Comments on: Skies Over West Seattle, August 2014: ‘Supermoon’ tonight, meteors this week…

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 23:56:59 +0000

Rick–yes indeed. :)

John–thanks for the tip!

Rob–yeah, for once I agree with him, but I’ll take most anything that gets people looking up as a gift. ;) And because I’m nitpicky I want to check his math, because I feel like the ratio would be even smaller than 16in:16.1in

TR–there are 5 this year, because new moons count too. It was a guy, Richard Nolle, about 35 years ago who wrote the definition. From there on it is just math, no declaration required, though debate is relevant. EarthSky.org has a nice history.

By: WSB

WSB — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:29:37 +0000

In reply to Robert.

Yes. But it’s fun to make a big deal of it anyway. July, August, and September full moons are all dubbed “Supermoons” this year, per whichever intergalactic authority is bestowing such designations. – TR

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 19:24:07 +0000

Neil deGrasse Tyson @neiltyson tweeted:

July’s full moon is to August’s “Super Moon” what a 16.0 inch pizza is to a 16.1 inch pizza. I’m just saying

By: John Sammons

John Sammons — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 14:23:10 +0000

Red top, outside of Cle Elum, is another fabulous spot for viewing!

By: Rick

Rick — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 13:48:19 +0000

My first lesson: take the lens cap off. And the moon was incredible.

By: Alice

Alice — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:41:54 +0000

Congratulations!!! Welcome to the hobby!
I was going to recommend either Captain’s Nautical on 15th (on the way to Ballard) or one of Seattle Astronomical Society’s monthly star parties on Greenlake.
Doing it all by yourself the first time is always a challenge.

By: The Smiths

The Smiths — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 06:06:56 +0000

WOOO! Took us 6 hours to finally see something, but we got our telescope working! (Operator error, of course!)

The moon is beautiful!

By: The Smiths

The Smiths — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 04:40:51 +0000

Hi Alice,
We have a new telescope (actually a gift 4 years ago and never used :( ) and we don’t know how to use it. We have read the instructions and are still not seeing anything. Is there any place local/in the city we can go to have someone show us how to use it?
Thanks,
The Smiths