tOfficial Astronomy Thread

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-06, 05:34

Just woke up and saw Venus out the window.

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

I’ve never seen it so bright. According to the link:

“Venus is the brightest planet, beaming mightily the east before sunrise. As December 2018 begins, Venus is shining at greatest brilliancy, its brightest for this morning apparition. Although Venus will remain a fixture of the morning sky until mid-August 2019, it’ll grow dimmer, by a bit, after early December”

Worth checking out.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2018-12-06, 05:51

steveschneider wrote:Just woke up and saw Venus out the window.

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

I’ve never seen it so bright. According to the link:

“Venus is the brightest planet, beaming mightily the east before sunrise. As December 2018 begins, Venus is shining at greatest brilliancy, its brightest for this morning apparition. Although Venus will remain a fixture of the morning sky until mid-August 2019, it’ll grow dimmer, by a bit, after early December”

Worth checking out.

not much of an astronomy guy, but something very bright in the sky yesterday morning.. maybe around 5:30.. in the direction of Haslett/Okemos.

Heading out now.. I think its a bit more cloudy this morning, but I'll check.

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-06, 07:37

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
steveschneider wrote:Just woke up and saw Venus out the window.

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

I’ve never seen it so bright. According to the link:

“Venus is the brightest planet, beaming mightily the east before sunrise. As December 2018 begins, Venus is shining at greatest brilliancy, its brightest for this morning apparition. Although Venus will remain a fixture of the morning sky until mid-August 2019, it’ll grow dimmer, by a bit, after early December”

Worth checking out.
not much of an astronomy guy, but something very bright in the sky yesterday morning.. maybe around 5:30.. in the direction of Haslett/Okemos.

Heading out now.. I think its a bit more cloudy this morning, but I'll check.

I’m not either but this was one of those things that really popped out. It was about 5:30 here when I saw it so probably the same thing. If you are Christmas fan worth checking out this is probably what the star of Bethlehem looked like in the nativity story.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2018-12-06, 14:39

steveschneider wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote: not much of an astronomy guy, but something very bright in the sky yesterday morning.. maybe around 5:30.. in the direction of Haslett/Okemos.

Heading out now.. I think its a bit more cloudy this morning, but I'll check.

I’m not either but this was one of those things that really popped out. It was about 5:30 here when I saw it so probably the same thing. If you are Christmas fan worth checking out this is probably what the star of Bethlehem looked like in the nativity story.

the only thing I love more than Christmas is the nativity story.

by **Cameron** 2018-12-06, 15:07

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

I’m not either but this was one of those things that really popped out. It was about 5:30 here when I saw it so probably the same thing. If you are Christmas fan worth checking out this is probably what the star of Bethlehem looked like in the nativity story.
the only thing I love more than Christmas is the nativity story.

by **MiamiSpartan** 2018-12-06, 15:10

steveschneider wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote: not much of an astronomy guy, but something very bright in the sky yesterday morning.. maybe around 5:30.. in the direction of Haslett/Okemos.

Heading out now.. I think its a bit more cloudy this morning, but I'll check.

I’m not either but this was one of those things that really popped out. It was about 5:30 here when I saw it so probably the same thing. If you are Christmas fan worth checking out this is probably what the star of Bethlehem looked like in the nativity story.

Scientifically speaking, the Star of Bethlehem may have been a close alignment of more than one planet/star, rather than one object, such that a viewer on earth would have seen the light from multiple objects, but so close together that they appeared as a single object. A supernova is another popular theory as it would have been rare, potentially bright (depending on it's distance), and would disappear after a time never to reappear.

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-06, 15:18

MiamiSpartan wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

I’m not either but this was one of those things that really popped out. It was about 5:30 here when I saw it so probably the same thing. If you are Christmas fan worth checking out this is probably what the star of Bethlehem looked like in the nativity story.
Scientifically speaking, the Star of Bethlehem may have been a close alignment of more than one planet/star, rather than one object, such that a viewer on earth would have seen the light from multiple objects, but so close together that they appeared as a single object. A supernova is another popular theory as it would have been rare, potentially bright (depending on it's distance), and would disappear after a time never to reappear.

