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 * * * SKY & TELESCOPE's SKYWATCHER'S BULLETIN - July 5, 2005 * * *

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Welcome to S&T's Skywatcher's Bulletin. More about the items below appears
on our Web site, SkyandTelescope.com, at the URLs provided. (If a link
doesn't work, just type the URL manually into your Web browser.) Clear
skies!
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DEEP IMPACT AND ITS AFTERMATH

If you've been looking for Comet Tempel 1 and not seeing it, at least
you're not alone. The comet has been fainter and more diffuse than
expected, and the crash of the Deep Impact probe -- so spectacularly
brilliant when seen close-up through the spacecraft's cameras -- was a lot
more subtle when seen from 83 million miles away. Still, the comet did
brighten noticeably within minutes as seen in big scopes under dark skies,
and it may remain somewhat brighter than normal for days or even weeks.
Read all about it, and use our finder chart with your (large) telescope:

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/article_1540_1.asp

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BRILLIANT VENUS, FAINT MERCURY

Bright Venus shines low in the west-northwest at dusk with much fainter
Mercury still near it, to its lower left. For the next few days they're
about 2 degrees apart, though Mercury continues to fade. Bring binoculars.
On Friday the 8th, the crescent Moon poses right above them:

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/article_1534_1.asp

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SKY AT A GLANCE

The Moon is new on Wednesday, July 6th. Watch the waxing crescent grow in
the west each evening starting on the 7th. Earth is at its 2005 aphelion
today:

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/ataglance

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(Advertisement)

SPAIN: Caves, Corks, Cuisine, and an Annular Solar Eclipse
September 25 - October 4, 2005

Join us in Spain and witness the 4-minute long annular eclipse of the Sun
on October 3rd. Led by Spanish historian and wine and food expert Cesar
Higueras, and by SKY & TELESCOPE magazine associate editor Paul Deans, you
will explore several of Spain's finest prehistoric cave-art sites,
discover wonderfully preserved medieval villages, visit famous museums,
and experience an annular eclipse from Madrid, all the while sampling
northern and central Spain's finest regional foods and wines.

This program is limited to 26 travelers, so make your reservation now.
Call 800-830-1998, visit www.tq-international.com, or send email to
TOURS{at}TQ-INTERNATIONAL.COM

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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
from Sky Publishing; send e-mail to permissions{at}SkyandTelescope.com or
call +1 617-864-7360 ext. 145.

Much more to see and do with the unaided eye, binoculars, or a telescope
is on our Web site at:

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/

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To change your address or unsubscribe from S&T's Skywatcher's Bulletin, or
to subscribe to S&T's Weekly News Bulletin (which highlights the latest
discoveries from the world's astronomical observatories), go to:

http://SkyandTelescope.com/shopatsky/emailsubscribe.asp

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