RMSC - Astropods

Late August, Early September - Great time to get out a pair of binoculars and start scanning the Fall skies. Cooler weather and the skies getting dark earlier make observing with binoculars a great thing to do with the family!

Late April - May: Time to look for planets Venus and Saturn. Find out what the moon is doing and when. Eta Aquarids meteor shower early May...not great for viewing, but it is the dust from Halley's comet!

Late February - Mars is the emphasis this month. You won't want to miss this beautiful red planet!! Come out to Roper Mountain on a Friday night to look through our 23-inch refractor telesocpe.

December - This month the emphasis is on the Geminid Meteor shower (early morning of the 14th) and the Winter Solstice on the 21st.

Late October - Jupiter still brilliant in the southern sky. Orionid Meteor shower on October 21st. New Moon on October 18th and First Quarter on the 25th.

September - Jupiter continues to climb into the southeastern sky. The Moon is always fun to view...find out when. Also...we're changing from Summer to Fall this month.

Late August - The "King of Planets" is rising in the southest by 9:00 EDT! Through a telescope you can enjoy the ever-changing cloudscapes. Moon will be 1st Quarter on 27th at 7:42 am EDT.

Early August - Perseid Meteor Shower peaks on August 12th. Jupiter also in the news...result of yet another impact event in its southern hemisphere.

Late July - Couple of meteor showers coming up. Also...beautiful gathering on the morning of July 18th.

Early July - Be sure to check out Saturn's rings! July 17th - 10:00 PM EDT Shadow Transit....Saturn's moon Titan casts it shadow on Saturn's cloud surface. Planning on being in the western Pacific ocean on July 22nd?...Total eclipse of the sun will be visible...east of Iwo Jima.

Early June - June 21st is the Summer Solstice - the first day of Summer. Also...find out what planets are out and about...

Early May - Looking for planets....Saturn, Mercury & Venus. Also a meteor shower is coming up on May 6th. Check it out!

Through Mid April - Be sure to look for Saturn! Saturn's largest moon, Titan has two transits this month (its shadow seen on Saturn's surface). Find out when.

Late March 2009 - Information about Venus and its phases. Also...time to start looking for Saturn and its rings?!

Early March 2009 - Saturn is rising in the east! Join us on Friday Starry Nights to see this planet through the Daniel Observatory telescope. The Vernal Equinox (first day of Spring) occurs on March 20th.

February 2009 - The Moon, and Venus and Saturn! Oh my!!! The Moon is "waxing" on its way to becoming New on the 24th. Venus is in the West...Saturn is in the East.

January 2009 - Check out Venus and learn new astronomical terms. Also, the ISS is pretty bright now...find out how to view the flybys.

Optimized for Mid - Late December: Geminid Meteor Shower on the 13th...hard to see because of Full Moon. Winter Solstice is on December 21st. And another conjunction of 2 planets with the moon the end of December!

November Celestial Events: It's planet time! You can see Venus and Jupiter after sunset. There will be a conjunction of the two later in the month. Also, Saturn can be seen before sunrise in the constellation of Leo the Lion.

Optimized for Late October: Fall is upon us. The Orionid Meteor Shower and the Planets Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are calling to us during these chilly evenings.

Optimized for late September: Jupiter and Venus are the two brightest planets in the sky. This is also the time for the Autumnal Equinox.

Optimized for early September: The month of September will be more fruitful for observing as planets dance through the heavens in both the eastern and western skies.

Optimized for Early August: Several notable celestial events that include the Perseid Meteor Shower and the conjunction of three planets.

Optimized for July: Jupiter is easy to find about 10:00 pm....shining brilliantly in the southeastern sky. Jupiter is hanging out in the summer constellation of Sagittarius. Also, you don't want to miss Mars and Saturn and they are leaving the sky with Leo the Lion...a Spring constellation. Look for them as soon after twilight as you can over in the western sky.

Optimized for the last half of June: Summer Solstice...formal beginning of summer is on June 20th at 7:59 PM EDT. What is the Summer Solstice, exactly?.....