Amazing Photos of the Super Blood Wolf Moon of 2019! Follow the link and enjoy

Amazing Photos of the Super Blood Wolf Moon of 2019!  49 outstanding photos posted.

Yes, I am a science nerd. Nature is a wonder. I love amateur astronomy and watching events like the Super Blood Wolf Moon as it unfolded over this weekend. I did not make it out to Sadowski Park in Palmetto Bay to see if the Southern Cross Astronomical Society had an event.

I continue to blog about these events, such as 4 years ago, Jan. 27, 2015, Wolf Moon Star Party event in Palmetto Bay Friday, Feb 6, 7-10 PM - Family event hosted by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society, when we had the lesser, merely Wolf Moon event, neither a lunar eclipse or super.

Check our Space . com - always interesting.

Enjoy,

Eugene Flinn

Wolf Moon Star Party event in Palmetto Bay Friday, Feb 6, 7-10 PM - Family event hosted by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society

Recommended family celestial events scheduled by the Southern Cross Astronomical Society. Events are often on Saturday evening, so note that the Wolf Moon Star Party is set for a Friday: don’t be a day late to the party!

WOLF MOON STAR PARTY

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6th, 7-10 p.m. It's a Family Fun Night! Southern Cross Astros will show you the blazing winter skies in their hi-tech equipment arranged in the dark outback of the Fruit & Spice Park, 24801 SW 187 Ave., Homestead 33031(GPS) Spectacular views of brilliant Venus, Evening Star in the southwest (sets early) telescopic views of blue-green Uranus, Comet Lovejoy, star clusters overhead and bright Jupiter, surrounded by its four closest satellite moons, rising in the east by mid-evening and the past-full Wolf Moon.

Free admission includes tram rides in the Park, a big white Arctic Wolf to pet, refreshments at low cost, and campfire for roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. 305-247-5727. 

COMET WATCH

Southern Cross Astros invite you to peaceful Bill Sadowski Park & Nature Center, SW 176 /st./SW 79 Ave. 8-10:30 p.m. Saturdays to view Comet Lovejoy, the Great Orion Nebula, brilliant Venus early evening and bright Jupiter rising in the east mid-evening, star clusters and more in SCAS hi-tech equipment. Bring chairs, binoculars, telescopes. NO lights, alcohol, pets allowed in the Nature Preserve.

Note no parking areas: Parking tickets will be issued to cars parked on private property on SW 79 Ave.

Weather updates on SCAS Hotline: 305-661-1375 by 6:45 p.m. Saturdays.

Southern Cross safe solar viewing Saturdays 10:30 -Noon ticket entrance to Zoo Miami 12400 SW 152 St. See the powerful explosions leap off the solar surface 93 million miles distant.  305-661-1375x3.

A unique family nature produced event: Meteor shower to light up Memorial Day weekend - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com

Meteor shower to light up Memorial Day weekend - Miami-Dade - MiamiHerald.com
There is no admission fee.  Mother nature is putting on a free family time for you night owls (or very early risers).  As reported in the Miami Herald: there will be a never-before-seen meteor shower will light up the night Friday night/Saturday morning.

Between 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. is the best time to witness the May Camelopardalids meteor shower, according to NASA.

The comet dust shower could outshine the Perseid meteor showers, which peak in August.

More than 200 meteors per hour are expected to shoot from the comet this weekend. But the shower storm could be unpredictable since it will occur for the first time, said Dr. Lester Shalloway, president of the Southern Cross Astronomical Society.

Reports are that we can expect clear nighttime skies.  There is only a 15 percent chance of clouds that night, this according to the National Weather Service.

To get a full view of the shower, Shalloway recommends, getting out of the city.
“You don't need any equipment,” Shalloway said. “Just lie there and look up.”

The Southern Cross Astronomical Society will open its site at 23325 SW 217th Ave. in Homestead to the public Friday night for the shower. 

for additional information, please review the information on the official Southern Cross Astronomical Society website which notes: Possible Meteor Shower, Saturday, May 24, 2014:
Description In the early morning hours of Saturday, May 24, the Earth will pass through the debris field left behind by a small comet known as P/209 LINEAR. Astronomers are predicting that this interaction may result in a brief but intense burst of meteor activity that could range from dozens to hundreds of meteors per hour. Nothing is certain, but many mathematical models are predicting that this could be the most intense meteor shower in more than a decade.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/05/20/4127534/meteor-shower-to-light-up-memorial.html#storylink=cpy

Memorial Day planet parade: See Jupiter, Mercury and Venus

Memorial Day planet parade: See Jupiter, Mercury and Venus

Want to witness a show by nature? Read the entire article by Joe Rao, SPACE.com, for more information. Remember, there is a local group her in South Dade that meets on Saturday evenings and welcomes the public to view these celestial events.

A trio of bright planets is shining together in the sunset sky, a must-see night sky sight for stargazers this Memorial Day weekend.

Three planets — Jupiter, Venus and Mercury — can be now be seen in the western sky at dusk, weather permitting, in a rare and beautiful gathering that changes from night to night. Astronomers call a meeting of objects in the night sky a conjunction, but this planet parade is better described as a "Grand Conjunction." 

LOCAL VIEWING OPPORTUNITIES: Don't forget - Miami-Dade County's Bill Sadowski Park,and Nature Preserve a County Park is located in Palmetto Bay, 17500 SW 78th Ave, and is home to the Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS).  The members of SCAS hold open to the public events, putting out their telescopes each Saturday evening from 8 - 10:00 PM, "weather" permitting. It is a great event to come to view, solo or with friends and/or the family.

Earth Hour 2013

Is anyone doing anything tonight in South Dade for Earth Hour 2013? 

