Planetary
Treats and Celestial Delights During Taurus All times are local unless otherwise specified. Look Up!
Planetary Treats
Mars is noticeably fading from magnitude 0.7 at the end of April to magnitude 1.1 at the end of May. The combined orbital motions of Earth and Mars are now moving the two planets farther apart causing the planet to dim and appear smaller. In addition the illuminated gibbous phase of Mars is waning or shrinking. These actions result in a decline of the planet's brilliance. Apparent
Disk Size of Mars The rouge-gold planet can be seen overhead as the sky darkens. It sets in the beginning of Taurus at 3:00am and by its end at 2:00am. Mars remains eye-catching as it moves easterly through dim Cancer the Crab toward the beginning of Leo the Lion. Mars and Regulus, the Lion's heart star found at the bottom of the Lion's sickle shaped asterism, are similar in brightness, yet have different hues. Note: Regulus lies between Mars and Saturn. 5/10 9pm Sky Chart Compare the colors of these 3 celestial bodies: blue-white, ruddy red and pale yellow respectively. Bright Procyon in Canis Minor lies immediately southwest of Mars and further southwest lies Sirius, the brightest star in the heavens. Red Betelgeuse lies to the west of the Red Planet. This 4/15 10pm map is helpful in identifying and locating these stars and Mars. Get out those binoculars to check out Mars passing to the east of the Beehive (M44) star cluster at the heart of Cancer the Crab. It's a sweet treat to see the Beehive. Compare these two mid-April maps of Mars and the Beehive: 4/13-18, 4/17 to the path of Mars for August 2009 - July 2010. Also see this retrograde animation of Mars. Mark Your Calendar April 21, Wednesday evening, look for the First Quarter Moon below and west of Mars, the Gemini Twins lie to their right (north); Venus sets in the west-northwest at 9:45pm and Mercury sets at 8:45pm. 4/21 9pm Map Click Moon Dances for an additional map and meditative reflections. If you miss this Mars Moon Dance, there is an encore performance May 19. Map 5/19 9:30pm April 22, predawn Thursday, the Lyrid Meteor Shower occurs. 4/22 3am Lyrids Map Today is the 40th anniversay of Earth Day. Telescopic Mars
[Return to Menu at top]
Hubble's
20-Second Movie A Must See Hubblecast - 4:14
Saturn can be seen almost all night long. The planet is highest in the south around 10:00pm and sets around 5:00am in the beginning of Taurus and by 3:45am at its end. Saturn lies in the constellation Virgo the Virgin west of its brightest star, Spica. The planet at magnitude 0.9 shines as bright this star, which glows at magnitude 1.0. Compare the color of yellowish Saturn and blue-white Spica. Saturn retrograde (1/13-5/30) moves westward from Virgo's dim star, Zaniah (aka Eta Virginis) to dim Zavijava; the planet lies very near Zavijava when Taurus ends. Helpful Constellation Map
Mark Your Calendar April 24+25 the waxing Gibbous Moon lies near Saturn. 4/24 Map ~ 4/25 9pm Sky Chart April 26+27 look for the "fulling" Moon near Spica. 4/26 Map ~ 4/27 9pm Sky Chart Click Moon Dances for an additional map and meditative reflections. Telescopic Saturn Any telescope gives an impressive view of Saturn, its breathtaking rings and its brightest and largest moon, Titan. Saturn's telescopic rings are generally opening during 2010, revealing more and more of their northern face. However, the planet's ring tilt is slightly narrowing from 5º in early February to less than 2º in late May.
Generate images of Saturn's ring tilt as seen from Earth with the Solar System Simulator. Every 16 days Titan orbits the planet's equator, the plane of its rings. With a low ring tilt this natural satellite can be seen passing in front of and behind the planet during each orbit. Any telescope will show these events. A 10 inch or larger scope reveals a peach-colored, dot-sized Titan crossing the cloud tops of Saturn's globe.
The link below will help you locate Titan and Saturn's four other brightest moons. Use a 6-inch scope to see these. They are smaller, lie closer to the planet and have shorter orbital periods than Titan: Enceladus (1.37 days), Tethys (1.89 days), Dione (4.42 days) and Rhea (4.52 days). Seeking
Saturn’s Moons
[Return to Menu at top]
Venus in Taurus
Mark Your Calendar Venus leads us first to the Pleiades, a sparkling star cluster also known as the Seven Sisters, and then to two bright reddish stars, Aldebaran and Betelgeuse. Review the constellation of Taurus the Bull. April 24-26, Saturday to Monday, Venus lies to the left (south) of the Pleiades that mark the shoulder of Taurus the Bull. 4/25 Map April 30, Friday evening, the goddess of love lies to the right (north) of red Aldebaran, the Bull's eye and our star of enlightenment. 4/30 9pm Map May 15, Saturday, Venus lies twixt the horn tips of Taurus, to the right (north) of red Betelgeuse, the shoulder star of Orion the Hunter; a thin Crescent Moon lies below (west) of Venus. 5/15 8:30pm Sky Chart ~ 5/15 9pm Map Click Moon Dances for an additional map and meditative reflections. As the months pass Venus rises higher reaching its greatest distance from the setting Sun August 19 and its greatest brilliancy September 23. Venus has phases like the Moon, which can be viewed with a telescope. The Venus 2010 Animation shows these phases and more.
