Sky & Telescope's Weekly Bulletin - May 12

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SKY & TELESCOPE'S WEEKLY BULLETIN - May 12, 2006
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Welcome to SKY & TELESCOPE's Weekly Bulletin. Images, the full stories
abridged here, and other enhancements are on our Web site at
http://SkyandTelescope.com

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THIS WEEK'S NEWS
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Jupiter's New Red Spot

Last April two teams of astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to
obtain our sharpest views of Jupiter's long-lasting, Earth-size storm:
"Red Spot Jr." Also known as Oval BA, in February the storm stunned
observers by suddenly and mysteriously changing color from white to
orange-red. The oval is now nearly identical in hue to the planet's
famous Great Red Spot (GRS). . . .

Joining the project as co-investigator is Christopher Go, an
accomplished amateur planetary imager from Cebu, Philippines, and a
member of the Astronomical League of the Philippines. It was Go who
discovered the color change last February 24th. . . .

http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1724_1.asp

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Mars Rovers Hunker Down for Winter

The longevity of NASA's Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and
Opportunity, is becoming the stuff of legend. Mission scientists had
hoped that the wheeled robots would each last 90 sols (Martian days) on
the surface and perhaps drive as far as 600 meters (2,000 feet). As of
early May, both rovers had passed the 800-sol mark; Spirit had traveled
6.8 kilometers (4.2 miles) and Opportunity 7.5 km. Combined, the twin
craft have shot more than 150,000 images and analyzed many dozens of
rocks. Most importantly, the rovers, reporting from opposite sides of
the planet, have confirmed suspicions that ancient Mars was indeed wet.


The rovers are showing their age, however. . . .

http://SkyandTelescope.com/news/article_1725_1.asp

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OBSERVING - SKY AT A GLANCE
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May 12 - 20

The double comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 is passing Earth this week,
just 6 million miles away. Moonlight in the sky will affect the view,
but to a lesser and lesser degree: the Moon is full on Friday night,
May 12th, and wanes to last quarter by the 20th.

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing...icle_110_1.asp

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OBSERVING - THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
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BRIGHTENING DOUBLE COMET

It's nearly at its closest now. Read what the comet has been doing, use
charts to find it with your binoculars or telescope, and see
breathtaking images that both professional and amateur astronomers are
shooting.

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/

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SHOP AT SKY (Advertisement)
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There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars

By Bob Crelin, Illustrated by Amie Ziner

Here's a perfect bedtime story to both entertain and educate children
about the effects of light pollution. Poetic and lyrical, this
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night sky while learning about the growing problem of light pollution
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http://www.ShopatSky.com/index.asp?P...OD&ProdID=1161

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Copyright 2006 Sky Publishing Corp. S&T's Weekly Bulletin is provided
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Stuart Goldman
Associate Editor http://SkyandTelescope.com
Night Sky Magazine http://NightSkyMag.com
49 Bay State Rd.
Cambridge, MA 02138