That's pretty sweet. I thought I read once that they thought it could have been Venus as well. All I know is if you are up early this morning take a look in the sky. The article I read on it described it as 'dazzlingly bright'. I'd say that's a good description.

by **tGreenWay** 2018-12-06, 15:22

I like stars.

by **MiamiSpartan** 2018-12-06, 17:18

steveschneider wrote:
MiamiSpartan wrote:
Scientifically speaking, the Star of Bethlehem may have been a close alignment of more than one planet/star, rather than one object, such that a viewer on earth would have seen the light from multiple objects, but so close together that they appeared as a single object. A supernova is another popular theory as it would have been rare, potentially bright (depending on it's distance), and would disappear after a time never to reappear.

That's pretty sweet. I thought I read once that they thought it could have been Venus as well. All I know is if you are up early this morning take a look in the sky. The article I read on it described it as 'dazzlingly bright'. I'd say that's a good description.

I heard something similar, but a little more sing-songy, calling it "star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright".

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-06, 18:15

MiamiSpartan wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

That's pretty sweet. I thought I read once that they thought it could have been Venus as well. All I know is if you are up early this morning take a look in the sky. The article I read on it described it as 'dazzlingly bright'. I'd say that's a good description.
I heard something similar, but a little more sing-songy, calling it "star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright".

You ever hear the one that goes

"Good morning starshine, the earth says hello
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below"

then it goes on to go 'Gliddy glup gloopy nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba le le lo lo
Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba
Early morning singing song'

by **tGreenWay** 2018-12-06, 18:52

ProTip: The hour or two after a big meal is never a good time to look at Uranus.

by **tGreenWay** 2018-12-06, 18:54

steveschneider wrote:
MiamiSpartan wrote:
I heard something similar, but a little more sing-songy, calling it "star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright".

You ever hear the one that goes

"Good morning starshine, the earth says hello
You twinkle above us
We twinkle below"

then it goes on to go 'Gliddy glup gloopy nibby nabby noopy la la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba le le lo lo
Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba
Early morning singing song'

by **Floyd Robertson** 2018-12-09, 18:04

Brightest comet of 2018 to pass the closest to Earth in December

by **WhiteBoyHatcher** 2018-12-09, 18:07

I think we should send steve and Cameron to space together.

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-09, 18:10

Floyd Robertson wrote:Brightest comet of 2018 to pass the closest to Earth in December

Thanks for the heads up. I remember seeing Hale Bopp back and thought it looked really cool.

by **Floyd Robertson** 2018-12-09, 18:12

steveschneider wrote:
Floyd Robertson wrote:Brightest comet of 2018 to pass the closest to Earth in December

Thanks for the heads up. I remember seeing Hale Bopp back and thought it looked really cool.

You weren't in a cult, were you?

tOfficial Astronomy Thread Marshall_Applewhite

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-09, 18:13

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:I think we should send steve and Cameron to space together.

I think Pylon and Goose is the biggest feud on the board these days. I actually went to a Quaker meeting this morning with a friend that went to a Quaker school. I’m not really that spiritual but their message of being a society of friends really resonated with me. May have to bring the feud to an end.

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-09, 18:16

Floyd Robertson wrote:
steveschneider wrote:

Thanks for the heads up. I remember seeing Hale Bopp back and thought it looked really cool.

You weren't in a cult, were you?

man I’ll never forget that. That event really disturbed me at the time. I was actually visiting a friend up in mt pleasant and I bought a few news papers and I was so loaded that night going off about how fucked up that was and that I couldn’t believe people would believe that shit and do that.

by **WhiteBoyHatcher** 2018-12-09, 18:16

Steve how much hair do you have? I picture you being a receding hairline type of guy.

And yes, the Goose/pylon feud is becoming a bit irritating. I might ban them both along with Bill Cain.

by **steveschneider** 2018-12-09, 18:24

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Steve how much hair do you have? I picture you being a receding hairline type of guy.

