WHAT S UP? JULY The Night Sky for Mid-Month at 10PM (Credit: Cartes du Ceil)

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "WHAT S UP? JULY The Night Sky for Mid-Month at 10PM (Credit: Cartes du Ceil)"

Transcription

1 WHAT S UP? JULY 2013 The monsoon season begins in earnest in July (we hope!), which could definitely affect evening viewing, at least shortly after sunset, until the storm clouds die down. Constellations (starting towards the east and moving west): Cygnus is becoming more prominent, but will be directly overhead next month; Sagittarius is low in the southeast with the smoke of the Milky way pouring out of its Teapot asterism; Hercules will be directly overhead; Scorpius takes center stage to the south; the Big Dipper, overhead last month, is rotating around to the northwest; Leo will be placed just above Venus mid-month, but will be setting at sunset by month s end. The Milky Way now spans across the sky from the south to the northeast. The Night Sky for Mid-Month at 10PM (Credit: Cartes du Ceil)

2 Here is the planetary roundup for July: Mercury moves into the morning sky this month. At month s end, it will be at its furthest position from the Sun and located for good viewing (by you early risers). Mercury, Jupiter and Mars will be very close together towards the end of the month. Venus continues to slowly rise higher in the west as it swings around the Sun towards Earth. It will brighten slightly, even though its surface will become less illuminated. Yes, it has phases (crescent, half full, gibbous, full), just like the moon. Mercury does as well. Mars is finally coming out of the morning glare and will pass by Jupiter in the latter half of the month. It still should be a dim object, however. Look to the east northeast to see it. Jupiter also climbs higher away from the Sun s glare during the month. It will be brighter than Mars, but will be visible for only a short time after rising. Saturn is well placed in the western sky after sunset and will remain visible for quite a few hours. At the beginning of the month, it will set just after 02:00, but will be setting at midnight by month s end. Aster-what? An asterism, just like a constellation, is a group of stars that resembles an object. In the case of the Teapot, it is a sub-set of the constellation Sagittarius. The Milky Way really does resemble smoke coming out of the Teapot s spout. There will be much more about asterisms next month. Events for July: Date Friday, the 5 th Monday, the 8 th Wednesday, the 10 th Tuesday, the 16 th Sunday, the 21 st Monday, the 22 nd Tuesday, the 23 rd Sunday, the 28 th Tuesday, the 30 th Description Earth at aphelion (furthest from the Sun) New Moon Venus 7 north of the Moon Saturn 3 north of the Moon Moon at perigee (will appear very large) Full Moon Mars 0.8 north of Jupiter (morning sky) Southern Delta Aquarid Meteors peak Mercury at greatest elongation (furthest [visually] from the Sun)

3 Furthest from the Sun??? Yep. In the hottest month of the year (for the northern hemisphere, anyway), we are further from the Sun than we are at any other time of the year. When are we the closest? In January. How can that be? That s just how our orbit around the Sun works out. It is slightly elliptical (oval) and so we move slightly closer or further away from the Sun as we swing around it each year. It turns out our temperature is more affected by how much atmosphere the Sun s rays encounter than our distance from the Sun itself. In winter, the Sun is closer to the horizon, so the Sun s rays pass through more of the Earth s atmosphere and less energy reaches the ground. In summer, just the opposite occurs. Make no mistake; the distance plays a factor as well (Icarus, whose wings were made of wax, found out the hard way). For the southern hemisphere, the closer proximity and higher altitude of the sun pretty much coincide and it makes for hotter summers. Just ask the people who live in the Australian Outback Moon-Venus Pairing On the evening of the 10 th, the Moon will pass close to Venus. It will be below and to the left of Venus, about 7 degrees away. The Moon will be a small crescent that evening, since the New Moon will have been just two days before. Also, look for the head of Leo just above the pair. A two-day-old Moon will be near Venus on the 10 th. Look to the west northwest to see it. (Credit: Sky Safari Pro).

4 Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower(s) At the end of the month there will be a meteor shower that radiates from the constellation Aquarius. However, there are two different radiant points. Meteors may be visible from the southern radiant from roughly 14 July to 18 August with the peak around the 28 th of July. The meteors from the northern radiant occur a little later, starting around 16 July and going until around 10 September, with the peak around the 13 th of August. I ll mention this one again next month. Look for the meteors after midnight. As can be seen in the diagram below, the radiant points will be towards the south, so the meteors will appear to fan out towards the north, east and west. Locations of the Delta Aquarid meteor showers. Look for the southern shower to peak around July 28 th. (Credit: Sky Safari Pro)

