First off I actually had a hard time deciding where to post this, seeing that iStorya has no "Science" or "Science Events" forum or subsection, but since Amateur Astronomy is indeed a hobby, b|tcH_g0dd3sS and I decided to post this event here.
For those of you who are interested in backyard amateur astronomy (that is, you don't have a telescope, maybe only a pair of binoculars, but are still interested in stuff that goes on in the night/early morning sky), here's an interesting event that's about to happen, spanning the early mornings of Jan 28-Feb 4, 2008.
The planet Jupiter and the planet Venus will "pass by" each other, the closest approach being on the morning of Feb 2, 2008. From an orbital mechanics standpoint, this does not mean nga mag labay dyud ang Jupiter close to Venus--ang reason nga murag mag-labay sila sa each other is simply because of their positions in orbit and their apparent positions with respect to each other as viewed from Cebu City, Philippines.
Even though Feb. 2 pa ang closest day of approach, you can start observing tomorrow morning, Jan. 28, starting from 5:00AM. Here are instructions on how to observe this 9-day event (9 mornings hihihi). Take note, this is an EARLY MORNING event, so it's not good for people who don't wake up early hehehe. Also, take note of the weather...if it's raining, directly go back to sleep, don't bother to go out. If it's not raining, just check if it's cloudy. I know lisod kaayo to determine if it's cloudy, but just check if you can see stars in the sky...kung wala ka'y makit-an, again I suggest you go back to bed. Ok, if conditions are met, do the following.
a) First, locate kung aha gagawas ang SUN from your place. This means EAST. If you are living in Cebu City proper, this means you have to know where Mactan island is, and since that's where the sun rises, look at the horizon in THAT direction. If possible, you should be in an elevated position--the mountainsides around Busay is one place I'd like to be to view this.
b) Now, once you've located EAST, locate two bright "stars"...these are NOT stars...the lower bright spot is the planet Jupiter, and the upper brighter spot is the planet Venus.
c) that's it...now, at the same time everyday (5am) go to this spot and just watch the two points of light. You will notice that as February 2 approaches, ga anam ug kaduol ang two points of light, and on the morning of February 2, duol na kaayo sila, mura na silag mag "kiss"...timing kaayo, kay February is the month of love man kaha...nag romance ang Jupiter ug Venus hihihi.
Ok here are image guides (I snapped these off Stellarium) starting on the morning of January 28, 2008.
Jan 28, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines.
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_001.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_001.jpg )
Jan 29, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines.
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_002.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_002.jpg )
Jan 30, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines.
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_003.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_003.jpg )
Jan 31, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines.
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_004.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_004.jpg )
Feb 1, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines.
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_006.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_006.jpg )
Feb 2, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines. CLOSEST APPROACH of Jupiter and Venus as seen from Cebu City.
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_007.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_007.jpg )
Sa February 3, kay "ba-bay na! Aalis na ka!"...the two are starting to separate once more...so bye bye to the conjunction...but you can still observe them every morning as they begin to part.
Feb 3, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines. Parting ways...note the approach of the crescent moon...
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_008.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_008.jpg )
Now on the morning of February 4, naay "guest appearance" ...naay "third party" to join the duo...and this is none other than the crescent moon.
Feb 4, 5:00AM, eastern sky view from Cebu City, Philippines. Crescent moon as "Guest"
[img width=500 height=385]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/rodsky/moonwatch/jup_ven_conj_009.jpg[/img]
(larger image here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...n_conj_009.jpg )
That's it.
Again you don't need a telescope or a pair of binoculars to view this event--you can view them with just your eyes. Do take note this is not a "rapid-repetitive" event like a meteor shower--all you will see are two points of light (but at least you now know that's Jupiter and Venus you are seeing, and they are about to approach each other from your vantage point in a few days from now) ...you just have to take "snapshots" in your head of the scene, and enjoy the whole 9 days conjunction as an "entire" event.
For questions and clarifications just post them in this thread.
-RODION
Jupiter-Venus Conjunction Event
Originally Posted by b|tcH_g0dd3sS
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