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sky_highlights [2016/05/31 21:39] edose add June 2016, remove April |
sky_highlights [2017/01/15 16:42] admin [SKY EXTRAS in December 2016] |
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| - | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for JUNE 2016 ====== | + | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for DECEMBER 2016 ====== |
| - | * June 4 -- __**New Moon**__\\ | + | * December 7 -- First Quarter |
| - | * June 4 -- **Open House** at Farpoint Observatory, 9 pm to ? --> Join us! | + | * December 13 -- Full Moon |
| - | * June 12 -- First Quarter\\ | + | * December 20 -- Last Quarter |
| - | * June 20 -- Full Moon | + | * December 29 -- New Moon |
| - | * June 23 -- General Meeting, Topeka Library, 7 pm. Join us! | + | * January 26, 2017 -- first General Meeting of New Year, Topeka Library, 7 pm. |
| - | * June 27 -- Last Quarter | + | |
| - | ===== PLANETS in June 2016 ===== | + | ===== PLANETS in December 2016 ===== |
| Evening Sky: | Evening Sky: | ||
| + | * **Mercury** -- in southwest | ||
| + | * **Venus** -- in southwest | ||
| * **Mars** -- in south | * **Mars** -- in south | ||
| - | * **Jupiter** -- in southwest | + | * **Uranus** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Saturn** -- in southeast (welcome back!) | + | * **Neptune** -- in south |
| Midnight: | Midnight: | ||
| - | * **Mars** -- in south | + | * **Uranus** -- in west |
| - | * **Jupiter** -- in west | + | |
| - | * **Saturn** -- in south | + | |
| Morning Sky: | Morning Sky: | ||
| - | * **Mercury** -- in east (twilight) | + | * **Jupiter** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Saturn** -- in southwest | + | * **Saturn** -- in southeast, starting late in December |
| - | * **Uranus** -- in east | + | |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in southeast | + | |
| - | ===== CONSTELLATIONS well placed in evening during June 2016 ===== | + | |
| - | 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 |
| - | * **Ursa Major**, the Big Bear, also the Big Dipper | + | * **Cassiopeia**, the wife of King Cepheus |
| - | * **Hercules**, the Strong Man | + | * **Lacerta**, the Lizard |
| - | * **Corona Borealis**, the northern crown, Crown of Ariadne | + | * **Perseus**, vanquisher of Medusa and rescuer of Andromeda |
| - | * **Boötes**, the Hunter | + | * **Andromeda**, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia |
| - | * **Virgo**, the Maiden | + | * **Pegasus**, the Winged Horse |
| - | * **Libra**, the Scales | + | * **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 June 2016 ===== | ||
| - | * **Mercury** is high in the morning twilight. Look east. | ||
| - | * **Conjunction** of the month: in the evening, look left and right of bright star red-orange star Antares in the Scorpio constellation (south sky): the bright red-orange twin to its right is Mars, and the bright yellow-white object just above and to its left is Saturn. Hint: come to the Open House June 4 and see them both. | ||
| - | * **Challenge object** of the month: Saturn is now about as close as it ever gets to earth, and its rings are tilted about as far as they ever get tilted, so get to a decent-sized telescope (hint: Open House June 4) and try counting rings! | ||
| - | * Best **comet** of the month: PANSTARRS C/2013 X1, should be easily visible in binoculars, in the eastern sky an hour before dawn. | ||
| - | * (No great meteor showers this month.) | ||
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