(SNES) Sure Wish I Coulda Gone...

["Les Lytton" <Starman@SAMnet.net>]

What absolutely fantastic weather for Stellafane!!  Really wishing I could
have attended this year.  To all who attended, I am very envious of you right
now!

Just a quick note to remind everyone that in the early morning hours after
midnight tonight, Earth will enter the main debris stream left by comet
Swift-Tuttle, and Perseid Show 2002 will commence.  The experts are predicting
the highest volume of meteors will actually occur during daylight hours
tomorrow for the U.S. However, this also means that tomorrow night's show may
well be as good as (or even better than) tonight's performance.

Perhaps I shouldn't say anything about this, because ole Mr. Murphy never
stops lurking, but with this fantastic break in the weather we're presently
having, this year's Perseid shower will be only the 2nd time in the past 12
years that it hasn't either been pouring rain (as it did last year), or
clouded out for New England observers.  There... I said it!  Please don't
shoot me if something goes sour now.

For those of you who won't be able to do a wee hours vigil tonight, not to
despair.  The three day-old moon's very thin crescent will be parked right
beside Venus just above the western horizon as the sun sets this evening.
Venus is presently shining at nearly its maximum brilliance, and the moon will
only have 11% of its surface lit by the setting sun.  These two brightest
objects of the night sky should present a very picturesque (hint, hint) sight
indeed.  They should be in just about perfect position for a photo session in
9:00 o'clock's twilight tonight, but you'll have to be ready, because they
will both be below the western horizon within about 45 minutes.  If you can't
take a picture, at least treat yourself to the view.

Last, but certainly not least, another quick reminder regarding asteroid 20002
NY40's Earth grazing approach a week from tonight, on the 17th/18th, when it
will be bright enough to be tracked by 7x50 binoculars from Aquarius through
Lyra (just past Vega) and then across the eastern edge of Hercules, before it
turns its dark side to us and winks out.  NY40 is moving rapidly enough and
will be close enough to us that its angular velocity across the sky will be
close to 4 degrees/hour.  This means that its motion should be readily
discernable to viewers equipped with only binoculars.

And now, for the least...  I really hope all of SNE Gazer's astro-enthusiasts
are taking full advantage of these all too rare, gorgeous, moon-free, weekend
nights we're having right now, and logging non-stop lists of faint fuzzies!
If not, Shamonya!  (can you say 'Shame On You' 3 times real fast?)

Great observing tonight to all!

Les Lytton
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