A bit of star gazing
December 12th 2006 20:21
Here is an opportunity now that warm weather is with us to do a bit of star gazing. I have used info from Southern Sky Watch to be a bit more accurate in predictions. If you are into astrology as I was few years ago you will have and idea of where the moon and planets are at all times but this is on paper. Stick your head out the window and have a real look. Or better still when you leave the boat ramp for that early morning fishing session take a look at the eastern sky (or western on a late return) You can see how easy it can be on a clear morning or night to now take celestial observations to find your postion.
The moon is in its last quarter at the moment and is waning (getting smaller) toward the end of the month it will be dark (best time for prawning) on about the 21st of December just after sunset you will see a thin cresent moon and Venus. this is quite special and looks so lovely. You can see why it has been used on flags of nations.
Jupiter remains in Libra (as it has done for some months). On December 10-11 Jupiter takes part in a rare triple massing with Mars and Mercury but you have to be up early to catch this. Eastern sky around 4.30 am is the time to start looking. Jupiter thereafter rises rapidly in the morning sky. By the morning of December 19th, the crescent Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Antares from a squareish rectangle. At this time Jupiter is one and a half handspans above the eastern horizon half an hour before sunrise. By December 31 Jupiter is two handspans above the horizon and it is obvious why it is used in celestial navigation.
By carefully watching the moons of Jupiter, best with a telescope but often seen with the naked eye it can be imagined how astronomers by using the eclipses of the moons came to the understanding they could use the timing (in relation to Greenwich) to begin to find longitude. Of course the best story was the development of a seagoing clock and no need to worry about the Jovian moons. Today however apart from maybe the nuclear time pieces, the astronomical time is perhaps the most accurate time. This of course can be a can of worms where time is measured to within a zillionth of a millisecond or some such thing. Who needs that in every day life? A slong as we know it time to go out and catch fish.
The moon is in its last quarter at the moment and is waning (getting smaller) toward the end of the month it will be dark (best time for prawning) on about the 21st of December just after sunset you will see a thin cresent moon and Venus. this is quite special and looks so lovely. You can see why it has been used on flags of nations.
Jupiter remains in Libra (as it has done for some months). On December 10-11 Jupiter takes part in a rare triple massing with Mars and Mercury but you have to be up early to catch this. Eastern sky around 4.30 am is the time to start looking. Jupiter thereafter rises rapidly in the morning sky. By the morning of December 19th, the crescent Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Antares from a squareish rectangle. At this time Jupiter is one and a half handspans above the eastern horizon half an hour before sunrise. By December 31 Jupiter is two handspans above the horizon and it is obvious why it is used in celestial navigation.
By carefully watching the moons of Jupiter, best with a telescope but often seen with the naked eye it can be imagined how astronomers by using the eclipses of the moons came to the understanding they could use the timing (in relation to Greenwich) to begin to find longitude. Of course the best story was the development of a seagoing clock and no need to worry about the Jovian moons. Today however apart from maybe the nuclear time pieces, the astronomical time is perhaps the most accurate time. This of course can be a can of worms where time is measured to within a zillionth of a millisecond or some such thing. Who needs that in every day life? A slong as we know it time to go out and catch fish.
| 54 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
