Sky Roundup for February
Astronomical highlights for the month of February 2012
A Short Month Just a Little Longer
The month of February this year, a leap year, has 29 days, one more to let us see the winter sky. That extra day allows us to see all of the major phases (i.e., New, Full, First and Last Quarters) of the Moon. Had there been the usual 28 days of February, we’d just miss the First Quarter this month.
For American Indians, February's full Moon was called the Full Snow Moon, since the heaviest snow usually was known to fall during this month. It was also referred to as the Full Hunger Moon, due to harsh weather conditions, making hunting difficult.
Here’s a short rundown of the planets for this short month that’s just a little longer.
Mars in Leo (the Lion) appears as a brighter and bigger orange dot in the eastern sky as Earth in its orbit begins to catch up with the Red Planet in its own orbit. Where Mars appeared to be dropping out of Leo last month, the planet this month appears now to move slowly westward, that is, back into Leo and toward the bright star Regulus. This is an effect of playing catch-up. That is, as Earth catches up to Mars, the Red Planet seems to move backward (called retrograde motion) against the backdrop of stars in the night sky. (See Chart 1, below, for Mars at mid-month just after midnight.)
Opposite Mars is brilliant Venus still close to the western horizon this month. Moving amid the stars of Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) at the start of the month (see Chart 2, below), Venus appears against the backdrop of stars in Pisces (the Fishes) by the end of the month (see Chart 3, below). Note, too, that brightest planet begins to pair with the largest planet.
Jupiter now in Aries (the Ram), also rising earlier and earlier, can be found in the western sky all month long, setting before midnight (see Chart 3 again) and looking stunning when paired with Venus later in the month.
Saturn, in Virgo (the Maiden), remains parked in that constellation and is still visible in morning twilight before sunup. But, as with Mars, Saturn will exhibit retrograde motion, too, as Earth passes Saturn, making the Ringed Planet appear to drift westward back toward the star Spica (See Chart 4, below, at month’s end).
Still as in previous months, distant Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) is just visible before evening twilight in the western sky by mid-month. (See Chart 5.) Note that the tiny greenish dot of Uranus appears close to the brilliant large dot of Venus. (To find it in a telescope, use the red tick marks to show the location of Uranus close to Venus.) Also, note that the asteroid Ceres (now known as a dwarf planet) is also in the vicinity.
Distant Neptune is lost in the glare of the Sun.
For American Indians, February's full Moon was called the Full Snow Moon, since the heaviest snow usually was known to fall during this month. It was also referred to as the Full Hunger Moon, due to harsh weather conditions, making hunting difficult.
Here’s a short rundown of the planets for this short month that’s just a little longer.
Mars in Leo (the Lion) appears as a brighter and bigger orange dot in the eastern sky as Earth in its orbit begins to catch up with the Red Planet in its own orbit. Where Mars appeared to be dropping out of Leo last month, the planet this month appears now to move slowly westward, that is, back into Leo and toward the bright star Regulus. This is an effect of playing catch-up. That is, as Earth catches up to Mars, the Red Planet seems to move backward (called retrograde motion) against the backdrop of stars in the night sky. (See Chart 1, below, for Mars at mid-month just after midnight.)
Opposite Mars is brilliant Venus still close to the western horizon this month. Moving amid the stars of Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) at the start of the month (see Chart 2, below), Venus appears against the backdrop of stars in Pisces (the Fishes) by the end of the month (see Chart 3, below). Note, too, that brightest planet begins to pair with the largest planet.
Jupiter now in Aries (the Ram), also rising earlier and earlier, can be found in the western sky all month long, setting before midnight (see Chart 3 again) and looking stunning when paired with Venus later in the month.
Saturn, in Virgo (the Maiden), remains parked in that constellation and is still visible in morning twilight before sunup. But, as with Mars, Saturn will exhibit retrograde motion, too, as Earth passes Saturn, making the Ringed Planet appear to drift westward back toward the star Spica (See Chart 4, below, at month’s end).
Still as in previous months, distant Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) is just visible before evening twilight in the western sky by mid-month. (See Chart 5.) Note that the tiny greenish dot of Uranus appears close to the brilliant large dot of Venus. (To find it in a telescope, use the red tick marks to show the location of Uranus close to Venus.) Also, note that the asteroid Ceres (now known as a dwarf planet) is also in the vicinity.
Distant Neptune is lost in the glare of the Sun.
If it’s clear during the nights from February 23rd to 25th, be certain to look at the grouping of the waxing crescent Moon with both Jupiter and Venus in the western sky after sunset. It should be an eye-catching sight even without binoculars or telescopes. (See Chart 6 above.)
In this short month, get in an extra day to do some extra observing.
In this short month, get in an extra day to do some extra observing.
Sky Roundup Alamanac for February 2012
February 7: Full Moon
February 14: Last Quarter Moon
February 21: New Moon
February 29: First Quarter Moon
February 14: Last Quarter Moon
February 21: New Moon
February 29: First Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for January
Astronomical highlights for the month of January 2012
Just Yet, Let's Not Shelve Twenty-Twelve
It’s over! We’re doomed! The end is nigh! The world will end in 2012!
So said the Mayans. And those gullible enough to follow the hype.
Oh, how the prognosticators have given us up for lost. Please, don’t believe it.
No one knows for certain when the world will end, not the day, not the hour, let alone the Mayans. And besides, their interpretation is not what’s been popularly told. Theirs was not an end to all, but an end to a long cycle in their calendar. For them, the end of that cycle was a time to anticipate the renewal of life and a new beginning.
More than anything for 2012, this is a genuine time for us, too, to start with a fresh set of eyes and a refreshed perspective for what can be, and not for what the imaginings of others may want us to believe. Don’t be hasty, don’t be anxious. There’s plenty enough to get nervous about when the real end-of-times comes, whenever that will be.
So, relax. Grab your binocular or telescope and go outside. Take time to let your eyes adapt to the dark. And let’s start off this year right with some decent down-to-Earth observation of the night sky above.
Mars in Leo (the Lion) remains that pale orange dot seen rising earlier and earlier and still dropping slowly out of Leo in the eastern sky. (See Chart 1, below, for Mars at mid-month just after midnight.)
By midnight, Jupiter in Pisces (the Fishes), also rising earlier and earlier, can be found nearly opposite Mars and in the western sky all month long. (See Chart 2, below, for its location in the western sky.)
While gazing in the direction of West just after sunset, it will be obvious to spot brilliant Venus closing in on the west-southwestern horizon. (See Chart 3, below.)
Saturn, in Virgo (the Maiden) all last year and remains so this month, still sits near Spica, the Maiden’s brightest star, visible in morning twilight before sunup. (See Chart 4, below.) Saturn, the wizened old chap who’s traditionally interpreted as Father Time on New Year’s Eve, appears as a great look through a modest telescope. The rings of that distant, cold, slow-orbiting world are showing up better and better due to their increasing inclination as seen from our vantage on our home planet Earth.
Still as in previous months, distant Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) and even farther Neptune in Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) are still available to be glimpsed, but are increasingly obscured in evening twilight. (Scroll well down to see last month’s charts to locate these planets, as their position in the sky hasn’t changed much.) More to the point, these two distant planets are getting close enough to the western horizon at sunset and thereafter where good observation decreases in the night sky.
Of course, let’s not forget Earth’s nearest neighbor, the Moon. The waning gibbous Moon is near Mars on Jan. 14th. (See Chart 5, below.) The Last Quarter Moon moves near Saturn in the southeastern sky by 3 a.m. on Jan. 16th (see Chart 6, below). The Moon, a day before the phase of First Quarter, also finds itself next to Jupiter on Jan 29th (see Chart 7, below).
So said the Mayans. And those gullible enough to follow the hype.
Oh, how the prognosticators have given us up for lost. Please, don’t believe it.
No one knows for certain when the world will end, not the day, not the hour, let alone the Mayans. And besides, their interpretation is not what’s been popularly told. Theirs was not an end to all, but an end to a long cycle in their calendar. For them, the end of that cycle was a time to anticipate the renewal of life and a new beginning.
More than anything for 2012, this is a genuine time for us, too, to start with a fresh set of eyes and a refreshed perspective for what can be, and not for what the imaginings of others may want us to believe. Don’t be hasty, don’t be anxious. There’s plenty enough to get nervous about when the real end-of-times comes, whenever that will be.
So, relax. Grab your binocular or telescope and go outside. Take time to let your eyes adapt to the dark. And let’s start off this year right with some decent down-to-Earth observation of the night sky above.
Mars in Leo (the Lion) remains that pale orange dot seen rising earlier and earlier and still dropping slowly out of Leo in the eastern sky. (See Chart 1, below, for Mars at mid-month just after midnight.)
By midnight, Jupiter in Pisces (the Fishes), also rising earlier and earlier, can be found nearly opposite Mars and in the western sky all month long. (See Chart 2, below, for its location in the western sky.)
While gazing in the direction of West just after sunset, it will be obvious to spot brilliant Venus closing in on the west-southwestern horizon. (See Chart 3, below.)
Saturn, in Virgo (the Maiden) all last year and remains so this month, still sits near Spica, the Maiden’s brightest star, visible in morning twilight before sunup. (See Chart 4, below.) Saturn, the wizened old chap who’s traditionally interpreted as Father Time on New Year’s Eve, appears as a great look through a modest telescope. The rings of that distant, cold, slow-orbiting world are showing up better and better due to their increasing inclination as seen from our vantage on our home planet Earth.
Still as in previous months, distant Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) and even farther Neptune in Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) are still available to be glimpsed, but are increasingly obscured in evening twilight. (Scroll well down to see last month’s charts to locate these planets, as their position in the sky hasn’t changed much.) More to the point, these two distant planets are getting close enough to the western horizon at sunset and thereafter where good observation decreases in the night sky.
Of course, let’s not forget Earth’s nearest neighbor, the Moon. The waning gibbous Moon is near Mars on Jan. 14th. (See Chart 5, below.) The Last Quarter Moon moves near Saturn in the southeastern sky by 3 a.m. on Jan. 16th (see Chart 6, below). The Moon, a day before the phase of First Quarter, also finds itself next to Jupiter on Jan 29th (see Chart 7, below).
As one can plainly see, the untold span of the universe and the spinning Earth itself continue to run like clockwork, despite the alerts for its impending end. Don’t be guiled by the unfounded hype of shrill voices; rather, be drawn in by the quiet lure of the night sky’s own majesty.
Sky Roundup Almanac for January 2012
January 1: First Quarter Moon
January 9: Full Moon
January 16: Last Quarter Moon
January 23: New Moon
January 30: First Quarter
January 1: First Quarter Moon
January 9: Full Moon
January 16: Last Quarter Moon
January 23: New Moon
January 30: First Quarter
Sky Roundup for December
Astronomical highlights for the month of December 2011
The Night Before Christmas
Since 2009, Roy Kaelin's Sky Roundup for December has started with his parody of “A Visit of St. Nicholas” and that little tradition continues this year —with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through his house
A stargazer was stirring, clicking his mouse;
His mounting set up in the backyard with care,
In hopes that clearing skies soon would be there.
He could’ve been nestled all snug in his bed,
But visions of nebulae danced in his head;
And grabbing a kerchief to dust a lens from its cap,
He caffeined his brain to shun a long winter’s nap--
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter:
Away to his set-up he flew like a flash,
Hoping his ‘scope didn’t loosen and crash.
The moon, on the breast of new-fallen snow,
Gave a luster of mid-day to objects, ya’ know:
When, what to his wandering eyes should appear,
But a case full of eyepieces amid his old gear;
Fellow geeks always bought these, so lively and quick,
He knew in a moment they’d all be heartsick.
More lenses he now owned and savored his claim,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name--
“Now, Brandon! now, Nagler! now, Ethos! and Vixen!
No coma! Flat fields! Star parties I’m blitzin’;
To the top of each planet, to the top of Straight Wall,
I’ll dash to see nebulae, faraway all!”
He gathered his new gear, so pleased he might cry,
And carried all to his ‘scope, its mount to the sky,
So, up past his house-top his ‘scope aimed anew,
A case full of lenses—and such neat stuff too.
With stars all a-twinkling from heat off the roof,
The night sky unveiled its warp and its woof;
As he drew up a chair, and was turning around,
Down next to his ‘scope the ‘gazer came with a bound.
His parka lined in fur
From his head to his foot,
And his clothes came all furnished
With pockets to boot:
This new bunch of toys
He now kept near his back,
And he thrilled like a youngster
As he opened his pack;
His eyes how they twinkled!
Each eyepiece how merry--
Were just what he wanted,
Whence they came he was wary;
Ev’ry ocular gleamed
Each drawn up with a bow,
Who could’ve left them and
Left no tracks in the snow?
He thought for a bit
Of this season of year,
And thought it unlikely he’d
Earned such good cheer.
Still he was thankful
And humbled quite by it;
He vowed to do better
And stay on a diet.
He was chubby and plump--
His right jolly old self;
From too much late snacking
In spite of himself.
A wink of his eye,
And a twist of his head,
Soon gave him to know
Where each eyepiece might thread.
He spoke not a word,
But went straight to his work,
And logged all his sightings:
Then turned with a jerk,
And laying his pencil
Aside of his prose,
And giving a nod,
To his warm room he rose.
He sprang to its desk,
Jotted notes in a whistle,
And away he then flew
To look through a Plössl:
But all heard him exclaim
Ere he gazed in the night,
“Merry Christmas to all,
And to all A Clear Night.”
And to All a Clear Night
Most of the month of December keeps Midwestern folks burrowed indoors, either snow-bound or sheltered from the cold for long nights on end. For those who can afford the time and muster the attempt to venture out-of-doors, a clear night or two can reward your effort. Grab a binocular or a small scope and step outside. Here’s what to look for in the night sky this month.
Mercury dropped from view in Libra (the Scales) late last month, hidden in the glare of the Sun. By the start of this month, it’s still out of sight but becomes visible by mid-month in the morning sky back in Libra and straddling Scorpius (the Scorpion). By month’s end, the hot little world is sinking back toward the horizon in Ophiuchus (the Serpent-Handler) and is difficult to see. (See Chart 1, to show both Mercury in morning twilight at mid-month and Chart 2 for Mercury at month’s end. Scroll down for the sky charts. Clicking on the “1” shows the first chart.)
As it has emerged into the evening sky, brilliant Venus occupies the western sky after sunset, moving from Sagittarius (the Archer); by month’s end, Venus stands squarely in Capricornus (the Sea-Goat). (See Chart 3, for Venus at mid-month.)
Mars in Leo (the Lion) is still a pale orange dot rising earlier and earlier and is seen by month’s end, rising by midnight but dropping slowly out of Leo in the eastern sky. (See Chart 4 for Mars at month’s start and Chart 5 for Mars at month’s end. Note how the little red planet has moved through Leo by New Year's Eve.)
