Star Gazing

I got this information for a reliable friend, so I'm posting it here with hopes that you'll get to see this over the next few mornings. Thanks, Marvin Hines, for sharing this:

Rick Larson is a local lawyer, amateur stargazer who discovered some amazing things about the Christmas star by using simple astronomy/telescope programs. He gives a presentation each Christmas at Texas A&M, but now has a movie out.

He describes a unique star event happening in the next few days. This event will be impressive from today until about Monday, February 4, with the closest approach of the planets occurring on Friday, February 1.

For the next few days you can go out in your own yard and see an event similar to the Star of Bethlehem. Depending upon weather (and sleep habits), you may be able to see a close approach of Jupiter and Venus. Great viewing for the next few days. To see this spectacle, you'll need to look to the eastern sky just before dawn . Depending upon the terrain where you stand, you may first see the paired stars rising in the east around 5.40a. They'll appear later if there are trees or other obstructions on your horizon.

The show will continue until the Sun rises and washes everything out around 7.30a. So there's a good viewing window for many of you, even if you're not normally early risers. Do take a look! You'll probably be out of bed by 7 anyway, so go outside! Now, how does this compare to the Star of Bethlehem?

Here are some helpful units, starting with what you already know, but moving to things you probably DON'T know:
A full circle = 360 degrees
Visible sky = around 180 degrees
Width of a finger held at armslength = about 2 degrees
One degree = 60 arcminutes
Resolving power of unaided human eye = about 3 arcminutes
One arcminute = 60 arcseconds

With that background. You'll see this clearly! On February 1, the planets will be separated by around 35 acrminutes. The resolving power of the unaided human eye is about 3 arcminutes, so they will appear very close, but still separable. The 2 BC Star of Bethlehem occurred when the two planets came within about 35 arcSECONDS of one another. About 60 times closer! The two became inseparable by even the best human eyes.

Rick Frederick A. Larson
The Star Project
111 University Drive East,
Suite 220 College Station, Texas 77840-1700
USA (979) 846-6078
http://www.bethlehemstar.net/

This prayer was included, but I don't know who wrote it:
"Father, on Sunday we sing about your majesty displayed in your creation. But we get pretty accustomed to it. It's easy for us to overlook because it's always there. But one thing you did for our little planet is so unusual and so amazing! You left the top off. You gave us an atmosphere to protect and nourish us, but you made air TRANSPARENT. Like an open window. We little ones can simply turn our eyes up and see objects millions of miles away. We can see from the soles of our feet in our driveways straight out into infinity. It scarcely seems possible, Father. It is wonderful beyond belief. Thank you for leaving the top off! Thank you for letting us see deep wonders hanging in infinity. Thank you for arranging jewels in the sky to announce our Messiah! We come before you full of praise and wonder, and in the name of Jesus, amen!"