5 Focus On Scorpius Look due south in July to see Scorpius (Credit: Sky Safari Pro) If you look to the south, you will see Scorpius, one of the two constellations (Sagittarius is the other read about it next month) that sit near the heart of the Milky Way. Three stars at the top (highest above the horizon) form the head and a series of stars form a long arc that represent the tail. According to Mythology, Orion (the Hunter) once boasted that he could kill any animal on Earth. Gaia, the Goddess of Earth, was offended and cracked open the Earth and released a giant scorpion, which killed Orion. Zeus decided to put both Orion and the scorpion in the heavens, but placed them on opposite sides of the sky. This was to signify that Orion was running away from the scorpion, so Orion is seen ducking below the horizon just as Scorpius rises. The most notable star in Scorpius is Antares ( Rival of Mars ), a bright red star near the constellation s head. Antares is a red supergiant that is a 400 times as wide and 10,000 times as bright as the Sun. Antares and Betelgeuse (in the constellation Orion) are the two reddest stars in the sky. Antares appears so red for two reasons: first, because of the color of the star itself, but it is surrounded by a large cloud of gas which also glows red. The gas is caused to glow by the star s intense radiation. Note that the two bloodiest stars in the sky are in Orion and Scorpius the two characters that fought each other. Coincidence? You be the judge Shaula, at the very end of the tail, is the 2 nd brightest star in the constellation. In fact, the name means stinger in Arabic. Shaula is actually a triple star system and the three blue-white stars can be resolved with a small telescope.

6 When looking at Scorpius, you are looking towards the center of the Milky Way and there are quite a few interesting objects in that direction. One of them is M4, a globular cluster and the 4 th object in Charles Messier s list of non-comets. M4 can be easily seen with binoculars; it is one of the closest globular clusters to Earth at a distance of 7200 light years. M4 Binocular View M4 105mm Telescope View M4 Hubble Telescope View (Credit: NASA) There are also some notable open clusters near Scorpius. One of them is M6, also known as the Butterfly Cluster because of its shape. M6 is a naked-eye object (for those with good eyes observing under dark skies) that contains about 80 stars spread over an area about 12 light years across. Visually, M6 appears almost a big in diameter as the Moon. M6 Binocular View M6 105mm Telescope View Another naked-eye open cluster is M7 ( Ptolemy s Cluster ) which also contains about 80 stars. It is closer to us than M6 and appears almost twice the diameter of the Moon. The cluster is approaching us at a little less than 9 miles per second but not to worry at that rate, they won t get here until 17,002,013 AD.

7 M7 Binocular View M7 254mm Telescope View (Credit: Rolf Wahl Olsen) Open What? An open cluster is a group of stars that are weakly bound together by gravity. Open clusters can contain anywhere from a few dozen to a few thousand stars. They form from the same cloud of gas and, thus, are all approximately the same age. Since the pull of gravity is fairly weak, the cluster is easily disturbed by any passing object (gas cloud, star, etc.) and so the cluster won t maintain its integrity for more than a few hundred million years. Globular clusters, because they contain millions of stars, have a much stronger gravitational pull and maintain their structure for billions and billions of years.

WHAT S UP? SEPTEMBER 2013

WHAT S UP? SEPTEMBER 2013 WHAT S UP? SEPTEMBER 2013 Stars? What stars? The chances of rain subside somewhat in September which, hopefully, will mean the storm clouds will exit the area a little earlier in the evening and allow

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville November 2017 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville November 2017 Sky Events November 2017 Sky Events The Planets this Month page 2 Close Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter page 7 Conjunction of Crescent Moon, Saturn & Mercury page 8 Planet Highlights page 9 Moon Phases page 12 November

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville April 2017 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville April 2017 Sky Events April 2017 Sky Events The Planets this Month page 2 April 6 th - Regulus and the Gibbous Moon page 5 April 10 th -The Full Moon Joins Jupiter and Spica page 6 Planet Highlights page 7 Moon Phases page

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville January 2016 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville January 2016 Sky Events January 2016 Sky Events The Planets this Month - page 2 Planet Highlights - page 7 All 5 Naked-Eye Planets in the Dawn Sky - page 10 Moon Phases - page 11 Earth Reaches Perihelion on Jan. 4 - page 12 Quadrantid

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville December 2017 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville December 2017 Sky Events December 2017 Sky Events The Planets this Month - page 2 December 13-16 Crescent Moon with Jupiter and Mars page 8 Planet Highlights - page 9 Moon Phases - page 12 December 13 th Geminid Meteor Shower

More information

The Night Sky in July, 2018

The Night Sky in July, 2018 The Night Sky in July, 2018 This month s Newsletter comes from Crete! When we first arrived here on June 16 th we were treated to the sight of Jupiter in the south and a brilliant Venus close to a slender

