(Viewed 1,086 times)

[magic612]

This is an ideal week (Feb 6 thru Feb 12, 2012) to find Uranus if you've never spotted the seventh planet, as Venus makes a nice pass by for the next seven days, coming closest on the 9th, but is within 3 degrees (one finderscope or binocular field of view) all week long. Check it out here:



And I have a star/planet chart available for download in PDF form here (it will be on the homepage for the week of Feb 6 - Feb 12):

www.eyesonthesky.com

Also highlighted in the video above is the Moon stopping by Mars, as well as the Messier galaxies nearby to the Red Planet that are worth checking out in the next week or two after the Moon has moved on.

Hope you enjoy clear and dark skies to be able to spot these celestial sights!

[erikruud]

Nice job as always.

[RobbW]

Pffffpth! Ur-U-nus?!?! What a cop out!

[magic612]

Feb 6, 2012 20:53:16 GMT -6 RobbW said:

Pffffpth! Ur-U-nus?!?! What a cop out!

Nope, it's the preferred pronunciation, according to a number of different sources:

dictionary.reference.com/browse/uranus

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranus

www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=uranus#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=define:+uranus&pbx=1&oq=define:+uranus&aq=f&aqi=g1g-v2&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=1186l3902l0l4144l14l14l0l0l0l0l109l1083l13.1l14l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.,cf.osb&fp=21ae9f9a745b336d&biw=1270&bih=416

Sorry, just going with what's preferred. ;D

[RobbW]

You're just taking the humor out of astronomy! You... you... you... HUMOR KILLER!

[Centaur]

Feb 7, 2012 20:24:18 GMT -6 RobbW said:

You're just taking the humor out of astronomy! You... you... you... HUMOR KILLER!

Sorry, but that particular example of "humor" (actually scatology) withered away within the astronomy crowd a long time ago. It is beyond trite. Occasionally, though, it may be the response from someone outside the astronomy community after he hears the word Uranus.

[RobbW]

Yes, I'm aware. I apologize. I forgot to use my little winky-face emoticon after my statements!

[patrickm]

Did somebody talk about poop?

[Paulie pchris00]

Back to the video, please.

If it doesn't cloud up before dark (and it looks like it might), I'm going to have a look for Venus and Uranus together. Probably don't get these two paired together often.

[Centaur]

Feb 9, 2012 15:47:32 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

Probably don't get these two paired together often.

Once during most years. Occasionally three times. Be aware that the magnitude differences is 10, which implies that Venus is 10,000 times brighter then Uranus.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm going to try filters. Might help, might not. Won't know until I try. Hopefully this cloud mass moving in doesn't get here until after dark.

[magic612]

I'm going to give it a shot tonight with my Astroscan before rehearsal. Figure I should bring at least a neutral-density filter with me in case the glare of Venus is overpowering, though I don't know if that will render Uranus invisible as Paulie says. Should be interesting to give it a try either way.

[magic612]

Well, by the time it got dark and I had a chance to look the other night, it had gotten cloudy. But tonight - though cold - it is clear, and I spotted the bluish-tint of the very star-like appearing Uranus in the same 7x50 binocular field of view with Venus. Yay! Finally. I was worried I might miss the opportunity this time around.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Naha...

I was out, clear skies...but no way I was gonna hold binos or drag out a scope.

I'll wait till April.

[Centaur]

Feb 11, 2012 19:10:58 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

I'll wait till April.

APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.
– T.S. Eliot

[Mark Ross]

Great as always. I tried to watch on my ipad though and the video and audio were way out of sync. The audio raced way ahead. Have never had trouble watching anything with ipad before. Just thought I would pass it along.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

April showers bring May Joe out.

[RobbW]

Great video, as always, Dave! However, every time I try to watch your videos at ant resolution above 480p, the audio and video get badly out of sync. The video lags way behind the audio.

[magic612]

Robb, I wish I knew why that was happening, and the problem is, I can't recreate that happening every time others mention it. Sometimes it happens to me, other times it plays fine. So I have to think it's somehow related to YouTube. I can't imagine it's something I'm doing; if it is, I'd change it to avoid that occurring. I don't know - definitely at a loss on the cause.

Thanks for the kudos!

[erikruud]

Dave, I think the only way it can be related to something you are doing is if YouTube has an issue with the particular codecs you are using.