observations p2

Date: March 17-18, 2012
Time: dusk - 12 PM
Place: Charlotte Harbor
Sky Conditions: clear and with no moon
Instruments Used: eyes

Planets: Jupiter and Venus, with Venus finally above Jupiter, in the western sky while Mars rose in the eastern sky as Jupiter and Venus set.

Bright Stars noted: Rigel, Betelgeuse, Sirius, Procyon, Aldebaran, Castor, Pollux, Capella, Polaris, and Arcturus.

Constellations noted: Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Cassiopeia, maybe Pegasus and Andromeda, Monoceras, Gemini, Bootes, Ursa Major and Minor,


Other:
Mars and Arcturus both shown a very similar bright orange-red color but because Arcturus was so close to the horizon it flickered rather violently. when clouds would cross in front of Venus, a small halo would form and it looked rather similar to a halo the full moon occasionally creates. the final and greatest thing of note was the rotation of the sky. At the beginning of the night Ursa major was in the eastern part of the north sky and Cassiopeia was near dead center along the north-south line in the sky. by 12, Ursa major was taking Cassiopeia's place and Cassiopeia was nearly hitting the horizon.