Slow-moving, majestic Jupiter in Aries (the Ram), also rising earlier and earlier, at the beginning of the month remains out all night till dawn for the whole month. By month’s end, the largest planet in our Solar System has passed into Pisces (the Fishes), always a welcome sight in a modest telescope. (See Chart 6, for its location in the eastern sky by evening twilight.)
Saturn, still in Virgo (the Maiden), sidling near to Spica, the Maiden’s brightest star, can be glimpsed well in a telescope at the month’s start in morning twilight before sunup. (See Chart 7.)
Just as in previous months, distant Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) and even farther Neptune in Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) are still available to be glimpsed, low and toward the west-southwestern sky by midnight, and still each only as a tiny dot. (See Chart 8, with red tick marks for Uranus's location; see Chart 9, with red tick marks for Neptune's location.)
The Moon always puts in a fine appearance in any clear sky when it is visible above our horizon. Not surprisingly, the Moon in December was known by American Indians as the Cold Moon or the Long Nights Moon.
Whether viewed bright and bold, riding high on a clear winter’s night, or seen low and lazy, drifting through humid summer’s haze, the Moon peers down at its faithful observers with a variety of faces, its constant change of phase, for our delight and wonder.
Yes, its movements are predictable, and, yes, its light washes out the fainter stars, galaxies, and nebulae, but the Moon itself is still an object of endless fascination. The subtle, slow, monthly play of light and shadow across the surface of the Moon at low- to medium-magnification through a decent scope offers a level of detail not seen with any other celestial object.
Ideal as a practice subject for sky photography, for sketching its detail at the eyepiece, and for the sheer enjoyment of moongazing, our nearest celestial neighbor does not disappoint for its steadfastness as a subject worthy of observation.
The waxing gibbous Moon appears next to Jupiter in the eastern sky in early evening on Dec. 6th (see Chart 10); the Last Quarter Moon moves near Mars by midnight on Dec. 17th by 2 a.m. (see Chart 11); and, as a waning crescent below Saturn on Dec. 20th by 5 a.m. before sunrise (see Chart 12).
Not to forget the distant planets, the waxing crescent Moon appears near Neptune (see Chart 9 again) low in the western sky by 10 p.m. (CST) on Dec. 1st and the waxing gibbous Moon near Uranus, same part of the sky, two nights later, by 11 p.m. (see Chart 8 again).
When all through his house
A stargazer was stirring, clicking his mouse;
His mounting set up in the backyard with care,
In hopes that clearing skies soon would be there.
He could’ve been nestled all snug in his bed,
But visions of nebulae danced in his head;
And grabbing a kerchief to dust a lens from its cap,
He caffeined his brain to shun a long winter’s nap--
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter:
Away to his set-up he flew like a flash,
Hoping his ‘scope didn’t loosen and crash.
The moon, on the breast of new-fallen snow,
Gave a luster of mid-day to objects, ya’ know:
When, what to his wandering eyes should appear,
But a case full of eyepieces amid his old gear;
Fellow geeks always bought these, so lively and quick,
He knew in a moment they’d all be heartsick.
More lenses he now owned and savored his claim,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name--
“Now, Brandon! now, Nagler! now, Ethos! and Vixen!
No coma! Flat fields! Star parties I’m blitzin’;
To the top of each planet, to the top of Straight Wall,
I’ll dash to see nebulae, faraway all!”
He gathered his new gear, so pleased he might cry,
And carried all to his ‘scope, its mount to the sky,
So, up past his house-top his ‘scope aimed anew,
A case full of lenses—and such neat stuff too.
With stars all a-twinkling from heat off the roof,
The night sky unveiled its warp and its woof;
As he drew up a chair, and was turning around,
Down next to his ‘scope the ‘gazer came with a bound.
His parka lined in fur
From his head to his foot,
And his clothes came all furnished
With pockets to boot:
This new bunch of toys
He now kept near his back,
And he thrilled like a youngster
As he opened his pack;
His eyes how they twinkled!
Each eyepiece how merry--
Were just what he wanted,
Whence they came he was wary;
Ev’ry ocular gleamed
Each drawn up with a bow,
Who could’ve left them and
Left no tracks in the snow?
He thought for a bit
Of this season of year,
And thought it unlikely he’d
Earned such good cheer.
Still he was thankful
And humbled quite by it;
He vowed to do better
And stay on a diet.
He was chubby and plump--
His right jolly old self;
From too much late snacking
In spite of himself.
A wink of his eye,
And a twist of his head,
Soon gave him to know
Where each eyepiece might thread.
He spoke not a word,
But went straight to his work,
And logged all his sightings:
Then turned with a jerk,
And laying his pencil
Aside of his prose,
And giving a nod,
To his warm room he rose.
He sprang to its desk,
Jotted notes in a whistle,
And away he then flew
To look through a Plössl:
But all heard him exclaim
Ere he gazed in the night,
“Merry Christmas to all,
And to all A Clear Night.”
And to All a Clear Night
Most of the month of December keeps Midwestern folks burrowed indoors, either snow-bound or sheltered from the cold for long nights on end. For those who can afford the time and muster the attempt to venture out-of-doors, a clear night or two can reward your effort. Grab a binocular or a small scope and step outside. Here’s what to look for in the night sky this month.
Mercury dropped from view in Libra (the Scales) late last month, hidden in the glare of the Sun. By the start of this month, it’s still out of sight but becomes visible by mid-month in the morning sky back in Libra and straddling Scorpius (the Scorpion). By month’s end, the hot little world is sinking back toward the horizon in Ophiuchus (the Serpent-Handler) and is difficult to see. (See Chart 1, to show both Mercury in morning twilight at mid-month and Chart 2 for Mercury at month’s end. Scroll down for the sky charts. Clicking on the “1” shows the first chart.)
As it has emerged into the evening sky, brilliant Venus occupies the western sky after sunset, moving from Sagittarius (the Archer); by month’s end, Venus stands squarely in Capricornus (the Sea-Goat). (See Chart 3, for Venus at mid-month.)
Mars in Leo (the Lion) is still a pale orange dot rising earlier and earlier and is seen by month’s end, rising by midnight but dropping slowly out of Leo in the eastern sky. (See Chart 4 for Mars at month’s start and Chart 5 for Mars at month’s end. Note how the little red planet has moved through Leo by New Year's Eve.)
Slow-moving, majestic Jupiter in Aries (the Ram), also rising earlier and earlier, at the beginning of the month remains out all night till dawn for the whole month. By month’s end, the largest planet in our Solar System has passed into Pisces (the Fishes), always a welcome sight in a modest telescope. (See Chart 6, for its location in the eastern sky by evening twilight.)
Saturn, still in Virgo (the Maiden), sidling near to Spica, the Maiden’s brightest star, can be glimpsed well in a telescope at the month’s start in morning twilight before sunup. (See Chart 7.)
Just as in previous months, distant Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) and even farther Neptune in Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) are still available to be glimpsed, low and toward the west-southwestern sky by midnight, and still each only as a tiny dot. (See Chart 8, with red tick marks for Uranus's location; see Chart 9, with red tick marks for Neptune's location.)
The Moon always puts in a fine appearance in any clear sky when it is visible above our horizon. Not surprisingly, the Moon in December was known by American Indians as the Cold Moon or the Long Nights Moon.
Whether viewed bright and bold, riding high on a clear winter’s night, or seen low and lazy, drifting through humid summer’s haze, the Moon peers down at its faithful observers with a variety of faces, its constant change of phase, for our delight and wonder.
Yes, its movements are predictable, and, yes, its light washes out the fainter stars, galaxies, and nebulae, but the Moon itself is still an object of endless fascination. The subtle, slow, monthly play of light and shadow across the surface of the Moon at low- to medium-magnification through a decent scope offers a level of detail not seen with any other celestial object.
Ideal as a practice subject for sky photography, for sketching its detail at the eyepiece, and for the sheer enjoyment of moongazing, our nearest celestial neighbor does not disappoint for its steadfastness as a subject worthy of observation.
The waxing gibbous Moon appears next to Jupiter in the eastern sky in early evening on Dec. 6th (see Chart 10); the Last Quarter Moon moves near Mars by midnight on Dec. 17th by 2 a.m. (see Chart 11); and, as a waning crescent below Saturn on Dec. 20th by 5 a.m. before sunrise (see Chart 12).
Not to forget the distant planets, the waxing crescent Moon appears near Neptune (see Chart 9 again) low in the western sky by 10 p.m. (CST) on Dec. 1st and the waxing gibbous Moon near Uranus, same part of the sky, two nights later, by 11 p.m. (see Chart 8 again).
There are always things to see in the night sky. The Sky Roundup column is just a sample of the highlights every month. Every clear night offers another opportunity to become more familiar with our celestial neighbors. Look up and observe as often as you are able.
For now, we finish out another year, with all of its flourishes and foibles, its good times and bad. We take a look back and try to put in perspective all that’s past. Some things will make sense; other things never will.
But dwell not too much on times gone by. Time to turn aside from all that we recall and instead look ahead. As trite as it sounds, we cannot change the past. But we certainly can adjust to the present as we find it, and consign ourselves to a more certain future with a renewed effort to work hard, see clearly, and keep focused.
We live in uncertain times, as every generation before us always has. It’s likely to be another year of highs and lows, so buck up and buckle up. Let’s look forward to this same time next year when we can say we had an excellent time and enjoyed the ride. Till then, watch the skies!
For now, we finish out another year, with all of its flourishes and foibles, its good times and bad. We take a look back and try to put in perspective all that’s past. Some things will make sense; other things never will.
But dwell not too much on times gone by. Time to turn aside from all that we recall and instead look ahead. As trite as it sounds, we cannot change the past. But we certainly can adjust to the present as we find it, and consign ourselves to a more certain future with a renewed effort to work hard, see clearly, and keep focused.
We live in uncertain times, as every generation before us always has. It’s likely to be another year of highs and lows, so buck up and buckle up. Let’s look forward to this same time next year when we can say we had an excellent time and enjoyed the ride. Till then, watch the skies!
Sky Roundup Almanac for December 2011
December 2: First Quarter Moon
December 10: Full Moon
December 17: Last Quarter Moon
December 21: Winter Solstice, i.e., astronomical start of Winter, 11:30 p.m. CST
December 24: New Moon
December 10: Full Moon
December 17: Last Quarter Moon
December 21: Winter Solstice, i.e., astronomical start of Winter, 11:30 p.m. CST
December 24: New Moon
Sky Roundup for November
Astronomical highlights for the month of November 2011
Thanksgiving Parade
Another month arrives and another holiday season comes upon us. For peoples and cultures past, this was the month to give thanks for the warm season just ended, the bountiful harvest just finished, the stocked larder just provisioned, and the flocks and herds rounded up and safely guarded.
In this country, a fine repast was prepared for family and friends, to celebrate and symbolize the significant annual milestone of mastering nature by one’s own industry and so making oneself ready to survive the onslaught of Winter.
Nowadays, most of us don’t need to farm, to hunt, or to herd. Most of us make certain we’ve simply notified the grocery store early enough to order a turkey, after it’s decided which house will hold the annual American ritual of conspicuous feasting.
During the day on Thanksgiving Day, another annual tradition, the Macy’s Day Parade is held in New York City and broadcast worldwide to announce the coming of Santa Claus and, as retailers hope, to kick off a frenzy of holiday shopping.
But there’s yet another tradition one can celebrate most of the month on any given clear night, namely, the custom of observing a parade of planets from dusk till dawn. Planets are always shining in the night sky and this month is no exception. No baton twirlers or marching bands, the quiet queue of our neighbors in space move noiselessly through the heavens, and we can glimpse most all of them, but it’ll take a little patience and persistence.
Let’s see who’s on parade this month.
Mercury (in Libra, the Scales) can only be glimpsed close to the horizon by the first of the month, as it emerges into the evening sky with Venus. (See Chart 1, below left, to show both Mercury and Venus in evening twilight at month’s start. Clicking on the “1” shows the first chart.) Both planets move close with one another till mid-month and into Sagittarius (the Archer); by month’s end, Venus remains near the top of the peaked lid of the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius while Mercury has dropped from view in the glare of the setting Sun. (See Chart 2, for Venus at month’s end.)
Mars (in Leo, the Lion) is still a pale orange dot rising well ahead of the Sun, but will grow slightly larger in angular size as it approaches opposition by next March. (See Chart 3, to show the red planet’s location in the eastern sky at 3 a.m. at month’s start. Click on the “3”.)
Just past opposition late last month, Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) still is visible from late night and through the wee hours till dawn for the whole month, making for a fine sight at medium-to-high magnification in a modest telescope. (See Chart 4, for its location in the western sky by morning.)
Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) is still too close to the Sun to be conveniently visible, but can be glimpsed in a telescope, and has emerged fully by month’s start into the morning sky. (See Chart 5.)
Distant Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and even farther Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) are still available to be glimpsed, toward the west-southwestern sky by midnight, and still each only as a tiny dot. (See Chart 6, with red tick marks for Uranus's location; see Chart 7, with red tick marks for Neptune's location.)
In this country, a fine repast was prepared for family and friends, to celebrate and symbolize the significant annual milestone of mastering nature by one’s own industry and so making oneself ready to survive the onslaught of Winter.
Nowadays, most of us don’t need to farm, to hunt, or to herd. Most of us make certain we’ve simply notified the grocery store early enough to order a turkey, after it’s decided which house will hold the annual American ritual of conspicuous feasting.
During the day on Thanksgiving Day, another annual tradition, the Macy’s Day Parade is held in New York City and broadcast worldwide to announce the coming of Santa Claus and, as retailers hope, to kick off a frenzy of holiday shopping.
But there’s yet another tradition one can celebrate most of the month on any given clear night, namely, the custom of observing a parade of planets from dusk till dawn. Planets are always shining in the night sky and this month is no exception. No baton twirlers or marching bands, the quiet queue of our neighbors in space move noiselessly through the heavens, and we can glimpse most all of them, but it’ll take a little patience and persistence.
Let’s see who’s on parade this month.
Mercury (in Libra, the Scales) can only be glimpsed close to the horizon by the first of the month, as it emerges into the evening sky with Venus. (See Chart 1, below left, to show both Mercury and Venus in evening twilight at month’s start. Clicking on the “1” shows the first chart.) Both planets move close with one another till mid-month and into Sagittarius (the Archer); by month’s end, Venus remains near the top of the peaked lid of the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius while Mercury has dropped from view in the glare of the setting Sun. (See Chart 2, for Venus at month’s end.)
Mars (in Leo, the Lion) is still a pale orange dot rising well ahead of the Sun, but will grow slightly larger in angular size as it approaches opposition by next March. (See Chart 3, to show the red planet’s location in the eastern sky at 3 a.m. at month’s start. Click on the “3”.)
