SLAS Dark Sky Party Oct 28, 2016
References: http://astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2017cst.html http://www.seasky.org/astronomy/astronomy-calendar- 2017.html http://www.calsky.com/cs.cgi RASC Handbook 2017 All Photos by Mark Jones Unless noted Lunar Eclipse April 4, 2015 Chesterfield Valley
2017 Meteor Showers January 3 Quadrantids; ZHR=40 (FQ-2days) April 22 Lyrids; ZHR=20 (LQ+3days) May 5 Eta Aquarids; ZHR=60 (FQ+2days) July 28 Delta Aquarids; ZHR=20 (FQ-2days) Aug 12 Perseids; ZHR=60 (FM+2days) Oct 21 Orionids; ZHR=20 (NM+2days) Nov 17 Leonids; ZHR=20 (NM-1day) Dec 14 Geminids; ZHR=120 (LQ+4days) Yellow=Favorable Moon Conditions Perseid Meteor, Aug 11, 2016, Belle, MO
Planet Oppositions 2017 Jupiter Apr 7 (dia=44.19 arc-sec) Saturn June 15 (dia=18.3 arc-sec, 26.7 o ring tilt) Uranus Oct 19 (dia=3.7 arc-sec) Neptune Sep 5 (dia=2.32 arc-sec) Images from Stellarium Top to Bottom: Relative sizes of Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune
Evening Star Venus 2017 Jan 12 - Venus Greatest Elongation (47.1 East, in the evenings, brightness: -4.5 mag) Jan 14 - Venus Dichotomy/Half phase Feb 19 - Venus (Crescent) Brilliancy (Brightness: -4.85 mag) Evening and Morning Star! Mar 25 - Venus Conjunction (inferior), 8.3 separated from center of Sun. Distance to earth: 0.281 AU Morning Star Apr 26 - Venus Brilliancy (Brightness: -4.75 mag) Jun 3 - Venus Greatest Elongation (45.9 West, in the mornings, brightness: -4.4 mag) Jun 4 - Venus Dichotomy/Half phase Images from Stellarium
Mars 2017 May 2 Spring Begins N. Hemisphere Jul 26 Conjunction with Sun, evening to morning star Nov 19 Summer Begins N. Hemisphere Disk diameter shrinks from 5.7 arc-sec in January to 4.3 arc-sec in December July 26, 2018 Opposition 24.7 arc-sec Mars Opposition at SLSC May 22, 2016 Mars images from Stellarium
2018 Mars Opposition Opposition Date Mars Distance in Millions of Miles Diameter in arc-seconds Aug 2003 34.39 25 Nov 2005 45.55 19 Dec 2007 55.77 15 Jan 2010 61.35 14 Mar 2012 63.21 13 April 2014 57.63 15 May 2016 47.41 18 Jul 2018 36.25 24 Mars Opposition Aug, 2003 Next minimum distance of July 2018 Largest Mars in 10 years! Mars Opposition at SLSC May 22, 2016
Jupiter 2017 Feb 17 Aphelion 11.86 year orbit Apr 7 Opposition (Virgo) 4.455AU 37 light-minutes -2.5mag 44.19 arc-sec Jan 2023 Perihelion, Opposition Moon apparent size at Opposition Io: 1.1 arc-sec Europa: 1.0 arc-sec Ganymede: 1.6 arc-sec Callisto: 1.5 arc-sec Manchester Park April 14, 2016 Jupiter images from Stellarium
May 24 Summer begins on N. Hemisphere Saturn Jun Rings 15 change Opposition angle In Sagittarius 2009-10 rings are near edge on 9.043AU 75 light-minutes 0.0 mag 18.3 arc-sec (disk) 42 arc-sec (rings) Titan 0.8 arc-sec Rings tilted to maximum extent 26.7 degrees The Saturn views were simulated with a computer program written by Tom Ruen. (Created here for public domain) Saturn 2017 Saturn
Uranus Oct 19 Opposition (Pisces) Saturn 18.9AU Rings 156 change light-minutes angle +5.7mag In 2009-10 3.7 arc-sec rings are Neptune near edge on Uranus/Neptune 2017 Saturn Sep 5 Opposition (Aquarius) 28.9AU 240 light-minutes +7.8mag 2.32 arc-sec Yuri s Night SLSC April 12, 2016
