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sky_highlights [2016/10/08 21:58] edose add October 2016, 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 OCTOBER 2016 ====== | + | ====== Sky Highlights and NEKAAL Events for DECEMBER 2016 ====== |
| - | * October 8 -- First Quarter\\ | + | * December 7 -- First Quarter |
| - | * October 16 -- Full Moon | + | * December 13 -- Full Moon |
| - | * October 22 -- Last Quarter | + | * December 20 -- Last Quarter |
| - | * October 22 -- **Open House** at Farpoint Observatory, 7:30 pm to ? Join us! | + | * December 29 -- New Moon |
| - | * October 27 -- General Meeting, Topeka Library, 7 pm. Join us! | + | * January 26, 2017 -- first General Meeting of New Year, Topeka Library, 7 pm. |
| - | ===== PLANETS in October 2016 ===== | + | ===== PLANETS in December 2016 ===== |
| Evening Sky: | Evening Sky: | ||
| + | * **Mercury** -- in southwest | ||
| * **Venus** -- in southwest | * **Venus** -- in southwest | ||
| * **Mars** -- in south | * **Mars** -- in south | ||
| - | * **Saturn** -- in southwest | + | * **Uranus** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Uranus** -- in east | + | * **Neptune** -- in south |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in southeast | + | |
| Midnight: | Midnight: | ||
| - | * **Uranus** -- in south | + | * **Uranus** -- in west |
| - | * **Neptune** -- in southwest | + | |
| Morning Sky: | Morning Sky: | ||
| - | * **Mercury** -- in east | + | * **Jupiter** -- in southeast |
| - | * **Jupiter** -- in east | + | * **Saturn** -- in southeast, starting late in December |
| - | * **Uranus** -- in west | + | |
| - | ===== CONSTELLATIONS well placed in evening during October 2016 ===== | + | ===== CONSTELLATIONS well placed in evening during December 2016 ===== |
| North to South, at 8-10 pm: | 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 | ||
| * **Cepheus**, the King of Ethiopia | * **Cepheus**, the King of Ethiopia | ||
| - | * **Draco**, the Dragon | + | * **Cassiopeia**, the wife of King Cepheus |
| * **Lacerta**, the Lizard | * **Lacerta**, the Lizard | ||
| - | * **Cygnus**, the Swan | + | * **Perseus**, vanquisher of Medusa and rescuer of Andromeda |
| - | * **Sagitta**, the Arrow | + | * **Andromeda**, the daughter of Cepheus and Cassiopeia |
| * **Pegasus**, the Winged Horse | * **Pegasus**, the Winged Horse | ||
| - | * **Delphinus**, the Dolphin | + | * **Triangulum**, yes, the triangle |
| - | * **Ophiuchus**, the Serpent Bearer | + | * **Aries**, the Ram |
| - | * **Aquarius**, the Water Bearer | + | * **Taurus**, the Bull |
| - | * **Capricornus**, the Sea-Goat | + | * **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 October 2016 ===== | ||
| - | * Still LOTS of evening planets in October! Check out the planet list above. Uranus reaches its 2016 peak on the 15th, easily visible in binoculars, even visible naked-eye with deep dark adaptation, from extremely dark skies. | ||
| - | * If you're up in the morning twilight October 11, look for Mercury and Jupiter within a degree of each other, just above the eastern horizon. | ||
| - | * Best evening comet should be C/2016 A8 (LINEAR), fairly high in the southern sky, but you'll need a 8" scope...and patience. | ||
| - | * The moon occults Aldebaran the night of October 18-19, from about 12:30 am to about 1:08 am, in our area. | ||
| - | * The Orionids (meteor shower), peak the night of October 21, unfortunately close to the full moon this year. | ||
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