Just past opposition late last month, Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) still is visible from late night and through the wee hours till dawn for the whole month, making for a fine sight at medium-to-high magnification in a modest telescope. (See Chart 4, for its location in the western sky by morning.)
Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) is still too close to the Sun to be conveniently visible, but can be glimpsed in a telescope, and has emerged fully by month’s start into the morning sky. (See Chart 5.)
Distant Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and even farther Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) are still available to be glimpsed, toward the west-southwestern sky by midnight, and still each only as a tiny dot. (See Chart 6, with red tick marks for Uranus's location; see Chart 7, with red tick marks for Neptune's location.)
Attending this parade is always the Moon, since its path fairly coincides with the paths of planets as seen from Earth. So, look for the waxing gibbous Moon near Neptune on Nov. 3rd (see Chart 8, with red tick marks showing Neptune’s location) and above Jupiter on Nov. 9th (see Chart 9).
The waning gibbous Moon moves beneath Mars after midnight on Nov. 19th (see Chart 10) and as a waning crescent below Saturn on Nov. 22nd before sunrise (see Chart 11).
By the way, for this month of November, American Indians knew Earth’s nearest neighbor as the Beaver Moon, for it was their custom at this time to set animal traps before swamps froze. Another custom this month instructs us to move our clocks back an hour as we move back to Standard Time. So, on Nov. 5th, be certain to change your clock, ending Daylight Saving Time.
If you’re fortunate to have family and friends to share a meal this holiday season, even if it isn’t at Thanksgiving, be thankful for their company and camaraderie. If they’re bold to venture out-of-doors, you can also invite them to sneak a peak at the celestial parade on display all month long. Show them it’s still a wide, wonderful universe for which to be thankful.
The waning gibbous Moon moves beneath Mars after midnight on Nov. 19th (see Chart 10) and as a waning crescent below Saturn on Nov. 22nd before sunrise (see Chart 11).
By the way, for this month of November, American Indians knew Earth’s nearest neighbor as the Beaver Moon, for it was their custom at this time to set animal traps before swamps froze. Another custom this month instructs us to move our clocks back an hour as we move back to Standard Time. So, on Nov. 5th, be certain to change your clock, ending Daylight Saving Time.
If you’re fortunate to have family and friends to share a meal this holiday season, even if it isn’t at Thanksgiving, be thankful for their company and camaraderie. If they’re bold to venture out-of-doors, you can also invite them to sneak a peak at the celestial parade on display all month long. Show them it’s still a wide, wonderful universe for which to be thankful.
Sky Roundup Almanac for November 2011
November 2: First Quarter Moon
November 5: From Saturday into Sunday, fall back an hour to Standard Time, ending Daylight Saving Time.
November 10: Full Moon
November 17: Last Quarter Moon
November 24: New Moon
November 5: From Saturday into Sunday, fall back an hour to Standard Time, ending Daylight Saving Time.
November 10: Full Moon
November 17: Last Quarter Moon
November 24: New Moon
Sky Roundup for October
Astronomical highlights for the month of October 2011
Colors of Fall
This month brings out Fall colors of crimson, gold, and pumpkin, as we celebrate Summer’s end and Autumn’s start. Cultures from centuries past have used this time, while the harvest was underway, to take stock of warm months just ended and prepare for cold times ahead. With barns and stables cleaned, and a season's debris piled high and lit as bonfires, folks made merry at month’s end to celebrate a successful crop and a stocked larder, a well tended flock and a healthy herd.
The familiar green of Summer has given way to an anticipated palette of warm autumnal hues. But these aren’t just the well known colors of trees that’ll eventually drop their leaves; rather, they are the hues, too, of celestial objects falling from the heavens. That is, meteors blazing through our atmosphere also show us a fair rainbow of warm, bright colors as well!
Go out after midnight on any clear night or rise before dawn and simply look up. Turn to any direction and take the chance of spying a stray meteor streaking across the sky. Its flash lasts only a moment, but the eye responds well to color, and meteors do show them. Observers routinely report a flaming red head, a golden yellow train, an orangey streak, or a greenish tail.
Meteors, known lyrically as falling stars, are more than bits of stray debris; for the most part, they are particles left behind from the passage of a comet. As Earth plows through the comet's wake, the particles not only burn up, but the high speed at which they blister through our atmosphere makes the air itself glow bright and hot, and just for a moment.
One particular meteor shower is on tap this month, namely, the Orionid shower that peaks on Oct. 21st. By the way, meteor showers get their name from the constellation out of which they appear to originate; in this case, it’s the pattern of Orion (the Hunter). You’ll definitely need to rise before dawn to see this since, for the season of Autumn, Orion is visible high in the sky before sunup. By Winter, Orion will dominate the night sky after sundown.
While you're outside looking for meteors, take a chance to spy a unique feature in the Solar System, namely, the zodiacal light. This is not a phenomenon in Earth's atmosphere; rather, it is the appearance of sunlight reflecting from meteoric particles out in space along the plane of our orbit. As seen from Earth, the zodiacal light appears as a wedge of soft light rising up from the horizon along the Zodiac. It's not visible year round, but is best seen either before sunrise from late September through early October or after sunset from late March through early April.
For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the zodiacal light has roughly the appearance of capital letter "A" with its apex tilted toward the south. With no Moon in the pre-dawn sky of early October, this is the best time to see this ephemeral pheomenon. For images of the zodiacal light, click here.
Let’s look for what else can be viewed in the sky this month.
Mercury (in Virgo, the Maiden) is lost in the glare of the Sun for the first of the month, but begins to emerge into the evening sky with Venus. Both planets move closer together for the remainder of October and are very nearly in conjunction by Hallowe’en, though their proximity to the Sun at sunset makes them dicey to see clearly. (See Chart 1. Clicking on “1” shows the first chart.)
Mars (in Cancer, the Crab) moves into Leo, the Lion, by month’s end and is still a pale orange dot rising well ahead of the Sun. (See Chart 2, to show the red planet's location. Click on the “2”.)
Like last month, Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) remains visible from late night and through the wee hours till dawn for the whole month, hanging by mid-month in the southeastern sky with the waning gibbous Moon after midnight till dawn. (See Chart 3. Click on the “3”.)
Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) is too close to the Sun to be conveniently visible for most of the month, but emerges by month’s end into the morning sky, still in the constellation Virgo where it has lingered for months. (See Chart 4.)
Faraway Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) are challenges for a modest telescope, but each can be glimpsed with sufficient magnification as a tiny dot. (See Chart 5, with red tick marks for Uranus's location; see Chart 6, with red tick marks for Neptune's location.)
The familiar green of Summer has given way to an anticipated palette of warm autumnal hues. But these aren’t just the well known colors of trees that’ll eventually drop their leaves; rather, they are the hues, too, of celestial objects falling from the heavens. That is, meteors blazing through our atmosphere also show us a fair rainbow of warm, bright colors as well!
Go out after midnight on any clear night or rise before dawn and simply look up. Turn to any direction and take the chance of spying a stray meteor streaking across the sky. Its flash lasts only a moment, but the eye responds well to color, and meteors do show them. Observers routinely report a flaming red head, a golden yellow train, an orangey streak, or a greenish tail.
Meteors, known lyrically as falling stars, are more than bits of stray debris; for the most part, they are particles left behind from the passage of a comet. As Earth plows through the comet's wake, the particles not only burn up, but the high speed at which they blister through our atmosphere makes the air itself glow bright and hot, and just for a moment.
One particular meteor shower is on tap this month, namely, the Orionid shower that peaks on Oct. 21st. By the way, meteor showers get their name from the constellation out of which they appear to originate; in this case, it’s the pattern of Orion (the Hunter). You’ll definitely need to rise before dawn to see this since, for the season of Autumn, Orion is visible high in the sky before sunup. By Winter, Orion will dominate the night sky after sundown.
While you're outside looking for meteors, take a chance to spy a unique feature in the Solar System, namely, the zodiacal light. This is not a phenomenon in Earth's atmosphere; rather, it is the appearance of sunlight reflecting from meteoric particles out in space along the plane of our orbit. As seen from Earth, the zodiacal light appears as a wedge of soft light rising up from the horizon along the Zodiac. It's not visible year round, but is best seen either before sunrise from late September through early October or after sunset from late March through early April.
For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the zodiacal light has roughly the appearance of capital letter "A" with its apex tilted toward the south. With no Moon in the pre-dawn sky of early October, this is the best time to see this ephemeral pheomenon. For images of the zodiacal light, click here.
Let’s look for what else can be viewed in the sky this month.
Mercury (in Virgo, the Maiden) is lost in the glare of the Sun for the first of the month, but begins to emerge into the evening sky with Venus. Both planets move closer together for the remainder of October and are very nearly in conjunction by Hallowe’en, though their proximity to the Sun at sunset makes them dicey to see clearly. (See Chart 1. Clicking on “1” shows the first chart.)
Mars (in Cancer, the Crab) moves into Leo, the Lion, by month’s end and is still a pale orange dot rising well ahead of the Sun. (See Chart 2, to show the red planet's location. Click on the “2”.)
Like last month, Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) remains visible from late night and through the wee hours till dawn for the whole month, hanging by mid-month in the southeastern sky with the waning gibbous Moon after midnight till dawn. (See Chart 3. Click on the “3”.)
Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) is too close to the Sun to be conveniently visible for most of the month, but emerges by month’s end into the morning sky, still in the constellation Virgo where it has lingered for months. (See Chart 4.)
Faraway Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) are challenges for a modest telescope, but each can be glimpsed with sufficient magnification as a tiny dot. (See Chart 5, with red tick marks for Uranus's location; see Chart 6, with red tick marks for Neptune's location.)
More than just looking for tiny dots seen in a telescope, the practice of observing meteors doesn’t require any magnification. Just look up, look around, and enjoy the chance to catch a vivid, fiery streak across the sky. So, for this month, look for colors by day as they fall from the trees and for colors by night as they fall from the sky.
Sky Roundup Almanac for October 2011
October 3: First Quarter Moon
October 10: Up to this date this month, the zodiacal light is visible before sunrise
October 11: Full Moon
October 19: Last Quarter Moon
October 21: Peak of Orionid meteor shower
October 26: New Moon
October 10: Up to this date this month, the zodiacal light is visible before sunrise
October 11: Full Moon
October 19: Last Quarter Moon
October 21: Peak of Orionid meteor shower
October 26: New Moon
Sky Roundup for September
Astronomical highlights for the month of September 2011
Remember
The hectic pace of life on our own world hits us squarely as we head into September. Every month, this brief column attempts to offer a small diversion from the swirl of the world’s frantic pace; still, the daily news reminds us of that frenzied gait events seem to take.
As we look back to our world ten years ago this month, we see how that world changed for us in these United States. Yes, the world did change, just as it did with the sudden turn of events in every generation since this country’s founding. Only more so for us for now, because we remember it first-hand. Still, we must remember the events of this and generations past to know how to live in the present and anticipate the future.
For a universe that runs like clockwork, the cosmos beyond our home planet becomes comprehensible through the science of astronomy, while events on Earth appear at times to be run by chaos. Science offers us many answers, but science in its best practice does not solve everything. Yes, it’s rational, it’s predictable, it's knowable. And its informed practice can conduct us along a knowable path, just as gravity guides planets in their orbits. But this is not to say that science alone should run our lives. More to the point, at the opposite extreme of an ordered universe, anarchy is not a governing strategy in the cosmos.
For this month, shut out the chaos by taking a moment to value the orderliness of the heavens.
Mercury (in Leo, the Lion) has emerged into the morning sky ahead of the Sun by the start of the month. (See Chart 1, below, for Mercury in morning twilight at month's start.)
Venus (also in Leo, the Lion), lost in the glare of the Sun most of the month, becomes just visible in evening twilight by month’s end.
As we look back to our world ten years ago this month, we see how that world changed for us in these United States. Yes, the world did change, just as it did with the sudden turn of events in every generation since this country’s founding. Only more so for us for now, because we remember it first-hand. Still, we must remember the events of this and generations past to know how to live in the present and anticipate the future.
For a universe that runs like clockwork, the cosmos beyond our home planet becomes comprehensible through the science of astronomy, while events on Earth appear at times to be run by chaos. Science offers us many answers, but science in its best practice does not solve everything. Yes, it’s rational, it’s predictable, it's knowable. And its informed practice can conduct us along a knowable path, just as gravity guides planets in their orbits. But this is not to say that science alone should run our lives. More to the point, at the opposite extreme of an ordered universe, anarchy is not a governing strategy in the cosmos.
For this month, shut out the chaos by taking a moment to value the orderliness of the heavens.
Mercury (in Leo, the Lion) has emerged into the morning sky ahead of the Sun by the start of the month. (See Chart 1, below, for Mercury in morning twilight at month's start.)
Venus (also in Leo, the Lion), lost in the glare of the Sun most of the month, becomes just visible in evening twilight by month’s end.
Mars (in Gemini, the Twins) moves into Cancer, the Crab, by mid-month and is still a pale orange dot rising well ahead of the Sun. By month’s end, Mars pairs with the well known star cluster, the Praesepe, making it a fine sight with good binoculars or low magnification in a modest telescope. (See Chart 2, above, for a close-up. Clicking on the "2" shows Chart 2.)
Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) remains visible from late night and through the wee hours till dawn for the whole month, hanging for an evening in the eastern sky with the gibbous Moon by midnight at mid-month.
Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) disappears in evening twilight shortly after sunset. It pairs with Venus by month’s end but the apparition is too close to the Sun to be conveniently visible.
Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) remain aloof on the evening sky all month, far from the periodic chaos on our world.
This month we’re reminded again what happens when chaos tries to rule our world, but the cosmos beyond our home world shows us a serene, orderly arrangement, one to savor as often as we can.
Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) remains visible from late night and through the wee hours till dawn for the whole month, hanging for an evening in the eastern sky with the gibbous Moon by midnight at mid-month.
Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) disappears in evening twilight shortly after sunset. It pairs with Venus by month’s end but the apparition is too close to the Sun to be conveniently visible.
Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) remain aloof on the evening sky all month, far from the periodic chaos on our world.
This month we’re reminded again what happens when chaos tries to rule our world, but the cosmos beyond our home world shows us a serene, orderly arrangement, one to savor as often as we can.
Sky Roundup Almanac for September 2011
September 3: First Quarter Moon
September 11: Full Moon
September 19: Last Quarter Moon
September 23: Autumnal Equinox, First day of Fall, at 4:05 a.m., CDT
September 26: New Moon
September 11: Full Moon
September 19: Last Quarter Moon
September 23: Autumnal Equinox, First day of Fall, at 4:05 a.m., CDT
September 26: New Moon
Sky Roundup for August
Astronomical highlights for the month of August 2011
An August Month
It’s an unhurried parade of several of the larger planets this month, and a time to kick back on a warm night to take in the grandeur of the heavens. All around, the languid pace of August, when traffic thins with neighbors out of town, gives those of us patrolling the home skies to enjoy clear nights and ponder them grandly.
