Tonight's full moon a once in a lifetime

[321]

June full moon, a "strawberry moon", falling on the summer solstice...the last one was apparently in 1967 and the next won't be until 2062.  Maybe worth a peek at the sky tonight.

[scifidude79]

And, of course, we're having cloud cover and rain right now.  Otherwise, I'd go out and look at it.

[321]

And, of course, we're having cloud cover and rain right now.  Otherwise, I'd go out and look at it.

You reminded me that every year that I've gone out to see the Southern Cross and Alpha Centauri, it's been cloudy.  Well, tonight there's not a cloud in the sky and the only time you can see the Southern Cross at my latitude is... summer solstice!  Totally forgot about it this year.  So, I just drove to the darkest spot where you can see the southern horizon and guess what?  I found out that you can't see it anyway.  There's just too much light pollution from the city of Orlando.  So now I know.

It wasn't a waste though.  There it was, Jupiter, Spica (a violet amethyst star), Mars, Saturn and the strawberry moon all lined up just beautiful.  What an incredible sight.  (yeah, I'm a nerd!)

In case anyone's wondering how I know what's what up there, I use http://neave.com/planetarium/

[Darth Justicar]

I didn't know the Southern Cross and Alpha Centauri were EVER visible from anywhere that wasn't basically right ON the equator.  Interesting!

[Xaeyon]

The Southern Cross is pretty high, I think. It only points south if you follow the shaft of the Cross were out meets a perpendicular line to the Pointers. From that point, look directly to the horizon below and that is South.

I wonder if I can still see this moon from Japan. I only found out now that it's the 21st :/

[Master Medwyn]

I think I'll wait till 2062 

[Noctis]

I saw it, but it was barely pink to me.  If someone hadn't told me to look very closely, I wouldn't have noticed.  The blood moon was cooler. 

[Darth Justicar]

I'm waiting for the American solar eclipse of 2017.  I already have travel plans since I have family with a house near enough to the path of totality that I can go stay with them and not have to scramble for a hotel room, which likely booked already LAST YEAR.

Plus since I'd be traveling to see family, my trip wouldn't be wasted if the weather went bad.

So excited: http://www.eclipse2017.org/2017/path_through_the_US.htm

[321]

Darth Justicar, that's definitely something worth visiting family for.  I was lucky enough to see the 1979 total eclipse while my eyes were still young and it was one heck of a show.

Now if only Betelgeuse would go supernova during a winter in our lifetime.. please, please!

[Darth Justicar]

As long as you tell it to point the gamma ray burst in another direction (assuming it's even the kind to emit one, which I don't know).

[321]

Hey, if you're going to see the 2017 eclipse, start thinking about how you're going to view it.  Good quality sun filters, etc. are probably going to be hard to come by next year with so much of the US in its path.

[Darth Justicar]

Don't worry, I'm already researching for viewing parties to see if I'll need to bring my own or if they'll be provided.