Hi, I used my planeterium software package The Sky (Software Bisque) for Mars at your location and todays date and it came up with following data:
Mars Rise: 16:37 Transit: 23:53 Set: 07:15 RA:17h 19m 39.6s Dec:-26d 40' 48" Azm:77d 05' 09" Alt:+71d 30' 08" with Refraction: +71d 30' 28" Phase:99,773 Apparent magnitude:-2,34 Heliocentric ecliptical coordinates : l=265d 51' 18.2" b=01d 05' 40.6" r=1,463930 Geometric geocentric ecliptical coordinates : l=+260d 58' 59" b=-03d 33' 27" r=0,450762 Mean geometric ecliptical coordinates : l=+260d 58' 42" b=-03d 33' 26" r=0,450768 True Equatorial: RA=17h 19m 39s Dec=-26d 40' 50" Physical Data Dec. Earth = 4,05d, Dec. Sun = -0,34d Position angle: Longitude of central meridian: : 202,28 Defect of illumination: : 0,05 Position angle: : 67,32 Apparent angular diameter : 20,76 I assumed that you are in the UT-7 hour time zone (Mountain) and on DST Take care and good observing, PS: Here in Santiago (33.5 S - 70.5 W) Mars culminates practically in the zenith and it's a beautiful sight in my AP155 refractor (6"-f/7). Daniel VERSCHATSE >> Hi Gianni and others: >> The summer solstice will be a little unusual this year because several >> astronomical events will occur on this day. There will be a total eclipse >> of the sun (in Africa), and Mars will be in conjunction with the Earth. >> (It >> will be at its closest distsance in many many years). Because a total >> solar >> eclipse implies a new moon, the sky will be nice and dark for viewing >> Mars. >> The night of June 21, I'd like to look at Mars with the telescope (I saw >> it >> last night, it's really big!). Since Mars is low in the Southern sky, near >> Scorpio, optimal viewing conditions will be when Mars is at culmination ( >> its highest alititude above atmospheric interference along the horizon). >> This will happen sometime in the early morning hours I think. Here's my >> question : How can I determine the time of culmination of Mars for June >> 21 >> at Latitude 32.5*N, Longitude 111*W? I need to set the alarm clock! >> Thanks >> John >> John L. Carmichael Jr. >> Sundial Sculptures >> 925 E. Foothills Dr. >> Tucson Arizona 85718 >> USA >> Tel: 520-696-1709 >> Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> Website: <http://www.sundialsculptures.com> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Gianni Ferrari" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> To: "Sundial Mail List" <[email protected]>; >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Sent: Monday, June 18, 2001 2:45 AM >> Subject: R: meridian or culmination ? >> > Hallo Alain, >> > >> > in astronomy the two words "meridian passage" and "culmination" are >> > (almost) synonymous and therefore I think that, in the software of >> which >> > you speak, they are used for the same phenomenon. >> > >> > In page 724 of the Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac >> we >> > may read: >> > " CULMINATION : culmination passage of a celestial object across the >> > observer's meridian; >> > also called "meridian passage." More precisely, culmination is the >> passage >> > through the point of greatest altitude in the diurnal path. Upper >> > culmination (also called "culmination above pole" for circumpolar stars >> and >> > the Moon) or transit is the crossing closer to the observer's zenith. >> Lower >> > culmination (also called "culmination below pole" for circumpolar stars >> and >> > the Moon) is the crossing farther from the zenith." >> > >> > The height above the horizon at upper culmination of a celestial body >> with >> > Declination = d is H_uc = 90 - Lat + d (measured from South) or = >> 90 >> + >> > Lat - d if measured from North >> > >> > For example with Lat = 50d , if the declination of the Sun is d = 20d , >> we >> > have H_uc=60 d (measured from South) >> > For a star with declination = 80d we have H_uc=60d measured by North >> > >> > The height above the horizon at lower culmination of a celestial body >> with >> > Declination = d is >> > H_lc = Lat + d - 90 (measured from North) >> > >> > For example with Lat = 50d, if the declination of the Sun is d = 20d , >> we >> > have H_lc= -20d (the Sun is under the horizon) >> > For a star with declination d = 80d, we have H_lc=+40d >> > >> > For a place with Lat = 75d and with the Sun with d = 20d , we have at >> upper >> > culmination H= +35 measured from South and at lower c., H = + 5 >> measured >> > from North (the Sun doesn't set) >> > >> > Regards - >> > >> > Gianni Ferrari >> > >> > ----- Original Message ----- >> > From: Alain MORY <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > To: <[email protected]> >> > Sent: Saturday, June 16, 2001 10:25 PM >> > Subject: meridian or culmination ? >> > >> > >> > > >> > > Hello, >> > > >> > > I was surprised to sea a software dedicated for astronomy showing >> other >> > > times for "passage au méridien" and for "culmination" of the sun. >> > > >> > > Why is there such a difference between these two notions ? >> > > >> > > Alain MORY >> > > 48°N 7°E >> > > >> > > >> > >> > >> >
