SkyWatch

This page contains links to other sites.  These links do not imply an endorsement of,
or guarantee the validity of, the information provided on those sites.

Where can I buy a star? 
See the "Buying a Star" FAQ  

Surf the Cosmos!
Visit our CosmoLinks.

Night Sky Updates
You can get updates on the night sky from the Newark Skyline by dialing 973-596-6529 and pressing "2" or click here to listen to our New Jersey Skies podcast.

Moon Phases

 

Click on any image below for a larger view.



July

July Sky Map
Here is the night sky for July at 9:30 pm.

3   
Moon near Jupiter and Uranus

6   
Earth at aphelion (furthest point from Sun)

9
Venus near bright star Regulus

14
Moon near Venus

15-16
Moon near Venus, Mars & Saturn

20
Mercury highest in western sky

30
Mars close to Saturn

August 

August Sky Map
Here is the night sky for August at 9:30 pm.

6
Venus directly under Saturn 

10
Venus near Saturn & Mars

13   
Perseid Meteor Shower peaks 2 to 4 am









18    
Venus near Mars 

19
Venus at Greatest Elongation 

 





26
Moon near Jupiter & Uranus










31
Venus near bright star Spica

September

September Sky Map
Here is the night sky for September at 9 pm.

5
Mars near bright star Spica

10-11
Moon near Mars, Venus & Spica

16
Space Shuttle Discovery Launch
(update: delayed until Nov. 1)
 

19
Mercury at Greatest Elongation (morning sky)

21
Jupiter & Uranus at opposition 

22
Autumn Equinox (Sun above equator at 11:09 pm)









23
Harvest Moon near Jupiter & Uranus









23
Venus at its brightest

SPACE STATION

The International Space Station is often visible in the skies over New Jersey.  The station will appear as a very bright moving star.  Check the Heavens Above web site for times and details.

Remember that your fist at arm's length is about 10 degrees wide. Use your fist to get an idea of how high it will be in the sky.

SOLAR ACTIVITY

The Sun's magnetic field varies over time.  Large eruptions on the Sun can cause charged particles to hit the Earth's magnetic field and then the atmosphere.  This causes the air to fluoresce.  This is known as the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis).  This can occasionally be strong enough to be seen from New Jersey.

Click on the links below for more information:

• NASA Space Weather

• Space Weather Now

• Big Bear Solar Observatory

• Marshall Space Science Labs SpaceWeather.com 

BUYING A TELESCOPE 

• Telescopes are a popular gift item, but one should consider this idea carefully.  Cheap telescopes are a dime a dozen and only end up discouraging, rather than encouraging, the user.  There's nothing more frustrating than trying to use a telescope that wobbles so much you can't see or find anything through.
  
  There are many "automated" telescopes becoming available.  While this may seem appealing to own a telescope that will do all the work for you, be aware that these are often quite complicated and don't always perform as well as advertised.  You still need to know some basic constellations and names of the brighter stars in order to use them. Although some of these telescopes can point for you, once aligned properly, it can't see for you.  Looking through a telescope is a skill that takes time to learn.  Dobsonian style telescopes are very popular with stargazers.  Easy to set up, easy to use and inexpensive for their size, they are considered the best choice for beginners.
  
  Keep in mind the following tips:
  
  

  Consider joining a local astronomy club before buying a telescope.  Amateur astronomers are a good source for advice, especially if you're a beginner.
  
  The size of the mirror or lens is the most important thing about a telescope—not magnification!  The larger its diameter, the better the view. Don't fall for the old "Magnifies 900x!" trick.
  
  Consider buying a pair of binoculars as a first telescope.  They are inexpensive and very portable.  "10 X 50" size binoculars are good for stargazing.
  
  I have yet to find a good telescope under $300.00.  Don't fall for the old "$500 telescope on sale for only $99.99!" scheme.
  
  Don't blow your entire budget on the telescope itself.  You will likely need additional eyepieces, finderscopes, maps and other accessories to use with the telescope.

  Check out the following article for more information: 

  Sky & Telescope: "Choosing Your First Telescope"
  
  

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For more info...

For rise and set times of the Sun and Moon, visit the U.S. Naval Observatory at: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/data/docs/RS_OneDay.html.

For Moon Phases see: http://aa.usno.navy.mil/AA/data/docs/MoonPhase.html

For more information about local astronomy clubs and observatories, visit the UACNJ web page.

The next lunar eclipse visible from NJ is December 21, 2010 and the next solar eclipse is November 3, 2013.

For more information about eclipses visit NASA's Eclipse Page.

For more online astronomy resources see: CosmoLinks Astronomy Links. 

Some of the above images were created with Starry Night® Pro and The Sky^TM.