Skywatch Premium http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium RSS Feed for Skywatch Premium en-us Sun, 02 Jun 2013 13:01:30 GMT Lahaina Noon, triangle of planets a dual treat http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20130526_Lahaina_Noon_triangle_of_planets_a_dual_treat.html While it’s not yet June, you may catch two special astronomy events today. At 12:28 p.m. today in Honolulu, the sun will go ex- actly overhead, known as “Lahaina Noon.” An upright object such as a flagpole will have no shadow. Isles get exclusive look at May 9 solar eclipse http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20130428_Isles_get_exclusive_look_at_May_9_solar_eclipse.html On May 9, Hawaii will be the only state to see the first solar eclipse of 2013. At the peak of the eclipse, at 3:48 p.m., a viewer using a safe filter will see 44 percent of the sun blocked by the moon. Jupiter and Saturn shine brightest in April http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20130331_Jupiter_and_Saturn_shine_brightest_in_April.html The solar system's two biggest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, are well placed for viewing in April. Venus and Mars are lost in the light of the sun all month, and Mercury puts in a typically fleeting appearance. Best viewing of comet will come in mid-March http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20130224_Best_viewing_of_comet_will_come_in_midMarch.html By Comet C/2011 L4 makes an appearance just after sunset this month. Planets go through a lot of shifting in February http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20130127_Planets_go_through_a_lot_of_shifting_in_February.html We see a lot of changes in the planets this month: We lose two, gain one, and two planets hold steady in the night. The elusive planet Mercury appears in our skies for the first time in 2013, low in the west at dusk for much of the month. Space station sighting will kick off new year http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20121230_Space_station_sighting_will_kick_off_new_year.html There will be a brilliant pass of the International Space Station on New Year's Day. Look for the space station low in the northwest at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. When it first appears, the station will look as bright as a very bright star. Jupiter will illuminate night sky all December http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20121125__Jupiter_will_illuminate_night_sky_all_December.html On Dec. 2, the planet Jupiter is in opposition. The sun and Jupiter will be on opposite sides of the Earth. So, when the sun sets in the west in early December, Jupiter will be exactly opposite, rising in the east. Planet party, meteors will fill November sky http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20121028_Planet_party_meteors_will_fill_November_sky.html In November, all five naked-eye planets will be visible, including the all-night appearance of Jupiter, and a morning gathering of Venus and Saturn. The Leonid meteor shower returns mid-month, and there will be a solar eclipse deep in the southern hemisphere. Jupiter dominates sky from late to early hours http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20120930_Jupiter_dominates_sky_from_late_to_early_hours.html If you are at all an early riser or a late go-to-bed type, you have probably noticed Jupiter already, blazing in the east in the early hours. Key events mark debut of new video system http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/skywatchpremium/20120826_Key_events_mark_debut_of_new_video_system.html t's been a great summer for the planetarium. We installed a Digistar 4 full-dome video system in the Watumull Planetarium this summer, ahead of our other renovations, and got full use of the system.