Announcements

Stargazing in Seattle Notes for Mid-October

Watch the Moon wax from a crescent to a gibbous phase as it passes the brilliant red planet Mars during the week of October 14. On Sunday evening (October 14) a crescent Moon will be seen in the south-southwest at dusk (about 7 pm), just one degree above the bright planet Saturn. On each successive evening the Moon will have moved a bit farther toward the east and the crescent phase will have grown. The Moon reaches first quarter on Tuesday and a slightly gibbous Moon passes by the brilliant red planet Mars on Wednesday and Thursday (October 17 and 18). On Saturday (October 20) a fat gibbous Moon will be high in the southeast at dusk, well to the east of Mars.

Reminder for Green Lake Public Star Party

This is just a friendly reminder that the Green Lake Public Star Party (outreach event) is scheduled for Oct 13, 2018, 07:00 PM. Please come out and join us!  And do bring your telescope if you have one because we are expecting a large crowd!  Many volunteers with telescopes will be needed and welcome!

Reminder for Paramount School Park Public Star Party

This is just a friendly reminder that the Paramount School Park Public Star Party (outreach event) is scheduled for Oct 13, 2018, 07:00 PM. Please come out and join us!

Reminder for Green Lake Public Star Party

This is just a friendly reminder that the Green Lake Public Star Party (outreach event) is scheduled for Oct 13, 2018, 07:00 PM. Please come out and join us!  Because attendance of a larger than usual public group  is projected for this star party, we will need a larger than usual group of volunteers with telescopes.  If you have a telescope or binoculars and are willing to share, you are especially needed and welcome at this star party for which the forecasts predict unusually good weather!  Or even if you don't have a telescope, you are most welcome to join us for an evening of observing! 

Reminder for Astrophotography Special Interest Group Meeting

This is just a friendly reminder that the Astrophotography Special Interest Group Meeting (astrophotography event) is scheduled for Oct 09, 2018, 07:00 PM. Please come out and join us!

Cancellation for Third Quarter Moon Members-Only Star Party

This Third Quarter Moon Members-Only Star Party (star party event) scheduled for Sep 29, 2018, 09:00 PM is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Cancellation for Public Star Party in Kent, GRNRA

This Public Star Party in Kent, GRNRA (star party event) scheduled for Sep 15, 2018, 07:00 PM is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Cancellation for Green Lake Public Star Party

This Green Lake Public Star Party (outreach event) scheduled for Sep 15, 2018, 07:00 PM is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Cancellation for Green Lake Public Star Party

This Green Lake Public Star Party (outreach event) scheduled for Sep 15, 2018, 07:00 PM is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Cancellation for Paramount Park Public Star Party

This Paramount Park Public Star Party (outreach event) scheduled for Sep 15, 2018, 07:00 PM is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Cancellation for Public Star Party at Covington Community Park

This Public Star Party at Covington Community Park (star party event) scheduled for Sep 14, 2018, 07:00 PM is cancelled due to inclement weather.

Comet viewing opportunity

Reminder for Astrophotography Special Interest Group Meeting

This is just a friendly reminder that the Astrophotography Special Interest Group Meeting (astrophotography event) is scheduled for Sep 11, 2018, 07:00 PM. Please come out and join us! We’ll be holding an open session on Imaging Automation with SGP and PHD. Bring any questions you have about getting your rig up and running and we’ll discuss/troubleshoot as a group! Bring your logs if you can, as well! I hope to see many of you there!

Cancellation for Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead Star Party

This Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead Star Party (star party event) scheduled for Sep 08, 2018, 06:00 PM is cancelled due to inclement weather.

View Four Bright Planets

Four bright planets are visible in the early evening during August and most of September. Venus, low in the west, is the brightest and will be the first "star" you are able to see as evening twilight begins to darken the sky. Two other bright planets, Mars and Jupiter, also become visible during early twilight. Mars is low in the southeast as evening begins.  Mars is not quite as as bright as Venus, but glows with a distinct orange color, quite unlike the pure white color of Venus. Jupiter is in the southwest, above and to the left of Venus. Jupiter is about the same brightness as Mars but has a warm-white color. All three planets are brighter than any true star and are striking when seen against the dark blue sky of early twilight. As the evening sky continues to darken, Saturn will become visible in the south, among the stars of the constellation Sagittarius. Although Saturn isn’t nearly as bright as Mars or Jupiter, the ringed planet is brighter than any star in this area of sky and isn’t hard to recognize.

Throughout August and early September Mars remains nearly as large and bright as it was at the end of July. Mars rises a bit earlier and moves a bit toward the south each day. By early September, Mars is located roughly due south by the end of evening twilight. Unfortunately, Venus gets a bit lower in the western sky and sets a bit earlier each day. By mid-September Venus will only be a few degrees above the horizon as twilight begins, and will be challenging to spot.