April 11, 2014 Mars will be in opposition – which is where the Earth falls between the Sun and Mars on the 8 th , and Mars will be closest to us on April 14 th at 12:54UT. We invite you to hold a Mars viewing party on Friday April 11, to take advantage of the good viewing due to these two events. Don't forget to register your event ! Mars will be -1.5 magnitude with a diameter of 15.2” and a distance of 92.4 million kilometers making viewing quite favorable this April. For Mars Watch this year we will...
Let's celebrate our star, the Sun! Awareness and appreciation of the Sun are all you need to participate. On Sunday, April 27 AWB President Mike Simmons gave a special online tour of the historic Snow Solar Telescope live from Mount Wilson Observatory in California, USA. Watch a recording of this unique program below.
April 13, 2014 Asteroid Vesta discovered in 1807 will be in opposition this April 13 th with a magnitude of 5.8. Referred to as a minor planet and even a dwarf planet, Vesta will be travelling in the constellation Virgo with her friend Ceres this April. Ceres will be in opposition April 15 th and have a magnitude of 7.0 so look for both this GAM 2014. This bright, large, irregularly shaped “rock” is 330 miles in diameter and will be visible in the evening sky in April. To view Vest,a amateur astronomers need to point their telescopes in the...
April 15, 2014 Experience the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2014, on April 15th! This is going to be a great sight, the Moon will be completely covered by the Earth's shadow and should be a deep red as a result. For our Lunar Eclipse observing this year we will be have a 'Tweetup', simply share your photos and experiences of your Lunar observing on Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #MoonWatch, or post to the GAM2014 Facebook page.
April 5, 2014 GAM’s ultimate observing event is the Global Star Party. If you have a scope, it’s B.Y.O.T. - Bring Your Own Telescope (or binoculars), or contact your local astronomy club. Don'thave a scope, don't worry, just look up. All are invited, all will be excited. The Global Star Party is the time to come out under the stars, bridge gaps across the seas, and join your brother and sister skywatchers in proving that the world is “One People, One Sky.” When we turn our gaze upward all religious, national, cultural and political barriers fade into the darkness.
