. I noticed a kind of flashing, rainbowish glow to it.I have no idea as to what this could be. Can anybody ID this for me? I am rather curious as to what it might be.

 

Clear, dark skies

Chris

---

Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday!
Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web

Hear a presentation about Messier objects - galaxies, nebulae and
other deep space objects.  Learn about the plans for a Messier
"marathon"  - a one night attempt to try an find all of the Messier
objects.  Take a "tour" of the night sky "stars" inside the
planetarium and learn some winter constellations.  Enjoy looking at
the stars and planets outside through a variety of telescopes and
binoculars with a group of amateur astronomers.  Free space related
raffle for students.

Wed. March 9, 2005, 7:00 PM.  Jones Magnet Middle School, 1819
Nickerson Blvd. Hampton.  No admission charge.  Inside activity held
in any weather.

For information contact l.w.taylor@...

For more info on local astronomy activities check out our Yahoo web
site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vpas/

Marsgazers,

Check out the ARES, Mars airplane, web site:

http://marsairplane.larc.nasa.gov/

Beautiful photos and animations. Thanks Garry for the URL.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

Anyone interested in going up to hands on optics for their swapmeet on
the 2 April 05? I would be willing to drive.
--Bear

Stargazers,

It looks like we might even have clear skies for observing after
tonight's talk and sky tour. I have the Skymaps, iBook, and projector.
I'm going to try and get there by 5 pm. George has already dropped off
sign-in sheets and some stickers for the raffle. He has his son's
soccer game tonight, so he'll miss the show. I've set up the star
projector for tonight's sky at sunset. I still need to vacuum and set
up the computer stuff. I'm going to try and swing by Mona Lisa's for
dinner pick-up on my way in. Let me know if I can pick anything up for
you. See everyone by 7 pm for the Messier Marathon talk by Tom. Anyone
want to give the sky tour tonight?

Clear Dark Skies,
Lawrence Taylor

Hey Pam,

The shows are first come - first ticket. Families are more than
welcome. Very young children may be bored or scared by the dark, but
your's should enjoy it. Bring some warm clothes for viewing outside
after the show.

Clear Dark Skies,
Lawrence

On Mar 9, 2005, at 12:15, pberry@... wrote:

> I'm just wondering if we need to sign up for the session to be held at
> Jones' tonight or if we can just show up?  Can we also bring our
> children (4th and 9th graders)?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Pam Berry
>

Hey Tom,

I hope that you made it back today. I'll look and see if I can find the Messier
presentation from last year... I'm at Jones and it's a little chilly in here.

Bird

--- In vpas@yahoogroups.com, Lawrence Taylor <l.w.taylor@l...> wrote:
> Stargazers,
>
> It looks like we might even have clear skies for observing after
> tonight's talk and sky tour. I have the Skymaps, iBook, and projector.
> I'm going to try and get there by 5 pm. George has already dropped off
> sign-in sheets and some stickers for the raffle. He has his son's
> soccer game tonight, so he'll miss the show. I've set up the star
> projector for tonight's sky at sunset. I still need to vacuum and set
> up the computer stuff. I'm going to try and swing by Mona Lisa's for
> dinner pick-up on my way in. Let me know if I can pick anything up for
> you. See everyone by 7 pm for the Messier Marathon talk by Tom. Anyone
> want to give the sky tour tonight?
>
> Clear Dark Skies,
> Lawrence Taylor

Hey Bird,

I will be over there shortly.  I have the presentation all ready to go.

Tom

Hey Tom,

Ahhhhh. My dinner will be much more enjoyed, now. Thanks, Tom. Hey Bear, I found
your presentation from last year, so I was already sitting pretty. Well as
pretty as this
old geezer gets anyway.

Clear Dark Skies,
Bird

--- In vpas@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Schumann" <kissoff@c...> wrote:
>
> Hey Bird,
>
> I will be over there shortly.  I have the presentation all ready to go.
>
> Tom

I'll bet it was a great night for viewing.  Hope you had a good turnout. Sorry I
missed out - The Kecoughtan boys varsity soccer team  was busy battling the
Cox (Va Beach) team to a 1-1 tie in a tough scrimmage.  Looks to be a good
year of soccer watching - kinda hard to see the night sky through those bright
field lights!!  :-)

--- In vpas@yahoogroups.com, "Lawrence Taylor" <lawrencewtaylor3@y...>
wrote:
>
> Hey Tom,
>
> Ahhhhh. My dinner will be much more enjoyed, now. Thanks, Tom. Hey
Bear, I found
> your presentation from last year, so I was already sitting pretty. Well as
pretty as this
> old geezer gets anyway.
>
> Clear Dark Skies,
> Bird
>
> --- In vpas@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Schumann" <kissoff@c...> wrote:
> >
> > Hey Bird,
> >
> > I will be over there shortly.  I have the presentation all ready to go.
> >
> > Tom