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Another possible aurora due Tuesday January 24th, 2012

January 23, 2012 Comments off

Just got this from http://www.spaceweather.com that a CME erupted from the sun today. It should reach the earth later tomorrow or early Wednesday. Look for aurorae (northern or southern lights depending on your hemisphere).

Categories: Aurorae, Observing Tags: ,

01/23/2012 -Ephemeris – The constellation Gemini the twins

January 23, 2012 1 comment

Ephemeris for Monday, January 23rd.  The sun will rise at 8:10.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 5:38.  The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.

The constellation of Gemini the twins appears high in the southeast.  It appears to the upper left of Orion and the stars that portray his club raised high.  Gemini’s two brightest stars are the namesakes of the twins.  Castor above and Pollux below.  From them there are two lines of stars that form the silhouette of the lads heading to the lower right.  In Greek mythology these twins each had a different father, not unheard of in medical history, with Pollux being fathered by the god Zeus and thus immortal.  Castor was not.  But the brothers were inseparable, so when Castor was killed in the search for the golden fleece Pollux begged his father to let him die too and join his brother.  His wish was granted and his devotion was so great that they were placed in the sky where we see them today.

* Times, as always are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of  Michigan.

Addendum

Gemini and Orion.  Created using Cartes du Ciel

Gemini and Orion. Created using Cartes du Ciel