And yes, the Goose/pylon feud is becoming a bit irritating. I might ban them both along with Bill Cain.

When I’m at a bodega and can see the back of my scalp on the security cam there’s a big circle back there and I’m like shit I am bald as fuck! I’ve got about jack Nicholson level baldness. Some hair covering the top but not much.

by **tGreenWay** 2018-12-09, 18:34

Floyd Robertson wrote:Brightest comet of 2018 to pass the closest to Earth in December

The brightest, eh? That’s not saying too much. It’s like Turtleneck-level bright. Because, just like Turtleneck, if you pop the hood and get a look inside, it’s fairly dense.

by **tGreenWay** 2018-12-09, 18:35

steveschneider wrote:
WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Steve how much hair do you have? I picture you being a receding hairline type of guy.

And yes, the Goose/pylon feud is becoming a bit irritating. I might ban them both along with Bill Cain.

When I’m at a bodega and can see the back of my scalp on the security cam there’s a big circle back there and I’m like shit I am bald as fuck! I’ve got about jack Nicholson level baldness. Some hair covering the top but not much.

Don’t go to bodegas. Problem solved. You’re welcome, Steve.

by **DWags** 2018-12-19, 02:00

“Cold moon” or “long night moon” combines with meteor shower for cool winter solstice

by **tGreenWay** 2018-12-19, 03:37

We need music from the Hearts of Space played underneath the posts in this thread.

by **Floyd Robertson** 2018-12-27, 10:29

'Super blood wolf moon eclipse' will take place on Jan. 20

Everybody stock up.

by **Rocinante** 2018-12-27, 11:02

I think that meme is far enough removed that it would be ok to wear that shirt again.

by **Floyd Robertson** 2019-01-01, 20:50

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft just visited the farthest object ever explored

As Earthlings marked the start of a new year, one of the most distant spacecraft successfully explored the farthest — 4 billion miles from Earth — and most primitive objects that humans have ever seen.

That's a long way. Six hours at the speed of light for signals to reach earth.

by **DWags** 2019-01-01, 20:54

Floyd Robertson wrote: NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft just visited the farthest object ever explored

As Earthlings marked the start of a new year, one of the most distant spacecraft successfully explored the farthest — 4 billion miles from Earth — and most primitive objects that humans have ever seen.

That's a long way. Six hours at the speed of light for signals to reach earth.

Amazing stuff

by **Floyd Robertson** 2019-01-03, 07:46

The Top Skywatching Events to Look for in 2019

by **steveschneider** 2019-01-03, 08:10

Floyd is turning out to be the official swill astronomer. Good stuff.

by **DWags** 2019-01-03, 08:16

Floyd Robertson wrote:The Top Skywatching Events to Look for in 2019

Thanks for that site.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2019-01-03, 08:29

I don't really understand or appreciate any of this stuff the way it deserves to be understood and appreciated. It's beyond my intellectual scope. To me, it's so advanced that it doesn't even seem real.

(full disclosure: I operate at about a 3rd grade level).

by Guest 2019-01-03, 08:42

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't really understand or appreciate any of this stuff the way it deserves to be understood and appreciated. It's beyond my intellectual scope. To me, it's so advanced that it doesn't even seem real.

(full disclosure: I operate at about a 3rd grade level).

That and you're not up north where the black skies help you appreciate the skies. Some weekend you need to let Floyd build you a campfire, crack a beer and lay back to sky watch.

by **Floyd Robertson** 2019-01-03, 08:46

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't really understand or appreciate any of this stuff the way it deserves to be understood and appreciated. It's beyond my intellectual scope. To me, it's so advanced that it doesn't even seem real.

(full disclosure: I operate at about a 3rd grade level).

