Objects coming together in the sky

Bob Linderholm of rural Cambridge combined four images of the comet TU24 as it passed within 334,000 miles of earth on Jan. 29 -- a close call by astronomical standards. The four streaks are due to the fast motion of the asteroid during each of the four, 180-second exposures. "This puppy is on its way, and I say, good riddance!" Linderholm said. Considering its farthest distance is about 350 million miles from earth, "it came way too close this time around!" he said. (Bob Linderholm/Lime Creek Observatory)

As I always say, I am not an early morning astronomer, unless there is something worth getting up to see. Friday morning, Feb. 1, was such an occasion.

The bright planets Venus and Jupiter were so close together the tip of your little finger held at arms length would have covered them. The pair have been moving closer together for some months now and Friday was the "close" day. They were quite the sight in binoculars.

These close conjunctions of bright objects are worth looking at not only because of the celestial beauty, but the event itself is rare enough to make that early rise from bed worth the effort.

Looking west of the planetary pair you would have seen the moon in a conjunction of its own, this one with the star Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius.

On Monday morning, Feb. 4, the moon provided another conjunction pairing, this time with our bright friends Venus and Jupiter. The moon was slender enough that a pair of binoculars would have been a welcome addition to the observing equipment.

If you missed it, not to worry; Jupiter and Venus will be close in the morning sky for several days to come so get out and take a look.

Hope you are all getting ready for the total lunar eclipse on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 20. It will begin in the early evening and finish a little more than two hours later.

A total lunar eclipse is only possible when the moon is full which occurs at 8:31 pm MST on the 20th, the sun is on the opposite side of the Earth, whose long shadow extends out into space. On most occasions, the moon is above or below the shadow, and we see an ordinary full moon. Occasionally the moon does intersect with the shadow of the Earth, leaving only the light leaking around the edges of the earthly sphere -- the world's sunrises and sunsets -- to illuminate our neighboring rock. That explains the reddish color the lunar surface often takes on during an eclipse.

This total eclipse is the second one visible from here in less than six months. But the event last August required a very early rise; perhaps you slept through it. And even though there will be several partial eclipses in the months to come, the next total lunar eclipse won't take place until Dec. 20, 2010, so you don't want to miss this one.

There will be a partial solar eclipse tomorrow, Feb. 7, but likely only the penguins and folks manning scientific research stations in Antarctica will be watching. Those of us living in central Nebraska will have a chance to witness a total solar eclipse on Aug. 21, 2017 so mark your calendars now -- you won't want to miss it.

SKY WATCH:

New moon, Wednesday, Feb. 6. Although fading somewhat, Mars still holds a prominent place in the early evening sky. It is now joined by Saturn rising in the east about two hours after sunset. Be watching over the next several months as Mars and Saturn grow closer together until they have their own almost close conjunction in July.

Next time:

More astronomical blathering.