[Launch Alert] Jupiter and Venus Closing In

Tue Aug 30 22:35:08 EDT 2005

                             LAUNCH ALERT

			            Brian Webb
		         Ventura County, California
		         E-mail: kd6nrp at earthlink.net
	         Web Site: http://www.spacearchive.info

				            2005 August 30 (Tuesday) 19:20 PDT
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                    JUPITER AND VENUS CLOSING IN

Observers in the Southwest and other areas can enjoy another planetary
pairing this week as Jupiter and Venus have an apparent near-miss. The
planets will move closer over the next few evenings until their
closest approach on September 1.

>From Los Angeles, Jupiter and Venus will be separated by less than
1.3° at dusk on Thursday. The pair should be visible to the unaided
eye low in the west after sunset for about 90 minutes. At that
time, Venus will be to the lower left of the much fainter Jupiter.

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                              QUESTIONS

Over the years I've received numerous questions from Launch Alert
readers. Since many of you may have the same questions, I've decided
share some of the more common or relevant questions and my responses.
They are as follows:

1. Can you please change my e-mail address?

   Launch Alert was set up to allow people to subscribe, change
   addresses, and unsubscribe on their own. For help, go to:

     www.spacearchive.info/newsletter.htm

   If you consulted the above page, but are still having problems
   managing your account, feel free to contact me. I'll get things
   squared away.

2. Will I be able to see the next launch from my location?

   Go to www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm.

3. What is the best location to see the next launch?

   Again, refer to www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm.

4. Did Vandenberg launch something last night?

   If you didn't receive a Launch Alert about an upcoming launch
   within the past few days, they probably didn't launch anything.

   You might want to check my chronological listing of Vandenberg
   launches. It's usually updated a day or two after each launch. The
   location is:

     www.spacearchive.info/vafblog.htm

5. Is there a telephone number I can call to see if a launch is still
   on schedule?

   Sources of countdown/launch status information are provided at:

     www.spacearchive.info/vafbview.htm.

6. Can I have your cell phone number so I can call to find out what's
   going on if a launch doesn't go on time?

   I only give that number out to a very few people. During many night
   launches, I'm sleeping and not terribly receptive to phone calls.
   When I'm in the field for a launch, I'm usually quite busy. Also,
   my phone doesn't work from my favorite launch viewing location.

7. What happened to the impressive evening twilight launches?

   Vandenberg conducted several dusk launches between 1997 and 2000.
   The majority of these were in support of the U.S. missile defense
   program. Beginning in 2001, these launches began to occur at
   different times of day.

8. Do you have a photo of the latest launch that you can send me?

   I maintain a photo distribution list and share a small number of
   launch-related images each year. If you'd like to be added to the
   list, let me know.

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		       VANDENBERG AFB LAUNCH SCHEDULE
			       As of 2005 August 30

		        Launch
		      Time/Window
  Date		 (PST/PDT)	           Vehicle	   Pad/Silo
--------	   -----------------	   -------------	   --------

SEP 7 	   To be announced	   Minuteman III	  LF-04
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads. Impact area is the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the
central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a few
days in advance. GT-187GM-1

SEP 14 	   To be announced	   Minuteman III	  LF-09
ICBM test launch (non-orbital). Payload is one or more unarmed
warheads. Impact area is the Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein in the
central Pacific. The Air Force will announce the launch window a few
days in advance. GT-189GM/ALCS

SEP 23 	   Unknown			   Minotaur	 	  SLC-8
Payload is STP-R1 satellite

SEP 29 	   03:01:05-03:01:06	   Delta II	 	  SLC-2W
Payload is the CloudSat and CALIPSO environmental satellites

SEP 30 	   To be announced	   Delta IV	 	  SLC-6
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the launch time about 24-hours in advance. NRO L-22

OCT 19 	    To be announced	   Titan IV	 	  SLC-4E
Classified National Reconnaissance Office payload. The DoD will
announce the launch time about 24-hours in advance.

NOV? 	          10:00-13:00?		   Falcon I	        SLC-3W
Payload is the Naval Research Laboratory's TacSat-1 satellite. The
launch window is fixed and does not change if the launch date changes.

NET DEC         To be announced	   Delta IV	 	  SLC-6
Payload is the DMSP F-17 military weather satellite

DEC 	          Unknown			   Minotaur		  SLC-8
Payload is COSMIC scientific satellites

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	         Southern California Astronomical Events
			       for 2005 September

			  Time
  Date		(PST/PDT)				Event
--------		---------		-----------------------------

SEP 1			20:00			Uranus Opposition
Uranus is opposite the Sun with respect to Earth and rises at sunset.

SEP 2			05:00			Planetary Conjunction
Jupiter 1.3° north of Venus

SEP 3			11:45			New Moon
Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun and is invisible. Moon rises
at sunrise and sets at sunset

SEP 3-4		---			Dark Sky Weekend
Best time this month to observe faint objects. Amateur astronomers may
hold observing sessions at dark sites

SEP 6			~17:00		Lunar Conjunction
The Moon passes 1.8° south of Jupiter. Time and separation computed
for the Earth's center and may vary significantly for other locations

SEP 11		04:37			First Quarter Moon
Moon rises at noon and sets at midnight

SEP 14		10:30			Iapetus Conjunction
Saturn's moon Iapetus (magnitude +11.0) is in inferior conjunction
with the planet and easy to find in moderate-sized amateur telescopes

SEP 15		~01:00		Lunar Conjunction
The Moon passes 5° south of Neptune. Time and separation computed for
the Earth's center and may vary significantly for other locations

SEP 17		19:01			Full Moon
Moon rises at sunset, sets at sunrise, and is visible all night

SEP 18		20:00			Mercury Superior Conjunction
Mercury passes behind the Sun and is lost in the Sun's glare.

SEP 21		16:00			Planetary Appulse
Jupiter and Spica 3° apart

SEP 24		23:41			Last Quarter Moon
Moon rises at midnight and sets at noon

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