Small Body Oppositions 2017 Jan 31 Dwarf Planet Ceres (1) at opposition, mag 6.9 (2018) Oct 29 Asteroid Pallas (2) at opposition, mag 8.2 July 2 Asteroid Juno (3) at opposition, mag 9.7 Jan 18 Asteroid Vesta (4) at opposition, mag 6.2 Jun 7 Asteroid Hebe (6) at opposition, mag 8.3 Oct 30 Asteroid Iris (7) at opposition, mag 6.9 Jan 2 Asteroid Flora (8) at opposition, mag 8.2 (2018) Feb 22 Asteroid Metis (9) at opposition, mag 9.0 Jun 29 Asteroid Hygiea (10) at opposition, mag 9.1 Jul 10 Dwarf Planet Pluto (134340) at opposition, mag 14.2 Yellow=Favorable Conditions Moon 1000 km Pluto 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Eclipses 2017 Feb 11 - Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Europe, Africa, Asia, Eastern N&S America Feb 26 - Annular Solar Eclipse South America, W. Africa Aug 7 - Partial Lunar Eclipse Africa, Asia, Australia Aug 21 - Total Solar Eclipse US. North America Yellow=Favorable Conditions
Missouri Total Solar Eclipse http://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/missouri/
Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Aug 21 Oregon to South Carolina First in Continental US since 1979 First coast to coast since 1918 First in St Louis since 1442 St Louis Times Partial Start: 11:49am Total Start: 1:16pm Total End: 1:19pm Partial End:2:44pm Downward side of Solar Cycle 24
http://shadowandsubstance.com/2017/2017e.html Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Star Field
Practice for the Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Regulus near same Az/EL with Moon http://shadowandsubstance.com/2017/2017e.html
Lunar/Star Occultations Trivia Question: What are the 4 first magnitude stars that can be occulted by the Moon? Aldebaran (Taurus) 0.9mag Regulus (Leo) 1.4mag Spica (Virgo) 0.98mag Antares (Scorpius) 1.1mag The Moon occults Aldebaran and Regulus somewhere in the world each lunar month in 2017!
Lunar Occultations 2017 Local STL times Mar 4 21:53-22:40 Aldebaran, 0.2 S of Moon, Occ n Jul 1 21:40-22:45 Gamma Virgo (2.8mag), Occ n Oct 15 4:30-5:25 Regulus, 0.2 S of Moon, Occ n Nov 5 19:00-19:50 Aldebaran, 0.8 S of Moon, Occ n Dec 30 17:08-18:00 Aldebaran, 0.8 S of Moon, Occ n Favorable Conjunctions in Yellow July 29, 2016 Aldebaran Graze
Mar 4 21:53-22:40 Aldebaran, 0.2 S of Moon, Occ n Alt= 32 degrees Images from Stellarium
Jul 1 21:40-22:45 Gamma Virgo (2.8mag), Occ n Alt= 37 degrees Images from Stellarium
Oct 15 4:30-5:25 Regulus, 0.2 S of Moon, Occ n Alt 15 degrees Images from Stellarium
Nov 5 19:00-19:50 Aldebaran, 0.8 S of Moon, Occ n Alt=3 degrees Images from Stellarium
Dec 30 17:08-18:00 Aldebaran, 0.8 S of Moon, Occ n Alt= 33 degrees Images from Stellarium
Lunar/Planet Conjunctions Local STL times Jan 19 10:00 Saturn 2.1 S of Moon (evening) Jan 31 Mars, Moon and Venus within 6 degree circle Apr 6 02:00 Venus, 0.7 S of Moon (morning) Apr 25 Saturn, Mars, Moon, Antares Conjunction (morning) May 22 05:00 Venus, 2.0 N of Moon (morning) Jun 3 03:00 Mercury, 0.7 N of Moon (morning) Jul 9 03:00 Jupiter, 0.9 N of Moon (morning) Jul 22 00:00 Neptune, 1.1 S of Moon. Occult'n in Eastern US Aug 4 16:00 Mercury, 0.6 N of Moon (evening) Sep 2 16:00 Jupiter, 0.4 S of Moon (evening) Sep 3 05:00 Venus, 1.1 S of Moon (morning) Sep 18 Moon, Venus, Regulus, Mars, Mercury 1.1 (morning) Sep 29 05:00 Mercury, 0.7 N of Moon (morning) Dec 6 17:00 Neptune, 0.7 S of Moon. Occult'n in US (evening) Favorable Conjunctions in Yellow Moon and Venus Dec 11, 2012