More information

The Night Sky in October, 2016

The Night Sky in October, 2016 The Night Sky in October, 2016 At the beginning of October, the Sun will rise at 07:12 BST and set at 18:45 BST. By the end of the month it will rise at 07:07 GMT and set at 16:38 GMT. So let s hope for

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville June 2018 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville June 2018 Sky Events June 2018 Sky Events The Planets this Month - page 2 June 14 th Dusk s Venus, Mercury and a Sliver of Moon page 5 June 27 th Conjunction of the Full Moon with Saturn page 6 Planet Highlights - page 7 Moon

More information

Sky views October 2007 revised 10/8/07 (excerpted from Astronomy magazine, 10/2007 issue) by Barbara Wiese

Sky views October 2007 revised 10/8/07 (excerpted from Astronomy magazine, 10/2007 issue) by Barbara Wiese Sky views October 2007 revised 10/8/07 (excerpted from Astronomy magazine, 10/2007 issue) by Barbara Wiese Monthly Overview - Views by Date Definitions Overview Viewing Notes Jupiter in Ophiuchus Neptune

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville February 2018 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville February 2018 Sky Events February 2018 Sky Events The Planets this Month page 2 The Gibbous Moon Joins Jupiter, Mars and Antares page 7 A Crescent Moon Pairs with Venus page 8 Conjunction of Near Full Moon with Regulus page 9

More information

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH MAY 2018

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH MAY 2018 WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH MAY 2018 THESE PAGES ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY The chart on the last page is included for printing off and use outside The chart above shows the whole night

More information

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH - OCTOBER 2015

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH - OCTOBER 2015 WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH - OCTOBER 2015 THESE PAGES ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY The chart above shows the night sky as it appears on 15 th October at 10 o clock in the evening British

More information

Astrochart Links: Pennsic 43: coming July 25

Astrochart Links: Pennsic 43: coming July 25 Astrochart Links: Pennsic 43: coming July 25 Here are the views of the sky each night of Pennsic XLIII, July & August 2014. Stars begin to come out half an hour after sunset, around 9 o'clock to half past,

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville March 2018 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville March 2018 Sky Events March 2018 Sky Events The Planets this Month - page 2 Close Conjunction of Venus and Mercury page 5 The Crescent Moon Joins Venus and Mercury page 6 A Crescent Moon Pairs with Aldebaran page 7 Planet Highlights

More information

The Night Sky in May, 2017

The Night Sky in May, 2017 The Night Sky in May, 2017 The dominating object in the sky this month is the planet Jupiter. It was at opposition on April 7 th when it was on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun and was at its

More information

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH - NOVEMBER 2015

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH - NOVEMBER 2015 WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH - NOVEMBER 2015 THESE PAGES ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY The chart above shows the night sky as it appears on 15 th November at 9 o clock in the evening Greenwich

More information

The Night Sky in February, 2018

The Night Sky in February, 2018 The Night Sky in February, 2018 At the beginning of this month, the Sun will rise at 07:55 and set at 16:53 GMT. By the end of the month it will be rising at 06:58 and setting at 17:47 GMT! We have had

More information

Astronomy Club of Asheville July 2018 Sky Events

Astronomy Club of Asheville July 2018 Sky Events July 2018 Sky Events The Planets this Month page 2 July 9 th - Conjunction of Venus and Regulus page 4 July 14 th - Crescent Moon Meets Mercury and Venus page 5 July 24 th - Moon, Saturn and a Teapot page

More information

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE July 2018 Long cool winter nights of July mean it is Sagittarius time. July is the best time to look deep into the core of our own galaxy. It is also a great month for observing

More information

TAAS Fabulous Fifty. Friday July 14, MDT (8:00 pm) All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are invited.

TAAS Fabulous Fifty. Friday July 14, MDT (8:00 pm) All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are invited. TAAS Fabulous Fifty Scorpius Friday July 14, 2017 2000 MDT (8:00 pm) All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are invited Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita Evening Events 8:00 pm Meet inside the

More information

The Evening Sky in August 2016

The Evening Sky in August 2016 The Evening Sky in August 2016 All five naked-eye planets are visible in the early evening sky. Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are low in the west and shuffle around through the month. Mars and Saturn are

More information

Name: Earth and Space Assessment Study Guide. Assessment Date : Term Rotation Revolution

Name: Earth and Space Assessment Study Guide. Assessment Date : Term Rotation Revolution Name: Earth and Space Assessment Study Guide Assessment Date : Earth s Rotation and Revolution Term Rotation Revolution Brief Definition Earth s Time to Complete One complete spin on an axis 24 hours (or

