Brian Ventrudo

Video of Solar Eclipse from 35,000 Feet

March 9, 2016 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Astronomy Images and Video

Eclipse expert Mike Kentrianakis captured this video from a Alaska Airline flight 870 from Anchorage to Honolulu. The flight made a planned diversion to intercept the path of the eclipse in the Pacific just north of Hawaii. From this vantage point, with a clear view of the horizon and well above the clouds, it’s easy to see the Moon’s shadow approaching like a storm from a great distance and at a speed of more than 1,200 mph. During totality, the Sun’s chromosphere and corona become visible, with prominences, streamers, and the usual display of the diamond-ring effect and Baily’s Beads just as the eclipse begins and ends [Read more…] about Video of Solar Eclipse from 35,000 Feet

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Total Solar Eclipse on March 9, 2016

March 3, 2016 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Celestial Events, Solar System

SE2016Mar09T — Path of the solar eclipse of March 8-9, 2016.

The year’s only total solar eclipse occurs next week on March 8-9, 2016. The narrow path of totality runs from the eastern Indian Ocean, across the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, and on into the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. Armadas of ships carrying astronomical tourists are on the way to the area, especially to the region of maximum totality well north of Papua New Guinea where the eclipse will last an impressive 4 minutes. For readers of this site on the way to see this magnificent event, I wish you clear skies and calm seas [Read more…] about Total Solar Eclipse on March 9, 2016

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An Observer’s Guide to the Planet Jupiter

February 18, 2016 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Solar System

The planet Jupiter is always one of the brightest objects in the night sky. It’s brighter than any star, and is only outshone by the planet Venus and the Moon, and, very rarely, by Mars and Mercury. Jupiter reaches a position for optimum viewing in a telescope once every 13 months, roughly, and as you are about to discover, the visible face of Jupiter reveals so many interesting features in a small telescope that the planet is a favorite target for new and experienced stargazers [Read more…] about An Observer’s Guide to the Planet Jupiter

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The Constellation Draco

February 11, 2016 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Deep Sky

Now we look to the long and winding constellation Draco. This group winds between the Big and Little Dippers. The tip of its tail lies just above the bowl of the Big Dipper, while the small quadrilateral of its head lies near one of the feet of Hercules. The constellation is well overhead from March through the late months of summer in the northern hemisphere.

(This article is an excerpt of the Cosmic Pursuits course Fundamentals of Stargazing, to be released in February 2016) [Read more…] about The Constellation Draco

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The Constellation Crux – The Southern Cross

February 11, 2016 by Brian Ventrudo Filed Under: Deep Sky

Image of the southern Milky Way showing Crux and the dark Coalsack Nebula, just right of center; the Southern Pointers Rigil Kent and Hadar, left of center, and the eta Carinae Nebula at extreme right. Credit: A. Fuji.

Following the southern Milky Way, through the bright constellations Orion, Canis Major, Puppis, Vela, and Carina, you finally arrive at the famous constellation Crux, the Southern Cross, arguably the most famous constellation in the night sky. It’s also the smallest constellation by area, just 68 square degrees compared to Hydra’s 1302 square degrees. Most new stargazers are a little startled by its tiny size. The cross is just 6^o long from top to bottom.

(This article is an excerpt of the Cosmic Pursuits course Fundamentals of Stargazing, to be released in February 2016) [Read more…] about The Constellation Crux – The Southern Cross

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