Planet-Planet Conjunctions 2017 Jan 12 Venus/Neptune: only 21.8' separation. brightness: -4.3 and +7.9 mag, Sun elongation=47.14 East (evening) Feb 2 Venus/Mars: 5.4 separation, brightness: -4.8 and +1.1 mag, Sun elongation=45.28 East (evening) Feb 26 Mars/Uranus: only 34.2' separation, brightness: +1.3 and +5.9 mag, Sun elongation=43.41 East (evening) Apr 28 Mercury/Uranus: 0.1 separation, brightness: -0.8 and +5.8 mag, Sun elongation=19 West (morning) Jun 3 Venus/Uranus: 1.7 separation, brightness: -4.4 and +5.9 mag, Sun elongation=45.74 West (morning) Sep 16 Mercury/Mars: only 3.3' separation, brightness: -0.9 and +1.8 mag, Sun elongation=16.90 West (morning) Oct 5 Venus/Mars: only 12.3' separation, brightness: -3.9 and +1.8 mag, Sun elongation=23.45 West (morning) Nov 13 Venus/Jupiter: only 15.7' separation, brightness: -3.9 and -1.7 mag, Sun elongation=13.84 West (morning) Favorable Conjunctions in Yellow Venus and Pleiades April 10, 2015
Feb 26 Mars/Uranus: only 34.2' separation, brightness: +1.3 and +5.9 mag, Sun elongation=43.41 East (evening) 8:10pm Images from Stellarium
Sep 16 Mercury/Mars: only 3.3' separation, brightness: -0.9 and +1.8 mag, Sun elongation=16.90 West (morning) 5:45am Images from Stellarium
Oct 5 Venus/Mars: only 12.3' separation, brightness: -3.9 and +1.8 mag, Sun elongation=23.45 West (morning) 6am Images from Stellarium
Nov 13 Venus/Jupiter: only 15.7' separation, brightness: -3.9 and -1.7 mag, Sun elongation=13.84 West (morning) Venus and Jupiter July 1, 2015 Images from Stellarium
Planet-Star Conjunctions 2017 Feb 1 - Jupiter/Spica,: 3.6 separation, brightness: -2.2 and +1.0 mag, Sun elongation=108.78 West (morning) July 10 Mercury 0.04 N of Beehive Cluster (M44) Jul 25 Mercury/Regulus,: only 57.0' separation, brightness: +0.2 and +1.4 mag, Sun elongation=26.79 East (evening) Jul 27 Venus/Zet Taurus,: only 23.3' separation, brightness: -4.0 and +3.0 mag, Sun elongation=39.46 West (morning) Aug 5 Venus/Mu Gem: only 31.7' separation, brightness: -4.0 and +2.9 mag, Sun elongation=37.65 West (morning) Aug 16 Venus/Del Gem: only 33.7' separation, brightness:-3.9 and +3.5 mag; Sun elongation=35.25 West (morning) Sep 10 Mercury/Regulus, only 36' separation, brightness: -0.2 and +1.4 mag, Sun elongation=18 West (morning) Sep 19 Venus/Regulus, only 27.9' separation, brightness: -3.9 and +1.4 mag, Sun elongation=27.26 West (morning) Dec 22 Jupiter/Alp2 Lib): only 42.4' separation, brightness: -1.8 and +2.8 mag, Sun elongation=45.83 West (morning) Favorable Conjunctions in Yellow Venus and Pleiades April 10, 2015
Feb 1 - Jupiter/Spica,: 3.6 separation, brightness: -2.2 and +1.0 mag, Sun elongation=108.78 West (morning) Images from Stellarium
July 10 Mercury 0.04 N of Beehive Cluster (M44) 8pm; Alt = 5 degrees Mars and M44 May 22, 2008 Images from Stellarium
Jul 25 Mercury/Regulus,: only 57.0' separation, brightness: +0.2 and +1.4 mag, Sun elongation=26.79 East (evening) 8:30am, Alt = 2 degree Images from Stellarium
Images from Stellarium Sep 19 Venus/Regulus, only 27.9' separation, brightness: -3.9 and +1.4 mag, Sun elongation=27.26 West (morning) 6:15am; Alt= 8 degrees Venus & 7 th Mag Star May 15, 2015
Dec 22 Jupiter/Alp2 Lib): only 42.4' separation, brightness: - 1.8 and +2.8 mag, Sun elongation=45.83 West (morning) Images from Stellarium