[Return to Menu at top]
Jupiter puts on an eye-catching performance in a dark morning sky, rising in the beginning of Taurus at 4:45am and by its end at 3:30am.
Brilliant at magnitude -2.2, Jupiter is the brightest light in the predawn sky and is easily seen above the east-southeast horizon by 5:00am. With each passing week observe Jupiter's higher placement in the heavens just before dawn. Late April 6am Map ~ Early May 5:30am Map ~ Mid-May 5:30am Map Mark Your Calendar May 6, Thursday morning at 4:00am, the Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks as Jupiter hugs the horizon. The nearby Last Quarter moonlight veils the view of shooting stars, however early morning observers can still see 10-20 shooting stars per hour, watch the ascent of Jupiter and enjoy a binocular inspection the Quarter Moon's deep craters and mountains along it's terminator. 5/6 4am Map ~ Eta Aquarids Click Moon Dances for meditative reflections. May 9, predawn Mother's Day, look for the waning Crescent Moon above Jupiter. 5/9 5am Map Monday morning, May 10, the diminishing Moon lies to the left of Jupiter. 5/10 Dawn Map/Text Telescopic Jupiter
The four Galilean Moons, the largest and brightest satellites of Jupiter can be seen in a dark country sky with binoculars. They appear starlike on either side of the planet. With a telescope you just might see one of these cast a shadow on the Jovian cloud tops. Jupiter’s
Moons Mercury is switching horizons, sinking out of the evening sky and rising into the morning sky during Taurus. The planet's retrograde motion, April 17/18 - May 10, keeps this messenger of the gods close to the Sun, hidden in the central luminary's glowing embrace. This is a good time to slow down the thinking process and make a leap to the intuition. A shift or change in direction begins to take place now. Allow the new incoming energies to break up the old patterns. Surrender and maintain. Good luck in spotting Mercury. You'll need right timing, an unobstructed horizon, clear skies and helpful binoculars. You just may get a glimpse of the elusive one in dawn's early light May 12. The oldest waning Crescent Moon lies above the planet; look for brilliant Jupiter to their right in the southeast. 5/12 5:30am Map The planet reaches greatest elongation May 25/26. Dawn Map 5/26 Spring's morning ecliptic is at an angle that keeps Mercury hugging the eastern horizon.
The
Planets
Celestial
Delights
The Wesak is a Full Moon Festival occurring during the sign Taurus. An ancient legend says the Buddha, for a brief period, renews His touch and association with the work of our planet at this time. The Festival of the Buddha releases forces of enlightenment from our highest spiritual planetary center, Shamballa. These forces spark initiation and are stepped down for humanity through the Buddha, the Christ and the Spiritual Hierarchy. The Wesak Festival, when the Buddha and the Christ come together in a sacred ritual, is spiritually known to be the supreme moment in the annual cycle. During Taurus we have the opportunity to tap into the channel of direct communication between humanity and Deity and celebrate the evolutionary blessings that come to all of humanity. It is important that groups of all faiths unite globally to invoke the divine in everyone. Together we are the Chalice, the Holy Grail on Earth, prepared to receive the outpouring of potent energies from on High. In 2010 the Full Moon during the sign of Taurus occurs Wednesday, April 28, at 5:18am PDT (12:18 UT). The Wesak Full Moon always occurs in the constellation of Libra. Click Moon Dances for a map and meditative reflections. Three Major Planetary Festivals The Work of Buddha, Christ and Humanity
Through
The Buddha, the wisdom of God streams forth.
