A few days up until the 27th for Mercury and moon conjunction. View with dark skies to the west and to ” Ten” percent new moon for best results.
Category: moon scapes
Mars photos 2025
Devon Island Artic 6 years ago
75°11’53″N 81°51’04″W
Devon Island is a large, uninhabited island located in the Queen Elizabeth Islands archipelago in the Canadian Arctic, part of Nunavut territory. It’s the second-largest island in the Queen Elizabeth Islands and the sixth-largest in Canada.
Relationship to Mars:
Devon Island has gained significant scientific interest due to its striking resemblance to the surface of Mars, earning it the nickname “Mars on Earth.” This makes it an ideal Mars analog environment for research and training related to future human missions to the Red Planet. Here’s why:
* Polar Desert Environment: Devon Island is a polar desert, meaning it is both extremely cold and dry, similar to the conditions on Mars. It receives very little precipitation, and temperatures can plummet to -50 °C in winter.
* Haughton Impact Crater: A major feature of Devon Island is the Haughton impact crater, a 23-kilometer wide crater formed by a meteorite impact about 39 million years ago. This crater and its surroundings offer a geological landscape that mimics various Martian features, including canyons, small gullies, and patterned ground. The presence of an impact crater is particularly relevant as Mars is heavily cratered.
* Barren, Rocky Landscape: Much of Devon Island is a barren plateau dominated by frost-shattered rocks, with minimal vegetation in many areas, creating a visual and environmental parallel to the Martian surface.
* Analog Research Stations: Because of these similarities, Devon Island hosts two primary Mars analog research facilities:
* Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS): Operated by the Mars Society, FMARS is a simulated Mars habitat designed to test habitat designs, tools, technologies, and crew selection protocols under conditions similar to Mars. Crews live and work in the station, conducting geological and biological exploration as if they were on Mars.
* Haughton-Mars Project (HMP): This international, multidisciplinary research project focuses on studying the Haughton impact crater and its surrounding terrain as a planetary analog, particularly for the Moon and Mars. It’s partially funded by NASA.
Researchers use Devon Island to:
* Conduct geological and biological studies: Investigating how life might adapt to extreme conditions, and studying geological processes that could occur on Mars.
* Test equipment and procedures: Evaluating rovers, life support systems, and extravehicular activity (EVA) procedures in a challenging environment.
* Train astronauts and researchers: Providing a realistic simulation of the isolation, confinement, and challenges of a long-duration space mission.
* Understand human performance: Studying how individuals and teams perform in isolated, confined, and extreme environments, which has direct applications for astronaut selection and support.
In essence, Devon Island serves as a crucial terrestrial laboratory, allowing scientists to prepare for the complexities and challenges of exploring Mars without leaving Earth.
Happy Galaxy Happy wife (life)
Editor’s note: with the fog of all the misinformation out there pls view this with a critical eye and we welcome any comments not abusive .PP
You’re in luck! June 2025 offers a couple of opportunities to observe the Moon and Mars in close proximity, creating what’s known as a conjunction. There’s even a special event called a lunar occultation for some observers.
Here’s a breakdown of the possible conjunctions in June 2025:
1. Early June Conjunction (around June 1st):
* When: Around June 1st, 2025.
* What to expect: The waxing crescent Moon will appear close to Mars.
* Visibility: Look to the west just after sunset. This will be a good naked-eye or binocular event.
* Constellation: Both will be in the constellation Leo.
2. Late June Conjunction and Lunar Occultation (around June 29th-30th):
* When: On the night of June 29th, extending into the early hours of June 30th, 2025.
* What to expect: The waxing crescent Moon will again pass close to and just below Mars. This will be an even closer approach than the earlier conjunction.
* Special Event: For some regions, a lunar occultation of Mars will occur. This is when the Moon passes directly in front of Mars, temporarily hiding the Red Planet from view.
* Visibility of Occultation: This rare phenomenon will be visible from specific locations, including western Peru, Ecuador, western Colombia, and Clipperton Island.
* Visibility of Conjunction (worldwide): Even if you’re not in the occultation zone, the close conjunction of the Moon and Mars will be visible worldwide. Look to the western horizon just after sunset. They will set a few hours later in the Northern Hemisphere.
* Constellation: Both will be in the zodiac constellation Leo.
* Observation: The pair will be close enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope, but also easily visible to the naked eye or through binoculars. Mars will appear as a small, reddish-orange disk.
General Tips for Observing Conjunctions:
* Find a clear view: Choose a spot with an unobstructed view of the western horizon, especially after sunset.
* Check local times: The exact times for moonrise, moonset, and conjunctions will vary depending on your specific location. Use online sky maps or astronomy apps to get precise timings for Merritt, British Columbia.
* Binoculars or a small telescope: While visible to the naked eye, binoculars will enhance the view, making Mars appear brighter and its small disk more apparent. A small telescope will offer an even better view.
* Look for the “ecliptic”: These conjunctions occur because both the Moon and Mars travel along the “ecliptic,” which is the approximate path the Sun, Moon, and planets follow across the sky.
Enjoy the celestial show in June!
Wax and Wane no pain
June 11th Full moon…
Atmospheric dome is busy.
Space X
Test failed at tasks
So, not the Moon or Mars this week.
Outside Mr. Mike’s restaurant on Monday the 3rd of March 2025 we noticed this alignment between the Moon and what we think was Venus and the point of the triangle would be. What is it?
It’s going to be a great time for stargazing in Merritt, BC in February and March 2025! Here’s a rundown of the planetary skyscapes you can expect, based on information available to me:
Planets Visible in Merritt
* Venus: Will be easily visible in the evening sky, shining brightly. It will be a treat to watch!
* Mars: Should be quite visible, offering perfect viewing conditions. It will be a reddish point of light in the night sky.
* Saturn: Will be visible shortly after sunset, but may be a bit challenging to spot as it will be close to the Sun. Try to find a spot with an unobstructed view of the horizon.
* Uranus: Will be visible after sunset. You’ll likely need binoculars to see it clearly.
* Neptune: Will be fairly close to the Sun, making it difficult to see. You might need binoculars, but only use them after the sun is completely down to avoid eye damage.
Tips for Skywatching
* Find a dark spot: Get away from city lights for the best viewing experience.
* Check the weather forecast: Clear skies are essential for stargazing.
* Use a sky chart or app: These tools can help you identify planets and other celestial objects.
* Be patient: It takes time for your eyes to adjust to the darkness.
Additional Resources
* Time and Date: This website provides detailed information about celestial events, including planet rise and set times, for Merritt: https://www.timeanddate.com/
* Spot the Station: You can check this website to see if the International Space Station (ISS) will be visible from Merritt during your stargazing sessions: https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/
Remember that the exact positions and visibility of planets can change, so it’s always a good idea to check a reliable astronomy resource closer to the dates you’re interested in.
Happy stargazing!
Things you can do under a wolf Moon.
Number one
Howl (think of Sir Anthony Hopkins who is now without a roof in Los Angeles or a home I guess.)
Think of the planetary alignment at this point. And how lucky we were that some of those big planets shielded us from the asteroid showers for a long time. Particularly, Jupiter and Saturn protected us from the asteroid belt. Now and as of January 21st they will all be lined up which means that they might not be protecting us from as many asteroids as they have before. However, the sky is falling is an ongoing event and thankfully we have early warning in most instances because of the science and technology sector.
The first full moon of the quarter century was a wolf Moon.
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 