Take a stress relief break and do some sky watching after dark.

[havocmom]

There's a comet to look for

COMET SWAN: There's a new comet in the night sky, Comet Swan. At present, it is too dim for the naked eye, but "the comet is a spectacular sight through binoculars or a small telescope," reports Chris Schur of Payson, Arizona. In Leeds, UK, Tony Cook took this picture of Swan's sinuous tail:

SpaceWeather site has a nice Aurora Gallery too. Take a look at some of the great photos people have uploaded.

Sometimes you have to step away from the computer and get some air to clear your thoughts. It's a good thing. Helps restore some balance and perspective. :hi:

[Bluzmann57]

1. Thanks. Will go outside later and look for it.

What direction and how late? I'm an old man and need rest so it can't be too late.

[zonkers]

4. Old men need what? I'm sending you over a bottle of tequilla and...

[Bluzmann57]

7. Well now if she makes it over here

who needs tequila? But we sure as hell ain't going outside to look at comets...:evilgrin: :party:

[mike_c]

6. hey-- me! me!-- I'm getting older too!

:toast:

[Fox Mulder]

9. Before dawn in the NE...

that's where the comet should be, between Ursa Major and Leo:

[havocmom]

12. From the site:

Ready to see for yourself? Set your alarm before dawn; the comet rises just ahead of the morning sun. "Look behind the back leg of the Great Bear," advises Cook. "You should be able to make out a greenish fuzzball of 6th magnitude."

There are also links to sky maps for Oct 3-6 to help you out

[KoKo]

2. OMG...I thought you were reporting that "Pacifist Aliens" had Arrived to

SAVE PLANET EARTH!!!

Anywa I'll check it out...thanks!

[bananas]

3. A couple of useful sites.

This website will tell you when the sky is clear in your area,
sometimes driving a few miles will be much clearer.
http://www.cleardarksky.com/csk/

This website tells you satellites are visible overhead.
Try to see the Iridium's - they have flat reflective surfaces that are very bright when they reflect sunlight right at you (only for a few seconds - need an accurate watch).
http://www.heavens-above.com/

[havocmom]

13. I often spend time out in the hammock watching satellites

and REALLY high altitude aircraft flying a grid that is visible almost any night where I live. Figure it is part of NORAD

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Comet Swan

that's a heck of a lot better name then Hale-Bopp.

[WePurrsevere]

8. Thanks! We're up pretty early usually, maybe we'll be able to see it. If

not this pass hopefully the we'll catch it on the flip-side. B-)

[uppityperson]

10. first read it as "do some sky diving after dark" which sounded fun too

Thanks for the links. I like living in the country where I can see the sky, when it's not cloudy

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

11. That is true. I love watching the sky at noc.

another site to check for the Kp index is
http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html

[havocmom]

15. Thanks for new link for my collection. Here's one I keep running in a tab

on nights after a solar wind sends magnetic storms our way

http://www.sec.noaa.gov/pmap/ Gives images for northern and souther hemispheres that look like this:



Updates new images every time a satellite in polar orbit sends data. VERY cool site

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

17. Raw currents to be found here

http://www.spacew.com/

If you're really into Solar weirdness, check out the many links offered on http://www.cyberspaceorbit.com/

Kinda an off color site, but he does check daily on the Sun actions. Cool stuff.

[Ksec]

14. Thanks for that. You can also watch the space station go over if

its over your part of the world. Ive watched the shuttle go over a few times . NASA has a link to tell you when you can see it in your area. Ill dig it up and post.....

[Ksec]

16. here it is

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/

[havocmom]

20. Thanks for posting that

I try to encourage people to spend time sky watching. Amazing what one can see go by ;)

[alfredo]

21. I saw Atlantis during the day. It moves

very fast.

[kineneb]

18. sorry, it is actually overcast here

fall is coming to NorCal... we had fog this morning and it has been overcast all day... they say we may see some rain next week

(weird to get ocean fog this far inland- at Clear Lake?)

Note for those of you not in the desert west: We have two real seasons: wet and dry, with temperature variations depending on elevation. The dry season seems to be coming to an end. Next comes the monsoons...

For those with clear skies, have fun.

[alfredo]

19. I will wait until it is an evening item.

I only arise before dawn to take a wiz.