I was born in 1960, so I'm pretty much a product of the space race. Every male friend I had growing up wanted to be an astronaut, just like I did. My favorite toy was the G.I. Joe Gemini Capsule.

tOfficial Astronomy Thread 107344d1337042141-gi-joe-gemini-custom-capsule-friend7box

tOfficial Astronomy Thread 107344d1337042141-gi-joe-gemini-custom-capsule-friend7box

I like to think that I have the mental capacity to understand a lot of this celestial stuff, but my problem is that I have the attention span of a goldfish, so I never get to go too deep before I go off pinging in another direction.

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2019-01-03, 08:48

LooseGoose wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't really understand or appreciate any of this stuff the way it deserves to be understood and appreciated. It's beyond my intellectual scope. To me, it's so advanced that it doesn't even seem real.

(full disclosure: I operate at about a 3rd grade level).

That and you're not up north where the black skies help you appreciate the skies. Some weekend you need to let Floyd build you a campfire, crack a beer and lay back to sky watch.

was running north on the trail in EL this morning.. around 5:30 or so - dark, cold.. snow on the ground - was quite peaceful (aside from the silly subdivision to the west) - but not a ton of artificial light once you get above the East Lansing soccer complex.

anyway - I got ya, dude - I ain't no city slicker. Wink

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2019-01-03, 08:50

Floyd Robertson wrote:
Robert J Sakimano wrote:I don't really understand or appreciate any of this stuff the way it deserves to be understood and appreciated. It's beyond my intellectual scope. To me, it's so advanced that it doesn't even seem real.

(full disclosure: I operate at about a 3rd grade level).

I was born in 1960, so I'm pretty much a product of the space race. Every male friend I had growing up wanted to be an astronaut, just like I did. My favorite toy was the G.I. Joe Gemini Capsule.

I like to think that I have the mental capacity to understand a lot of this celestial stuff, but my problem is that I have the attention span of a goldfish, so I never get to go too deep before I go off pinging in another direction.

right there with ya on the attention span thing - I have no idea how I learned to tie my shoes.

by **DWags** 2019-01-03, 08:53

Robert J Sakimano wrote:
Floyd Robertson wrote:

I was born in 1960, so I'm pretty much a product of the space race. Every male friend I had growing up wanted to be an astronaut, just like I did. My favorite toy was the G.I. Joe Gemini Capsule.

I like to think that I have the mental capacity to understand a lot of this celestial stuff, but my problem is that I have the attention span of a goldfish, so I never get to go too deep before I go off pinging in another direction.
right there with ya on the attention span thing - I have no idea how I learned to tie my shoes.

Born in 61. What were we talking about?

by **Floyd Robertson** 2019-01-03, 11:49

Far side of the moon: China's Chang'e 4 probe makes historic touchdown

Fuck this shit.

“I do not believe that this generation of Americans is willing to resign itself to going to bed each night by the light of a Communist moon”. -- LBJ

Time to fix this. tOfficial Astronomy Thread 3669899363

by **Robert J Sakimano** 2019-01-03, 12:06

Floyd Robertson wrote: Far side of the moon: China's Chang'e 4 probe makes historic touchdown

Fuck this shit.

“I do not believe that this generation of Americans is willing to resign itself to going to bed each night by the light of a Communist moon”. -- LBJ

Time to fix this.

China is the most powerful country in the world. Not liking it doesn't make it untrue.

Good for them, though.

by **MiamiSpartan** 2019-01-03, 12:16

The smartest scientists in the world don't know what 95% of the known universe is made of, so we certainly can't be expected to grasp to much of it. And that doesn't even get into the theoretical physics of higher dimensions, multi-verses, string theory, etc. Not to mention, what scientists know--or more correctly, what they THINK they know), is constantly changing. But even relatively simple concepts like time and distance become so mind-bending when talking about the vastness of space.

But getting back a little closer to home, the Chinese landed the first ever probe on the far side of the moon last night.

Speaking of the moon, as we approach the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing this summer, maybe this thread title should be edited to be the Astronomy and Space Exploration thread. In fact, we just passed the 50th anniversary of a monumental achievement on the way to Apollo 11, and that was the Apollo 8 anniversary of being the first humans to orbit the moon on Christmas Eve.

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