[Return to Menu at top]
Sky Lights ~ Taurus April 19 - May 20, 2010 Venus continues to ascend and brighten above the sunset horizon. The planet can be seen in the constellation of Taurus the Bull during the sign of Taurus. Venus sets at the beginning of Taurus at 10:00pm and by its end at 10:45pm. Venus transits a sparkling star cluster, the Pleiades, and two bright reddish stars now, Aldebaran and Betelgeuse. 4.24-26 the planet lies to the left (south) of the Pleiades that mark the Bull's shoulder. 4/25 Map 4/30 the goddess of love lies to the right (north) of red Aldebaran, the Bull's eye and our star of enlightenment. 4/30 9pm Map 5/15 Venus lies twixt the horn tips of Taurus, to the right (north) of red Betelgeuse, the shoulder star of Orion the Hunter; a thin Crescent Moon lies below (west) of Venus. 5/15 8:30pm Sky Chart ~ 5/15 9pm Map As the months unfold Venus continues to rise higher reaching its greatest distance from the setting Sun 8/19. The planet also shines brighter every month reaching greatest brilliancy 9/23. Venus has phases like the Moon; you can see them and more in this Venus 2010 Animation. Mars, distancing from the Earth is dimming; it noticeably fades from magnitude 0.7 on 4/30 to magnitude 1.1 on 5/31. The rouge-gold planet can be seen overhead as the sky darkens and it sets in the beginning of Taurus at 3:00am and by its end at 2:00am. The planet remains eye-catching as it moves easterly through dim Cancer the Crab toward the beginning of Leo the Lion. Mars and Regulus, the Lion's heart star found at the bottom of the Lion's sickle shaped asterism, are similar in brightness, yet have different hues. Note: Regulus lies between Mars and Saturn. Compare the colors of these 3 celestial bodies. 5/10 9pm Sky Chart Look for the First Quarter Moon 4/21 below and west of Mars, the Gemini Twins lie above; Venus sets in the west-northwest at 9:45pm and Mercury sets at 8:45pm. 4/21 9pm Map The Lyrid Meteor Shower occurs the following morning. 4/22 3am Lyrids Map If you miss the 4/21 Mars Moon Dance, there is an encore performance 5/19. Map 5/19 9:30pm Saturn is out almost all night long and is positioned highest in the south around 10:00pm. The planet sets around 5:00am in the beginning of Taurus and by 3:45am at its end. Saturn lies in the constellation Virgo the Virgin west of its brightest star, Spica. The planet at magnitude 0.9 shines as bright this star, which glows at magnitude 1.0. Compare the color of yellowish Saturn and blue-white Spica. 4/24+25 the waxing Gibbous Moon lies near Saturn. 4/24 Map ~ 4/25 9pm Sky Chart 4/26+27 look for the "fulling" Moon near Spica. 4/26 Map ~ 4/27 9pm Sky Chart Saturn retrograde (1/13-5/30) moves westward from Virgo's dim star, Zaniah (aka Eta Virginis) to dim Zavijava; the planet lies very near Zavijava at the end of Taurus. Helpful Constellation Map Saturn's telescopic rings are generally opening during 2010, revealing more and more of their northern face. However, the planet's ring tilt is slightly narrowing from 5º in early February to less than 2º in late May. Generate images of Saturn's ring tilt as seen from Earth with the Solar System Simulator. Note: Regulus, Leo the Lion's heart star found at the bottom of the Lion's sickle shaped asterism, lies between Mars and Saturn. 5/10 9pm Sky Chart Compare the colors of these 3 celestial bodies. Jupiter rises in a dark sky in the beginning of Taurus at 4:45am and by its end at 3:30am. Jupiter at magnitude -2.2 is the brightest light in the morning sky and is easily seen above the east-southeast horizon by 5:00am. Late April 6am Map 5/9 look for the waning Crescent Moon above Jupiter. 5/9 5am Map The following morning the diminishing Moon lies to the left of Jupiter. 5/10 Dawn Map/Text Note: As Jupiter rises in the east Saturn sets in the west. 5/11 3:50am Sky Chart Jupiter will be rising earlier and earlier as the months unfold. By mid-July Jupiter will rise just before midnight, making a brief appearance in the very late evening sky. Mercury sinks out of sight on the sunset horizon as Taurus begins. During Taurus Mercury switches from the evening sky to the morning sky and the elusive planet is lost in the Sun's glow. Mid-May search dawn's early light to get a glimpse of this predawn planet. 5/12 the oldest waning Crescent Moon lies above Mercury; look for brilliant Jupiter to their right in the southeast. 5/12 5:30am Map The planet reaches greatest elongation May 25/26. Dawn Map 5/26 Spring's morning ecliptic is at an angle that keeps Mercury hugging the eastern horizon. Good luck in spotting this messenger of the gods. You'll need right timing, an unobstructed horizon, clear skies and helpful binoculars.
Orion The Hunter is found with the winter stars sinking in the southwest at sunset. The stellar giant fully sets in the beginning of Taurus by 11:15pm and by its end at 10.00pm. Use Orion's stars to navigate this area of the sky. Orion helps one find the Winter Triangle and the Great Winter Hexagon. Capella is the very bright star in the northwest setting in the beginning of Taurus at 2:00am and by its end at 12:30am. It is the brightest star seen the most often. Spring Stars Sirius the brightest star in the heavens can be seen the southwest as the sky darkens. Sirius sets in the beginning of Taurus around 10:45pm and by its end at 9:30pm. Regulus and Leo the Lion spring up overhead. Regulus lies between rouge-gold Mars in Cancer to the west and pale yellow Saturn in Virgo to the east. Arcturus, is the bright golden star, high in the east at sunset. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there spike down to blue-white Spica in the south. Helpful Image The westward movement of Arturus and the Big Dipper can be observed until sunrise. Big Dipper Navigation Notice the seasonal position of the Big Dipper's bowl. Vega is the very bright star rising above the northeast horizon after sunset.
Skymaps.com
I'd like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky ...
Getting
Started in Astronomy At Skymaps.com download a current monthly guide, evening sky map & calendar. Link to Sky and Telescope's This Week's Sky at a Glance. Spaceweather.com keeps you looking up!
[Return to Menu at top]
The Night Sky Linkups~SouledOut.org's
Recommended Links |