A*s*t*r*o*n*o*m*i*c*a*l C*a*t

[pscot]

?Measuring the distance between Jupiter and Venus.

[HopeHoops]

1. I thought that was Saturn on the left.

Isn't that a bit high in the sky for Venus? I've got the same basic view in the evening, well, without the feline.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. In astrology, it is possible for Venus to be semi-square the Sun.

So that means they can be roughly 45 degrees apart. That's quite a bit, actually, and implies that Venus can still be visible long after sunset or before sunrise.

[HopeHoops]

8. It isn't common, and that's pushing the limits.

[Denninmi]

4. Jupiter and Venus are in conjunction. Closest apparent view is tonight.

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/pictorial-guide-to-venus-jupiter-conjunction-in-february-march-2012

They've been pretty the past few weeks already.

Mars is also visible in the East an hour or so after sunset. It was at its closest to Earth during this cycle about a week ago:

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/mars-2012-opposition-how-to-see-march-best-time-to-see-brightest

[sarge43]

5. Tonight Saturn is rising about an hour ahead the moon n/t

[HopeHoops]

9. Whoa - on the east side? I'll have to look.

[sarge43]

10. Hope you have good seeing. n/t

[HopeHoops]

13. Well we do have a telescope with a computer that should be able to locate it.

It's large enough that we've seen Jupiter along with four of its moons.

[sarge43]

14. I envy you. One of these days .... n/t

[HopeHoops]

15. It's my eldest daughter's, but we all get to use it.

The biggest problem is calibrating it in our own yard. We've got high-tension lines between houses and they totally fuck up the compass on the telescope so there's a little guesswork to get it aligned correctly. After that it works beautifully, well, at least close enough to find the object in question.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. nice shot

[siligut]

6. Love the picture

Did you take it?

[pscot]

7. Some dude in England

Courtesy of Space Weather.com

[MiddleFingerMom]

11. A Cheshire smile if ever I've seen one.

[Graybeard]

12. Cats know. They know.

But they are not telling.

The ancient Egyptians knew that they know and worshipped them as Gods.

When it comes the cats will be the first to know.

[Ikonoklast]

16. The explain to me why is it that some cats can measure the distance between planets using

triangulation accurate to within 100 meters, yet can't hit a four-foot square litter box with a two-inch turd?

[pscot]

17. There are many mysteries

that only cats can solve.