More information

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH OCTOBER 2017

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH OCTOBER 2017 WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH OCTOBER 2017 THESE PAGES ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY The chart on the last page is included for printing off and use outside The chart above shows the night

More information

The Evening Sky in February 2017

The Evening Sky in February 2017 The Evening Sky in February 2017 Brilliant Venus is the 'evening star', appearing due west soon after sunset. It sets progressively earlier: 90 minutes after the sun at the beginning of the month, shrinking

More information

The Evening Sky in August 2018

The Evening Sky in August 2018 The Evening Sky in August 2018 Four naked-eye planets are visible in the early evening sky. Three of them are the brightest 'stars' in the sky. Silver Venus appears midway down the northwest sky soon after

More information

Earth & Beyond Teacher Newsletter

Earth & Beyond Teacher Newsletter Paul Floyd s Astronomy & Space Website Earth & Beyond Teacher Newsletter www.nightskyonline.info Earth & Beyond Teaching opportunities for 2012 This special edition has been prepared to assist you with

More information

The Night Sky in June, 2016

The Night Sky in June, 2016 The Night Sky in June, 2016 We are in June already and on the 21 st it will be the Summer Solstice! It is hard to believe that it is mid-summer when the Summer seems to have only just started in the UK!

More information

The Night Sky in May, 2018

The Night Sky in May, 2018 The Night Sky in May, 2018 I know that many of you enjoyed the sight of a brilliant Venus during April especially when it was very close to a beautiful crescent Moon. Venus will continue to be a dazzling

More information

The Night Sky in November, 2017

The Night Sky in November, 2017 The Night Sky in November, 2017 Several people contacted me in October to thank me for explaining the Harvest Moon, Hunter s Moon and a Blue Moon. If any of you have any questions you would like to ask

More information

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Splendors of the Universe on YOUR Night! Many pictures are links to larger versions. Click here for the Best images of the OTOP Gallery and more information. Summer

More information

Practice Test DeAnza College Astronomy 04 Test 1 Spring Quarter 2009

Practice Test DeAnza College Astronomy 04 Test 1 Spring Quarter 2009 Practice Test DeAnza College Astronomy 04 Test 1 Spring Quarter 2009 Multiple Choice Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. Mark answer on Scantron.

More information

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE April 2019 The Sun sets earlier now and so we can get some extra observing hours each evening. The outer arms of our Milky Way Galaxy now lie across the southern sky and looking

More information

Sky, Celestial Sphere and Constellations

Sky, Celestial Sphere and Constellations Sky, Celestial Sphere and Constellations Last lecture Galaxies are the main building blocks of the universe. Consists of few billions to hundreds of billions of stars, gas clouds (nebulae), star clusters,

More information

The Celestial Sphere. Chapter 1. Constellations. Models and Science. Constellations. Diurnal vs. Annular Motion 9/16/2010

The Celestial Sphere. Chapter 1. Constellations. Models and Science. Constellations. Diurnal vs. Annular Motion 9/16/2010 The Celestial Sphere Chapter 1 Cycles of the Sky Vast distances to stars prevent us from sensing their true 3-D arrangement Naked eye observations treat all stars at the same distance, on a giant celestial

More information

CHAPTER 2 A USER'S GUIDE TO THE SKY

CHAPTER 2 A USER'S GUIDE TO THE SKY CHAPTER 2 A USER'S GUIDE TO THE SKY MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Seen from the northern latitudes (mid-northern hemisphere), the star Polaris a. is never above the horizon during the day. b. always sets directly

More information

Planets in the Sky ASTR 101 2/16/2018

Planets in the Sky ASTR 101 2/16/2018 Planets in the Sky ASTR 101 2/16/2018 1 Planets in the Sky 2018 paths of Jupiter among stars (2017/2018) Unlike stars which have fixed positions in the sky (celestial sphere), planets seem to move with

More information

Friday April 21, :30 MDT (7:30 pm) All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are invited. Ursa Major. Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita

Friday April 21, :30 MDT (7:30 pm) All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are invited. Ursa Major. Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita TAAS Fabulous Fifty Friday April 21, 2017 19:30 MDT (7:30 pm) Ursa Major Photo Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are invited Evening Events 7:30 pm Meet inside

More information

NEWBURY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MAGAZINE June 2016 This will be the last magazine until September

NEWBURY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MAGAZINE June 2016 This will be the last magazine until September NEWBURY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MAGAZINE June 2016 This will be the last magazine until September The transit of Mercury on 9 th May 2016 imaged by SOHO The transit of the innermost planet Mercury

