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sky_highlights [2015/09/02 23:05] edose add September 2015, remove August |
sky_highlights [2017/01/15 16:42] admin [SKY EXTRAS in December 2016] |
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| - | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for SEPTEMBER 2015 ====== | + | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for DECEMBER 2016 ====== |
| - | * September 5 -- Last Quarter (moon absent from evening sky)\\ | + | * December 7 -- First Quarter |
| - | * September 12 -- OPEN HOUSE at Farpoint Observatory, JOIN US beginning 8:30 pm\\ | + | * December 13 -- Full Moon |
| - | * September 13 -- __**New Moon**__\\ | + | * December 20 -- Last Quarter |
| - | * September 21 -- First Quarter\\ | + | * December 29 -- New Moon |
| - | * September 19 -- NEKAAL PICNIC, Farpoint Observatory, 6:00 pm\\ | + | * January 26, 2017 -- first General Meeting of New Year, Topeka Library, 7 pm. |
| - | * September 27 -- Full Moon & **TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE** (see SKY EXTRAS, below) | + | |
| - | ===== PLANETS in September 2015 ===== | + | ===== PLANETS in December 2016 ===== |
| Evening Sky: | Evening Sky: | ||
| - | * **Mercury** -- in west, low, only early in the month | + | * **Mercury** -- in southwest |
| - | * **Saturn** -- in southwest | + | * **Venus** -- in southwest |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in southeast | + | * **Mars** -- in south |
| - | + | ||
| - | Midnight: | + | |
| * **Uranus** -- in southeast | * **Uranus** -- in southeast | ||
| * **Neptune** -- in south | * **Neptune** -- in south | ||
| + | Midnight: | ||
| + | * **Uranus** -- in west | ||
| + | |||
| Morning Sky: | Morning Sky: | ||
| - | * **Venus** -- in east | + | * **Jupiter** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Mars** -- in east | + | * **Saturn** -- in southeast, starting late in December |
| - | * **Uranus** -- in southwest | + | |
| - | ===== CONSTELLATIONS well placed in evening during September 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 | * **Cepheus**, the King of Ethiopia | ||
| - | * **Lyra**, the Lyre | + | * **Cassiopeia**, the wife of King Cepheus |
| - | * **Cygnus**, the Swan | + | * **Lacerta**, the Lizard |
| - | * **Delphinus**, the Dolphin | + | * **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 |
| - | * **Capricorn**, the Sea-Goat | + | * **Triangulum**, yes, the triangle |
| + | * **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 September 2015 ===== | ||
| - | * This month's big news it the TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE just after sunset, Sunday, September 27. The Kansas times are: | ||
| - | * lunar eclipse begins 7:12 pm | ||
| - | * sunset, 7:16 pm | ||
| - | * Totality: 9:11 pm to 10:23 pm | ||
| - | * eclipse ends 12:22 am. | ||
| - | * Saturn season is coming to a close. You can still see Saturn low in the evening twilight, but only early in the month. | ||
| - | * The Summer Triangle continues nearly straight overhead (near the zenith) in the evenings. | ||
| - | * No comets visible in binoculars from Kansas this month. Best telescope bet this month is comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2), high in the sky, Bootes, just after dusk. You'll need a 6-8" telescope. There's also the new, slightly fainter comet Jacques (C/2015 F4), high in Lyra. If you want to try for comet 67P, the very one now visited by the Rosetta spacecraft, you'll need to look high in the eastern sky, in Gemini, and you'll need a very large telescope--this comet is fading so this is your last chance for a while. | ||
| - | * No significant meteor showers this month. (Orionids in October) | ||
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