Sun Events 2017 Northern Limit Page and Lindbergh Southern Limit Watson and Lindbergh Red Lines are 72,100 ft long Jan 4 8:17 - Perihelion (distance to sun: 0.9833 AU) Jan 5 7:20 - Latest Sunrise of the Year for this site Mar 6 3:21 - Sun South Pole points towards us (heliographic latitude: -7.3 ) Mar 20 5:28 - March Equinox Jun 6 7:25 - Earth crosses the equator of the Sun south to north Jun 20 23:24 - Northern Solstice (declination: +23.434 ) Jun 28 20:30 - Latest Sunset of the Year for this site Jul 3 15:11 - Aphelion (distance to sun: 1.0167 AU) Sep 8 6:26 - Sun North Pole points towards us (heliographic latitude: +7.3 ) Dec 7 16:03 - Earth crosses the equator of the Sun north to south Dec 21 10:28 - Southern Solstice (declination: -23.435 ) Google Earth
Full Moon Events 2017 Smallest May 10 Second smallest FM of 2017 Jun 9 Smallest of FM 2017 Largest Nov 11 Second largest FM of 2017 Dec 3 Largest FM of 2017 Canon DSLR FL=300mm Jan 1, 2018-3rd largest of the last 10 years. The biggest of the next 10 years. Former larger FM was Nov 14, 2016. Next larger FM is Nov 25, 2034
Other Moon Events 2017 Jan 12 5:34 - Northern most FM of 2017. Next more northern FM will be Jan 2 2018 July 8 23:06 Southern most FM of 2017. Next more southern FM will be Jun 28 2018 Feb 18 19:47-13th southernmost total libration of the last 1000 years, the 4th southernmost of the last 100 years, the southernmost of the last 10 years, the southernmost of the next 100 years and the 7th southernmost of the millenium. Former more southern total libration was at Jan 18,1963. Next more southern total libration is at Nov 26, 2784 Super Moon rise Nov 13 2016 Arch from 17 miles away
Other Moon Events 2017 Lunar X (local start times + ~2 hours) Feb 3 14:28 Alt=37 Apr 3 17:15 Alt=55 Jun 1 16:35 Alt=39 Jul 30 15:27 Alt=19 Sep 27 16:08 Alt=21 Nov 25 18:24 Alt=36 Data provided by Grant Martin Local STL times Favorable Dates in Yellow http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/559919-lunar-x-predictions-2017/ Lunar X - Mar 15, 2016
Other Moon Events 2017 Golden Handle on the Moon Sun rises on the Jura mountains, while Sinus Iridum is still in shadow Jan 7 20:36 Mar 8 3:45 Apr 6 19:30 Jun 4 19:48 Sep 1 1:24 Oct 30 0:30 Start times. Event visible up to 7 hours Data provided by CalSky Photos by Werner Priller Local STL times
SLAS Dark Sky Parties for 2017 Mar 25 Dark Sky Party (sunset=7:17pm) Apr 22 Dark Sky Party (sunset=7:44pm) May 20 Dark Sky Party (sunset=8:10pm) Jun 24 Dark Sky Party (sunset=8:29pm) Jul 22 Dark Sky Party (sunset=8:21pm) Aug 19 Dark Sky Party (sunset=7:51pm) Sep 16 Dark Sky Party (sunset=7:09pm) Oct 21 Dark Sky Party (sunset=6:15pm) Nov 18 Dark Sky Party (sunset=4:46pm) 2014 Messier Marathon Danville
SLAS Sky Orienteering (Sunday nights, 2017) Jan 22 Babler State Park Feb 19 Mar 19 Apr 23 May 21 Jun 18 Jul 16 Aug 13 Sep 17 Oct 15 Nov 12 Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Babler State Park Sep 2013 Danville Laser Pointing to Center of Milky Dec 10 Babler State Park
Important Dates 2017 Mar 12 Daylight Saving Time Begins April 29 Astronomy Day June 9-11 - MSRAL Springfield, MO Aug 16-19 ALCON Casper, WY Aug 21 TSE! Sep 30 Astronomy Day Nov 5 Daylight Saving Time Ends SLSC March 2015