Quick, little Mercury (in Leo, the Lion), an exception to a leisurely pace, stays out of the way most of the month. The small, hot world is only visible briefly in the evening sky at the beginning of the month, disappears in the Sun’s glare, and then emerges into the morning sky ahead of the Sun by month’s end. Like last month, it’s still tough for observers to see in the Northern Hemisphere. (See Chart 1 for Mercury in morning twlight at month's end. Clicking the "1" shows the first chart.)
Queenly Venus (moving from Cancer, the Crab, into Leo, the Lion), usually reigning the twilight skies of morning or evening with her customary brilliance, is lost in the glare of the Sun all month.
Dry, frosty Mars (in Taurus, the Bull), appearing more as a pale orange dot, makes a dim but pleasingly grand third in an orange triad with Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, and Betelguese, the brightest star in Orion, the Hunter. (See Chart 2 for Mars and orange stars. Clicking the "2" shows the second chart.) By mid-month, the cold, reddish planet passes without fanfare into Gemini, the Twins, marching toward the Sun with each passing day. By month’s end, the fourth planet from the Sun will have nearly crossed Gemini.
Quick, little Mercury (in Leo, the Lion), an exception to a leisurely pace, stays out of the way most of the month. The small, hot world is only visible briefly in the evening sky at the beginning of the month, disappears in the Sun’s glare, and then emerges into the morning sky ahead of the Sun by month’s end. Like last month, it’s still tough for observers to see in the Northern Hemisphere. (See Chart 1 for Mercury in morning twlight at month's end. Clicking the "1" shows the first chart.)
Queenly Venus (moving from Cancer, the Crab, into Leo, the Lion), usually reigning the twilight skies of morning or evening with her customary brilliance, is lost in the glare of the Sun all month.
Dry, frosty Mars (in Taurus, the Bull), appearing more as a pale orange dot, makes a dim but pleasingly grand third in an orange triad with Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus, and Betelguese, the brightest star in Orion, the Hunter. (See Chart 2 for Mars and orange stars. Clicking the "2" shows the second chart.) By mid-month, the cold, reddish planet passes without fanfare into Gemini, the Twins, marching toward the Sun with each passing day. By month’s end, the fourth planet from the Sun will have nearly crossed Gemini.
Like last month, slower moving, majestic Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) remains visible before dawn throughout the month and is always an appealingly regal sight through even a modest telescope.
Stately, wizened Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) ambles toward the horizon as the season progresses and stays visible for a couple hours by mid-month before setting early in the evening.
Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) continue to occupy a dignified, though lonely, refuge in a region of sky bereft of bright stars. A big telescope is the only way to behold these twin mysterious worlds---remote and imposing---moving slowly through the outer reaches of the Solar System.
While you're considering the skies in an august way, don't forget to watch for the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks every year on August 12th. Though meteors hardly move at a leisurely stride, this well-known annual display is worth staying out late on a summer's night to catch a few falling stars, especially this year. The light of a nearly Full Moon will flood the night sky, which will cut down on meteors seen, but another shower, the Delta Aquarids, will appear to peak with the Perseids, making for a lofty ceremony of fireworks.
It’s a month to brave humid evenings, to set up your favorite scope, to relish the sounds of the night, and to let noble thoughts soar across the vault of the heavens. Find your own relaxed pace to watch the planets, scan for meteors, and contemplate the cosmos, for next month it’s back to the hectic pace of life on our own world.
Stately, wizened Saturn (still in Virgo, the Maiden) ambles toward the horizon as the season progresses and stays visible for a couple hours by mid-month before setting early in the evening.
Uranus (in Pisces, the Fishes) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius, the Water-Bearer) continue to occupy a dignified, though lonely, refuge in a region of sky bereft of bright stars. A big telescope is the only way to behold these twin mysterious worlds---remote and imposing---moving slowly through the outer reaches of the Solar System.
While you're considering the skies in an august way, don't forget to watch for the Perseid meteor shower, which peaks every year on August 12th. Though meteors hardly move at a leisurely stride, this well-known annual display is worth staying out late on a summer's night to catch a few falling stars, especially this year. The light of a nearly Full Moon will flood the night sky, which will cut down on meteors seen, but another shower, the Delta Aquarids, will appear to peak with the Perseids, making for a lofty ceremony of fireworks.
It’s a month to brave humid evenings, to set up your favorite scope, to relish the sounds of the night, and to let noble thoughts soar across the vault of the heavens. Find your own relaxed pace to watch the planets, scan for meteors, and contemplate the cosmos, for next month it’s back to the hectic pace of life on our own world.
Sky Roundup Almanac for August 2011
August 6: First Quarter Moon
August 13: Full Moon
August 21: Last Quarter Moon
August 28: New Moon
August 13: Full Moon
August 21: Last Quarter Moon
August 28: New Moon
Sky Roundup for July
Astronomical highlights for the month of July 2011
Nigh in July
The season of Summer arrived last month as expected, and, with it comes the familiar warm-weather patterns of Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Scutum, standing due south by midnight mid-month. Scorpius (the Scorpion) hosts myriad Messier objects for your viewing pleasure as does nearby Sagittarius (the Archer) and Scutum (the Shield).
Mars (in Taurus, the Bull) and Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) are visible before dawn throughout the month. Venus (moving into Gemini, the Twins) appears too close to the Sun and near to the horizon from our vantage to be seen well. By the start of the month, Mercury (in Cancer, the Crab) has crept into the evening sky and is tough for observers to see in the Northern Hemisphere, but it pairs with the waxing crescent Moon on July 1st and 2nd.
Mars (in Taurus, the Bull) and Jupiter (in Aries, the Ram) are visible before dawn throughout the month. Venus (moving into Gemini, the Twins) appears too close to the Sun and near to the horizon from our vantage to be seen well. By the start of the month, Mercury (in Cancer, the Crab) has crept into the evening sky and is tough for observers to see in the Northern Hemisphere, but it pairs with the waxing crescent Moon on July 1st and 2nd.
Uranus (in Pisces) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius) sit in a part of the sky not know for bright stars, and, as in previous months, can only be glimpsed with a strongly magnified telescope. In the southeastern sky before dawn, a waning gibbous Moon stands near Uranus on June 21st and near Neptune on June 17th, making it chancy to spot either distant world. Better to look for both on a moonless night.
Saturn (in Virgo, the Maiden) continues to sit right next to the double star, Porrima.
Saturn (in Virgo, the Maiden) continues to sit right next to the double star, Porrima.
For July and August, the Milky Way arches nigh across the vault of the sky. That is, from our vantage, it stretches nearly from the north horizon to the south. And it’s the best time of year to see some of the more splendid Messier objects, clusters and nebulae, scattered throughout its glittering majesty. (See the chart, below.)
In times long past, before we thought to light the night sky with streetlamps and billboards, the Milky Way no doubt was both useful and contemplative to peoples around the globe. Surprisingly bright in skies away from artificial illumination, the Milky Way would serve as a calendar to encourage sowing and harvests, or, serve as a reminder of the path for the soul to wander toward an afterlife. To see just how bright, click here to view a time-lapse of the shadows cast by the light of the Milky Way.
Here in the Midwest, of course we won’t see the Milky Way as bright as folks did long ago, but it’s still there to behold, so don’t wait too much longer to see it, or it won’t be as nigh in the sky as now.
Here in the Midwest, of course we won’t see the Milky Way as bright as folks did long ago, but it’s still there to behold, so don’t wait too much longer to see it, or it won’t be as nigh in the sky as now.
Sky Roundup Almanac for July 2011
July 1: New Moon
July 8: First Quarter Moon
July 15: Full Moon
July 23: Last Quarter Moon
July 8: First Quarter Moon
July 15: Full Moon
July 23: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for June
Astronomical highlights for the month of June 2011
Observers Will Warm to June
The season’s night sky gradually turns over to the approaching season of Summer. The month of June warms us with the prospect of newer observations and warm weather fit to sit out all night with binoculars or a telescope.
The pre-dawn planetary traffic jam eases as both Mercury and Venus begin to disappear in the glare of the morning Sun by mid-month. Mars and Jupiter join in the line-up throughout the month, though all of the planets appear to move farther apart by month’s end. (See Chart 1, below.) By month’s end, Mercury creeps into the evening sky but is invisible to observers in the Northern Hemisphere.
Uranus (in Pisces) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius) sit well apart from the line-up, and, as in previous months, can only be glimpsed with a strongly magnified telescope. A slim waning crescent Moon moves between Mars and the Pleiades (in Taurus) in the eastern sky before dawn on June 29th. (See Chart 2, below, by clicking on the "2".)
The pre-dawn planetary traffic jam eases as both Mercury and Venus begin to disappear in the glare of the morning Sun by mid-month. Mars and Jupiter join in the line-up throughout the month, though all of the planets appear to move farther apart by month’s end. (See Chart 1, below.) By month’s end, Mercury creeps into the evening sky but is invisible to observers in the Northern Hemisphere.
Uranus (in Pisces) and more distant Neptune (in Aquarius) sit well apart from the line-up, and, as in previous months, can only be glimpsed with a strongly magnified telescope. A slim waning crescent Moon moves between Mars and the Pleiades (in Taurus) in the eastern sky before dawn on June 29th. (See Chart 2, below, by clicking on the "2".)
Saturn continues to sit in Virgo, right next to the star Gamma Virginis, also known by its common name, Porrima. Most common names for stars are Arabic, but Porrima is Latin and honors a Roman goddess of prophecy. One can probably predict that something interesting is found in this part of the sky, and, by mid-month, viewing Saturn in the western sky with a modest telescope by midnight will catch Porrima, a fine white double star, in the same field of view. (See Chart 3, above, by clicking on "3".)
In addition to the ever-present planets, the familiar constellations of Spring, like Cancer (the Crab), Corvus (the Crow), and Leo (the Lion) are gradually replaced in the evening sky with the glorious star patterns of Summer, like Scorpius (the Scorpion), Sagittarius (the Archer), and Scutum (the Shield). These constellations, immersed in the starry span of the Milky Way, make them especially great to view naked-eye or with binoculars, generally due south before midnight by mid- to late-month. (See Chart 4, above, by clicking on "4".) We’ll explore these more next month after Summer has officially started.
And, one more thing to warm us: the Summer Solstice does kick in on June 21st this year at 12:16 in the afternoon for us in the Midwest. Greet the new season with a light summertime lunch.
In addition to the ever-present planets, the familiar constellations of Spring, like Cancer (the Crab), Corvus (the Crow), and Leo (the Lion) are gradually replaced in the evening sky with the glorious star patterns of Summer, like Scorpius (the Scorpion), Sagittarius (the Archer), and Scutum (the Shield). These constellations, immersed in the starry span of the Milky Way, make them especially great to view naked-eye or with binoculars, generally due south before midnight by mid- to late-month. (See Chart 4, above, by clicking on "4".) We’ll explore these more next month after Summer has officially started.
And, one more thing to warm us: the Summer Solstice does kick in on June 21st this year at 12:16 in the afternoon for us in the Midwest. Greet the new season with a light summertime lunch.
Sky Roundup Almanac for June 2011
June 1: New Moon; Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter in line up before 5:00 a.m.
June 8: First Quarter Moon
June 15: Full Moon
June 23: Last Quarter Moon
June 21: Summer Solstice, 12:16 p.m., First Day of Summer!
June 29: Waning crescent Moon between Mars and Pleiades at 4:00 a.m.
June 8: First Quarter Moon
June 15: Full Moon
June 23: Last Quarter Moon
June 21: Summer Solstice, 12:16 p.m., First Day of Summer!
June 29: Waning crescent Moon between Mars and Pleiades at 4:00 a.m.
Sky Roundup for May
Astronomical highlights for the month of May 2011
May Planets Are Bloomin’ Pretty
With all of the rain last month, the old adage of April showers bringing May flowers is again proved correct. Already in yards and gardens across the Midwest, tulips and bluebells have bloomed and magnolia trees are in full blossom. Just an explosion of flora within the past week as the rains have let up.
Not to be outdone, the planets in the sky, like flowers on the ground, begin to open up with a new season of celestial finery for all to see every clear morning all this month.
It’s still a celestial traffic jam early in the morning in May. The first week of the month finds the planets Mercury and Venus paired closely while Mars and Jupiter crowd each other closer to the horizon. Uranus and more distant Neptune sit apart from the grouping and can only be glimpsed with a strong telescope, which might be problematic even in morning twilight. A very slim waning crescent Moon joins the morning parade of planets on May 1st and 2nd. (See Chart 1, below.)
Not to be outdone, the planets in the sky, like flowers on the ground, begin to open up with a new season of celestial finery for all to see every clear morning all this month.
It’s still a celestial traffic jam early in the morning in May. The first week of the month finds the planets Mercury and Venus paired closely while Mars and Jupiter crowd each other closer to the horizon. Uranus and more distant Neptune sit apart from the grouping and can only be glimpsed with a strong telescope, which might be problematic even in morning twilight. A very slim waning crescent Moon joins the morning parade of planets on May 1st and 2nd. (See Chart 1, below.)
As weather permits, look for the these planets to shift around one another in the pre-dawn sky throughout the month.
Famously ringed Saturn pairs with the bright star Spica in Virgo (the Maiden), just as where it has been visible for the last several months. It rises well after evening twilight, stays out all night long and all month long, and then sets by dawn. It pairs with the waxing gibbous Moon on May 13th and 14th in the western sky after midnight. (See Chart 2, by clicking on "2".)
Famously ringed Saturn pairs with the bright star Spica in Virgo (the Maiden), just as where it has been visible for the last several months. It rises well after evening twilight, stays out all night long and all month long, and then sets by dawn. It pairs with the waxing gibbous Moon on May 13th and 14th in the western sky after midnight. (See Chart 2, by clicking on "2".)
And, then, another neat planetary grouping in the morning by mid-month. Before the Sun rises, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter are found in a tight patch of pre-dawn sky all within the constellation of Pisces (the Fishes), similar to last month. And, like last month’s grouping, it’s likely tough to see if you don't have an uncluttered horizon. They're just visible, but better with optical aid, since they appear so close to the Sun that morning and on other mornings this month. (See Chart 3, by clicking on "3".)
And, again, like last month at month's end, on May 29th the waning crescent Moon joins this remarkable grouping, close to the eastern horizon, just ahead of the Sun. (See Chart 4, by clicking on "4".)
Like a row of pretty and unusual flowers making a rare springtime appearance together in the same garden, the planets put on a bloomin' show all month in May.
Like a row of pretty and unusual flowers making a rare springtime appearance together in the same garden, the planets put on a bloomin' show all month in May.
