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sky_highlights [2015/08/02 10:19] edose add August 2015, remove July |
sky_highlights [2016/12/04 08:47] edose add December 2016, remove November |
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| - | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for AUGUST 2015 ====== | + | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for DECEMBER 2016 ====== |
| - | * August 6 -- Last Quarter (moon absent from evening sky)\\ | + | * December 7 -- First Quarter |
| - | * August 8 -- OPEN HOUSE at Farpoint Observatory, JOIN US beginning 8:30 pm\\ | + | * December 13 -- Full Moon |
| - | * August 14 -- __**New Moon**__\\ | + | * December 20 -- Last Quarter |
| - | * August 22 -- First Quarter\\ | + | * December 29 -- New Moon |
| - | * August 27 -- NEKAAL GENERAL MEETING, Topeka Library, 7:00 pm\\ | + | * January 26, 2017 -- first General Meeting of New Year, Topeka Library, 7 pm. |
| - | * August 29 -- Full Moon | + | |
| - | ===== PLANETS in August 2015 ===== | + | ===== PLANETS in December 2016 ===== |
| Evening Sky: | Evening Sky: | ||
| - | * **Mercury** -- in west, low | + | * **Mercury** -- in southwest |
| - | * **Venus** -- in west, very bright | + | * **Venus** -- in southwest |
| - | * **Jupiter** -- in west, very bright | + | * **Mars** -- in south |
| - | * **Saturn** -- in southwest | + | * **Uranus** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in east | + | * **Neptune** -- in south |
| Midnight: | Midnight: | ||
| - | * **Saturn** -- in southwest | + | * **Uranus** -- in west |
| - | * **Uranus** -- in east | + | |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in southeast | + | |
| Morning Sky: | Morning Sky: | ||
| - | * **Venus** -- in east | + | * **Jupiter** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Mars** -- in east | + | * **Saturn** -- in southeast, starting late in December |
| - | * **Uranus** -- in south | + | |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in southwest | + | |
| - | ===== CONSTELLATIONS well placed in evening during August 2015 ===== | + | |
| - | North to South, at 9-11 pm: | + | ===== CONSTELLATIONS well placed in evening during December 2016 ===== |
| + | North to South, at 8-10 pm: | ||
| * **Ursa Minor**, the Little Bear, also the Little Dipper | * **Ursa Minor**, the Little Bear, also the Little Dipper | ||
| - | * **Draco**, the Dragon | + | * **Cepheus**, the King of Ethiopia |
| - | * **Hercules** | + | * **Cassiopeia**, the wife of King Cepheus |
| - | * **Lyra**, the Lyre | + | * **Lacerta**, the Lizard |
| - | * **Cygnus**, the Swan | + | * **Perseus**, vanquisher of Medusa and rescuer of Andromeda |
| - | * **Aquila**, the Eagle | + | * **Andromeda**, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia |
| - | * **Ophiuchus**, the Serpent Handler | + | * **Pegasus**, the Winged Horse |
| - | * **Sagittarius**, the Archer | + | * **Triangulum**, yes, the triangle |
| - | * **Scorpio**, the Scorpion | + | * **Aries**, the Ram |
| + | * **Taurus**, the Bull | ||
| + | * **Sagitta**, the Arrow | ||
| + | * **Cetus**, the Sea Monster | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== SKY EXTRAS in December 2016 ===== | ||
| + | * Still LOTS of evening planets in December ! Check out the planet list above. Uranus is easily visible in binoculars, even visible naked-eye with deep dark-vision adaptation, from very dark skies. Mars is readily visible, but don't mistake it for its visual twin, the red star Antares. | ||
| + | * The great Geminid meteor shower peaks December 13, unfortunately right at full moon, which will wash out this year's show. | ||
| + | * Comet fans: we're coming into a 6-8 month period offering lots of comets. Already late in December, one evening comet should be visible in binoculars: periodic comet 45P, with the unlikely name of Honda-Mrkos-Pajdusakova. Look fairly low in the western sky in evening twilight, best late in the month within the constellation Capricorn. | ||
| + | |||
| - | ===== SKY EXTRAS in August 2015 ===== | ||
| - | * The Perseid meteor shower is August's big news, peaking the night of August 12/13. It's best after midnight when the radiant is highest, but even around midnight there will be occasional fireballs across the sky. Get a lawn chair, point your feet northeast, have a jacket and/or blanket ready, let your eyes dark-adapt--and look up! | ||
| - | * It's still Saturn season. August gives great evening views of the ringed planet, so get a look through binoculars or better still, a telescope (hint: if the sky is clear at our Open House August 8, someone is sure to have his telescope pointed at Saturn & you'll get a good look). | ||
| - | * The Summer Triangle of stars is back, too. In August evenings, look very high in the eastern sky. | ||
| - | * No comets visible in binoculars from Kansas this month. | ||
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