Stargeezer Astronomy

09/16/2024

Saturn will "disappear" behind the nearly full Moon Monday night as it is occulted by Luna. The planet will slip behind the lunar disc at about 7:10 am EDT Tuesday morning. Timing will favor folks in western U.S. Morning twilight will be very bright here in the Midwest just minutes before sunrise. You'll find Saturn West of Luna (to her right) Tuesday night. The moon is 1.2 light seconds distant, Saturn 72 light MINUTES. I shot this image Sunday evening

04/09/2024

We had an amazing time experiencing the eclipse here in Seymour. Saw several friends I hadn't seen in years, had about 100 folks stop by and take a peek through my telescopes, shot some video and about 200 images during the eclipse. Here's one taken during totality. I believe the small "flash" at the bottom of the lunar disc is a "coronal mass ejection" (solar flare). The Seymour community took wonderful care of me, amazing experience! More to come

04/07/2024

Had a great afternoon with folks who attended our eclipse festival here in Seymour. Bailee and Mike's presentations were amazing and I don't think anyone fell asleep during my talk. January and the local folks have made this a special, memorable experience! Thank you!

04/07/2024

Here is the CSC cloud cover forecast for Maumee, IN (western Jackson county) as of Saturday evening 6 April

Join me along with astronomers Bailee Wolfe and Mike Weasner, Sunday, Noon to 3 pm at the Knights of Columbus hall, 118 East Second street, Seymour, IN

Along with our presentations there will be numerous vendors, food trucks and other activities

See you in Seymour!

04/05/2024

Here is the Clear Sky Clock sky conditions forecast for Maumee, IN, as of 20 UT (4 PM EDT) Friday, 5 April

The top line shows the Canadian Meterological Centre's prediction for cloud cover

The second line is the European forecast model

At this time the CMC prediction indicates clearing to a 10-20% cloud cover at 11 am Monday

The European prediction indicates partially overcast

Maumee is located west of Seymour in Jackson county

Here is a link to the NWS (National Weather Service) weather prediction center forecsst

https://www.facebook.com/NWSWPC

04/04/2024

Here is the latest "Clear Sky Clock" for Maumee, IN from the Clear Dark Sky website. Note the "extended" forecast at the bottom which is a special sponsored feature

As of 3 PM this afternoon (Thurs 4 Apr) the Maumee CSC forecast is predicting clearing to partly cloudy at 11 AM local time on Monday

Normally the CSC forecast looks ahead 36 hours. The "extended" feature is something I've not seen before

I will update this once or twice a day through the weekend.

I will be presenting a program on experiencing a solar eclipse Sunday, April 6 at Noon at the Knights of Columbus 118 E. Second St., Seymour. Astronomers Bailee Wolfe and Mike Weasner will offer presentations at 1 and 2 pm respectively

03/27/2024

I observed the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Monday 25 March for approximately 45 minutes

Conditions were partly cloudy.

Fortunately a break in the cluuds (astronomers call these "sucker holes") passed over my location at the eclipse peak at 3:13 AM EDT

The penumbra is the outer ring of Earth's shadow

The faint shadow is visible along the Moon's southeastern limb (about "5 to 6 o'clock) on the lunar disc

I viewed with binoculars briefly the shadow was very subtle, interestingly I found it most visible naked eye

For comparison purposes I've posted a shot of the TOTAL lunar eclipse of 8 November 2022

This eclipse was the "companion" to the April 8 total solar eclipse

Luna was at the descending node of it's orbit of Earth as it reached full phase

03/24/2024

A CME (solar coronal mass ejection) associated with an X1.1 solar flare occured at 01:33 UT Saturday, 23 March (9:33 PM Friday evening. Space Weather Prediction Center forecast says aurora may be visible Sunday night and Monday (24, 25 March) at mid latitudes. See graphic. Interesting compliment to Sunday night penumbral lunar eclipse which will be maximum at 07:13 UT Monday (3:13 AM EDT)

03/18/2024

I'll be discussing plans for April's eclipse with Dawne Gee this afternoon at 2 pm on WAVE 3 TV's "Wave Country" show. Tune in!

03/16/2024

Monday, March 18 will mark the 79th anniversary of a dark milestone in my father's life. Rodney Alverson Williams served in the 8th Air Force in Europe.

During WWII he was a gunner aboard a B-17. In late 1944 his crew was assigned to service in England.

