Halloween Sky Show

[krispos42]

Halloween Sky Show
10.28.2008


Oct. 28, 2008: Stop! Take your finger off that doorbell. Something spooky is happening behind your back. Turn around, tip back your mask, and behold the sunset.

It's a Halloween sky show.

On Oct. 31st, the crescent Moon will sneak up on Venus for a close encounter of startling beauty. The gathering is best seen just after sunset when the twilight is pumpkin-orange and Halloween doorbells are chiming in earnest. Venus hovers just above the southwestern horizon, the brightest light in the sky, while the exquisitely slender Moon approaches just a few degrees below: sky map.


Above: Venus and the crescent Moon photographed in July 2007 by Dan Bush of Albany, Missouri. The scene will be much the same on Halloween 2008.

Okay, stop staring. There's candy to be gathered.

One night later, you can give the sequel your undivided attention. On Nov. 1st, Venus and the Moon emerge from the twilight side-by-side, Venus on the right, the Moon on the left: sky map. Look carefully at the Moon. Can you see a ghostly image of the full Moon inside the bright horns of the crescent? That’s called "Earthshine" or sometimes "the da Vinci glow" because Leonardo da Vinci was the first person to explain it: Sunlight hits Earth and ricochets to the Moon, casting a sheen of light across the dark lunar terrain. A crescent Moon with Earthshine is one of the loveliest sights in the heavens.

<more>

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/28oct_halloweensky.htm?list27315

Looks like November 3rd will be the best night for this... the Moon and Jupiter will be almost touching in the sky.

[Hardrada]

1. Thanks! I hope it's not cloudy here.

[cbayer]

2. Nov. 1 is my birthday. In what direction and at what time can I see this on the West Coast?

This would be a great b-day present for me.

:toast:

[krispos42]

3. Southwest

At sunset, local time










And...


:party: :party: Happy Birthday! :party: :party:

[Bonobo]

4. Kool. It looks like the mirror image of the symbol of Islam.

[RL3AO]

5. There will be a nice show around December 1 as well.

The moon, Venus, and Jupiter will make a small triangle in the south-western sky after sunset.


EDIT: I guess you would already know that if you read the article posted above. :)

[Sequoia]

6. I saw that last night....Nov 3....Jupiter and the crescent moon.