 |
  |
|
|
|
SkyWatch Headlines is a free SkyWatch service that sends emails to its subscribers about major astronomical events such as meteor showers and eclipses. If you would like to see a meteor shower one day or find out about a new comet, SkyWatch Headlines is for you.  The planet Mars is closer to Earth than normal right now. On October 30, 2005, the two planets will be very close to each other. They will be about 69 million km (43 million miles) apart. Mars will look like a very bright red star in the sky then.
Earth moves around the Sun more quickly than Mars. Every 26 months, Earth "laps" Mars on "the inside lane". When Earth passes Mars, astronomers call the event an "opposition". During an opposition, the Sun, Earth, and Mars form a straight line with Earth in the middle. Viewed from Earth, Mars is on the opposite side of the sky from the Sun. Opposition is the time in each 26-month cycle when Mars and Earth are closest together. Mars was even closer to Earth in August 2003.
 Red sky at night Is the sailor's delight; Red sky in the morning Is a sailor's sure warning. Many people may be surprised to learn that this well-known weather saying was first alluded to in the Bible. In Matthew 16:2, Christ is quoted as saying: "When it is evening, you say, 'The weather will be fair, for the sky is red.' And in the morning you say, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and lowering.'" The red sunset mentioned by Christ was a view of the Sun through dust-laden air that would reach him the next day. In most places, weather patterns usually tend to move from west to east. So, if "tomorrow's air" lies westward, as cloudiness that will bear precipitation, the Sun shining through it appears to be a diffuse disk of yellow or gray, while if the air to the west is dry, the Sun appears as a ruddy hue.
Generally speaking, seven out of ten red sunsets usually indicate good weather in northern climates. Conversely, the ruddy colors seen at sunrise can usually be attributed to cirroform cloudiness scattering the light at the edge of an approaching warm front.
SKY WATCHING TIPS Following these guidelines will help everyone have an enjoyable observing experience: With a few exceptions—like meteor showers—most things in backyard astronomy take a while. Be patient! Try to observe the same object at different times. It may have a different appearance depending on how high or low it is in the sky. Watch the news or read the newspaper for the latest weather forecasts and observe only when conditions are clear. It should not be too cloudy, windy, or humid. You should also avoid nights when the moon is very bright. Choose a location that is safe but as far as possible from streetlights and house lights. Observe with friends and relatives. If possible, sit back on a lawn chair or lie on a blanket so you can look up at the sky. Don’t forget to bring along your favorite bug repellent! Allow your eyes several minutes to start adjusting to the darkness and at least 30-45 minutes to really adjust. Your eyes will naturally become more sensitive to light as time passes. |