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07/19/2013 – Ephemeris – Smile you’re on Candid Cassini Camera
Ephemeris for Friday, July 19th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 6 minutes, setting at 9:21. The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 3:55 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:16.
Between 5:27 and 5:42 p.m. today go outside and look to the southeast and smile. An hour and a half later when the light arrives the Cassini spacecraft, hiding from the sun behind Saturn will take a series of photographs that will include the Earth in the background. All of us, the Earth included will fit into one pixel in Cassini’s camera. This is a reprise of the famous back-lit photograph of Saturn taken earlier in its mission. Closer to home members of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be part of Kingsley Heritage Days Saturday and Sunday to view the sun if it’s clear. Also the society will host a star party at the NMC’s Rogers Observatory starting at 9 p.m. tomorrow night.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn night side mosaic taken early in the mission. Note the pale blue dot at the 9:30 position outside the main rings and just inside the next fuzzy ring out. That’s Earth. Credit: NASA. Click on the image to enlarge.
07/20/2012 – Ephemeris – Astronomical events this weekend in the Grand Traverse Region
Ephemeris for Friday, July 20th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 9:20. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 9:52 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:17.
This is another big weekend for the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society. During the day tomorrow, Saturday the 21st members of the society will be in Kingsley for Kingsley Heritage Days to show the sun, if it’s clear, and have other hands on activities. Saturday night the members will set up telescopes at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for a star party. That will start at 9 p.m. at Platte River Point at the end of Lake Michigan Road off M22 between Frankfort and Empire. That event is weather dependent. If that’s too far to go the Northwestern Michigan College Astronomy Club will be hosting a star party at the Rogers Observatory south of Traverse City on Birmley Road. They will have interesting activities for the kids.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
One thing I omitted: We’ll be at Friday Night Live tonight on the 200 block of Front Street in Traverse City. Friday Night Live runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. We’ll be there later if its clear. Also Kingsley Heritage Days will also be on Sunday the 22nd.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 