Jupiter is sure to delight all who view it, from professional observatories to amateurs with handheld binoculars. Make sure to check out its four Galilean moons and see if you can make out colorful cloud bands or the Great Red Spot. If you’ve ever considered dabbling in planetary imaging, tonight (adjacent to a dark new moon) would be the perfect night to start!
The date (near March 21 in the northern hemisphere) when night and day are nearly the same length and Sun crosses the celestial equator (i.e., declination 0) moving northward. In the southern hemisphere, the vernal equinox corresponds to the center of the Sun crossing the celestial equator moving southward and occurs on the date of the northern autumnal equinox. The vernal equinox marks the first day of the season of spring.
If you live south of the equator, this is your Fall Equinox.
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/VernalEquinox.html
National Weather Service issued a wind advisory predicting “WINDS… NORTHWEST 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 50 MPH” until 22:00 (10 PM) EDT. Â Combined with forecasts of bad seeing and frigid wind chills, tonight won’t be suitable for observing with the public.
Please read the C.M. Crockett Page for park details.
The event is cancelled due to bad weather conditions being predicted. See front page of NOVAC Site for changes to event. More information about Great Meadow including directions and parking visit the Great Meadow Site page.