By the way, the first week of May this year is recognized as Astronomy Week and May 7th is Astronomy Day, a celebration of astronomy for the masses since 1973. Around the nation, schools, planetariums, museums, libraries, and nature centers host various outdoor and night-sky activities devoted to the advancement of the science of astronomy. In a host of other nations, too, similar day-long celebrations are held. To check for activities in your area, go to this link hosted by The Astronomical League or to this link sponsored by Astronomy Magazine or to this link for Sky and Telescope Magazine.
Sky Roundup Almanac for May 2011
May 1: Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter in tight grouping in pre-dawn sky
May 3: New Moon
May 7: Astronomy Day
May 10: First Quarter Moon
May 15: Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter in tight grouping in pre-dawn sky
May 17: Full Moon
May 24: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for April
Astronomical highlights for the month of April 2011
April's Not for Fools
This is the month for rain and jokes. No doubt we’ve heard the expression, “April showers bring May flowers.” Unless we’re experiencing a drought or a heat wave (and we’re not), that expression is usually true. Of course, cloudy, rainy weather doesn’t let us see the night sky.
And, on April 1st, it’s April Fools Day, a customary time to play practical jokes, or to get away with fibbing to someone, and then making it all good by saying “April Fool” or something to that effect. No one wants to be a fool or to be called one. But it’s all in good fun.
Well, if it doesn’t rain in your location, don’t be a fool and miss things in the night sky this month.
Brightly ringed Saturn still shines in Virgo (the Maiden), just as where it has been visible for the last several months. It rises after evening twilight, stays out all night long and all month long, and then sets by dawn. It reaches opposition on Apr. 3rd, which means that it appears its brightest as it is positioned in the sky opposite the Sun, hence the name of the apparition. It pairs with the Full Moon on Apr. 17th after midnight. (See Chart 1, below.)
And, on April 1st, it’s April Fools Day, a customary time to play practical jokes, or to get away with fibbing to someone, and then making it all good by saying “April Fool” or something to that effect. No one wants to be a fool or to be called one. But it’s all in good fun.
Well, if it doesn’t rain in your location, don’t be a fool and miss things in the night sky this month.
Brightly ringed Saturn still shines in Virgo (the Maiden), just as where it has been visible for the last several months. It rises after evening twilight, stays out all night long and all month long, and then sets by dawn. It reaches opposition on Apr. 3rd, which means that it appears its brightest as it is positioned in the sky opposite the Sun, hence the name of the apparition. It pairs with the Full Moon on Apr. 17th after midnight. (See Chart 1, below.)
But, then, look at this. By month’s end, it’s a celestial traffic jam in morning twilight. Before the Sun rises, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus are found in a narrow swath of sky all within the constellation of Pisces (the Fishes). It’s likely tough to see, since the grouping appears so close to the Sun that morning.
Add in Neptune, next door in Aquarius, and you have all the planets as seen from Earth, save Saturn. On Apr. 30th, the Moon joins this remarkable grouping, close to the horizon, just ahead of the Sun. (See Chart 2, above, by clicking on "2". Red tick marks point inward to the location of Neptune.)
Add in Neptune, next door in Aquarius, and you have all the planets as seen from Earth, save Saturn. On Apr. 30th, the Moon joins this remarkable grouping, close to the horizon, just ahead of the Sun. (See Chart 2, above, by clicking on "2". Red tick marks point inward to the location of Neptune.)
Don't be a fool; look up and be cool.
Sky Roundup Almanac for April 2011
April 3: New Moon; Saturn at opposition, rising as the Sun sets
April 11: First Quarter Moon
April 17: Full Moon
April 24: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for March
Astronomical highlights for the month of March 2011
Another Kind of Madness
Like clockwork every March, the airwaves crackle with crazed announcers calling the plays and relaying the action on basketball courts across the country.
If it’s the month of March, it must be time for March Madness, or, the barmy scramble of teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association to garner first place. From the First Four to the Final Four, the enthusiasm runs wild all month long (and even into April). And don't forget that the high schools are in on the madness, too.
But there’s another kind of madness that this month brings. It comes not with raucous shouting, but with quiet resolve.
It doesn’t involve wagered bets, because the outcome is not unknown. It’s not a meteorological madness, where one might anticipate warm weather as the thermometer climbs higher every day toward Spring.
And it doesn’t really last all month long. Most of this nutty feat only best takes place when there isn’t a Full Moon in the sky. And perhaps only for one night.
While fanatical sports enthusiasts will sit inside all month glued to their TV screens or radios for the NCAA finals, the devoted sky enthusiast will spend an all-nighter outside glued to his telescope’s eyepiece, reaching his goal to complete a Messier marathon. Is that zany or what?
It’s a certain special lunacy to hope for clear weather, plan for a night with no moon, set up your favorite telescope, brave the elements, and then spend all night trying to spot all 110 celestial wonders once catalogued by a Parisian astronomer. In a nutshell, that’s a Messier marathon.
As most serious amateur astronomers know, Charles Messier was a French comet-hunter of the late 1700’s who, from his observatory near Paris, logged numbers of uncertain objects in a quest to find comets. At the time, this was not crazy to do.
While fanatical sports enthusiasts will sit inside all month glued to their TV screens or radios for the NCAA finals, the devoted sky enthusiast will spend an all-nighter outside glued to his telescope’s eyepiece, reaching his goal to complete a Messier marathon. Is that zany or what?
It’s a certain special lunacy to hope for clear weather, plan for a night with no moon, set up your favorite telescope, brave the elements, and then spend all night trying to spot all 110 celestial wonders once catalogued by a Parisian astronomer. In a nutshell, that’s a Messier marathon.
As most serious amateur astronomers know, Charles Messier was a French comet-hunter of the late 1700’s who, from his observatory near Paris, logged numbers of uncertain objects in a quest to find comets. At the time, this was not crazy to do.
Not all of the objects he recognized at first when he observed them, so he kept track of their location. That way, he would not mistake them for a rogue comet during subsequent observations of the night sky.
In time, other astronomers puzzled out the significance of the celestial objects that Messier observed. Most Messier objects are clusters of stars, that is, galaxies, globular clusters, and open clusters. Others are various nebulae, that is, so-called planetary nebulae, emission nebulae, or supernova remnants. All are insanely fun to try and spot.
It’s also fun to gather a crowd, like bats in a belfry, to do your observing. Usually a more experienced marathoner can help the novices make the best use of their time locating the fainter or more diffuse objects.
In time, other astronomers puzzled out the significance of the celestial objects that Messier observed. Most Messier objects are clusters of stars, that is, galaxies, globular clusters, and open clusters. Others are various nebulae, that is, so-called planetary nebulae, emission nebulae, or supernova remnants. All are insanely fun to try and spot.
It’s also fun to gather a crowd, like bats in a belfry, to do your observing. Usually a more experienced marathoner can help the novices make the best use of their time locating the fainter or more diffuse objects.
To that end and during this month, several organizations have plans to get together and attempt a Messier marathon, weather permitting. It may sound insane, but most all-night observing sessions will likely take place on a moonless night, which this year means during the first week of March.
For example, for those in Illinois, check here for details on time and location of a marathon at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, sponsored by the Sangamon Astronomical Society. This appears to be one of the better organized, nearby sites, weather permitting.
For example, for those in Illinois, check here for details on time and location of a marathon at the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area, sponsored by the Sangamon Astronomical Society. This appears to be one of the better organized, nearby sites, weather permitting.
If you're planning to make some good use of your observation, the Astronomical League might like to hear from you. You can send your Messier observations to that organization if you follow these common-sense rules.
Perhaps you can’t make it to a location or you get clouded out this year. Not to worry, so don’t go round the bend. Just look here for prospective dates of future madness with a list of Messier marathons for the next 40 years!
Besides staying out all night for star clusters and nebulae, of course don’t forget to go batty with the planets and Moon this month:
Venus, in the constellation of Capricornus (the Sea-Goat) shines brilliantly above the southeast horizon before dawn, but is slipping closer to the Sun from our earthly vantage. It pairs with the waning crescent Moon in morning twilight on first day and last days in this month of springtime. (See Chart 1 for Mar. 1st; Chart 2 for Mar. 31st.) It’d be lunacy to miss those pairings.
Perhaps you can’t make it to a location or you get clouded out this year. Not to worry, so don’t go round the bend. Just look here for prospective dates of future madness with a list of Messier marathons for the next 40 years!
Besides staying out all night for star clusters and nebulae, of course don’t forget to go batty with the planets and Moon this month:
Venus, in the constellation of Capricornus (the Sea-Goat) shines brilliantly above the southeast horizon before dawn, but is slipping closer to the Sun from our earthly vantage. It pairs with the waning crescent Moon in morning twilight on first day and last days in this month of springtime. (See Chart 1 for Mar. 1st; Chart 2 for Mar. 31st.) It’d be lunacy to miss those pairings.
Mars remains maddeningly lost in the glare of the Sun all this month, while early in the month Uranus has disappeared from evening twilight and also has become hidden by the Sun’s light. That more distant world re-emerges into morning twilight by month’s end but cannot be seen in the Sun’s glare.
Stealthy, little Mercury is also lost in the Sun’s light early in the month, after which it creeps into evening twilight where it pairs with the ponderous planet Jupiter by the first week of this month. The smallest planet joins the largest planet, that’s wild! Adding to the wackiness in the western sky, the waxing crescent Moon joins in on Mar. 6th just above the western horizon at sunset. (See Chart 3, below, by clicking on "3".)
Stealthy, little Mercury is also lost in the Sun’s light early in the month, after which it creeps into evening twilight where it pairs with the ponderous planet Jupiter by the first week of this month. The smallest planet joins the largest planet, that’s wild! Adding to the wackiness in the western sky, the waxing crescent Moon joins in on Mar. 6th just above the western horizon at sunset. (See Chart 3, below, by clicking on "3".)
During evening twilight from Mar. 14th to 18th just above the western horizon, look for the small, hot, fleet-footed world as it slips past and up to the right of the large, bright, weighty one. (See Chart 4, below, by clicking on "4".) One would be loopy to pass on this passage.
Brightly ringed Saturn still shines in Virgo (the Maiden), just as where it has been visible for the last several months. It rises after evening twilight, stays out all night long and all month long, and then sets by dawn. It pairs with the waning gibbous Moon on the first day of Spring at midnight. (See Chart 5, below, by clicking on "5".) It’d be silly to miss this.
Distant Neptune crosses into the morning twilight just before mid-month but is difficult to see. By month’s end, though, it sidles past Venus, now in Aquarius (the Water-Bearer), before sunrise and toward the east-southeast.
On Mar. 27th, this distant, dim, bluish world can likely be glimpsed in the same low-power field of view with the closer, brighter, whiter world when the two appear one-half degree apart. Now there’s an insane apparition not often seen: Earth’s closest planetary neighbor paired with its farthest! (See Chart 6, below, by clicking on "6" and noting where red ticks locate distant Neptune near Venus.) Crazy!
On Mar. 27th, this distant, dim, bluish world can likely be glimpsed in the same low-power field of view with the closer, brighter, whiter world when the two appear one-half degree apart. Now there’s an insane apparition not often seen: Earth’s closest planetary neighbor paired with its farthest! (See Chart 6, below, by clicking on "6" and noting where red ticks locate distant Neptune near Venus.) Crazy!
And just to make things even crazier this month, Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 13th at 2:00 a.m. Be sure to set your clock ahead one hour, or you’ll have a maddening start to your morning the next day.
And if that isn't enough to make you nutty, look for a larger-than-usual Full Moon on Mar. 19th.
Lunar phases recur on the same dates just about every 18 years; in addition, as seen from Earth the Moon's closest approach (perigee) and farthest distance (apogee) can also coincide with full lunar phases, making the Full Moon appear smaller or larger than usual. This month is a big one.
By the way, if it feels as if the sap is rising and you’re getting giddy with the arrival of warmer weather, don’t forget, too, that Spring arrives this month on March 20th with the Vernal Equinox, when the Sun as seen from our vantage appears to cross the celestial equator to head higher in the sky during this next season.
This month is full of starry sights, galactic goodies, and planetary pairings for those committed to their passion for observing. Make no half-baked plans to go out and look. Get into the madness of March!
By the way, if it feels as if the sap is rising and you’re getting giddy with the arrival of warmer weather, don’t forget, too, that Spring arrives this month on March 20th with the Vernal Equinox, when the Sun as seen from our vantage appears to cross the celestial equator to head higher in the sky during this next season.
This month is full of starry sights, galactic goodies, and planetary pairings for those committed to their passion for observing. Make no half-baked plans to go out and look. Get into the madness of March!
Sky Roundup Almanac for March 2011
March 4: New Moon
March 5: A good night for a Messier Marathon, weather permitting
March 12: First Quarter Moon
March 19: Full Moon (Largest in 18 years due to lunar cycles; i.e., perigee coincides with Full Moon, making it look huge
March 20: Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring, at 6:21 p.m. CDT
March 26: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for February
Astronomical highlights for the month of February 2011
Airy February
The massive snowstorm sweeping the nation is packing a punch, so much so that the newsies have called it “snowmageddon” or the “snowpocalypse” or the “blizzaster” but it’s just closer to being a big blizzard. That's not to diminish the havoc a huge storm can wreak, but we should exercise common sense for safety and warmth during our travels in it and keep its significance in perspective.
After all, this is Winter in the Midwest, and one has to expect big storms from time to time. Of course, the snowstorm won’t last all month; it’ll blow through soon enough. In the wake of this fast-moving storm, though, it is the deep cold that is deadlier.
The frigid air, typical of a dense dome of atmosphere invading from the Arctic after a stormy spell, generally settles in quickly and can bring clear, cold, starry skies. Often, observers will welcome this as the best time to view the night sky, though the clarity comes at a price with the dangerous cold.
Of course, observers use common sense to dress warmly and limit one’s exposure. While good intentions push us to get in some diligent observation, the frosty reality seeps in to chill the bones sooner than we want. Don’t overdo it.
Know that commercial telescopes, as some are presently built, do not stand up to the cold for extended time outside. For example, lubricants tend to get sluggish and congeal; so, an oiled rack-and-pinion focuser may stick. Certain plastics can get brittle in extreme cold, so the occasional carrying handle can snap in frigid weather.
All this is not to discourage one from observing; rather, a simple recitation of things to watch for is helpful. So, to take advantage of the clear skies that cold, blustery weather can bring, have a look at some of the better celestial wonders in Winter.
Most every observer looks forward to Orion and the Winter Triangle of Betelgeuse (in Orion), Sirius (in Canis Major), and Procyon (in Canis Minor). (See Chart 1, below, in the slideshow.)
After all, this is Winter in the Midwest, and one has to expect big storms from time to time. Of course, the snowstorm won’t last all month; it’ll blow through soon enough. In the wake of this fast-moving storm, though, it is the deep cold that is deadlier.