More information

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH JUNE 2017

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH JUNE 2017 WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH JUNE 2017 THESE PAGES ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY The chart on the last page is included for printing off and use outside The chart above shows the whole

More information

The Evening Sky in February 2019

The Evening Sky in February 2019 The Evening Sky in February 2019 Sirius and Canopus are the brightest in the evening sky. Sirius, the brightest of all the stars, is north of overhead. Canopus, the second brightest star, is a bit south

More information

The Evening Sky in June 2018

The Evening Sky in June 2018 The Evening Sky in June 2018 Bright planets light up the evening sky along with the brightest stars. Brilliant silver Venus appears in the northwest and golden Jupiter in the east soon after sunset. In

More information

Name: Date: 5. The bright stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair form A) the summer triangle. B) the winter triangle. C) the Big Dipper. D) Orion, the Hunter.

Name: Date: 5. The bright stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair form A) the summer triangle. B) the winter triangle. C) the Big Dipper. D) Orion, the Hunter. Name: Date: 1. If there are about 6000 stars in the entire sky that can be seen by the unaided human eye, about how many stars would be seen at a particular instant on a given dark night from a single

More information

3. The diagram below shows the Moon at four positions in its orbit around Earth as viewed from above the North Pole.

3. The diagram below shows the Moon at four positions in its orbit around Earth as viewed from above the North Pole. 1. Which object orbits Earth in both the Earth-centered (geocentric) and Sun-centered (heliocentric) models of our solar system? (1) Polaris (3) the Sun (2) Venus (4) the Moon 2. A cycle of Moon phases

More information

ASTR 1P01 Test 1, September 2017 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY

ASTR 1P01 Test 1, September 2017 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY ASTR 1P01 Test 1, September 2017 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY Test 1: Fall 2017 Number of pages: 10 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 2 Number of students: 1300 Examination date: 30 September 2017 Time limit: 50 min

More information

ASTR 1P01 Test 1, May 2017 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY. Test 1: May 2017 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 1 Number of students: 614

ASTR 1P01 Test 1, May 2017 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY. Test 1: May 2017 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 1 Number of students: 614 ASTR 1P01 Test 1, May 2017 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY Test 1: May 2017 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 1 Number of students: 614 Examination date: 13 May 2017 Time limit: 50 min Time of Examination:

More information

ASTR 1P01 Test 1, September 2018 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY

ASTR 1P01 Test 1, September 2018 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY ASTR 1P01 Test 1, September 2018 Page 1 BROCK UNIVERSITY Test 1: Fall 2018 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 2 Number of students: 1300 Examination date: 29 September 2018 Time limit: 50 min

More information

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH MARCH 2018

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH MARCH 2018 WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH MARCH 2018 THESE PAGES ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY The chart on the last page is included for printing off and use outside The chart above shows the whole

More information

4. What is the main advantage of the celestial coordinate system over altitude-azimuth coordinates?

4. What is the main advantage of the celestial coordinate system over altitude-azimuth coordinates? SUMMARY Looking at the night sky is not only fun, it will help you understand some of the phenomena described in chapters 1 and 2. Star maps will help you identify constellations and bright stars, and

More information

BAS - Monthly Sky Guide

BAS - Monthly Sky Guide BAS - Monthly Sky Guide September 2018 In the early evenings of September the centre of our Milky Way Galaxy stretching across the western sky and is heading for the horizon. Now is a good time to explore

More information

Astronomy. What is the force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth, between the earth and the moon and the earth and other planets?

Astronomy. What is the force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth, between the earth and the moon and the earth and other planets? Astronomy Essential Questions and Answers: What is the force that pulls objects toward the center of the earth, between the earth and the moon and the earth and other planets? Students: Gravity is the

More information

The Night Sky in August, 2018

The Night Sky in August, 2018 The Night Sky in August, 2018 An interesting bit of news this month is that 12 new moons have been found in orbit around Jupiter! This brings the total number to 79 instead of a mere 67! The new moons

More information

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE October 2019 If you are quick you can just catch Scorpius and Sagittarius before they leave our western evening skies. Or look to the north late in the evening to find the huge

More information

BAS - Monthly Sky Guide

BAS - Monthly Sky Guide BAS - Monthly Sky Guide August 2018 In the early evenings of August we will have the centre of our Milky Way Galaxy stretching right across the sky from the south-west to the north-east. Most of the best

More information

Introduction to the sky

Introduction to the sky Introduction to the sky On a clear, moonless night, far from city lights, the night sky is magnificent. Roughly 2000 stars are visible to the unaided eye. If you know where to look, you can see Mercury,

