13,000 feet of film on a 200-pound reel are needed for each 40-minute Omni Theater film.
SKYLINE FOR JULY 2010
Compiled by Linda Krouse and Sarah Littler of the Noble Planetarium.
This month calls for a visit to the countryside. So find yourself a nice spot at least 45 minutes from the city, with a horizon clear of buildings, tall trees, and light pollution. Far from the city the sky reveals wonders. The center of our Milky Way galaxy is filled with many amazing sights, and is best viewed during the summer months.
Have a sky wheel and a good pair of binoculars with you and look for these amazing objects:
Albireo: A bright visual double star in the head of Cygnus the swan. It can be found between the two bright stars Vega and Altair. With a good pair of binoculars you will see one bright bluish star and one golden star.
M 57/ Ring Nebula: A great challenge for the beginning star gazer. Look to the constellation Lyra on your star chart, and find the two bottom stars in the square body of the harp. The nebula is between those two stars, and best viewed through a telescope.
Mercury hangs onto the tail-end of Leo. Best visible beginning on July 20th, Mercury is on the western horizon around 9 PM. Because this speedy wanderer is low on the horizon, make sure to have a good pair of binoculars with you to get a good view.
Venus can still be found high in the west when sun set begins around 8:30 PM. Now shinning like a bright jewel in Leos’ collar, Venus passes by the star Regulus half way through the month.
Mars rises around 8:30 PM, between the constellations Virgo and Leo. By the end of the month, this red wanderer is firmly in Virgo. Mars, Venus, and Saturn are slowly grouping in a tight triangle low on the western horizon. So watch closely as this trio unites throughout July.
Jupiter rises just after midnight, in the east, in the constellation of Pisces. This brightly shinning planet, however, will be out shone by Moon on July 31st. Later on this month, Jupiter will find itself in our late evening sky around 10:30 PM.
Saturn is visible after sunset in the west around 8:30 PM. Seen in the constellation of Virgo, this ringed planet only hangs around for a few hours the first half of July. By the end of July, we will see Saturn in the sky for only 2 hours.
Moons
Last Quarter July 4
New Moon July 11
First Quarter July 19
Full Moon July 26
Star Parties
Join us for our first star party of the season on SATURDAY, July 17. Located on the steps of the Museum, the party begins at dark and goes until 11 PM. Members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society and staff members from the Noble Planetarium will be manning telescopes and answering questions.
All are welcome, … you don’t need to bring anything but yourself, and …… it’s FREE.
If you would like a fun way to navigate the night sky just go to: http://www.lhs.berkeley.edu/starclock/skywheel.html
Uncle Al provides free and easy to use star wheels that you can download and print at home.
For more information about the night sky, contact the Noble Planetarium at 817-255-9409 or planet@fwmsh.org
Compiled by Linda Krouse and Sarah Littler of the Noble Planetarium.
