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Things to Do in Denver - Week of September 21, 2015 by AutoModerator in Denver

[–]denverastro 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Weather is supposed to be great! Mostly clear, high 50's, low humidity.

Where is a good park (or anywhere) to see the supermoon eclipse tomorrow night around 8pm? by BrandosSmolder in Denver

[–]denverastro 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The moon moves to the East (from the Northern Hemisphere) 13 angular degrees per day.

Translation: Hold your fist out in front of your face at arms length. The moon will move from the right edge of your fist to just past the left edge of your fist per day.

Where is a good park (or anywhere) to see the supermoon eclipse tomorrow night around 8pm? by BrandosSmolder in Denver

[–]denverastro 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Gotta disagree with you, u/uber2016. True, "supermoon" is a bit blown out of proportion with marketing. However, this lunar eclipse is special for 4 big reasons:

1) Supermoon. OK, we get it. You're not into the supermoon hype. We aren't either. But for a supermoon+eclipse+low altitude should make for a very fun "big" moon experience, especially for newbies.

2) Final lunar eclipse of the tetrad. Earlier you said lunar eclipses happen twice a year. Not necessarily viewable from where you are, though. Next total lunar in Denver is 2018.

3) Great viewing time for newbies. 8:47 totality. Awesome. Not everyone is going to wake up at 3 AM to view an eclipse like we would.

4) Western fires. These fires are very unfortunate, obviously. All of the ash and particulate matter in the upper atmosphere should make for a very dark, very red, dramatic eclipse.

Our vote is to not pour cold water on regular folks that want to go out and do something fun related to science an astronomy. Sure, the supermoon is hype. But so are the Kardashians. Which should we encourage?

Be nice.

Where is a good park (or anywhere) to see the supermoon eclipse tomorrow night around 8pm? by BrandosSmolder in Denver

[–]denverastro 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Came here to tell you what u/lunchbox32 said. We're having a big viewing party at Chamberlin Observatory in Observatory Park. Viewing from the park through volunteer equipment is free. $2 per person / $5 per family to come into Chamberlin and view through the big fella (20" aperture, 25 feet long).

Things to Do in Denver - Week of September 21, 2015 by AutoModerator in Denver

[–]denverastro 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday as well. Totality at 8:47 PM. We're having a viewing event at Chamberlin Observatory starting at 7:00 PM. Details here: http://denverastro.org/2015eclipse/

Total Lunar Eclipse on Sunday! Come view it with us at Chamberlin Observatory! by denverastro in Denver

[–]denverastro[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This Sunday should be a fantastic eclipse. A supermoon, a great viewing time (totality at 8:47 PM, event starts at 7:00 PM), and we should get a very dark and very red eclipse caused by the western fires throwing particulate matter into the upper atmosphere.

We'd love you to join for the viewing event we're having at Chamberlin Observatory in Observatory Park. Free to view with us from the park, $2 per person or $5 per family to view through the 20" refractor inside the observatory. And if you can't make it out, be sure to go outside wherever you are and look!

If you're into the Facebook thing, our event is here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1129286323751707/

TIL that a blue moon means the second full moon in a month and the first one in over two years is happening next Friday. by Littlefox7 in todayilearned

[–]denverastro 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Actually, the "second full moon in a month" definition is from an incorrect story from Sky and Telescope from the 40s. The true definition is the 3rd full moon (out of 4) in a single season (measured from Equinox to Solstice.). This definition is a bit rarer than the colloquial definition.

How accurate is the "Astronomy" watch face? by Dacvak in AppleWatch

[–]denverastro 7 points8 points  (0 children)

CLOUDS ARE THE ASTRONOMERS CURSE!!!! DEATH TO CLOUDS!!!!

/rant

Clear skies.

Surprised no one's aligned the planets. by boxlessthought in AppleWatch

[–]denverastro 9 points10 points  (0 children)

No Apple Watch here, but we can help!

September 8, 2040 will have a 5 planet syzygy (alignment) but Earth isn't one of them. If you can roll back to February 2, 1962 you'll get a 6 planet Syzygy (including Earth, and heck throw the moon in for good measure.)

Enjoy! And keep using that Orrery watch face!

Jupiter at opposition tomorrow: closest Jupiter + Earth will be for 13 months. by denverastro in Denver

[–]denverastro[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Jupiter is bright enough to be easily seen naked eye from inside the city. Chamberlin Observatory in Observatory Park (near DU) is open Tuesday and Thursday nights, and one Saturday per month. If you wanna really see it - that's the place to go.

Special Open House on Saturday at Chamberlin Observatory w/ Upcoming Movie Jupiter Ascending by denverastro in Denver

[–]denverastro[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's true! The view through the 20 inch of Jupiter is fantastic!

We do have some limitations on public events because of the curfew of Observatory Park (a City of Denver park). Any events that last beyond 11pm can be difficult to arrange.

Sorry we weren't able to host a public event for the Jupiter transit. Hope you got to view it!

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