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 * * * SKY & TELESCOPE's SKYWATCHER'S BULLETIN - March 7, 2005 * * *

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Welcome to S&T's Skywatcher's Bulletin. More about the items below is on
our Web site, SkyandTelescope.com, at the URLs provided. (If the links
don't work, just type the URLs manually into your Web browser.) Clear
skies!
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ASTEROID OCCULTATION

On the morning of March 10th, the faint asteroid 98 Ianthe should occult
(cover) an 8th-magnitude star in Lupus for telescope users along a track
from Illinois through Florida to Brazil. The star will snap out of view
for up to 8 seconds. An occultation by Ianthe last year indicated that
this asteroid may have a satellite. For more about how and why to time
asteroid occultations, see the March SKY & TELESCOPE, page 70. For a
finder chart and other information, go to:

http://www.asteroidoccultation.com/2005_03/0310_98_3032.htm

To receive occultation news and updates regularly, subscribe to SKY &
TELESCOPE's AstroAlert for Occultations:

SkyandTelescope.com/observing/proamcollab/astroalert/article_332_1.asp

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SPOT A VERY YOUNG CRESCENT MOON

If you live in the southwestern U.S., Mexico, or Central America, you can
try to spot an extremely young crescent Moon (about 16 hours from new)
after sunset on March 10th. You'll need an observing site with a good
horizon view due west. Bring binoculars. See the article on spotting this
and other thin crescents in the February SKY & TELESCOPE, page 75, or:

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/article_1421_1.asp

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ALGOL IN ECLIPSE

Also on the evening of March 10th, the bright eclipsing variable star
Algol dips into eclipse for a few hours centered on 10:22 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time:

SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/variablestars/article_108_1.asp

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COMET MACHHOLZ PASSES POLARIS

The fading comet, still visible in binoculars, glows at 6th magnitude near
the North Star this week. Use our finder chart at

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1396_1.asp

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SKY AT A GLANCE

The Moon is new on March 10rd. Mercury is having a fine showing low in
evening twilight, Saturn shines high overhead, and Jupiter rises in the
east around 8 or 9 p.m. For more of what's happening in the night sky,
visit "This Week's Sky at a Glance":

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/ataglance

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NEAF 2005: SAVE THE DATE (Advertisement)

Don't miss the largest astronomy gathering on the East Coast! Cosponsored
by SKY & TELESCOPE and the Rockland Astronomy Club, the 14th
annual Northeast Astronomy Forum and Telescope Show will be held Saturday,
April 16th, through Sunday, April 17th. Mark your calendar for this
two-day event held in Suffern, New York. Shop for binoculars, telescopes,
eyepieces, software, books, and accessories from more than 80 on-site
vendors.

Keynote speakers include NIGHT SKY contributing editor Phil Plait, author
of BAD ASTRONOMY; world-renowned celestial cartographer Wil Tirion; and
Michael A'Hearn, principal investigator of NASA's Deep Impact mission to
Comet Tempel 1. For more information, visit:

http://rocklandastronomy.com/neaf.htm

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Copyright 2005 Sky Publishing Corp. S&T's Skywatcher's Bulletin is a free
service from the editors of SKY & TELESCOPE magazine. This bulletin may
not be redistributed or republished in any form without written permission
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