I have always enjoyed promoting this very simple event. It only takes dimming your lights for a single hour to make a statement (but promotes activities and conservation that should be practiced throughout the year). When I served as Mayor, I enjoyed invitations to enjoy some great candlelit outdoor parties to jointly mark the event.

CLICK HERE to view Gallery: "Earth Hour 2013 marked around the globe" Cities around the world have dimmed their lights to take part in WWF’s Earth Hour 2013. Sydney’s Harbor Bridge and the Opera House had their illuminating lights turned off for an hour as part of the annual environmental campaign to encourage people to turn off unnecessary lights and waste less energy. London landmarks including the Palace of Westminster, the London Eye and the Gherkin are set to dim their lights for an hour starting at 8.30pm on Saturday.

Go to Earth Hour.org for more information.

Hmm, in considering a great place to spend Earth Hour, I am thinking that it would be a great night to take the family to Bill Sadowski Park,and Nature Preserve a County Park in Palmetto Bay, 17500 SW 78th Ave, where the Southern Cross Astronomical Society puts out its telescopes each Saturday evening from 8 - 10:00 PM, "weather" permitting. It is a great event to come to view, solo or with friends and/or the family.  

Asteroids, meteors and now 2 upcoming comets. This will be a great year for those interested in astronomy. Next up: Comet Pan-Starrs

Two comets are beginning to make their way into our evening sky. How many of you will take an interest personally observing in these celestial events?  If so, are you ready for the next great evening fireworks show?

This is shaping up to be a very busy year for celestial events. This year has seen the expected close call from a passing asteroid with the unplanned meteor explosion over Russia, injuring thousands. The meteor certainly peaks some interest in many who formerly did not concern themselves with the possibility, or probability of Earth impacts during our lifetime.  See prior post of Feb 16, 2013, Close call documented. Meteor explodes over Russia.

First up is comet Pan-STARRS, which will possibly come into our view beginning March 7.  It will stay close to the horizon, so you'll need to get away from trees and buildings to see it

Comet ISON will pass by this year, but scientist is skeptical of "Comet of Century" predictions.

See CNN online: Welcome to the year of the comet (we hope), by Amanda Barnett, CNN, posted Sat March 2,2013.

More information can also be found at space.com. where you can already find video and photos posted online of comet ISON: NASA Probe Snaps Photos of Potential 'Comet of the Century'

 
Comets are part of our solar system, leftovers from the original creation. Modern astronomers have determined that comets originate from three areas: near Jupiter; the Kuiper belt which is bounded by the orbit of Neptune; or from a surrounding sphere called the Oort Cloud.

Don’t forget, we are blessed with the Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS) Star Gazing - Every Saturday evening from 8 to 10 pm at Miami-Dade County’s Sadowski Park, celestial observing at the free SCAS outdoor observatory where the public is welcome.

This is a great year to get interested in our night sky. It is a great family activity. Enjoy nature's night viewing over the next few months

Forget once in a blue moon: Planets Align February 25: Venus, Jupiter, Moon To Converge

Stargazers are in for a treat this weekend and Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay area residents have just the ideal area to go see it (after the Art Show during the day, and book signing, which ends at 8:30, of course)

This Saturday and again Sunday (Feb 25 & 26), Venus, Jupiter and Earth's moon converge for a brilliant night show. Read more about it NASA Science News, Feb 17, 2012: Cold and Spellbinding: An Alignment of Planets in the Sunset Sky

Locally, we all have to suppress a chuckle as we read the NASA Science News release about the event that kicks off with "Note to sky watchers: Put on your winter coats. What you’re about to read might make you feel an uncontrollable urge to dash outside."  Coat? Really? In this mild weather, so mild in fact you can't really type "winter" without placing it in quotes.

Regardless, this is an event that may finally get you out to Bill Sadowski Park,and Nature Preserve a County Park in Palmetto Bay, 17500 SW 78th Ave, where the Southern Cross Astronomical Society puts out its telescopes each Saturday evening from 8 - 10:00 PM, "weather" permitting. It is a great event to come to view, solo or with friends and/or the family.

What are your plans for 6:28 p.m. EDT (2228 GMT) on Nov. 8?

A really big space rock, a/k/a asteroid will pass between the moon and our Earth on November 8th.

The Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass within 201,700 miles (325,000 kilometers) of Earth at 6:28 p.m. EDT (2228 GMT) on Nov. 8.  Personally, I am still trying to figure out if we will be able to see this object streak across the sky on this date.  Can any of our friends at our local Miami/Palmetto Bay Southern Cross Astronomical Society assist me in finding out?

Comments posted on NASA’s Near Earth Object Program website:

Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 will pass within 0.85 lunar distances from the Earth on November 8, 2011. The upcoming close approach by this relatively large 400 meter-sized, C-type asteroid presents an excellent opportunity for synergistic ground-based observations including optical, near infrared and radar data. The attached animated illustration shows the Earth and moon flyby geometry for November 8th and 9th when the object will reach a visual brightness of 11th magnitude and should be easily visible to observers in the northern and southern hemispheres. The closest approach to Earth and the Moon will be respectively 0.00217 AU and 0.00160 AU on 2011 November 8 at 23:28 and November 9 at 07:13 UT.

For those of us who are not scientists, the explanation is that the asteroid will come within 202,000 miles of Earth, which is closer than the moon.  The average distance between Earth and the moon is 240,000 miles (386,242 km). This November 8 event will mark the closest visit by a space rock this size in more than three decades.  Reports are that  asteroid 2005 YU55  poses no change of hitting Earth, at least for this century. It comes closest, within about 167,000 miles, in 2094

Near-Earth asteroid 2005 YU55 is carbon-colored and dark, the asteroid measures some 1,300 feet wide. An object this size could really ruin our day if it ever hits the earth.