LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report
This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the week ending Wednesday, March 13, 2013. Here is what’s happening in the skies of Southern California:
Comet PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4) is now low in the western sky after sunset. According to reports from the Southern Hemisphere, the still-brightening comet is now magnitude 2, as bright as the brightest stars of the Big Dipper, and can be seen by unaided eye starting 30 minutes after sunset–in clear weather. Griffith Observatory’s special PANSTSARRS Web page has a finder chart that should help you to spot the comet. Binoculars are recommended to provide a good view of the tail. Weather permitting, Griffith Observatory will provide public viewing of the comet through our telescopes and binoculars starting 30 minutes after sunset on nights that we are open, Wednesday through Sunday. Please note that unauthorized telescopes are not permitted on the grounds of the Observatory. The comet is now as close to earth as it will get, about 100 million miles from us, and will be at its closest to the sun at a distance of 27 million miles, on Saturday the 9th. The slender crescent moon will appear to the lower right of the comet on Tuesday the 12th, and will be above the comet on the following night.
Daylight Saving Time starts on Sunday morning, March 10. On that date, 1:59 a.m., P.S.T. will be followed by 3:00 a.m., P.D.T. The skipped hour will be made up when Standard Time resumes on November 3rd.
The waning crescent moon can be seen before sunrise until Sunday, March 10. The moon is new on the 11th.
The planet Jupiter, in Taurus the Bull, is unmistakably bright and is high in the southwest during evening twilight. The giant planet’s four largest moons can be seen close to the planet through binoculars. Jupiter is one of the objects featured through Griffith Observatory’s public telescopes.
The ringed planet Saturn, in Libra the Scales, is visible as a bright golden object in the southeast sky after midnight. Saturn is at its highest and in the south about 3 hours before sunrise. A telescope will reveal the northern face of Saturn’s spectacular ring system and several of the planet’s moons. By late May, Saturn will be visible in the evening sky and will be featured at Griffith Observatory.
The International Space Station will make a pass over Los Angeles on the morning of Tuesday March 12. The ISS will be the brightest object in the sky as it moves from the southwest horizon to the northeast horizon between 6:40 and 6:46 a.m., P.D.T. The ISS will be nearly overhead at 6:43 a.m., P.D.T.
Free views of the sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night, are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes Wednesday-Sunday before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for our schedule. The next public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place between 2:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 16th. Remember to arrive before 7:00 p.m. to see comet PANSTARRS.
From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.