Where's Saturn? Is that a UFO--or the ISS? What's the name of that star? Get the answers from mySKY--a fun new astronomy helper from Meade. . AURORA WATCH: Earth is exiting one solar wind stream that sparked bright auroras over the weekend. Another solar wind stream is on the way, due to arrive Sept 27th. High latitude sky watchers should remain alert for Northern Lights. HARVEST MOON: There's a full moon tomorrow night and it has a special name--the Harvest Moon. In the days before electric lights, farmers relied on moonlight to help them gather ripening autumn crops. The "Harvest Moon" rising brightly in the east at sunset allowed work to continue late into the night. Post-Edison, we appreciate the Harvest Moon mainly for its beauty: Photo details: Canon Digital Rebel XT, Orion 80ED. More: #1, #2, #3 P-M Hedén took this picture last night in Vallentuna, Sweden. The waxing Harvest Moon is surrounded by a blue and straw-colored corona created by water droplets in misty, low hanging clouds. Imagine the view on Wednesday when the Moon is actually full! more images: from Milan Gucic of Belgrade, Serbia; from John E Cordiale at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA; from Mark Seibold of Troutdale Oregon, USA. SHADOWS OF VENUS: Venus is so bright, it actually casts shadows. You just have to stare a while to see them. This 6-minute exposure at ISO 800 comes from Tenho Tuomi of Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada: "Venus projected the shadow of my telescope on the house wall," he marvels. To experience your own Venus shadow, chose a dark place--very dark--away from city lights. Go there just before dawn. No sky map is necessary to find Venus glaring in the east. Let your eyes fully dark-adapt as the silvery light of the Morning Star illuminates your face. Now turn around. What do you see? BONUS: Got a backyard telescope? Point it at Venus. Like the Moon, Venus has phases, and at the moment it is a beautifully slender crescent. Take a look! September 2007 Aurora Gallery [August 2007 Aurora Gallery] [Aurora Alerts] |