This weekend marks the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower. If you have clear skies you should be able to catch a few. Dark locations could see 20 an hour. As is typical with meteor showers, the closer to dawn you can get outside the more you'll typically see.

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Looking south west tonight at sunset you may see a nice conjunction of the moon and Jupiter. Show your kids the king of the planets

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
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Mars is visible just before sunrise in the south. It will be the brightest object in the southern sky. But its familiar ruddy orangeish red color will be a bit different this time. It may look a bit yellow. Massive dust storms are encircling the entire planet on a scale we have not really observed before. It might just kill our probes there too, sadly. We'll see.

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Да, мы будем

Oh I know who this one is.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
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Anyone else checking out this crescent moon paired with Venus tonight?

Its a little late now for me here... western sky partially obstructed by hillbilly shit shack.

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Lower latitudes, moon approached Venus, then dove.

Best part of Galveston, better visibility. Pleadies all night all year.

Hm. Knowing this I'll adjust my software to account for your location as well. I've been focusing on 38 to 45 north.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
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Saturn is in opposition today. It should be just about as bright as you'll ever see her. This means the earth is between Saturn and the sun... so it's close. Also, saturns current orbit has its rings face on rather than edge on... so as they're reflecting a great deal of light as well, its bright. You might even be able to see the rings with a decent set of binoculars, certainly with even a cheapo telescope. Look in the south midnight sky...

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I suppose it's worth mentioning that Mars and Jupiter are in the area as well. Mars is to the left and slightly closer to the horizon than Saturn, and Jupiter will be to the right. Jupiter will be brighter than Saturn. Mars will be dimmer and kind of a ruddy orange red.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
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Thanks Darko. I will check this out later.

Another great moon Venus pairing tonight.

Saw the Milky Way (faintly) near downstate Paxton last weekend. I think we are now in meteor season.

Generally have better luck in winter with the Milky Way. Especially on one of those below zero nights. Better with no snow on ground but if the moon is waxing or wanning crescent that’s okay too. I should really get a decent telescope.

Noticed this driving home from the city. Beautiful.

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I rarely ever want to go anywhere on vacation, but I want to go here:

http://www.idahodarksky.org/

There is one in Mackinaw that we will probably go to this year. It's more like AAA ball to the one in Idaho.

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That's what I thought I heard. The Champaign County location just isn't quite dark enough....but I'll try it again in the winter.

I swear, though, 27 years ago, I was blown away by the Milky Way down that way.

Damn. That will be cool. If I could get the famu to just go to Kansas, I'd be happy, but they say it is not worth it.

Awesome orange moon over the GOM tonight. Then Mars popped up to join the party. Neighbor had us dialed in on his telescope.

I see it. I got a picture of it but it looks more like Sagan's Pale Blue Dot. I love looking at it though.

Looking at Mars makes me appreciate Jupiter. Mars is so small in the eyepiece compared to Jupiter, but soooooo much closer. Imagine what Jupiter must look like from 1 AU.

well i managed to see cohagen die from here. i have good vision.

The Perseid Meteor Shower is this weekend. Am going to Homer, Illinois, sixteen miles east of Champaign, to see it. The Champaign-Urbana Astronomical Society is having people gather at the Homer Lake Forest Preserve. Saw a few last year at the Monee Reservoir, but the night fisherman had too many lights going.

Eyes to the stars, Guardians.
A comet by the name of Wirtanen is slowly becoming visible to the naked eye. By its closest approach on 12/16, it may be 10 times brighter than it is now. It should be right around the constellation Aires and Taurus, very near the pleiades, and may look like a fuzzy green ball. Follow the stars of orion's belt toward aldebaran then continue on towards the pleiades. It should be visible toward the 10 o'clock position of the pleiades.
Worth a photo. May be quite stunning with even cheapo binoculars.
Happy hunting.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

This comet is betting brighter and is currently in Taurus.
It's worth a glance in binoculars.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

is it in the eastern sky?

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@audioidkid

Southwest.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

What power binoculars do you have?

I dont remember exactly. Prob 8x42.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014