The frigid air, typical of a dense dome of atmosphere invading from the Arctic after a stormy spell, generally settles in quickly and can bring clear, cold, starry skies. Often, observers will welcome this as the best time to view the night sky, though the clarity comes at a price with the dangerous cold.
Of course, observers use common sense to dress warmly and limit one’s exposure. While good intentions push us to get in some diligent observation, the frosty reality seeps in to chill the bones sooner than we want. Don’t overdo it.
Know that commercial telescopes, as some are presently built, do not stand up to the cold for extended time outside. For example, lubricants tend to get sluggish and congeal; so, an oiled rack-and-pinion focuser may stick. Certain plastics can get brittle in extreme cold, so the occasional carrying handle can snap in frigid weather.
All this is not to discourage one from observing; rather, a simple recitation of things to watch for is helpful. So, to take advantage of the clear skies that cold, blustery weather can bring, have a look at some of the better celestial wonders in Winter.
Most every observer looks forward to Orion and the Winter Triangle of Betelgeuse (in Orion), Sirius (in Canis Major), and Procyon (in Canis Minor). (See Chart 1, below, in the slideshow.)
While these are typical to look for, the nebulae and open clusters in this vicinity don’t lose their wonder to view.
The Great Nebula, aka M42, in Orion (the Hunter) is always worth a cold-weather set-up. Its intricate, wispy look appears the result of stellar winds blowing gaseous matter throughout its depth and breadth. (See Chart 2, below, in the slideshow.)
The Cone Nebula, aka NGC 2264, in Monoceros (the Unicorn) is also worth a look, all aglow in pink when imaged as an emission nebula. (See Chart 3, below, in the slideshow.)
The Great Nebula, aka M42, in Orion (the Hunter) is always worth a cold-weather set-up. Its intricate, wispy look appears the result of stellar winds blowing gaseous matter throughout its depth and breadth. (See Chart 2, below, in the slideshow.)
The Cone Nebula, aka NGC 2264, in Monoceros (the Unicorn) is also worth a look, all aglow in pink when imaged as an emission nebula. (See Chart 3, below, in the slideshow.)
The relatively nearby Rosette Nebula, aka NGC 2244, is often a challenge but appears as an airy, billowy showpiece when captured well by experienced astrophotography. (See Chart 4, below, in the slideshow.)
By contrast, the open clusters, M41 and M47, when seen close-up in Canis Major are tight, fine jewel-like collections of distant stars in a modest telescope. (See Chart 5 for M41 and Chart 6 for M47 in the sldieshow.)
Closer to home, let’s see how the planets appear in the frigid air of February:
Mars stays lost in the glare of the Sun all this month. And, though Mercury emerged from that same glare before sunrise last month, it dips back closer to the vicinity of the Sun, remaining invisible most of the month.
Venus, in the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer) still shines brilliantly above the southeast horizon before dawn. It pairs with the waning crescent Moon on the last day of this short month. (See Chart 7 in the slideshow.)
Closer to home, let’s see how the planets appear in the frigid air of February:
Mars stays lost in the glare of the Sun all this month. And, though Mercury emerged from that same glare before sunrise last month, it dips back closer to the vicinity of the Sun, remaining invisible most of the month.
Venus, in the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer) still shines brilliantly above the southeast horizon before dawn. It pairs with the waning crescent Moon on the last day of this short month. (See Chart 7 in the slideshow.)
High in the southwest pre-dawn sky, one can see famously ringed Saturn still in Virgo (the Maiden), just as it has been visible the last several months. It continues to make its way to the western horizon all month long, and worth braving the chill of morning for a long look. (See Chart 8 in the slideshow.)
In the early evening sky, Jupiter, still a bright showpiece, moves with distant, dim Uranus, both in Pisces (the Fishes) toward the western horizon. Both set midmonth by 8 p.m. locally.
Even more distant Neptune has disappeared into evening twilight and is not visible.
Though it’s a short month, full of gusty weather if you live in the Midwest, the few morning and evenings that may show clear skies are worth the effort to set up in the frigid, blowing cold of airy February.
In the early evening sky, Jupiter, still a bright showpiece, moves with distant, dim Uranus, both in Pisces (the Fishes) toward the western horizon. Both set midmonth by 8 p.m. locally.
Even more distant Neptune has disappeared into evening twilight and is not visible.
Though it’s a short month, full of gusty weather if you live in the Midwest, the few morning and evenings that may show clear skies are worth the effort to set up in the frigid, blowing cold of airy February.
Sky Roundup Almanac for February
February 2: New Moon
February 11: First Quarter Moon
February 18: Full Moon
February 24: Last Quarter Moon
February 18: Full Moon
February 24: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for January
Astronomical highlights for the month of January 2011
Oh, Thank Heaven for Twenty-Eleven
The title here is not a deliberate offshoot of the slogan for a popular convenience-store chain. It’s likely the expression one might hear throughout this New Year, especially when fun astronomical events happen. You can look here every month for a new listing of astronomically enjoyable highlights throughout this New Year.
Let’s hope we have much good to anticipate in the year that starts the second decade of the new millennium. That’s right, the previous year of 2010 capped the first decade; we now proceed to the next, starting with 2011.
So let’s look at the sky for the first month of the New Year.
Mars stays lost in the glare of the Sun at sunset.
Mercury emerges from that same glare before sunrise. Seen within the large constellation of Ophiuchus (the Serpent-Handler), the small hot world nearest the Sun joins its planetary neighbors in morning twilight. It passes the slim waning crescent Moon on New Year’s Day, and the day after, by dawn. (See Chart 1, below, showing a view to the southeast before dawn in early January.)
Let’s hope we have much good to anticipate in the year that starts the second decade of the new millennium. That’s right, the previous year of 2010 capped the first decade; we now proceed to the next, starting with 2011.
So let’s look at the sky for the first month of the New Year.
Mars stays lost in the glare of the Sun at sunset.
Mercury emerges from that same glare before sunrise. Seen within the large constellation of Ophiuchus (the Serpent-Handler), the small hot world nearest the Sun joins its planetary neighbors in morning twilight. It passes the slim waning crescent Moon on New Year’s Day, and the day after, by dawn. (See Chart 1, below, showing a view to the southeast before dawn in early January.)
Higher in the pre-dawn sky, one can see famously ringed Saturn in Virgo (the Maiden).
Venus, in the constellation of Libra (the Scales) stands with a brilliant light above the horizon before dawn. Even though it is seen in the eastern sky, it reaches its greatest distance, as seen from Earth, west of the Sun, within the first week of January, hence this apparition is called Venus’s greatest western elongation.
Jupiter, still a bright showpiece in the early evening sky, moves with distant, dim Uranus, both in Pisces (the Fishes) toward the western horizon. Both set by midnight.
Even more distant Neptune, still positioned between Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) and Capricornus (the Sea-Goat), sets by 10 p.m. locally. (See Chart 2, above, showing a view to the southwest before midnight by mid-month. Click on the "2" to show the second chart. The red tick marks help to pinpoint the location of Neptune.)
Venus, in the constellation of Libra (the Scales) stands with a brilliant light above the horizon before dawn. Even though it is seen in the eastern sky, it reaches its greatest distance, as seen from Earth, west of the Sun, within the first week of January, hence this apparition is called Venus’s greatest western elongation.
Jupiter, still a bright showpiece in the early evening sky, moves with distant, dim Uranus, both in Pisces (the Fishes) toward the western horizon. Both set by midnight.
Even more distant Neptune, still positioned between Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) and Capricornus (the Sea-Goat), sets by 10 p.m. locally. (See Chart 2, above, showing a view to the southwest before midnight by mid-month. Click on the "2" to show the second chart. The red tick marks help to pinpoint the location of Neptune.)
Sky Roundup Almanac for January 2011
January 4: New Moon
January 12: First Quarter Moon
January 19: Full Moon
January 26: Last Quarter Moon
January 12: First Quarter Moon
January 19: Full Moon
January 26: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for December
Astronomical highlights for the month of December 2010
The Night Before Christmas
This segment made its debut last year in this space, a stargazer’s parody of “A Visit of St. Nicholas”
—with apologies to Clement Clark Moore.
—with apologies to Clement Clark Moore.
‘Twas the night before Christmas,
When all through his house
A stargazer was stirring, clicking his mouse;
His mounting set up in the backyard with care,
In hopes that clearing skies soon would be there.
He could’ve been nestled all snug in his bed,
But visions of nebulae danced in his head;
And grabbing a kerchief to dust a lens from its cap,
He caffeined his brain to shun a long winter’s nap--
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter:
Away to his set-up he flew like a flash,
Hoping his ‘scope didn’t loosen and crash.
The moon, on the breast of new-fallen snow,
Gave a luster of mid-day to objects, ya’ know:
When, what to his wandering eyes should appear,
But a case full of eyepieces amid his old gear;
Fellow geeks always bought these, so lively and quick,
He knew in a moment they’d all be heartsick.
More lenses he now owned and savored his claim,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name--
“Now, Brandon! now, Nagler! now, Ethos! and Vixen!
No coma! Flat fields! Star parties I’m blitzin’;
To the top of each planet, to the top of Straight Wall,
I’ll dash to see nebulae, faraway all!”
He gathered his new gear, so pleased he might cry,
And carried all to his ‘scope, its mount to the sky,
So, up past his house-top his ‘scope aimed anew,
A case full of lenses—and such neat stuff too.
With stars all a-twinkling from heat off the roof,
The night sky unveiled its warp and its woof;
As he drew up a chair, and was turning around,
Down next to his ‘scope the ‘gazer came with a bound.
His parka lined in fur
From his head to his foot,
And his clothes came all furnished
With pockets to boot:
This new bunch of toys
He now kept near his back,
And he thrilled like a youngster
As he opened his pack;
His eyes how they twinkled!
Each eyepiece how merry--
Were just what he wanted,
Whence they came he was wary;
Ev’ry ocular gleamed
Each drawn up with a bow,
Who could’ve left them and
Left no tracks in the snow?
He thought for a bit
Of this season of year,
And thought it unlikely he’d
Earned such good cheer.
Still he was thankful
And humbled quite by it;
He vowed to do better
And stay on a diet.
He was chubby and plump--
His right jolly old self;
From too much late snacking
In spite of himself.
A wink of his eye,
And a twist of his head,
Soon gave him to know
Where each eyepiece might thread.
He spoke not a word,
But went straight to his work,
And logged all his sightings:
Then turned with a jerk,
And laying his pencil
Aside of his prose,
And giving a nod,
To his warm room he rose.
He sprang to its desk,
Jotted notes in a whistle,
And away he then flew
To look through a Plössl:
But all heard him exclaim
Ere he gazed in the night,
“Merry Christmas to all,
And to all A Clear Night.”
When all through his house
A stargazer was stirring, clicking his mouse;
His mounting set up in the backyard with care,
In hopes that clearing skies soon would be there.
He could’ve been nestled all snug in his bed,
But visions of nebulae danced in his head;
And grabbing a kerchief to dust a lens from its cap,
He caffeined his brain to shun a long winter’s nap--
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
He sprang from his chair to see what was the matter:
Away to his set-up he flew like a flash,
Hoping his ‘scope didn’t loosen and crash.
The moon, on the breast of new-fallen snow,
Gave a luster of mid-day to objects, ya’ know:
When, what to his wandering eyes should appear,
But a case full of eyepieces amid his old gear;
Fellow geeks always bought these, so lively and quick,
He knew in a moment they’d all be heartsick.
More lenses he now owned and savored his claim,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name--
“Now, Brandon! now, Nagler! now, Ethos! and Vixen!
No coma! Flat fields! Star parties I’m blitzin’;
To the top of each planet, to the top of Straight Wall,
I’ll dash to see nebulae, faraway all!”
He gathered his new gear, so pleased he might cry,
And carried all to his ‘scope, its mount to the sky,
So, up past his house-top his ‘scope aimed anew,
A case full of lenses—and such neat stuff too.
With stars all a-twinkling from heat off the roof,
The night sky unveiled its warp and its woof;
As he drew up a chair, and was turning around,
Down next to his ‘scope the ‘gazer came with a bound.
His parka lined in fur
From his head to his foot,
And his clothes came all furnished
With pockets to boot:
This new bunch of toys
He now kept near his back,
And he thrilled like a youngster
As he opened his pack;
His eyes how they twinkled!
Each eyepiece how merry--
Were just what he wanted,
Whence they came he was wary;
Ev’ry ocular gleamed
Each drawn up with a bow,
Who could’ve left them and
Left no tracks in the snow?
He thought for a bit
Of this season of year,
And thought it unlikely he’d
Earned such good cheer.
Still he was thankful
And humbled quite by it;
He vowed to do better
And stay on a diet.
He was chubby and plump--
His right jolly old self;
From too much late snacking
In spite of himself.
A wink of his eye,
And a twist of his head,
Soon gave him to know
Where each eyepiece might thread.
He spoke not a word,
But went straight to his work,
And logged all his sightings:
Then turned with a jerk,
And laying his pencil
Aside of his prose,
And giving a nod,
To his warm room he rose.
He sprang to its desk,
Jotted notes in a whistle,
And away he then flew
To look through a Plössl:
But all heard him exclaim
Ere he gazed in the night,
“Merry Christmas to all,
And to all A Clear Night.”
The Moon, on the Breast of New-Fallen Snow
Our nearest celestial favorite, the Earth's own longest dance partner, the Moon, reprises one of its better routines as it dances among the stars all this month.
Look for the night of December 20th as it starts a special one for lunar observing. On this night, weather permitting, the Full Moon rides high in the winter sky and casts its bright glance at the face of our home planet. If you're observing anywhere in the upper Midwest, the light of the Moon will make Earth's face shine all the brighter if you've had recent snowfall.
And on the breast of that new-fallen snow, the light of the Full Moon on December 20th will make it glisten and sparkle. In the wee hours of the following morning, the Moon waltzes into the shadow of its dance partner, and the face of the Moon itself may gleam a ruddy hue as the Full Moon glides into full eclipse to complete its graceful turn.
For a fuller accounting of details, visit here to see the extent of this lunar eclipse. Most in North America will be able to witness this fine phenomenon.
The Moon slips fully into the leading shadow, the penumbra, of Earth by a half-hour after midnight for the middle of the country.
Mid-eclipse, when the Moon is fully immersed in the umbra, the darkest part of Earth's shadow, occurs by about 2:15 a.m. on December 21, which is also the date of the solstice this year, the astronomical start of Winter.
The eclipse ends by about 4 a.m. when the Moon begins to emerge from the trailing portion of the penumbra.
