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sky_highlights [2016/07/07 21:11] edose add July, remove June 2016 |
sky_highlights [2017/01/15 16:42] admin [SKY EXTRAS in December 2016] |
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| - | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for JULY 2016 ====== | + | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for DECEMBER 2016 ====== |
| - | * July 4 -- __**New Moon**__\\ | + | * December 7 -- First Quarter |
| - | * July 9 -- **Open House** at Farpoint Observatory, 9 pm to ? --> Join us! | + | * December 13 -- Full Moon |
| - | * July 11 -- First Quarter\\ | + | * December 20 -- Last Quarter |
| - | * July 19 -- Full Moon | + | * December 29 -- New Moon |
| - | * July 26 -- Last Quarter | + | * January 26, 2017 -- first General Meeting of New Year, Topeka Library, 7 pm. |
| - | * July 28 -- General Meeting, Topeka Library, 7 pm. Join us! | + | |
| - | ===== PLANETS in July 2016 ===== | + | ===== PLANETS in December 2016 ===== |
| Evening Sky: | Evening Sky: | ||
| - | * **Mercury** -- in west (twilight) | + | * **Mercury** -- in southwest |
| - | * **Venus** -- in west (twilight) | + | * **Venus** -- in southwest |
| * **Mars** -- in south | * **Mars** -- in south | ||
| - | * **Jupiter** -- in west | + | * **Uranus** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Saturn** -- in south | + | * **Neptune** -- in south |
| Midnight: | Midnight: | ||
| - | * **Mars** -- in southwest | + | * **Uranus** -- in west |
| - | * **Saturn** -- in southwest | + | |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in southeast | + | |
| Morning Sky: | Morning Sky: | ||
| - | * **Uranus** -- in southeast | + | * **Jupiter** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in south | + | * **Saturn** -- in southeast, starting late in December |
| - | ===== CONSTELLATIONS well placed in evening during July 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 |
| - | * **Ophiuchus**, the Serpent Bearer | + | * **Andromeda**, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia |
| - | * **Boötes**, the Hunter | + | * **Pegasus**, the Winged Horse |
| - | * **Libra**, the Scales | + | * **Triangulum**, yes, the triangle |
| - | * **Scorpio**, the Scorpion (see Mars and Saturn there) | + | * **Aries**, the Ram |
| - | * **Lepus**, the Hare | + | * **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 July 2016 ===== | ||
| - | * **Mercury** is now back in the evening sky, low in the west, best late in the month of July, between low Venus and higher Jupiter | ||
| - | * No, unfortunately Kansas will not quite be able to see the New Moon occult bright star Aldebaran--we're just a few hundred miles too far north. Still, it should be an interesting apparent conjunction ~ 5 am Friday July 29. | ||
| - | * **Challenge object** of the month: ex-planet Pluto is at its best in July. At magnitude ~ 14 you're going to need at least an 8" scope, a good eyepiece, and a bit of patience. At least it's warm, so try it now--100 years from now you'll be stuck with finding it in winter. | ||
| - | * Best **comet** of the month: still PANSTARRS C/2013 X1, should be easily visible in binoculars, very low in the southern sky during evening twilight, all month long. | ||
| - | * No great meteor showers this month, but there are the delta Aquariids starting July 12-August 23 (New Moon August 2), low in the south. And get ready for the impressive Perseids peaking the night of August 11-12. | ||
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