More information

Motions in the Sky. Stars Planets Sun Moon. Photos - APOD. Motions in the Sky - I. Intro to Solar System

Motions in the Sky. Stars Planets Sun Moon. Photos - APOD. Motions in the Sky - I. Intro to Solar System Motions in the Sky Stars Planets Sun Moon Photos - APOD 1 STARS: background for motion of other objects patterns - constellations zodiac: special set of constellations trace the apparent path of the Sun

More information

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Glos. Glossary. of Astronomy. Terms. Related to Galaxies

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Glos. Glossary. of Astronomy. Terms. Related to Galaxies National Aeronautics and Space Administration Glos of Astronomy Glossary Terms Related to Galaxies Asterism: A pattern formed by stars not recognized as one of the official 88 constellations. Examples

More information

Practice Questions: Seasons #1

Practice Questions: Seasons #1 1. Seasonal changes on Earth are primarily caused by the A) parallelism of the Sun's axis as the Sun revolves around Earth B) changes in distance between Earth and the Sun C) elliptical shape of Earth's

More information

The Night Sky in March, 2018

The Night Sky in March, 2018 The Night Sky in March, 2018 The good news this month is that British Summer Time begins on March 25 th! We also have two full moons this month. The first one is on March 2 nd and the second is on March

More information

Unit 2. Cycles of the Sky

Unit 2. Cycles of the Sky Unit 2 Cycles of the Sky The Celestial Sphere Vast distances to stars prevent us from sensing their true 3-D arrangement Naked eye observations treat all stars at the same distance, on a giant celestial

More information

The Evening Sky in January 2018

The Evening Sky in January 2018 The Evening Sky in January 2018 Bright stars appear in the eastern half of the evening sky in January. Sirius is the brightest. Left of Sirius are bluish Rigel and orange Betelgeuse, the brightest stars

More information

Astronomy wall calendar

Astronomy wall calendar to Free oad nl w o for d t n i! pr and nal use o pers The Centre for Astronomical Heritage (CfAH) is a non-profit company working to protect South Africa s astronomical heritage. Donations are always welcome,

More information

Exploring the Night Sky

Exploring the Night Sky Lincoln Hills Astronomy Group Exploring the Night Sky October 14, 2009 1 Lincoln Hills Astronomy Group Exploring the Night Sky Objectives Learn how to locate and identify objects in the night sky using

More information

Think about. Aug. 13, What is science?

Think about. Aug. 13, What is science? Think about Aug. 13, 2018 What is science? Science Science is both a body of knowledge and a process for building that body of knowledge. This involves inquiry, that is, developing explanations for why

More information

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH OCTOBER 2018

WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH OCTOBER 2018 WHAT'S UP THIS MONTH OCTOBER 2018 THESE PAGES ARE INTENDED TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SKY The chart above shows the night sky as it appears on 15 th October at 21:00 (9 o clock) in the evening

More information

Brock University. Test 1, May 2014 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01 Number of Students: 500 Date of Examination: May 21, 2014

Brock University. Test 1, May 2014 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01 Number of Students: 500 Date of Examination: May 21, 2014 Brock University Test 1, May 2014 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01 Number of Students: 500 Date of Examination: May 21, 2014 Number of hours: 50 min Time of Examination: 14:00 14:50 Instructor: B.Mitrović

More information

The Night Sky in September, 2018

The Night Sky in September, 2018 The Night Sky in September, 2018 Hello all! Welcome to the September Newsletter! September is usually recognised by astronomers as the beginning of the observing year. Here s hoping for some warm nights

More information

The Evening Sky in February 2018

The Evening Sky in February 2018 The Evening Sky in February 2018 In February bright stars are nearly overhead. Sirius, the brightest star, is north of the zenith. Canopus, the second brightest star, is south of the zenith. Below and

More information

Earth, Sun, and Stars

Earth, Sun, and Stars Earth, Sun, and Stars Daily Patterns Earth Spins Earth is always moving, even though you don t feel it. One way Earth moves is by spinning around an imaginary line. One end of the line would come out of

More information

Using the Dark Times Calendars

Using the Dark Times Calendars Using the Dark Times Calendars Purpose My main reason for creating the Dark Times Calendars was to show, in advance, the best times for deep space astronomical observing. If I want to plan a family vacation

More information

The Atlanta Astronomy Club. Charlie Elliot Chapter. Observing 101

The Atlanta Astronomy Club. Charlie Elliot Chapter. Observing 101 The Atlanta Astronomy Club Charlie Elliot Chapter Observing 101 1 Observing 101 Dec 2010 Astro Events Target List Featured Object 2 Astro Events Tonight: Sunset at 5:29 PM Moon sets at 4:34 PM Mercury

