Slaw Dawg's Astronomy Club IL (SDACIL)
Got Astonomy?
Are you interested in astonomy? Do you have a telescope, binoculars, or no equipment?
My name is Denis Barnes. My wife and I own Slaw Dawgs 50-60s Diner. One of my hobbies is astronomy. We have an astronomy club here in Astoria.
The next meeting is here at the diner. Need more information? E-mail me at irstargazer(use the @)gmail.com.
The next meeting is February 11, 2012 here at the diner at 3:00 p.m.
What's Up!
Look here for items of interest that you might be able to see.
Venus is to the west as the sun sets. Between February 3 & 15, Uranus lies in the same field of view through 7 X 50 binoculars. Before the 9th Uranus is above & to the left and after below and slightly to the right of Venus.
Jupiter is almost over head as the sun sets. February 22 Europa will cast a shadow on Jupiter from 6:40 p.m. to 10:02 p.m.
After midnight Mars is rising. February 1 it rises around 9:00 p.m. It's growing larger in telescopes unitl early March. The moon will be near between February 7 & 9.
Saturn rises around midnight February 1.
February 2 a thin cresent moon will be to the right of Mercury.
On February 25 you can see Mercury towards the horizon, Venus just below a cresent moon, and Jupiter above and to the left of those 2.
February & March are the quietest for meteor showers. On moonless nights between 2 hours before an to sunrise, expect to see aound 6 sporatic meteors per hour.
Eros, a near Earth asteroid, is visible in telescopes until March. Then you won't see this one for another 44 years. Check the internet for sky charts or go to: http://www.boulder.swri.edu/~cchapman/finderos.html
Coming in June: the last transit of Venus until 2117! You don't want to miss this. You will be able to see 3 1/2 hours of the transit until the sun sets on June 5, 2012.
Web sites of interest
For detailed information on where the planets are check:
Heavens Above:
Space Weather. What's the weather like in space? Check here:
To see satellites, enter your zip code:
Enter your latitude & longitude or zip code, Go to this NASA site (you'll need JAVA):
Nasa's Skycal Sky Events Calendar generator page:
Nasa satellite sighting information: