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Title: Saturn in the Hive
Source:
Astronomy Picture of the Day
URL Source: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap060128.html
Published: Jan 28, 2006
Author: Jimmy Westlake, Robert Nemiroff & Jerry
Post Date: 2006-01-28 15:07:48 by PnbC
Keywords: Saturn, Hive
Views: 76
Comments: 2
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. 2006 January 28 Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Westlake (Colorado Mountain College) Explanation: If you can find Saturn in tonight's sky, then you can also find M44, popularly known as the Beehive star cluster. In fact, with a pair of binoculars most casual skygazers should find it fairly easy to zero in on this celestial scene. Saturn is at opposition - opposite the Sun in Earth's sky - so, the bright planet rises in the east at sunset and is visible throughout the night. Near the stationary part of its wandering path through the heavens, Saturn will obligingly linger for a while in the vicinity of M44 in the relatively faint constellation Cancer. Seen here in a photograph from January 25, Saturn (lower right) is strongly overexposed with the stars of M44 swarming above and to the left. The picture approximately corresponds to the view when looking through a typical pair of binoculars. Saturn is about 64 light-minutes from our fair planet while M44, one of the closest star clusters, is around 600 light-years away.
Poster Comment: Not to be missed. A must-see pairing-up thru any pair of binoculars. Look for Saturn in the east about mid-evening and aim your binoculars there. The Beehive will be adjacent in the same visual field.
Astronomy Picture of the Day
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#1. To: PnbC (#0)
neat. thanks for the headsup, p.
Gee... I wonder if those Satan-Worshipping wackos will take this Saturn thing and use it in their next attack on America Ploy. Remember the stars were aligned when 9-11 happened.
#2. To: christine (#1)
 | What's that Mr. Nipples? You want me to ask the nice lady about her rack?. |
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