• Timothy Johnson

Moon and Saturn

The brilliant gibbous moon will not be alone tonight when it rises more than an hour after sunset. It appears near the bright planet Saturn. The two celestial objects are in the zodiacal constellation Libra. The moon is two days past full moon and will look brilliant rising in the eastern sky.

The moon begins in the zodiacal constellation Scorpius, as far south in the zodiac as it gets. On Wednesday, the moon is last quarter and near the distant Pluto.

Comet PanSTARRS

What happened to Comet PanSTARRS? Well, it is still out there. More and more Vineyarders have spotted the comet since it passed close to the sun two weeks ago. It ha become easier to see, but is a disappointment to anyone who has seen a readily visible comet. Comet PanSTARR is barely perceptible low in the northwestern sky after sunset.

The only reports we’ve had are from observers who used binoculars to see the comet. Comet PanSTARRS is only visible for a short time in the early evening, before it gets too close to the horizon and sets. The sky has to be especially clear in the northwest. When using a pair of binoculars, the comet appears as a fuzzy star with a faint tail pointing away from the sun.

In the weeks ahead the comet will be even fainter, appearing more northward and higher above the horizon, but moving away from the sun.
 

Sunrise and Sunset
Day Sunrise Sunset
Fri., March 29 6:30 7:03
Sat., March 30 6:28 7:04
Sun., March 31 6:26 7:05
Mon., April 1 6:25 7:06
Tues., April 2 6:23 7:07
Wed., April 3 6:21 7:08
Thurs., April 4 6:20 7:09
Fri., April 5 6:18 7:10
Temperatures and Precipitations
Day Max (Fº) Min (Fº) Inches
March 22 43 27 *0.56
March 23 42 30 0.00
March 24 44 32 0.00
March 25 49 30 0.00
March 26 48 34 0.06
March 27 48 32 0.00
March 28 56 37 T

Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 45º F.

 

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