Calling Houston Astronomy Buffs (West, Earth: moving, eat, kids)

[texas7]

You never see stars at night anymore so what are those two really bright stars located rather close together that have been visible over Houston the past couple of weeks?

[movingtohouston]

They are planets, Venus and Jupiter. Only reason I know is I had to look it up for my son who was curious last week. Last week they were right next to the crescent moon. It was really neat to see. Wish I had a telescope.

ETA: here is a link I found to an almanac of the stars and moon phases. http://stardate.org/nightsky/almanac/

[tstone]

Cool! I knew about Venus already -- it's the 2nd brightest body in the sky, and always the brightest "star" in the sky. You can't miss it. But I didn't know you could actually see Jupiter w/o a telescope!!

[texas7]

Thank you - I knew whatever they were - it was something quite spectacular. I've looked at them every evening that I could see them -- simply mesmerizing.

[SilverWings]

Originally Posted by tstone

Cool! I knew about Venus already -- it's the 2nd brightest body in the sky, and always the brightest "star" in the sky. You can't miss it. But I didn't know you could actually see Jupiter w/o a telescope!!

Jupiter is the 2nd brightest "star". It's much brighter than even Mars.

You can actually see Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus (barely) without a telescope. Though not here, obviously. They have been known since ancient times.

[Mom2Feebs]

I took a pic a week or two ago of the two planets rising with the moon. I'll have to upload that.

[Peach_Fla]

then ya really might enjoy the geminid meteor shower this week-end....altho very little will be seen because the moon is going to be the closest it's ever been to our planet in history on the 13th and 14th...so have your kids try to get some of that on film too!!!!!!!!!!!that's gonna be historical!!!!!!!!!!!

[Supermac34]

If you are a really big astronomy buff, I suggest taking a road trip through West Texas. Pack up your telescope and head out into the middle of nowhere and check out the stars. Make sure to go to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis.

[SilverWings]

Originally Posted by Peach_Fla

then ya really might enjoy the geminid meteor shower this week-end....altho very little will be seen because the moon is going to be the closest it's ever been to our planet in history on the 13th and 14th...so have your kids try to get some of that on film too!!!!!!!!!!!that's gonna be historical!!!!!!!!!!!

Um... no. It might LOOK bigger, but it's not. Where did you hear this?

The moon does not move in and out. Actually, it is slowly moving away from Earth and has been for billions of years. (I would worry if it was moving closer!) It was closest when it was first blasted out of the earth back when it was a molten glob of rock. (no offense to the creationists intended) Given a few billion more years the moon would break away from earth orbit entirely. Sadly, the sun will expand, eat up the inner planets, and die before that happens, so don't worry we won't lose it.

Gosh I watch too much History Channel.

[westres1]

The moon is on an elliptical orbit that brings it closer to the earth certain times of the year.