Dec's Guide to the Night Sky for Amateur Astromomers - including Melbourne weather

[Owlunar]

Hi @utopia

Last night the nearly full moon and Mars were very close together - I saw the moon rising before sunset but alas - I fell asleep as I so often do when I am taking my BP Medication - I am pretty sure I saw that later though and Mars was near the moon around midnight and it was more in the western sky but very high

I love it when I am asked these questions - every year my daughter gives me a book - a guide to the southern sky - I use it a lot

We have been having some clear nights and mornings lately which makes it more rewarding to have planet watching as a hobby

And we are having a glorious day today - really mild - I have been outside in my back garden a bit - it's actually a bit of a sun-trap there - a small area surrounded by buildings and I have quite a few vines and this is a great day to enjoy it

I hope things are settling for you now you are at home Utopia

Dec

[utopia]

Things are really good for me @Owlunar. 

What a great gift your daughter gives you every year. I would use it every night there is no cloud.

The planet - which I assume is Mars - is higher above the moon than at this time yesterday. 

And there is a bright star low down in the west which I'm guessing would be Venus.

I love your knowledge on this. 

I forgot to ask - how is your daughters health now? & your family in Tassie? I've missed a lot over the past few months

[Owlunar]

Hi @utopia

I just went out and looked at the sky - yes - that's Mars above the moon tonight and in the west the really bright planet is Venus and Jupiter is over there too - Antares and Saturn are harder to see with so much moon-light

I have been busy today and wow - my back ached when I looked up and titled backwards to look directly overhead - I know what's up there - I don't need to look up there tonight

My daughter has recovered from her surgeries - she was so ill for a while - I was so worried - and my grand-daughter is having a serve of much the same thing - she will be having surgery soon - I forget exactly when but she is on a list if there is a cancellation - she really does not have good health - 

My family in Tassie are difficult to contact - I think things I can't talk about have caused them to go interstate or overseas - there sons live overseass - I could ask a couple of other relatives but I don't want to interfer - I respect their privacy

But there is too much privacy at times - I have had to give over being concerned about them - I am sure I will learn about it if things turn really bad - like worse than they are now

It's not good though - but I don't seem to be as anxious - that could be my blood pressure medication - it is sometimes used to relieve anxiety

Strange that

Dec

[utopia]

I know what you mean. You've already looked up the book on what will be in the sky - but our body has a mind if its own and needs to look up and see for itself.  Lol.

Yes my sister just underwent same surgery a month ir so ago. Once recovered - she is feeling so much better. The surgery really helped her. I hope your granddaughter gets her surgery soon.

And yes - it's very bright outside tonight.  Tomorrow no torches will be needed.

I love a full moon

[Owlunar]

Hi @utopia @Shaz51 @outlander @Mazarita @Zoe7 @BlueBay  - any others passing though

It's been a while since I have posted here - I have either slept through great sights with the sky or it has been indifferent and cloudy but this morning was brilliant

So - like people in the southern states - I turned my clocks back an hour before I went to bed on Sunday and I always feel a bit jet-lagged when we adjust the time - it's normal and common apparently - but I woke up realy early this morning and the sky was clear - I could see Venus rising in the east with Mercury just behind it and above Jupiter with Saturn following - harder to see as the dawn light was just breaking Sobut good to see my friends in the sky after some time

So everyone who has to adjust their clocks - I read that it really does jet-lag us twice a year to have day-light saving - it doesn't fade the curtains or the carpets as some old biddies use to say - it's 47 years since the re-instituted daylight saving and I do like it when I am away particularly - being able to walk later in the evenings

All the best my friends - if you feel like getting up before dawn and taking a look - Venus has been beautiful for some time now but will return to the evening sky soon

Dec

Starrt starry night

[Shaz51]

hello @Owlunar 

found your thread and I was wondering how the night sky is at winter time

Hello @utopia , @outlander , @Mazarita , @Zoe7 , @Ali11 

[Ali11]

This is such a great thread @Owlunar! Thanks for the tag @Shaz51. I too would be interested to hear if there is a difference in the winter sky! 

[Owlunar]

Hi @Ali11 @Shaz51 @utopia @outlander @Mazarita @BlueBay 

The stars and planets are still out there at night but things have changed as time passes - the winter sky is brighter and there for longer but alas - Melbourne weather is not user-friendly when it comes to seeing the planets

But atm Jupiter rises early in the evening and it's really brilliant to see - Saturn rises a little behind it and on clear nights is quiet bright - it was when these two planets were rising one after the other in 1995 that I started watching the planets - and became really interested in what was happening

It will be a couple of years before they catch up to each other again - 

In the evening right now the moon in in the west and clearly visible after sunset and Mercury, Venus and Mars would all be visible on a clear night - but I don't have a good horizon to the west and haven't seen them myself - more's the pity - a walk after sunset would be a good idea but as everyone in this part of the world knows it has been cold lately - 

It's really great to know that people are still interested in this thread - I will take a look on clear evenings and make sure I see what I can in the west in the evening - Venus is easy to find but Mars and Mercury are harder - but once I find one I can soon find the other and also Orion is easy to find - I have seen that recently

Thanks everyone

Dec

[Shaz51]

ohh yes please @Owlunar , my grandfather loved sitting under the stars xoxo

[Ali11]

Such a fascinating topic @Owlunar, have you seen the film Clara? It was quite beautiful, a lot of talk about the stars and galaxies.