Author: Potamus

Conjunctions and Parsecs

Potamus

Conjunction Junction, what’s your function?Hookin’ up words and phrases and clauses. Bob Dorough (Schoolhouse Rock) Conjunctions in grammar are small words that connect phrases or clauses, just like the lyrics of Conjunction Junction say, above. So sentences like “I like apples but I don’t like apple pie” can make sense because of the word “but.” In astronomy, conjunctions are when two objects in the sky are visually close to each other. There is no hard and fast rule of how

Continue readingConjunctions and Parsecs

2017 Eclipse, Part 2

Potamus

Speaking of time machines, it’s been quite a while since I’ve posted anything. Almost two years, in fact. Time to correct that. Since I mentioned I wasn’t really planning on taking photographs of the 2017 Great North American Eclipse, it was happenstance that I managed to capture some really good snaps through the camera that I did set up. It was placed on a tripod with a tracking mount, set to follow the sun, and take automatic exposures every 5

Continue reading2017 Eclipse, Part 2

The Great Eclipse of 2017

Potamus

August 21, 2017 has come and gone, and WOW what and entrance (and exit) it made! The Great Eclipse of 2017, viewed by people in 14 states, from an airplane, and on boats at sea, this Eclipse Across America was likely the largest viewed, photographed, and media covered single national event that wasn’t man-made. Of course, I had to get in on the action. We raveled to Hopkinsville, KY where two minutes and forty seconds of totality awaited us at

Continue readingThe Great Eclipse of 2017

Super Moon 2014

Potamus

What is a Super Moon? Coined in 1979 in an astrology magazine, the “Super Moon” is simply the full moon (or new moon) that occurs within 90% or closer of its closest possible approach to the Earth during a given orbit.  It’s also a lot easier to say than its astronomical term, perigee-syzygy Moon. Today at 2pm Eastren, the full moon will reach perigee just a hair under 220,000 miles from the Earth.  It will appear as much as 14%

Continue readingSuper Moon 2014

New Tool for Estimating Auroras

Potamus

NOAA has outdone themselves.  https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-30-minute-forecast is a new tool that not only estimates the strength of the current auroral conditions, but how easily they can be seen on the ground, which is where Astropotamus lives. Check it out, and make sure to say thank you to your congressperson the next time that NOAA’s funding comes up for renewal!