A Great Evening Sky for 27 February 2009

Space Fans,

It will be worth taking a wander outside this evening at about 6.30pm and gazing into the western sky (the direction where the Sun sets). Have a look for the thin crescent Moon which will be sitting below the bright planet Venus. Together they will make a fine sight in the darkening twilight skies.

And tomorrow (28th Feb 2009) the Moon will have moved above Venus and to its left.

Starry Skies,

Anton
[Captain Cosmos]
www.vamplew.co.uk

That Bright Evening Star

Dear Space Fans,

That unmissable "star" over to the south-west, visible from about 5.30pm as the sky darkens, is the planet Venus. It has been around for many months now, but this cannot continue for much longer as the various movements of the Solar System do their thing. So, we have just under a month of more great viewing to go now before the planet moves into the glare of the Sun.

Starry Skies,

Anton
[Captain Cosmos]
www.vamplew.co.uk

GENESIS satellite viewing details for 11 Feb 2009

Even though the International Space Station is not visible at the moment, many other satellites continue to silently move through space. Tonight you have a chance to see the GENESIS satellite crossing the night sky as a slow moving point of light at the following time:

Date	Appears			Max Height			Vanishes
	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
11 Feb	19:26	10	SW	19:30	78	NW	19:31	58	NNE

Alt is Altitude in degrees above the horizon. 0 degrees is the horizon up to 90 degrees which is the point directly above your head.
Az is Azimuth (basically the compass bearing).
As ever, the actual times will vary (up to a few minutes) depending on your location.

Starry Skies,

Anton
[Captain Cosmos]
www.vamplew.co.uk
www.stampyourname.co.uk

Venus and the Year of Astronomy

Dear Space Fans,

The planet Venus is still blazing away in the evening sky. It will be unmissable if you look to the SW after sunset (from around 5pm), appearing as a solitary very bright "star".

Also today (15 Jan 2009) sees the opening ceremony for the International Year of Astronomy - 400 years after Galileo used his telescope to gaze into the heavens.

Starry Skies,

Anton.

Two Bright Planets in the Evening Sky

As soon as it's dark take a look into the south-western skies (where the Sun went down) and you'll see two bright stars: the brighter one, on the left, is the planet Venus and its neighbour is Jupiter.

Wishing you clear skies,

Anton.

UK International Space Station viewing details for 9 December 2008

Tonight you'll have another chance to see the International Space Station as a bright, slow moving point of light across the sky at the following times:

Date	Appears			Max Height			Vanishes
	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
9 Dec	16:02	10	W	16:04	36	SSW	16:07	10	SE

Alt is Altitude in degrees above the horizon. 0 degrees is the horizon up to 90 degrees which is the point directly above your head.
Az is Azimuth (basically the compass bearing).
As ever, the actual times will vary (up to a few minutes) depending on your location.

Starry Skies,

Anton
[Captain Cosmos]
www.vamplew.co.uk

UK International Space Station viewing details for 7 December 2008

Tonight you'll have another chance to see the International Space Station as a bright, slow moving point of light across the sky at the following times:

Date	Appears			Max Height			Vanishes
	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.	Time	Alt.	Az.
7 Dec	16:45	10	W	16:47	38	SSW	16:50	10	SE

Alt is Altitude in degrees above the horizon. 0 degrees is the horizon up to 90 degrees which is the point directly above your head.
Az is Azimuth (basically the compass bearing).
As ever, the actual times will vary (up to a few minutes) depending on your location.

Starry Skies,

Anton
[Captain Cosmos]
www.vamplew.co.uk