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Astronomy/What planet is this?
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Question
QUESTION: I live in Michigan. Satuday morning about 4 am I was looking in the upper sky westward. The sky was clear and to the upper right of the moon was a planet. It didn't blink so I assume it was a planet. Was that Venus I saw?
ANSWER: John.
Actually, it was Mars. Its orange-red color was washed out by the Moon.
Steve
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Steve,
Just wondering. I would like to buy a basic telescope with not too many frills. Can you sggest one.
John
Hi John.
Go to orion telescopes at:
www.telescope.com
Look for their XT-6 Classic Dobsonian or the XT-8 Classic Dobsonian.
The two best scopes that money can buy for the amateur Astronomer. Actually, As a professional Astronomer, I have the 8 inch.
Both will show great views of the Moon, Saturn, Venus, Jupiter and the brighter Messier objects such as the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, etc. Mars just looks like an orange ball in either of them.
The 8 inch will give you better views of the Messier objects. If you can afford the x-tra bucks, get the 8 inch!
Steve
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Answers by Expert:
Steven LJ Russo
Expertise
As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.
Experience
Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.
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