Newbury Astronomical Society: What's Up

What's up home page

The Planets

Speaker Meeting
Date:	Friday, March 26, 2010
Time:	19:30
Subject:	The Universe is trying to kill us!
Speaker:	Adrian West (Newbury AS)
Location:	United Reformed Church Hall, Newbury
Note:	This meeting is one week earler than normal because of the Winchester weekend.

Beginners Meeting
Date:	Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Time:	19:00
Location:	St. Mary's Church Hall, Greenham

Observing Session
An Evening Under the Stars
Date:	Saturday, March 20, 2010
Time:	19:30
Location:	Wilcot, nr. Pewsey, Wiltshire
Note:	This observing session will be held at Wilcot Village Hall, in Wilcot village near Pewsey. The postcode is SN9 5NN. Please contact Richard Fleet if you would like more information.

Special Meeting
Newbury AS trip to the Science Museum, London
Date:	Saturday, May 22, 2010
Time:	08:30
Location:	Newbury Railway Station
Note:	By coach from Newbury railway at 8.30am, Returning from London at 4.30pm Adults £15.00 Children 16 and under £10.00 Cheques payable to Newbury Astronomical Society. Contact Ann Davies . Phone 01635 30598

The Moon's Phase

about the moon

Solar Data

Sunspot activity

Aurora activity

Planetary Information
The start of spring this month in the northern hemisphere is marked by the spring equinox on the 20th with the Sun crossing the celestial equator at 17:30 GMT. This month, the clocks go forward one hour into British Summer Time. Add one hour to any times this month to get BST.

	Mercury	More about Mercury
	By far the best apparition of Mercury this year starts right at the end of the month after a March 15th superior conjunction. More details next month.	Average Distance from the Sun 35,983,095 miles (57,909,175 km) Equatorial Radius 1,516.0 miles (2,439.7 km) Length of day 58.646 Earth days Length of Year 87.97 Earth days Click here for more information...

	Venus	More about Venus
	Venus’ altitude is increasing slightly, but it is still a disappointing sight for now as it floats along the Western horizon. Passing through Pisces, Venus and the Moon lie 5° apart on the 17th at 0500 GMT and indicate the area of sky where Mercury will appear next month. The phase at the start and end of March are 98% and 94% respectively with the apparent diameter increasing a little to 10.5° by the end of the month.	Average Distance from the Sun 67,237,910 miles (108,208,930 km) Equatorial Radius 3,760.4 miles (6,051.8 km) Length of day 243 Earth days (retrograde) Length of Year 224.7 Earth days Click here for more information...

	Mars	More about Mars
	By mid-March, Mars lies due south at 0200GMT and it will become obvious to even casual observers that its apparent magnitude has faded quickly; from minus -.6 on the 1st to plus 0.2 on the 31st. As the planet’s apparent diameter diminishes as it moves away from the Earth, take the opportunity to use as high a magnification as your telescope can usefully stand and notice that the disk is showing a slightly gibbous phase. Actually, you are looking at only 90% of the sunlit surface.	Average Distance from the Sun 141,633,260 miles (227,936,640 km) Equatorial Radius 2,111 miles (3,397 km) Length of day 1.026 Earth days Length of Year 1.8807 Earth years Number of moons 2 Click here for more information...

	Jupiter	More about Jupiter
	Jupiter is slowly recovering from last month’s solar conjunction and remains poorly placed for observation this month.	Average Distance from the Sun 483,682,810 miles (778,412,020 km) Equatorial Radius 44,423 miles (71,492 km) Length of day 9.925 hours Length of Year 11.8565 Earth years Number of moons 62 Number of rings 3 Click here for more information...

	Saturn	More about Saturn
	Saturn is at opposition on the 22nd in the constellation of Virgo. The tilt of the ring system is approximately 3° with the planet’s north pole tilted towards us. The Moon lies 8° to the south of Saturn on the 2nd and the 29th.	Average Distance from the Sun 885,904,700 miles (1,426,725,400 km) Equatorial Radius 37,449 miles (60,268 km) Length of day 10.656 hours Length of Year 29.4 Earth years Number of moons 62 Number of rings Thousands Click here for more information...

	Uranus	More info...
	Uranus remains unfavourable this month.	Average Distance from the Sun 1,783,939,400 miles (2,870,972,200 km) Equatorial Radius 15,882 miles (25,559 km) Length of day 17.24 hours (retrograde) Length of Year 84.02 Earth years Number of moons 27 Number of rings 13 Click here for more information...

	Neptune	More info...
	Neptune remains unfavourable this month.	Average Distance from the Sun 2,795,084,800 miles (4,498,252,900 km) Equatorial Radius 15,388 miles (24,764 km) Length of day 16.11 hours Length of Year 164.79 Earth years Number of moons 13 Number of rings 9 Click here for more information...

	Pluto	More info...
	Pluto is currently in Sagittarius. At magnitude 14, it requires a large telescope to view it.	Average Distance from the Sun 3,670,050,000 miles (5,906,380,000 km) Equatorial Radius 715 miles (1,151 km) Length of day 6.387 Earth days (retrograde) Length of Year 247.92 Earth years Number of moons 1 Click here for more information...

Website designed by Paul Thompson.
Graphics based on designs by Adrian West.

The site is maintained by Paul Thompson and members of the Society committee.
The Society is a member of the Federation of Astronomical Societies and a registered charity.