What to expect of the color of the Moon on entering the umbra isn't entirely predictable. The Moon's hue could range from a dark crimson to a bloody red to a bright copper. But on a Winter's night, the sight of a ruddy eye in the sky staring across a snowy landscape offers distinct prospects for creative photography and a visual treat.
By the way, just one side note to this wintry season. No doubt we will hear much on changing weather and the prospects for changing climate. The two are related, yes, inextricably linked, even as the influence of one on the other continues to be hotly debated. No doubt, too, weather influences climate, just as climate is the sum total of weather for a wide region over a long period of time.
Of course in the Midwest, it's not at all unusual to have snow in the late Fall and early Winter, as localized weather per se for any given season is not indicative of either a warming or cooling climate on Earth. No doubt weather and climate are intertwined, but our wintry blasts and icy storms are typical for this part of the country. This is simply seasonal. It's only when the seasons stack in favor of a long-term trend when the weather folks take note.
That this season's pattern of cold weather could mimic past cold seasons is fodder for meteorologists' forecasts. Every year's worth of data adds to the historical record while extremes of localized weather slightly skews those historical averages. Let's continue to collect the data and give it the gimlet eye when we interpret it, so we're certain what the data really mean. In the meantime, new-fallen snow is a welcome sight for any young child at Christmastime.
Now here's a quick year-end round-up of other fun things to expect in the night sky this month.
Mercury and Mars are lost in the glare of the Sun all month long, while Venus has emerged as a showpiece in morning twilight, rising ahead of the Sun. Look for it in the southeast in Virgo (the Maiden). The waning crescent Moon pairs with the brilliant planet on December 2nd.
Saturn with its famous bright, icy rings also still stands in Virgo, as it has for recent months. Always worth a look through a good telescope.
Mighty Jupiter, the Solar System's largest planet, rising earlier and earlier these past months, now sets by midnight, escorting his mythic father, Uranus, to a wintertime slumber as well. A First Quarter Moon lights the way for both on the evening of December 12th.
More distant Neptune turns in about an hour before the latter two for his own Winter's nap, and can only be glimpsed in a large telescope.
One last note on this month's lunar eclipse. Of course, it'll be a treat, weather permitting, to watch as the Moon's fully lighted face gradually changes to one of the traditional hues of Christmas.
More to the point, with that bright face of the night sky blushing through its celestial dance, look for onlookers as well, namely, star clusters like both the Hyades and the Pleiades in Taurus (the Bull), the Beehive Cluster in Cancer (the Crab), and the Messier open cluster, M35, to the left of the Moon's red face and the Crab Nebula, M1, to its right.
Bundle up, brave the weather, and enjoy the spectacle of a slow Christmas waltz danced out-of-doors.
Sky Roundup Almanac for December 2010
December 5: New Moon
December 13: First Quarter Moon
December 21: Full Moon (total lunar eclipse visible across North America); Winter Solstice arrives at 7:38 p.m. CST
December 27: Last Quarter Moon
Mid-eclipse, when the Moon is fully immersed in the umbra, the darkest part of Earth's shadow, occurs by about 2:15 a.m. on December 21, which is also the date of the solstice this year, the astronomical start of Winter.
The eclipse ends by about 4 a.m. when the Moon begins to emerge from the trailing portion of the penumbra.
What to expect of the color of the Moon on entering the umbra isn't entirely predictable. The Moon's hue could range from a dark crimson to a bloody red to a bright copper. But on a Winter's night, the sight of a ruddy eye in the sky staring across a snowy landscape offers distinct prospects for creative photography and a visual treat.
By the way, just one side note to this wintry season. No doubt we will hear much on changing weather and the prospects for changing climate. The two are related, yes, inextricably linked, even as the influence of one on the other continues to be hotly debated. No doubt, too, weather influences climate, just as climate is the sum total of weather for a wide region over a long period of time.
Of course in the Midwest, it's not at all unusual to have snow in the late Fall and early Winter, as localized weather per se for any given season is not indicative of either a warming or cooling climate on Earth. No doubt weather and climate are intertwined, but our wintry blasts and icy storms are typical for this part of the country. This is simply seasonal. It's only when the seasons stack in favor of a long-term trend when the weather folks take note.
That this season's pattern of cold weather could mimic past cold seasons is fodder for meteorologists' forecasts. Every year's worth of data adds to the historical record while extremes of localized weather slightly skews those historical averages. Let's continue to collect the data and give it the gimlet eye when we interpret it, so we're certain what the data really mean. In the meantime, new-fallen snow is a welcome sight for any young child at Christmastime.
Now here's a quick year-end round-up of other fun things to expect in the night sky this month.
Mercury and Mars are lost in the glare of the Sun all month long, while Venus has emerged as a showpiece in morning twilight, rising ahead of the Sun. Look for it in the southeast in Virgo (the Maiden). The waning crescent Moon pairs with the brilliant planet on December 2nd.
Saturn with its famous bright, icy rings also still stands in Virgo, as it has for recent months. Always worth a look through a good telescope.
Mighty Jupiter, the Solar System's largest planet, rising earlier and earlier these past months, now sets by midnight, escorting his mythic father, Uranus, to a wintertime slumber as well. A First Quarter Moon lights the way for both on the evening of December 12th.
More distant Neptune turns in about an hour before the latter two for his own Winter's nap, and can only be glimpsed in a large telescope.
One last note on this month's lunar eclipse. Of course, it'll be a treat, weather permitting, to watch as the Moon's fully lighted face gradually changes to one of the traditional hues of Christmas.
More to the point, with that bright face of the night sky blushing through its celestial dance, look for onlookers as well, namely, star clusters like both the Hyades and the Pleiades in Taurus (the Bull), the Beehive Cluster in Cancer (the Crab), and the Messier open cluster, M35, to the left of the Moon's red face and the Crab Nebula, M1, to its right.
Bundle up, brave the weather, and enjoy the spectacle of a slow Christmas waltz danced out-of-doors.
Sky Roundup Almanac for December 2010
December 5: New Moon
December 13: First Quarter Moon
December 21: Full Moon (total lunar eclipse visible across North America); Winter Solstice arrives at 7:38 p.m. CST
December 27: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for November
Astronomical highlights for the month of November 2010
Many a Thankful Night
Is it a usual phrase, that when you run out of things to say, then talk about the weather? Well, OK, for the most part, the weather across the Midwest has been delightful this Autumn. And that's good news for nighttime observers, so why not mention it?
With the exception of a big, wide storm last month (nicknamed “the bomb” in the weather media, due to the relatively large size and record-low pressure for a system centered in Canada), most recent nights last months were very good for observing.
Let’s hope that this trend continues through November; alas, though, this is the Midwest and it will likely turn cold soon enough. And that’s not saying nothing.
Enough of the banter for now on day-to-day conditions. As the typical weather of November can become fairly raw by Thanksgiving, you thankfully have a decent chance to observe the familiar planets. So get looking!
Mercury and Mars stay lost in the glare of the Sun at sunset.
Venus emerges into morning twilight by mid-November, when it rises just ahead of the Sun, to join Saturn in the pre-dawn sky. (See Chart 1, below, for Venus’s morning apparition by mid-month.)
Jupiter, shining brightly, continues to march grandly ahead of Pisces (the Fishes), starting early and parading till past midnight. By the wee hours, Jupiter has set. (See Chart 2, below, for Jupiter’s location during those wee hours.)
Saturn also has emerged from the Sun’s glare and appears in Virgo (the Maiden) in morning twilight, climbing higher with each passing day. (See Chart 1 again.)
Is it a usual phrase, that when you run out of things to say, then talk about the weather? Well, OK, for the most part, the weather across the Midwest has been delightful this Autumn. And that's good news for nighttime observers, so why not mention it?
With the exception of a big, wide storm last month (nicknamed “the bomb” in the weather media, due to the relatively large size and record-low pressure for a system centered in Canada), most recent nights last months were very good for observing.
Let’s hope that this trend continues through November; alas, though, this is the Midwest and it will likely turn cold soon enough. And that’s not saying nothing.
Enough of the banter for now on day-to-day conditions. As the typical weather of November can become fairly raw by Thanksgiving, you thankfully have a decent chance to observe the familiar planets. So get looking!
Mercury and Mars stay lost in the glare of the Sun at sunset.
Venus emerges into morning twilight by mid-November, when it rises just ahead of the Sun, to join Saturn in the pre-dawn sky. (See Chart 1, below, for Venus’s morning apparition by mid-month.)
Jupiter, shining brightly, continues to march grandly ahead of Pisces (the Fishes), starting early and parading till past midnight. By the wee hours, Jupiter has set. (See Chart 2, below, for Jupiter’s location during those wee hours.)
Saturn also has emerged from the Sun’s glare and appears in Virgo (the Maiden) in morning twilight, climbing higher with each passing day. (See Chart 1 again.)
Uranus, Jupiter’s mythic father, still lurks in the background of Jupiter, and is still just visible as a tiny dot nearby with a big binocular or modest power in a small telescope. (See Chart 3, above, for location of Uranus inside the red tick marks.)
Neptune still sits between Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) and Capricornus (the Sea-Goat) and requires a good star chart to locate precisely. Only large telescopes will show the faint disk of this distant world. (See Chart 4, above, for location of Neptune inside the red tick marks.)
Neptune still sits between Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) and Capricornus (the Sea-Goat) and requires a good star chart to locate precisely. Only large telescopes will show the faint disk of this distant world. (See Chart 4, above, for location of Neptune inside the red tick marks.)
Be thankful for the nights to observe. Watch the skies!
Sky Roundup Almanac for November 2010
November 5: New Moon
November 13: First Quarter Moon
November 21: Full Moon
November 28: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup Almanac for November 2010
November 5: New Moon
November 13: First Quarter Moon
November 21: Full Moon
November 28: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for October
Astronomical highlights for the month of October 2010
Rise Up, Hunter Moon
Last month we saw an uncommon occurrence: not only the Harvest Moon (which is not uncommon) but its occurrence on the same day as the Autumnal Equinox. The Harvest Moon is usually the Full Moon closest to, or on, the date of the first day of Fall. It’s a nice coincidence when the Full Moon phase does occur on that date, and it will again.
Owing to its complex motions, the phase of the Full Moon will again occur on the Autumnal Equinox in 19 years. This is the Metonic cycle (after Meton, the Athenian Greek, who recognized its occurrence). This cycle says that phases of the Moon can repeat on given dates every 19 years. The repetition is not exact in time, but it is quite close for an accurate calendar to be constructed that can be corrected periodically.
In folklore about the Moon, the months of the year all have nicknames for the phase of the Full Moon that occurs in that month. Some of these names come from native (or American Indian) names attributed to the Moon; others comes from colonial America or are artifacts of nomenclature from European medieval calendars.
In America, the previous month of September was the Harvest Moon; in Celtic folklore, this month of October is the Harvest Moon. The next month of November will be the Beaver Moon, when traps are set to catch winter game; in medieval times, next month would bring us the Cold Moon.
In this month of October we in America typically know the Full Moon as the Hunter Moon, which occurs one month after the Harvest Moon. After the harvest was complete, the light of the rising Moon in October apparently allowed frontiersman to hunt nighttime game to add to the provisions already socked away for the coming winter. Nowadays, most grocery stores provide ample provender, negating the need to scout additional supplies in the wild.
The astronomical reason for the Hunter Moon is the same as that of the Harvest Moon. At this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere, the path of the rising Full Moon in Autumn makes a shallow angle to the horizon, which makes the Moon appear to rise fairly soon after sunset.
That is, there’s no long climb for the Moon to get above the horizon; rather, the Moon skirts just below the below the horizon for several successive evenings, so the times of Autumn moonrise are shorter than at other times of the year. And so, more folks are aware of the rising Moon at this time of the year.
Even with the presence of the Hunter Moon, the sky still has a few worthwhile celestial objects to hunt up.
For example, several distant clusters of stars in Fall are worth finding even with the Hunter Moon in the sky. In the constellation of Perseus (the Champion), the Double Cluster (also known NGC 884 and NGC 869) climbs into the Autumn sky and makes for a fine showpiece at low power in a small or modest telescope.
And the Andromeda Galaxy is just as compelling to search for, even on a moonlit night. (See Chart 1, below, for a location of the Double Cluster and the Andromeda Galaxy, and Chart 2, which shows a magnified view of the Double Cluster.)
Owing to its complex motions, the phase of the Full Moon will again occur on the Autumnal Equinox in 19 years. This is the Metonic cycle (after Meton, the Athenian Greek, who recognized its occurrence). This cycle says that phases of the Moon can repeat on given dates every 19 years. The repetition is not exact in time, but it is quite close for an accurate calendar to be constructed that can be corrected periodically.
In folklore about the Moon, the months of the year all have nicknames for the phase of the Full Moon that occurs in that month. Some of these names come from native (or American Indian) names attributed to the Moon; others comes from colonial America or are artifacts of nomenclature from European medieval calendars.
In America, the previous month of September was the Harvest Moon; in Celtic folklore, this month of October is the Harvest Moon. The next month of November will be the Beaver Moon, when traps are set to catch winter game; in medieval times, next month would bring us the Cold Moon.
In this month of October we in America typically know the Full Moon as the Hunter Moon, which occurs one month after the Harvest Moon. After the harvest was complete, the light of the rising Moon in October apparently allowed frontiersman to hunt nighttime game to add to the provisions already socked away for the coming winter. Nowadays, most grocery stores provide ample provender, negating the need to scout additional supplies in the wild.
The astronomical reason for the Hunter Moon is the same as that of the Harvest Moon. At this time of year in the Northern Hemisphere, the path of the rising Full Moon in Autumn makes a shallow angle to the horizon, which makes the Moon appear to rise fairly soon after sunset.
That is, there’s no long climb for the Moon to get above the horizon; rather, the Moon skirts just below the below the horizon for several successive evenings, so the times of Autumn moonrise are shorter than at other times of the year. And so, more folks are aware of the rising Moon at this time of the year.
Even with the presence of the Hunter Moon, the sky still has a few worthwhile celestial objects to hunt up.
For example, several distant clusters of stars in Fall are worth finding even with the Hunter Moon in the sky. In the constellation of Perseus (the Champion), the Double Cluster (also known NGC 884 and NGC 869) climbs into the Autumn sky and makes for a fine showpiece at low power in a small or modest telescope.
And the Andromeda Galaxy is just as compelling to search for, even on a moonlit night. (See Chart 1, below, for a location of the Double Cluster and the Andromeda Galaxy, and Chart 2, which shows a magnified view of the Double Cluster.)
Mercury emerges briefly into morning twilight just ahead of the Sun but the apparition is not well placed for us as the planet disappears back into the glare of the Sun by the end of the month.
Venus stays hidden all month and does not re-appear until November, when it rises just ahead of the Sun in the morning sky.
Mars and Saturn stay lost in the glare of the Sun. Saturn does emerge in Virgo, the Maiden, in morning twilight by month’s end, climbing higher with each passing day.
