ISS: Double Pass This Weekend

Finally the weather is improving and time to get outside and enjoy spring.  This weekend offers the opportunity to see the International Space Station (ISS) pass over the area twice.  Both passes will be excellent and highly visible without the aid of binoculars.

ISS streaks across the sky.  Image Credit: Andreas Möller.

The first opportunity to see ISS will be Saturday evening.  If you have an unobstructed view of the southwest horizon, you will be able to see it rise immediately beginning at 9:27 p.m.  Most will be able to see ISS by 9:30 p.m. in the southwest moving toward the northeast.  About a minute later it will pass through the constellation Orion.  You might want to try taking a time exposed picture.  It will reach its maximum altitude at 9:32:52 p.m. about two-thirds above the northwest horizon.  However, just 17 seconds later it will move into the earth’s shadow and disappear.  If you are in a dark environment, this can be quite interesting to watch.

Comet PANSTARRS

Comets bright enough to be seen without the aid of a telescope or binoculars are a rarity.  This year may produce two such events.  The first is now visible in the western sky after sunset, weather permitting.  Comet PANSTARRS is actually Comet 2011 L4.  Discovered in June 2011, comet 2011 L4 (PANSTARRS) bears the name of the telescopic survey that discovered it; "Panoramic Survey Telescope and Rapid Response System" which sits atop the Haleakala volcano in Hawaii.

The comet moved into the view of the Northern Hemisphere last week, but the best views should be over the next two weeks.  You can follow continuing updates on the progress of the comet at Sky and Telescope.  Viewing the comet may still be a challenge.

Comet C/2011 L4 PANSTARRS as seen from Mount Dale, Western Australia. The lights on the distant horizon are from the city of Armadale, which is southeast of Perth. Click on the image for a larger view. Image credit: Astronomy Education Services/Gingin Observatory.

Skywatch: A Celestial Show in March

For the past few weeks there have been two bright objects in the western sky after sunset.  These two bright stars are in fact planets; Venus and Jupiter.  Both planets appear to be close to each other even though they are hundreds of million miles apart.  The brighter of the two is Venus.

Venus and Jupiter form a spectacular pairing in the evening sky during mid-March. These scenes show the sky's appearance looking west about an hour after sunset. A third planet, Mercury, can be glimpsed just above the western horizon.  Image Credit: Sky and Telescope.