More information

CHAPTER 2 A USER'S GUIDE TO THE SKY

CHAPTER 2 A USER'S GUIDE TO THE SKY CHAPTER 2 A USER'S GUIDE TO THE SKY MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. In one way of naming stars, a letter indicates its brightness relative to the other stars in the constellation. a. English b. Arabic c. Greek d. Cyrillic

More information

Dark Sky Observing Preview. BSA Troop 4 Pasadena, CA

Dark Sky Observing Preview. BSA Troop 4 Pasadena, CA Dark Sky Observing Preview BSA Troop 4 Pasadena, CA Topics Finding Dark sky Observing etiquette Observing basics Things to see Resources Finding Dark Sky To see faint objects, you want the darkest sky

More information

Planetary Motion from an Earthly Perspective

Planetary Motion from an Earthly Perspective 1 Planetary Motion from an Earthly Perspective Stars appear fixed from night-to-night providing the familiar background of the constellations and asterisms. We see the same star patterns that were visible

More information

Eclipses September 12th, 2013

Eclipses September 12th, 2013 Eclipses September 12th, 2013 Who was the favorite Star Wars character of the class? A) Obi-Wan B) Jar Jar C) Luke Skywalker D) Yoda News! Dark matter http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/news/releases/2013/09/10

More information

Across the Universe. By Gabrielle Sierra

Across the Universe. By Gabrielle Sierra Across the Universe By Gabrielle Sierra Our universe is an amazing place. Since prehistoric days, inquisitive minds have been wondering about the celestial objects that surround our planet, and today scientists

More information

A. the spinning of Earth on its axis B. the path of the Sun around Earth

A. the spinning of Earth on its axis B. the path of the Sun around Earth stronomy 1 Packet Write answers on your own paper 1. The Sun appears to move across the sky each day. What causes this?. the spinning of Earth on its axis. the path of the Sun around Earth. the production

More information

Paper Reference. Paper Reference(s) 1627/01 Edexcel GCSE Astronomy Paper 01. Friday 15 May 2009 Morning Time: 2 hours

Paper Reference. Paper Reference(s) 1627/01 Edexcel GCSE Astronomy Paper 01. Friday 15 May 2009 Morning Time: 2 hours Centre No. Candidate No. Paper Reference(s) 1627/01 Edexcel GCSE Astronomy Paper 01 Friday 15 May 2009 Morning Time: 2 hours Materials required for examination Calculator Items included with question papers

More information

Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself 2.1 Patterns in the Night Sky Our goals for learning: What does the universe look like from Earth? Why do stars rise and set? Why do the constellations we

More information

Professor Comet Report. March The Bright Comets for 2010!

Professor Comet Report. March The Bright Comets for 2010! Professor Comet Report March 2010 The Bright Comets for 2010! C/2009 K5 (McNaught) This comet is currently bright at a visual magnitude of 9.1 and expected to reach visual Mag 8.8 by 27 March 2010. Then

More information

Brock University. Test 1, October 2017 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 1 Number of Students: 470 Date of Examination: October 3, 2017

Brock University. Test 1, October 2017 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 1 Number of Students: 470 Date of Examination: October 3, 2017 Brock University Test 1, October 2017 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 1 Number of Students: 470 Date of Examination: October 3, 2017 Number of hours: 50 min Time of Examination: 17:00 17:50

More information

Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself. What does the universe look like from Earth? Constellations. 2.1 Patterns in the Night Sky

Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself. What does the universe look like from Earth? Constellations. 2.1 Patterns in the Night Sky Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself 2.1 Patterns in the Night Sky Our goals for learning: What does the universe look like from Earth? Why do stars rise and set? Why do the constellations we

More information

A. The moon B. The sun C. Jupiter D. Earth A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4. Sky Science Unit Review Konrad. Here is a selection of PAT style questions.

A. The moon B. The sun C. Jupiter D. Earth A. 1 B. 2 C. 3 D. 4. Sky Science Unit Review Konrad. Here is a selection of PAT style questions. Sky Science Unit Review Konrad Here is a selection of PAT style questions. Use the following information to answer the next question 1. 2. The source of light that allows astronimors to see Jupitor through

More information

BROCK UNIVERSITY. Test 1: October 2014 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 2 Number of students: 950

BROCK UNIVERSITY. Test 1: October 2014 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 2 Number of students: 950 BROCK UNIVERSITY Page 1 of 9 Test 1: October 2014 Number of pages: 9 Course: ASTR 1P01, Section 2 Number of students: 950 Examination date: 3 October 2013 Time limit: 50 min Time of Examination: 20:00

