Astronomical Observing Data for students of History 333

The Enemy:

*Current US IR/Radar Composite Image (~31K)
*Latest Visible Surface Map (~215K)
*Houston Weather Forecast

Coming Soon: Orion and Pleides information!

Some Astronomy Related Sites:

National Optical Astronomy Observatories
Rice's list of References

Planetary Information:

Planetary Data for February 8th, 1995.
Planetary Data for February 15th, 1995.
Planetary Data for February 22nd, 1995.

Planetary Data for March 1st, 1995.
Planetary Data for March 8th, 1995.
Planetary Data for March 15th, 1995.
Planetary Data for March 22nd, 1995.
Planetary Data for March 29th, 1995.

Planetary Data for April 5th, 1995.
Planetary Data for April 12th, 1995.
Planetary Data for April 19th, 1995.
Planetary Data for April 26th, 1995.

Sunspots:

Sunspots hit their last peak of the 11-year cycle in 1991-1992. The low is expected in 1996-1997. Expect moderate sunspot activity.

Moon:

Moon Phases:

Full moon on February 15th at 6:18 AM.

Mars:

Mars should be the easiest planet to find during this semester (not including Earth).

Date and Information:
2/08 Mars visible all night
2/12 Mars is overhead at 1 AM
2/20 Mars is overhead at midnight
3/02 Mars is overhead at 11 PM
3/14 Mars is overhead at 10 PM
3/30 Mars is overhead at 9 PM
4/01 Mars sets around 1 AM
4/19 Mars sets around midnight

Jupiter:

This semester, Jupiter will be visible in the lower southern sky early in the morning. Look towards the southeast for Jupiter's rise. It will travel across the southern sky for three hours until it reaches an angle of elevation of 35 degrees in the south. It will then begin to decend back towards the southwest.

*Status of Jovian Moons

Date and Information
2/08 Jupiter rises in the SE around 5 AM
Jupiter will rise about one hour earlier for every 16 days.
3/22 Moon will interfere with observation of Jupiter.
4/01 Jupiter reaches best height around 4:50 AM
4/10 Jupiter reaches best height around 3:50 AM
4/18 Moon will interfere with obervation of Jupiter.

Saturn:

Basically, Saturn will only be visible late at night in the low horizon. Therefore, expect to get up early--or stay up late--and find a high altitude which gives you a good view of the horizon. If you can get out of Houston (to avoid the haze), I would recommend it.

Date and Information
4/12 Saturn is visible in the last hour of the night in the ESE.
4/12 Saturn is right beside Venus.
5/01 Look for Saturn in the early morning (~5 AM) in the ESE, 20-25 degrees above the horizon.

Venus:

Look for Venus near the horizon in late April/May right before sunrise in the ESE.

Eclipse:

Lunar Eclipse

A partial lunar eclipse is expected the morning of April 15th, 1995 from 4:08 AM until 8:28 AM (with a peak at 6:18 AM). Magnitude: 0.12 (complete penumbra, partial umbra)
Send mail to Jason Gayman

last updated: Feb 13th, 1995.
Jason Gayman (jase@owlnet.rice.edu)

Galileo || Bibliography || Sunpots || Orion & Pleiades || Moon || Saturn || Jupiter || Venus || Mars || Telescope

We appreciate any comments or suggestions.