Comet Update
Dr. Jerry Galloway
Here's an update on the comet fly-by on Mars that I mentioned earlier...
I've downloaded info on this for my simulation software. After running some trials and looking at this more carefully, it seems that the closest moment of the comet fly-by to Mars will be around 12:15pm our time.
This site will tell you where to connect to watch online. Note... broadcast should start about 12:15 our time.
http://www.space.com/19195-night-sky-planets-asteroids-webcasts.html
But, for viewing in your own scope from home... that time of day is too bright (of course). So, at 7:00pm... Mars will be in the south-west about 30 full moon diameters above the horizon - still high enough to get a good view (if clear skies). The comet will still be near Mars. It should be about 1/2 (one-half) a full moon diameter to the north (to the right). That's very close visually. Beware that your telescope might flip the view left-right.
Even at 8:00pm... Mars should still be about 16 moon diameters above the horizon (although the Mountains eat up a lot of that). The position of the comet will not have changed by much... just a bit further away from Mars but still generally around 1/2 moon diameter. Compare: By Monday night it will be over 2 full moon diameters away.
Happy viewing.
Dr. J.
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Jim White
There is a large and complex spot (2192) moving across the face of the sun right now. About 10 hours ago it generated an X class flair directed mostly away from earth. Over the next 5 or 6 days, as it moves across the sun, it will make for great observing since it's so large. The pinhole camera method should produce a nice image.
It has been very active while out of our direct view and still is. The SWPC lists the probability of an M class flair at 60% and an X class at 20%. Both of those are pretty high so we can expect this spot to produce some fireworks in the next few days.
See http://www.solarham.net/index.htm for up to the minute info if it should produce some fireworks.
Jim
