|
This page is for those who want to observe the Moon, planet/s up close in one of our three 14 inch telescopes.
Teachers & Parents: The dates below are best suited for Yr. 2 - 6 visits.
(Year 7-12 students should pick Starry skies)
Max. number we can take on a night booking is 40 persons. Group discounts apply for 30 or more people (excluding kids).
Our telescopes at right can magnify a planet or the Moon up to 800X on nights when the stars are not 'twinklling' - Scintillation meaning the more steadier the image is in the telescope, the more detail you will see of that object under high magnification.
Night shows not suitable for children under 5 year.
To see what is up for any particular night and month, just download STELLARIUM and default it to your nearest city.
These are the only dates we work to...
2010 dates
Sep 15 - 20 Moon craters + Jupiter and its 4 bright moons plus heaps of other things to look at. "
Oct 15 - 20 " " "
Nov 14 - 18 " " "
Dec 13 - 18 " " "
2011 dates
Jan 12 - 16 Jupiter
Feb 11 - 16 no planets!
Mar 13 - 16 Saturn begins its showing
Apr 11 -15 Saturn
May 11 - 14 Saturn
Jun 09 - 13 Saturn
Jul 08 - 13 Saturn
Aug 06 - 10 -----------------
Sep 05 - 09 ------------------
Oct 04 - 09 Jupiter begins its showing
Nov 03 - 07 Jupiter
Dec 02 - 06 Jupiter
Moon Craters
We get a lot closer in our telescopes!
There are over 1 million listed craters on the Moon.
Some craters are so large the rim would be below the visible horizon. One day, the Moon will be a launching pad for space craft to the outer planets and in the distant future, tourist trips to Mars, and out to Jupiter and Saturn.
Last Quarter phase - 22 days after New Moon.
This phase always rises around midnight and sets around noon.Each night the Moon comes up about 50 minutes later than before.That is why you can see the Moon in the afternoon.The moon takes 29.5 days to orbit the Earth and varies its distance by as much as 50,000 kms at Perigee (closets) and Apogee (furthest). See LINK in top menu to read more
9 day old Moon.
This means it has been 9 days since it was a New Moon.
A 1st Quarter moon is 7 days old.
This a good time to search for domes, rills and scarps. It is also a good phase time as the Moon is high in the sky and the detail seen down the night/day boundary called the terminator, shows incredible detail. Clavius, Tycho and Copernicus are three of the largest craters seen at this time of the lunar month.
Copernicus crater - best seen 1-2 days after 1st Qrt.
This is the sort of detail you will see in our telescopes at high powers.
The crater at left is the results of a massive asteroid impacting into the 'Ocean of Storms' basin, about 3 billion years ago.
Measuring 115kms across, it has terrace walls and a 'central peak' - the remains of 'melt' from the impact projectile.
Truly a magnificent specimen of Lunar geology.
Best time to view this feature is 2 nights after 1st Quarter Moon.
Want to take photos like this? If so, a small fee will apply. Contact the Obs. on 4164 6194.
moon photos by James Barclay
Full Moon - worst time to do any stargazing.
That is why we don't publish those dates.
The Moon, is our nearest celestial neighbour to Earth and it lies at a mean distance of 300,000 kms.It has 1/6 of Earth's gravity and Lunar day temperatures are hot enough to boil water. During a Lunar night (equal to 14 days here on Earth) the temp. drops to a cool -150C instantly.During each lunar cycle (29.days, 12 hours 44 minutes and 2.8 seconds) the Moon moves through various phases of Waxing and Waning. New Moon is when the Moon lies between the Earth and the Sun. About 4 days after a New Moon we see a Waxing Crescent shape Moon facing west. By the 7th day we see a 'Half' or First Quarter Moon which rises at noon and sets a midnight. On the 12th day we see a Gibbous Moon. On the 15th night we have a Full Moon, which always comes up around 6pm and sets at 6am. Last Quarter comes up around midnight and sets at midday. A waning crescent comes up around 3am and sets around 3pm. That is why you can see the moon in the afternoon skies.
|