Jupiter retains its regal position in Pisces (the Fishes) all night long and all month long, now past opposition from the previous month, but still shining brightly. (See Chart 3, above.)
Uranus, Jupiter’s mythological father, still shadows his son all month long, and is just visible as a tiny dot nearby with a big binocular or modest power in a small telescope. In a very large telescope, one might glimpse several of its moons. (See Chart 4, above, which shows a sampling of a large telescope’s field of view looking at Uranus at mid-month in the wee hours of the morning.)
Neptune all month long sits between Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) and Capricornus (the Sea-Goat) and requires a good star chart to locate precisely. Only large telescopes will show the faint disk of this distant world. (See Chart 5, above, for its location within the red tick marks.)
All of these monthly favorites can be hunted up and glimpsed even with the presence of the Hunter Moon.
Sky Roundup Almanac for October 2010
October 7: New Moon
October 14: First Quarter Moon
October 22: Full Moon
October 30: Last Quarter Moon
Venus stays hidden all month and does not re-appear until November, when it rises just ahead of the Sun in the morning sky.
Mars and Saturn stay lost in the glare of the Sun. Saturn does emerge in Virgo, the Maiden, in morning twilight by month’s end, climbing higher with each passing day.
Jupiter retains its regal position in Pisces (the Fishes) all night long and all month long, now past opposition from the previous month, but still shining brightly. (See Chart 3, above.)
Uranus, Jupiter’s mythological father, still shadows his son all month long, and is just visible as a tiny dot nearby with a big binocular or modest power in a small telescope. In a very large telescope, one might glimpse several of its moons. (See Chart 4, above, which shows a sampling of a large telescope’s field of view looking at Uranus at mid-month in the wee hours of the morning.)
Neptune all month long sits between Aquarius (the Water-Bearer) and Capricornus (the Sea-Goat) and requires a good star chart to locate precisely. Only large telescopes will show the faint disk of this distant world. (See Chart 5, above, for its location within the red tick marks.)
All of these monthly favorites can be hunted up and glimpsed even with the presence of the Hunter Moon.
Sky Roundup Almanac for October 2010
October 7: New Moon
October 14: First Quarter Moon
October 22: Full Moon
October 30: Last Quarter Moon
Sky Roundup for September
Astronomical highlights for the month of September 2010
Shine On, Harvest Moon
Just over a hundred years ago, a catchy vaudeville tune, “Shine on, Harvest Moon”, debuted and became a pop standard for many decades thereafter, right into the 21st century, featured as it was by recording artists and its inclusion in popular movies.
A look back at how we once saw the Moon
The lyrics start out with a forlorn lament of a loveless Winter, Spring, and Summer but end in anticipation of a cheery Autumn, if only with a little romantic help from the Harvest Moon. The cover for the original sheet music (seen at right) sets the scene for the song’s upbeat ending, showing two pining lovers, together at last, silhouetted by the rising light of that familiar orange orb.
While the cover was prepared in the design style of the day, the publisher of the sheet music captured several classic images reminiscent of the approaching season. Perhaps no actual attempt was made to be astronomically correct; after all, they were trying to sell sheet music. Rather, it may be more likely that the publisher was aware enough of the change of seasons to include those images that best describe it.
While the cover was prepared in the design style of the day, the publisher of the sheet music captured several classic images reminiscent of the approaching season. Perhaps no actual attempt was made to be astronomically correct; after all, they were trying to sell sheet music. Rather, it may be more likely that the publisher was aware enough of the change of seasons to include those images that best describe it.
While the cover was prepared in the design style of the day, the publisher of the sheet music captured several classic images reminiscent of the approaching season. Perhaps no actual attempt was made to be astronomically correct; after all, they were trying to sell sheet music. Rather, it may be more likely that the publisher was aware enough of the change of seasons to include those images that best describe it.
As Summer draws to its astronomical close this month, we see the iconic signs of its passing. If you live in or near rural parts of the Midwest, you’ll see the start of the corn harvest by the end of this month. While farmers no longer arrange harvested corn in shocks as shown in the sheet music cover (---they arranged it in shocks to dry or cure the corn---), many homes still decorate with them to represent the season. Even the famed candy corn, popular at Hallowe’en, has the iconic shape of the curing corn shock.
From the less romantic side of things, the science of astronomy makes clear the beginning of the season, whether we like it or not, and its start does not necessarily match the weather from day to day. Indeed, our modern calendar appears to mark the start of seasons after we are well into the weather that typifies them.
For example, the astronomical start of Summer (as the Summer Solstice) shows the Sun at its highest in the Northern Hemisphere, though that season's weather already is fairly warm by that date. On older calendars, that date actually marked the middle of the season, as in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
Similarly, Autumn begins this month, specifically on September 22, at 10:09 p.m. CDT, which marks the astronomical start of the season, the Autumnal Equinox. But by the feel of the weather, it may make more sense that the date ought to be the mid-point of the season.
However, since at this point in Earth’s orbit, the rotational axis of Earth makes a right angle to an imaginary line joining the center of Earth and the center of the Sun, this is actually Autumn’s beginning.
As seen across the Midwest at harvest time and typical of this season, too, is often the rising Moon, large and orange near the horizon, just like the cover of the sheet music. From our sky perspective, the music publisher got it right.
The Moon can appear large due to the angle at which we see it. If near the horizon, the Moon appears close to objects along the horizon, such as trees, houses, fence posts, and even corn shocks. Seen near these landmarks in the foreground, the Moon appears huge in the background; away from these familiar landmarks, we have no point of reference, so the Moon appears small. In reality, the Moon does not change size; it’s just an illusion of large size that everyone sees.
The Moon can also appear orange due to the air around us. Near the horizon, we spy the Moon at a shallow angle, and, through more of the atmosphere, which filters out most of its reflected light except for longer wavelengths at the red end of the spectrum, making that orb look orange from our perspective.
You can easily find any number of websites that may feature copyrighted photo galleries of a large, orange Moon. In Autumn, we’re more accustomed to seeing the Moon large and orange because it seems to dawdle along the horizon. In actuality, the low angle of its orbit to the horizon makes the Moon appear to glide low over treetops as it rises.
So, of course, the best-known sign of the approaching season of Autumn indeed is the title “Harvest Moon”. That’s the name given to the Moon that occurs nearest to the Autumnal Equinox. At the time that the Harvest Moon song was first popular, it was a quaint notion that farmers relied on that light of the rising Moon to finish their harvest for the day. Nowadays, farmers finish in the field more efficiently with modern machinery, but it’s not an old-fashioned notion that Earth’s nearest astronomical neighbor still influences our daily life.
The Moon can certainly influence what we see this month, since it shines next to most of the planets. On September 10th, a slim, waxing crescent hugs the horizon just below Venus, Mars, Saturn, all in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden). Of course, Venus is far brightest of the trio. At the start of the month, Mars and Saturn are barely visible in early evening twilight as one will need a telescope of modest magnification to spot either of them at all. (See Chart 1, below. Saturn is very close to the western horizon.)
As Summer draws to its astronomical close this month, we see the iconic signs of its passing. If you live in or near rural parts of the Midwest, you’ll see the start of the corn harvest by the end of this month. While farmers no longer arrange harvested corn in shocks as shown in the sheet music cover (---they arranged it in shocks to dry or cure the corn---), many homes still decorate with them to represent the season. Even the famed candy corn, popular at Hallowe’en, has the iconic shape of the curing corn shock.
From the less romantic side of things, the science of astronomy makes clear the beginning of the season, whether we like it or not, and its start does not necessarily match the weather from day to day. Indeed, our modern calendar appears to mark the start of seasons after we are well into the weather that typifies them.
For example, the astronomical start of Summer (as the Summer Solstice) shows the Sun at its highest in the Northern Hemisphere, though that season's weather already is fairly warm by that date. On older calendars, that date actually marked the middle of the season, as in William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
Similarly, Autumn begins this month, specifically on September 22, at 10:09 p.m. CDT, which marks the astronomical start of the season, the Autumnal Equinox. But by the feel of the weather, it may make more sense that the date ought to be the mid-point of the season.
However, since at this point in Earth’s orbit, the rotational axis of Earth makes a right angle to an imaginary line joining the center of Earth and the center of the Sun, this is actually Autumn’s beginning.
As seen across the Midwest at harvest time and typical of this season, too, is often the rising Moon, large and orange near the horizon, just like the cover of the sheet music. From our sky perspective, the music publisher got it right.
The Moon can appear large due to the angle at which we see it. If near the horizon, the Moon appears close to objects along the horizon, such as trees, houses, fence posts, and even corn shocks. Seen near these landmarks in the foreground, the Moon appears huge in the background; away from these familiar landmarks, we have no point of reference, so the Moon appears small. In reality, the Moon does not change size; it’s just an illusion of large size that everyone sees.
The Moon can also appear orange due to the air around us. Near the horizon, we spy the Moon at a shallow angle, and, through more of the atmosphere, which filters out most of its reflected light except for longer wavelengths at the red end of the spectrum, making that orb look orange from our perspective.
You can easily find any number of websites that may feature copyrighted photo galleries of a large, orange Moon. In Autumn, we’re more accustomed to seeing the Moon large and orange because it seems to dawdle along the horizon. In actuality, the low angle of its orbit to the horizon makes the Moon appear to glide low over treetops as it rises.
So, of course, the best-known sign of the approaching season of Autumn indeed is the title “Harvest Moon”. That’s the name given to the Moon that occurs nearest to the Autumnal Equinox. At the time that the Harvest Moon song was first popular, it was a quaint notion that farmers relied on that light of the rising Moon to finish their harvest for the day. Nowadays, farmers finish in the field more efficiently with modern machinery, but it’s not an old-fashioned notion that Earth’s nearest astronomical neighbor still influences our daily life.
The Moon can certainly influence what we see this month, since it shines next to most of the planets. On September 10th, a slim, waxing crescent hugs the horizon just below Venus, Mars, Saturn, all in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden). Of course, Venus is far brightest of the trio. At the start of the month, Mars and Saturn are barely visible in early evening twilight as one will need a telescope of modest magnification to spot either of them at all. (See Chart 1, below. Saturn is very close to the western horizon.)
By mid-month, the famous ringed planet has bowed out and is lost in evening twilight. By the end of the month, Mars starts to go the way of Saturn.
Less than two weeks later, on September 23rd, the Full Moon can be spotted above Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) all through the night. Of the two, faraway Jupiter by far outshines more distant Uranus, which will require a good telescope’s high magnification just to spot it as a tiny greenish dot. (See Chart 2, above. Note the reddish tick marks to help pinpoint the location of Uranus.)
If you use low power, such as in a large binocular, look at Jupiter and then look for Uranus nearby as both of these distant planets will be very nearly in the same field of view!
In September, Jupiter appears brightest and in its most favorable apparition when it reaches opposition (that is, when it appears opposite the Sun in the sky) this month. Finding Jupiter is easy in the eastern sky as it rises earlier every evening and is the brightest object in the sky all night long (besides the Moon) after Venus sets.
For this month, Mercury remains in the glare of the Sun, emerges into morning twilight my mid-month, but is not well-placed for observing at all until the end of September.
For the Moon itself, it’s always an appealing subject, when one can watch the change of phases throughout the month. No matter where one lives, in the city, in the suburbs, or in the country, the Moon, when visible on clear nights, commands the evening sky. And in some urban areas where often only the Moon can be seen, it’s worth taking time to observe it.
Look at the pictures (below) of typical lunar profiles. Observe a usual 6 day-old Moon (first image), the waxing crescent, and you’ll catch the terminator, that shadowed divide between light and dark on the Moon, highlighting craters and mountains in bold relief.
Zoom in with medium magnification, say, greater than 60-power, and scan the deep valleys and sheer crater walls.
Look later for the gibbous phases before and after Full Moon, namely, waxing at 9 days (second image) and waning at 18 days (third iamge), and note the change of perspective simply by shifting the Sun’s light across ancient landscapes.
Less than two weeks later, on September 23rd, the Full Moon can be spotted above Jupiter and Uranus in Pisces (the Fishes) all through the night. Of the two, faraway Jupiter by far outshines more distant Uranus, which will require a good telescope’s high magnification just to spot it as a tiny greenish dot. (See Chart 2, above. Note the reddish tick marks to help pinpoint the location of Uranus.)
If you use low power, such as in a large binocular, look at Jupiter and then look for Uranus nearby as both of these distant planets will be very nearly in the same field of view!
In September, Jupiter appears brightest and in its most favorable apparition when it reaches opposition (that is, when it appears opposite the Sun in the sky) this month. Finding Jupiter is easy in the eastern sky as it rises earlier every evening and is the brightest object in the sky all night long (besides the Moon) after Venus sets.
For this month, Mercury remains in the glare of the Sun, emerges into morning twilight my mid-month, but is not well-placed for observing at all until the end of September.
For the Moon itself, it’s always an appealing subject, when one can watch the change of phases throughout the month. No matter where one lives, in the city, in the suburbs, or in the country, the Moon, when visible on clear nights, commands the evening sky. And in some urban areas where often only the Moon can be seen, it’s worth taking time to observe it.
Look at the pictures (below) of typical lunar profiles. Observe a usual 6 day-old Moon (first image), the waxing crescent, and you’ll catch the terminator, that shadowed divide between light and dark on the Moon, highlighting craters and mountains in bold relief.
Zoom in with medium magnification, say, greater than 60-power, and scan the deep valleys and sheer crater walls.
Look later for the gibbous phases before and after Full Moon, namely, waxing at 9 days (second image) and waning at 18 days (third iamge), and note the change of perspective simply by shifting the Sun’s light across ancient landscapes.
Some observers might think that seeing the same set of landscapes month after month would get tiresome or boring. But the play of light and shadow across the lunar surface never ceases to fascinate.
Shine on, Harvest Moon!
Sky Roundup Almanac for September 2010
September 1: Last Quarter Moon
September 8: New Moon
September 14: First Quarter Moon
September 21: Jupiter reaches opposition and is visible in eastern sky after sunset
September 22: Autumnal Equinox, first day of Fall, at 10:09 p.m. CDT
September 23: Full Moon
Shine on, Harvest Moon!
Sky Roundup Almanac for September 2010
September 1: Last Quarter Moon
September 8: New Moon
September 14: First Quarter Moon
September 21: Jupiter reaches opposition and is visible in eastern sky after sunset
September 22: Autumnal Equinox, first day of Fall, at 10:09 p.m. CDT
September 23: Full Moon
All almanac events corrected as needed to Central Daylight Time, March to November, and, to Central Standard Time, November to March.
Comments or questions? Please contact Roy Kaelin at roy@roykaelin.com.
Comments or questions? Please contact Roy Kaelin at roy@roykaelin.com.