28 Jan
2011
28 Jan
'11
12:03 a.m.
Next Friday just after sunset when the sun is just below the horizon there will be a one day old moon 11 degrees away from the sun. The angle of the ecliptic and lunar orbit will position the moon so that it will appear like a boat above the horion. The moon will be 1 percent illuminated and you will need a clear west south west horizon but it should be a sight worth seeing. I learned this from the Jean Meeus book, forth in the series "Morsels" which I'm currently reading. I highly recomend the entire series I through V for anyone enjoys observational astronomy. Readings like these are how I make it through the cold and cloudy days of winter. DT