Monday, November 30, 2015

The phase of the moon that is pictured is the waning gibbous. This phase of the moon appears two to three days after a full moon. The waning gibbous is visible in the early morning hours. The waning of the moon actually means "shrinking" of the moon. The waning phase repeats every 29 days, which is a synodic month. The waning gibbous is directly between the new moon phase and the first quarter phase. The waning gibbous is the direct opposite of the waxing gibbous. It has been said that when the moon is in this phase that the moon represents the Goddess in her Crone Aspect. The period of waning lasts for 14 days. 
http://earthsky.org/moon-phases/waning-gibbous 

Sunday, November 29, 2015

 

The constellation pictured in known as Gemini. Gemini is Latin for "twins." Gemini is one of the few constellations that actually looks like the meaning. Gemini is one of the 48 constellations described by the second century astronomer Ptolemy. The constellation is named after the twins Castor and Pollux in Greek mythology. The stars Castor and Pollux are the two brightest stars in the constellation. Another well-known star in the constellation is called Mekbuda, which is a super giant star with a radius 220,000 times the size of the Sun. Gemini also includes Messier object M35, which is part of set of astrominical objects first discovered in 1777 by French astronomer Charles Messier. Gemini is the 30th largest constellation. It is found in the second quadrant in the northern hemisphere. There are two meteor showers associated with this constellation: the Geminids and the Rho Geminids. 
http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/gemini-constellation/
https://stardate.org/nightsky/constellations/gemini

Saturday, November 28, 2015

The planet pictured is Venus. On this date, Venus is at its brightest point in the sky. Venus is the second planet away from the sun. Venus is named after the Roman goddess of beauty and love. In ancient times, Venus was once thought to be the morning and evening star. Venus and Earth are very similar in size, composition, and gravity. Venus is the hottest planet. Venus' atmosphere is primarily carbon dioxide with clouds on sulfuric acid. The rays from the sun leaves no trace of water on Venus' surface, but the rays have left the surface of Venus in a molten-like state. Venus is very mountainous and made up of six different regions. Venus rotates on an opposite way of most planets. It takes Venus around 243 days to rotate on its axis. 
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus    

Friday, November 27, 2015


The constellation pictured is known as Eridanus. This constellation is located in the northern hemisphere. Eridanus represents a river, that is why it has no distinct shape. The constellation's name is the Ancient Greek name for the river Po in Italy. The constellation Eridanus is associated with the myth of Phaeton and is depicted as a river because it is the water flowing from the constellation Aquarius. Eridanus was first cataloged by the second century astronomer Ptolemy. This constellation contains a well-known star, Achernar. Eridanus also contains the Eridanus galaxies and the Witch Head nebula. This constellation the sixth largest constellation in the sky and is located in the southern hemisphere. This constellation contains a total of stars. Eridanus contains one of the largest supervoids ever discovered.
http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/eridanus-constellation/



















Thursday, November 26, 2015




















The constellation pictured is known as Libra. This constellation is called the Scale, which symbolizes divine justice, harmony, and balance. In winter, this constellation can be found in the southern hemisphere. The two brightest stars in the constellation are known as Spica and Antares. The sun passes in front of the constellation from about October 30-November 24. In ancient Babylonian's time apparently associated this constellation with balances and scales. Libra is the 29th largest constellation. The scales in the constellation are held by the Greek goddess of justice Dike. Libra contains three known stars with planets and does not have any Messier objects. There is one meteor shower associated with Libra, May Librids.
http://earthsky.org/constellations/libra-heres-your-constellation

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

 

The constellation pictured is called Aquila. Aquila is called the Eagle. The brightest star in Aquila is Altair, "the Eagle," a white star that is about 17 light years away from the Earth. This star is the southern most point of the Summer Triangle. Altair is also the 12th brightest star in the sky.  Aquila is located fourth quadrant in the northern hemisphere near the equator. This constellation represents the eagle of the Roman god Jupiter in mythology. The constellation was first discovered in by the second century astronomer Ptolemy. Aquila is the 22nd largest star constellation in the sky. Aquila contains seven stars with known planets. There are two meteor showers associated with Aquila: the June Aquilids and the Epsilon Aquilids.
http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/aquila-constellation/

Tuesday, November 24, 2015


The constellation pictured is called Lepus. Lepus represents a hare this being hunted by the Orion and chased by the nearby dogs, Canis Major and Minor. this constellation lies just below celestial equator in the southern hemisphere.  Lepus was one of the constellations discovered by the second century astronomer Ptolemy. This constellation is the 51st largest and is best seen in February, but can be seen anytime during the winter time. M79, a globular star cluster, is the only Messier object located in this constellation. Lepus contains one star with a known planet. Lepus contains a total of 8 stars. No meteor showers are associated with Lepus. The brightest star in Lepus is Arneb. 
 http://www.constellation-guide.com/constellation-list/lepus-constellation/ 
http://www.topastronomer.com/StarCharts/Constellations/Lepus.php