Observation 1.1

At 12:06 am I observed the moon and saw that it was a full moon.  The moon was very white, bright and appeared as if it were glowing.  I wasn't able to determine any constellations but I saw a very bright star which was located approximately 6 degrees from the moon.  

APOD 1.3

The Northern Lights are a spectacular scene of green light that spread through the sky.  This phenomena is called Aurora Borealis and can only be seen from northern latitudes.  This particular picture was taken from about 30 km east of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.  The lights span long distances such as the 180 degrees this one covered.  These lights are caused by energized particles in the upper atmosphere and they are green because of molecular oxygen.  

APOD 1.2

Charles Messier was an 18th century astronomer.  While observing he kept a list of objects that weren't comets.  This is list is called Charles Messier's Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters.  The object in the picture is Messier 27 or M27.  M27 is a gaseous emission nebula.  These are made when stars run out of nuclear fuel in their cores.  The outer layers are released into space while the atoms provide a glow of ultraviolet light.  The common name of this object is the Dumbbell Nebula.

APOD 1.1

This picture is very cool.  In the sky of the picture are 4 different planets and an important star.  The picture was taken from the top of Mount Lawu.  Above the mountains in the distance are the four planets; Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Saturn.  The star Regulus is also in the picture which is the alpha star in the constellation Leo.