More information

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE

BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE BAS - MONTHLY SKY GUIDE March 2019 The outer arms of our Milky Way Galaxy, in particular the Orion Spur and Perseus Arm, will be stretched diagonally across the sky in the early evening from south-east

More information

NEWBURY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2013

NEWBURY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2013 NEWBURY ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY MONTHLY MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2013 JUPITER AND MARS RISING A chart showing the location of Mars and Jupiter at about 5 o clock in the morning Jupiter (the King of the Planets)

More information

Chapter 17 Solar System

Chapter 17 Solar System Chapter 17 Solar System Rotation Earth spinning on its axis (like a top) "TOP" imaginary rod running through the center of the Earth from North pole to South pole The Earth is tilted on its axis at an

More information

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Splendors of the Universe on YOUR Night! Many pictures are links to larger versions. Click here for the Best images of the OTOP Gallery and more information. M42 The

More information

Chapter 3: Cycles of the Sky

Chapter 3: Cycles of the Sky Chapter 3: Cycles of the Sky Motions of the Planets Mercury Venus Earth All planets in almost circular (elliptical) orbits around the sun, in approx. the same plane, the ecliptic plane. The Moon is orbiting

More information

Constellations. In ancient times, constellations only referred to the brightest stars that appeared to form groups, representing mythological figures.

Constellations. In ancient times, constellations only referred to the brightest stars that appeared to form groups, representing mythological figures. Chapter 2 The Sky Constellations In ancient times, constellations only referred to the brightest stars that appeared to form groups, representing mythological figures. Constellations (2) Today, constellations

More information

Beyond Our Solar System Chapter 24

Beyond Our Solar System Chapter 24 Beyond Our Solar System Chapter 24 PROPERTIES OF STARS Distance Measuring a star's distance can be very difficult Stellar parallax Used for measuring distance to a star Apparent shift in a star's position

More information

The Night Sky of September

The Night Sky of September The Night Sky of September Dr. Wayne Wooten Professor of Astronomy For September 2016, the moon will be new on September 1st. The waxing crescent moon will pass just north of Jupiter and Mercury to following

More information

The Evening Sky in July 2018

The Evening Sky in July 2018 The Evening Sky in July 2018 All five of the naked-eye planets are in the evening sky. Venus, Jupiter and Mars appear soon after sunset. Silver Venus is in the west, above where the sun set. Golden Jupiter

More information

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Splendors of the Universe on YOUR Night! Many pictures are links to larger versions. Click here for the Best images of the OTOP Gallery and more information. Engagement

More information

TABLE OF CONTENTS. click one to go to that page, or just go on. What is the Solar System? Neptune (Pluto) The Sun. Asteroids. Mercury.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. click one to go to that page, or just go on. What is the Solar System? Neptune (Pluto) The Sun. Asteroids. Mercury. The Solar System TABLE OF CONTENTS click one to go to that page, or just go on. What is the Solar System? The Sun Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune (Pluto) Asteroids Meteors and Meteorites

More information

a. 0.5 AU b. 5 AU c. 50 AU d.* AU e AU

a. 0.5 AU b. 5 AU c. 50 AU d.* AU e AU 1 AST104 Sp04: WELCOME TO EXAM 1 Multiple Choice Questions: Mark the best answer choice. Read all answer choices before making selection. (No credit given when multiple answers are marked.) 1. A galaxy

More information

Name Regents Review Packet #2 Date

Name Regents Review Packet #2 Date Name Regents Review Packet #2 Date Base your answers to questions 1 through 5 on diagram below, which represents the Sun s apparent paths and the solar noon positions for an observer at 42 N latitude on

More information

The Sun s center is much hotter than the surface. The Sun looks large and bright in the sky. Other stars look much smaller.

The Sun s center is much hotter than the surface. The Sun looks large and bright in the sky. Other stars look much smaller. The Sun A star is a huge ball of hot, glowing gases. The Sun is a star. The width of the Sun is equal to the width of 100 Earths placed side by side. The Sun is extremely hot. The surface of the Sun has

More information

Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself

Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself Chapter 2 Discovering the Universe for Yourself 2.1 Patterns in the Night Sky Our goals for learning: What does the universe look like from Earth? Why do stars rise and set? Why do the constellations we

More information

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program

Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Kitt Peak Nightly Observing Program Splendors of the Universe on YOUR Night! Many pictures are links to larger versions. Click here for the Best images of the OTOP Gallery and more information. Canis Major

More information

A User s Guide to the Sky

A User s Guide to the Sky A User s Guide to the Sky Constellations Betelgeuse Rigel Stars are named by a Greek letter ( ) according to their relative brightness within a given constellation plus the possessive form of the name

More information