<TITLE>Weekly data for April 9th, 2010

Weekly Data

Friday April 9th. See the stars, distant galaxies, shining nebulae, the planets and their moons, and maybe a passing comet through our big telescope every clear Friday night. We open as soon after dusk as possible allowing for the season. This week we expect to open at 7:45 PM. We usually remain open to as late as Midnight.

Stars above FDO this week can be seen by clicking the sky map to the left. To see a detailed sky map for this Friday (and any other date and time as well) click the star map icon to the left.

Tables of Solar System data for the current and other dates and times may be seen if you click on the table icon to the left.

Sun
The Sun rises at 6:15 AM and sets at 7:19 PM. Bright stars only twilight lingers until 7:55 PM. Most stars will be visible by 8:29 PM and the sky will be completely dark by 9:04 PM. The Sun is currently in Virgo.

The Moon rises at 3:49 AM and sets at 2:49 PM. About 18% of the surface is illuminated. The Moon, in the constellation Capricorn, won't interfere with the viewing of deep space objects. As always, viewing deep space objects requires adequate to good viewing conditions. The Phases of the Moon for this Friday (and any other date or time) will be displayed if you click the moon icon on the left

Mercury
Mercury rises at 6:50 AM and sets at 9:03 PM. Mercury, in the constellation Leo, is in the western sky this evening. Mercury is 7.9 arcseconds in diameter. The Sun illuminates 36% of Mercury's surface creating a magnitude of 0.3. Mercury, currently in the constellation Leo, is separated from the Sun by 19 degrees and is in the western sky tonight during regular FDO hours.

Venus
Venus rises at 7:10 AM and sets at 9:07 PM. Venus has an apparent size of 10.7 arcseconds with 93% of this surface illuminated creating a magnitude of -3.9. Venus, currently in the constellation Taurus, is in the western sky tonight during normal viewing hours. [This image of Venus is taken through dark violet filters to enhance the cloud structure].

Mars rises at 12:40 PM and sets at 3:33 AM. Mars, in the constellation Leo is high in the sky tonight during normal viewing hours. It is beginning to lag behind the Earth so our distance is increasing. Click the Mars icon to see a detailed map of Mars. Mars makes a complete trip around the Zodiac roughly every two years.

Jupiter
Jupiter rises at 5:12 AM and sets at 4:40 PM. Jupiter has an apparent diameter of 33.9 arcseconds. It is below the horizon this evening. Jupiter is in the constellation Aquarius. Jupiter moves through the Zodiac rather rapidly. Each year over the next decade it will be in a new constellation.

Saturn
Saturn rises at 5:25 PM and set at 5:50 AM. It is in Virgo. Saturn is high in the sky this evening. Saturn is in an unusually favorable angle relative to Earth making its rings and system of moons very easy to see clearly. Saturn will be making its way across Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Libra over the decade between 2005 and 2015.

Uranus
Uranus rises at 5:31 AM and sets at 5:24 PM. Uranus is below the horizon this evening. Uranus looks like a dim green star. Uranus is just on the borderline of visibility to the unaided eye. In practice, you'll need binoculars to see it. Uranus will slowly move from Aquarius into Pisces over the decade 2005-2115. For a very brief time it will cross the corner of Cetus in 2010.

Neptune
Neptune rises at 4:19 AM and sets at 2:52 PM. Neptune, in Aquarius, is below the horizon during normal hours tonight. Neptune is a very dim blue star. Neptune is 5 times too dim to be seen by your eyes alone. You'll want good binoculars or a telescope on a good tripod to see it. Neptune will slowly move out of Capricorn into Aquarius over the decade 2005-2015.

	Stars above FDO this week can be seen by clicking the sky map to the left. To see a detailed sky map for this Friday (and any other date and time as well) click the star map icon to the left.
	Tables of Solar System data for the current and other dates and times may be seen if you click on the table icon to the left.
	The Sun rises at 6:15 AM and sets at 7:19 PM. Bright stars only twilight lingers until 7:55 PM. Most stars will be visible by 8:29 PM and the sky will be completely dark by 9:04 PM. The Sun is currently in Virgo.
	The Moon rises at 3:49 AM and sets at 2:49 PM. About 18% of the surface is illuminated. The Moon, in the constellation Capricorn, won't interfere with the viewing of deep space objects. As always, viewing deep space objects requires adequate to good viewing conditions. The Phases of the Moon for this Friday (and any other date or time) will be displayed if you click the moon icon on the left
	Mercury rises at 6:50 AM and sets at 9:03 PM. Mercury, in the constellation Leo, is in the western sky this evening. Mercury is 7.9 arcseconds in diameter. The Sun illuminates 36% of Mercury's surface creating a magnitude of 0.3. Mercury, currently in the constellation Leo, is separated from the Sun by 19 degrees and is in the western sky tonight during regular FDO hours.
	Venus rises at 7:10 AM and sets at 9:07 PM. Venus has an apparent size of 10.7 arcseconds with 93% of this surface illuminated creating a magnitude of -3.9. Venus, currently in the constellation Taurus, is in the western sky tonight during normal viewing hours. [This image of Venus is taken through dark violet filters to enhance the cloud structure].
	Mars rises at 12:40 PM and sets at 3:33 AM. Mars, in the constellation Leo is high in the sky tonight during normal viewing hours. It is beginning to lag behind the Earth so our distance is increasing. Click the Mars icon to see a detailed map of Mars. Mars makes a complete trip around the Zodiac roughly every two years.
	Jupiter rises at 5:12 AM and sets at 4:40 PM. Jupiter has an apparent diameter of 33.9 arcseconds. It is below the horizon this evening. Jupiter is in the constellation Aquarius. Jupiter moves through the Zodiac rather rapidly. Each year over the next decade it will be in a new constellation.
	Saturn rises at 5:25 PM and set at 5:50 AM. It is in Virgo. Saturn is high in the sky this evening. Saturn is in an unusually favorable angle relative to Earth making its rings and system of moons very easy to see clearly. Saturn will be making its way across Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo and Libra over the decade between 2005 and 2015.
	Uranus rises at 5:31 AM and sets at 5:24 PM. Uranus is below the horizon this evening. Uranus looks like a dim green star. Uranus is just on the borderline of visibility to the unaided eye. In practice, you'll need binoculars to see it. Uranus will slowly move from Aquarius into Pisces over the decade 2005-2115. For a very brief time it will cross the corner of Cetus in 2010.
	Neptune rises at 4:19 AM and sets at 2:52 PM. Neptune, in Aquarius, is below the horizon during normal hours tonight. Neptune is a very dim blue star. Neptune is 5 times too dim to be seen by your eyes alone. You'll want good binoculars or a telescope on a good tripod to see it. Neptune will slowly move out of Capricorn into Aquarius over the decade 2005-2015.