On March 18, 1945, the B-17G "Lady Jane II" lifted off from her base at Deenethorpe, England; she never returned. The story is one of deep tragedy and survival, of sacrifice, and of the love the crew had for each other as brothers in arms.

The bomber was severely damaged by flak as she flew over the target in Germany; as she limped out of Berlin and headed back to her base, she was set upon by a group of Hitler's secret weapon, the Me 262 jet fighter. This was the first time in history that an entire group of jet pursuit aircraft had fought as a unit in combat.

The bomber was struck in the number 2 engine and erupted in flames. Most of the crew bailed out; somewhat mysteriously, one did not. Three crew members were senselessly shot after they landed safely in their parachutes. The book delves deeply into that tragedy.

Rod was 33 years old in '45, the oldest member of the Lady Jane II's crew. His crew mates were about 20 years of age. He never spoke about this experience although I was vaguely aware of it.

The surviving crew members spent a couple of months in a German POW camp as the war ended. He was profoundly effected by this experience. Today we call this "PTSD". It wasn't deeply understood back in the 1950's and had significant impact on my family.

My friend Robert w. Jacobs served in Vietnam and in later years was very active with POW/MIA recovery and research. Bob and I met in junior high school in the early 60's and were close friends until his passing in 2017.

He worked tirelessly with my sister, Lorraine, and together they researched the story of the Mission which inspired the writing of the book.

Lorraine is a colleague and friend of the book's author, Lisa Vans. Thanks to my sister's inspired and dedicated efforts Rod was awarded the Purple Heart in 2017.

Lisa A. Vans is a veteran of the US Army Military Police Corps. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Nevada and is a lifelong lover of military history.

This post is not a promo for the book. Rod's PTSD severely affected him and our family. I want to honor his memory and the crew of Lady Jane II.

03/06/2024

The new Moon Monday, April 8th will cast a shadow across North America, a rare Total Solar Eclipse. More than 300 million Americans are within a two day drive of the central path.

The Jeffersonville Public Library is presenting a special program “Get Ready for Total Solar Eclipse 2024” Saturday, March 23 hosted by Mark Steven Williams of StarGeezer Astronomy.

The program will present details on the path of totality, timing and duration of the eclipse and share details on total solar eclipse highlights you don't want to miss

Safely observing a solar eclipse is essential. Looking directly at the Sun for less than one second will result in permanent eye damage or blindness.

Simple observing tools including a pinhole camera, a “Sun Funnel” telescope eyepiece projection setup for group viewing will be demonstrated along with tips on how to observe a solar eclipse safely.

Pairs of Eclipse glasses will be awarded in astronomy and science quizzes and a limited number of “Sky Map” monthly star charts will be available.

Admission to “Get Ready for Total Solar Eclipse 2024” at the Jeffersonville Public Library is free.

The Jeffersonville Public Library is located at 211 E. Court Avenue, Jeffersonville, 47130

This will be last Solar Eclipse over North America until 2045. Don’t miss it!

02/24/2024

02/24/2024

After the X 6.2 solar flare Thursday from sunspot group 3590 and 3591 which was the strongest flare of this solar cycle, aurorae may be visible as far south as the US/Canadian border and northern tier of states Saturday night. These images from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center show Saturdays forecast and the huge magnetic storm, a sunspot, larger than planet Earth

02/20/2024

WAVE TV posted a nice segment on our "Get Ready for Eclipse 2024" event at Falls of the Ohio. We'll offer another program Saturday, March 23 at the Jeffersonville Public Library

https://www.wave3.com/2024/02/18/central-line-spectators-prepare-2024-total-solar-eclipse-indiana/?fbclid=IwAR3nTJWn5zesHQ5W6LLLBhjUUDOPMw9kqEZuhPpbyBMWcr-k7i9Zd_GtYgk

A total solar eclipse is right around the corner on April 8, and preparations are well underway for astronomy enthusiasts and officials in the eclipse’s direct path.

12/14/2023

This is the "Belt of Venus". I took image viewing to the ENE at 5:34 PM 14 December, some 10 minutes after sunset.
The pink is refracted sunlight. The shorter wavelength sunlight is refracted by the atmosphere leaving the longer wavelength pinks and reds.
The blue is Earth's shadow from about 100 miles to the west. As the Sun drops further below the horizon the shadow climbs.
So "nightfall" is a misnomer. Darkness actually rises! Check this out for yourself.
You may also observe the Belt of Venus pre-dawn looking to the west, anti-solar position.
Image was taken at my place near Elizabeth, IN, Harrison county.