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[Centaur]

Who will be the first to spot the February New Moon with naked eyes after sunset? The Dark Moon will be in geocentric longitudinal conjunction with the Sun on 2011 FEB 03 at 02:31 UT (FEB 02 at 20:31 CST).

We’re moving into the period of the year surrounding the vernal equinox which is ideal for New Moon spotters north of the tropics. North Americans will have a good opportunity to sight the Moon less than a day old on February 3. For many it will appear as the Lunar Boat, i.e. a crescent positioned like a “U” as though it were a floating canoe.

I’ve created three graphics previewing the west-southwestern sky as viewed after sunset from Chicagoland on February 3, 4 & 5. They should well serve most North American observers. They can be seen by clicking: www.curtrenz.com/astronomical then going to the Moon page.

Also on my Moon webpage is a panorama including each Diana’s Bow in 2011. That’s a waxing crescent Moon about 10% illuminated and aged about three days. The name is a reference to the archery equipment of the ancient Roman goddess of the Moon and hunting. The graphic nicely illustrates how we’re moving into a good time of the year for viewing a waxing crescent Moon.

Photos and descriptions of the February New Moon would be welcome additions to this thread. Please include the date, time, time zone and location. Good Luck!

Below is the photo I took of the Moon from Arlington Heights, Illinois when it was aged 21:47 hrs on 2007 MAR 19 at 19:30 CDT, which was 27 minutes after sunset and 40 minutes before moonset.

[Paulie pchris00]

I spotted the Moon at 5:12 PM CST, Friday, February 4 from Valparaiso. Conditions were very good for catching it the night before, but the snow limited my possible observing locations, so Luna slipped below the horizon unnoticed behind a tree. Will post full report and pictures as soon as I can, but don't expect it before Monday afternoon.


One more thing: everybody, please wish Joe a happy birthday today!

[Centaur]

Feb 5, 2011 17:45:09 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

One more thing: everybody, please wish Joe a happy birthday today!

Glad you caught the young Moon, Paulie. Thanks for your report.

But today cannot be Joe’s birthday. Here on his own website the only announced birthday is for a member named “heinrich”. Further proof is that Joe’s birthday comes in February, and the calendars at the bottom of his website clearly indicate that we have not yet finished with January.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm finished with January! I will give February a chance, but if it doesn't give us many clear nights, I'm going to pull the plug on this month early, say around the 28th!

[patrickm]

Shot Austin, TX Feb 5 1845hrs on iPhone 4

Better shots from last night and tonight when I dump off my camera.

The visual of Moon and Jupiter was moving, especially with tonight's crisp skies.

Attachments:

[Paulie pchris00]

Last Thursday evening, I was ready to try to see the Moon before it was 24 hours past new. The angle of the ecliptic was favorable, and we had a very clear sky after the Endtimes/Groundhog Day Blizzard, but the roads were still questionable for any unnecessary driving. I stayed home to view it, and had spent the late afternoon clearing a spot on the back patio for observing. However, that spot was not a favorable location for catching the new Moon. The Sun set behind a tree, and the young Moon would have been following closely behind. Without a clear view of the southeastern sky I failed to see the Moon Thursday evening.






Sunset Thursday, February 3, 2011.




There was a Belt of Venus in the east.




The young Moon was not observed Thursday. This tree blocked my view.


We had a clear sky again Friday afternoon and evening, and with the Moon much higher than the previous night, it was only a matter of looking in order to find our satellite. I was going out with Hillary, but waited to pick her up until after I observed Luna at home in Valparaiso. My first sighting was at 5:12 PM CST, and I stayed out for another fifteen minutes getting pictures before leaving to get Hillary.




We had a clear sky again at sunset Friday night.




Tis was about 5:12 PM CST, just after I spotted the Moon, but the sky was still too bright for my camera to pick up the thin sliver.










Again we had a Belt of Venus to the east.




Finally we see Luna in a picture!




Driving to Hillary's.




Waiting for a train at the entrance to Ogden Dunes.


Once I was at Hillary’s house, we spent a few minutes viewing the Moon through my 6” Dobsonian. The sky remained clear, and temperatures were much more comfortable than Thursday night when I spent two hours observing at home. I wasn’t going to break our plans, though, so once we had a few looks at Luna and the Jovian system, I put the telescope away, and we were off to meet some friends.






From Hillary's porch.










Hillary and Paulie observing the nearly 48 hour old Moon.

[patrickm]

As promised and not even yet a month late!

Jupiter upper left in many shots. Note the plane in 4 Feb shot #4!

Taken with my little Sony Cybershot 10.1 & processed in HDRtist & iPhoto. No color processing. Only HDR stacking and alignment, and cropping. Someday my SLR will come...

Feb 2011 New Moon Austin, TX

4 Feb 2011
Earliest shot at 18:44:06

4FebMoon1 HDR

4FebMoon2 HDR

4FebMoon3 HDR

4FebMoon4 HDR
Note the plane in the above pic!

5 Feb 2011
Earliest shot at 18:54:50

5FebMoon1 HDR

5FebMoon2 HDR]

5FebMoon3 HDR

5FebMoon4 HDR

5FebMoon5 HDR

[Paulie pchris00]

I love the Earthshine, and the shots with the plane are very nice.

[Centaur]

Thanks for sharing your fine lunar boat photos and providing nice descriptions, Paulie & Patrick. Good work! However, you both seem to have the same reluctance as my late mother and Joe to edit out pictures and display only the winners. Next month should be another fine one for New Moon spotting. Keep your eyes oiled.

[Paulie pchris00]

Feb 10, 2011 14:13:49 GMT -6 Centaur said:

However, you both seem to have the same reluctance as my late mother and Joe to edit out pictures and display only the winners.

I apologize. I like to document the effort as much as the moment of first sighting.

In this case, I thought Thursday's failed effort deserved to be included to show why I did not sight the new Moon a day earlier.

I will save the the rest for my blog from now on.

[patrickm]

I did edit.

You have a lot of rules, mister.