Astronomy buffs?

[njcruisingmom]

A question for any astronomy buffs out there. We are cruising from Bayonne to Bermuda in two weeks. DH and DD are stargazers, just bought a great new telescope and visit the local observatoryy regularly. Is there anything special they can do on the ship or in Bermuda to indulge their passion (telescope stays home, but they'll be bringing their binoculars.)

 

Thanks

[chitowngoose]

>Is there anything special they can do on the ship or in Bermuda to indulge their passion <

 

Are you familiar with this website?

 

http://www.heavens-above.com

[Tomm]

SPECTACULAR!

 

The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest

approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

 

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification

 

Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it w! ill rise in the east at 10p.m. and

reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.

 

By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history.. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

 

Share this with your children and grandchildren. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN . Take the telescope with you. The view, away from the city lights, is as clear as you can ever hope for.

[geoherb]

Mars was that close in 2003. Here's the Snopes.com page that gives info about it. It's not happening again this year.

[Phoenix cruiser]

To answer the original poster's question- of course there is always something to see in the heavens, but can you really see it onboard a cruise ship? My experience has been that is is VERY difficult to find a place on the ship where the lights are not obscuring good viewing. Onshore, if you are there at night and can get away from the populated areas, than you might have a shot.