This is Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Friday, August 1, through Sunday, August 3, written by Alan French. The Moon was new last Saturday and will reach first quarter late this coming Sunday, so a crescent Moon will grace the early evening sky this weekend. Look for it low toward the west southwest Friday night after sunset, between Mars and Spica in the southwest on Saturday, and between Mars and Saturn on Sunday. By Sunday the Moon will not set until just before midnight. Weather permitting, the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers will host a solar star party at Landis Arboretum, from noon to 2:00 pm on Saturday, August 2. Members of the Albany Area Amateur Astronomers will provide specially filtered telescopes to provide safe views of the Sun. The solar star party is canceled if the skies are mostly cloudy. Call 374-8460 if uncertain. (Never look at the Sun with a regular telescope! You’ll permanently damage your eye. You can learn about safe solar viewing here.) The solar star party is free and everyone is welcome. We do, however, encourage guests to support our fine hosts, the Landis Arboretum, either through a modest donation or a membership. Your can find directions to Landis Arboretum here. For an address, use 176 Lape Road, Esperance, NY. Once you reach Landis continue up Lape Road past the main farmhouse and parking area. Turn right at the “Star Party” sign, which will mark the driveway into the Meeting House field. We have two chances to see the International Space Station (ISS) glide across Sunday’s evening skies. The ISS looks like a bright star gliding across the sky. The times are for Schenectady but should be close enough for anyone in the Capital District area. The ISS will fist appear just after 9:15 pm Sunday rising up from the south southwestern horizon. It will be highest just after 9:18 when 35 degrees above the southeastern horizon, and will vanish in the east northeast just after 9:21. Its path will bring it up through Scorpius, passing very close to bright reddish Antares, and just below bright Altair in Aquila, the Eagle. The second appearance Sunday will begin just before 10:52 pm when the space station will come up from the western horizon. It will be highest just before 10:55 when 36 degrees above north northwestern horizon. The ISS will move into the Earth’s shadow and vanish from view at 10:57 when 17 degrees above the northeastern horizon. Its path will take it well below bright Arcturus, through the handle of the Big Dipper, and it will fade from view after passing below the “W” of Cassiopeia.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 19:34:32 +0000
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