The Morning Sky is Alive

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz
Astronomy / Skywatching
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Jupiter, Venus, and Mars are all lining up in the morning sky. As Venus treks eastward, the planets draw closer to together throughout this month. 

Mercury is low by the horizon.

As for the last visible planet, Saturn sets in the early night's sky. So enjoy!

Source: Interactive Star Chart,  When the Curves Line Up

A Beautiful Night to Sit and Watch the Planets

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Astronomy / Stargazing
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Tonight, the skies are clear for stargazing. 

In the early evening expect to see Mercury very close to the western horizon. Jupiter will set soon after as he trails Orion in the Constellation Gemini.

Mars and Saturn will dominate the sky for the rest of the evening until the waxing gibbous moon rises.

In the early morning hours, Venus will rise before the sun makes his appearance at dawn.  

8pm Skyline in Phoenix

Source: Weather Underground, AccuWeather

Cloudy at First, Then Patchy with Starlight

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz 
Astronomy / Weather
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Tonight, stargazing weather will be fair. Cloudy conditions will turn patchy as the night progresses. Those stargazers who are out when the clouds only obstruct 36% of the sky later on will see Mars followed by Saturn.

For skywatchers who caught a glimpse of a shiny planet after sundown, Mercury has come from the other side of the Sun and is now setting in the West close to the horizon.

Here's the Phoenix night sky for tonight as of 8pm:

Source: Weather Underground,  Accuweather 

Volcanos, Sunspot Growth, Coronal Holes

Staff Writer, Nathaniel Diaz
Meteorology / Heliosphere
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Volcanos, Sunspot Growth, Coronal Holes

The current spaceweather indicates sunspots are gaining in complexity and flaring is rising. Saturn is lining up with the Sun as well as a Mars and Venus Conjunction. Coronal holes are weak thus far with the next batch of positive and negative coming in on the next wave look to be a strong combination. Watch out for earthquakes in the coming days.

Today's Featured Links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=un8kQ...



Source: Suspicious Observers 

Stargazing with Planets and a Crescent Moon

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Astronomy / Stargazing
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Tonight, the sky will be clear to view the coming summer sky. Orion sets early as will the waxing crescent moon.

Daily Stats: 

Moon	6:46 AM MST		8:50 PM MST
Length of Visible Light	14h 22m
Length of Day	13h 29m

The visible planets this evening will be Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn with Venus rising a little before 4am.

Visibility:

Source: Weather Underground, Accuweather   

Lunar Shadow Dancing: April's Total Eclipse Highlights

Staff Writer, DL Mullan
Photographer, DL Mullan
Lunar Eclipse / Astrophotography
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Just in case you missed the total lunar eclipse, here are some highlights:

The Moon enters the Earth's penumbra.

Slowly the Moon is covered in darkness.

Halfway to Totality.

The moon remained red and in the Earth's shadow for over an hour. A very impressive evening watching the movement of the planet and her satellite.

Mars was the closest to Earth for the entire year tonight and during the total eclipse was brighter than the moon. Spica even got in some sparkle time while the brightness of the moon was veiled. Saturn pulled up the rear as he traveled through the elliptical plane around the sun.

 

 

Refracted Light is about to Disappear.

Jupiter and Orion had already set for the evening before the Moon went into the Earth's shadow. 

A very good night for skywatchers.