What’s Up in the Sky February, 2008
By Peter Burkey

February offers three opportunities for viewing rare and exciting close encounters and a well timed eclipse.

The “star” of this month’s show is the total lunar eclipse on the night of February 20-21. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon’s motion around Earth carries it through our shadow so that sunlight is blocked from falling on the Moon’s surface. This causes the Moon to glow a deep red or orange. The redness is caused by the light from all the sunrises and sunsets happening on Earth. Imagine if you were standing on the Moon you would see the Sun blocked out by a black Earth rimmed in red. This red glow is what illuminates the Moon’s surface during totality.

The last two lunar eclipses visible from our area have occurred with the eclipsed Moon either rising or setting. This time, however, it will happen at a convenient time and the Moon will have two bright partners close by.

To observe the eclipse, you will need a clear view toward the southeast. Start watching around 9:30 p.m. and check it out every 10 minutes or so until 10:00 p.m. when totality begins. Notice that the eclipsed Moon is right between the star Regulus (above) and the planet Saturn (below and to the left). Note the color of the eclipsed Moon. This is a great photo op if you use a tripod and a 15-30 sec. exposure. Keep watching every so often until 10:52 p.m. when totality ends.

The other two treats this month involve Venus in the eastern predawn sky. On February 1 look near the southern horizon for the crescent Moon. To its left, in the southeast, you will see Venus and Jupiter separated by about one Moon diameter, a rare sight! Then, on February 27, look in the same area to see Venus joined by the elusive Mercury. Look an hour before sunrise each time.

Here’s hoping for some luck with the clouds to let us see what’s up in the sky.

This month in history:
Feb. 1: Seven astronauts killed as Shuttle Columbia burns up during reentry – 2003
Feb. 6: Alan Shepard hits first golf balls on Moon – 1971
Feb. 12: NEAR spacecraft lands on asteroid – 2001
Feb. 15: Galileo Galilei born – 1564
Feb. 18: Pluto discovered – 1930
Feb. 23: Supernova 1987a first observed – 1987
Feb. 24: Announcement of Jocelyn Bell’s 1967 discovery of first pulsar – 1968

Here are this month’s viewing highlights:

Planets this month: Venus is low in SE before sunrise. Jupiter very close to Venus Feb. 1. Mercury also visible before dawn late in the month. Saturn, near the star Regulus, visible all night.

Feb. 1: Spectacular conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in predawn sky.
Feb. 6: New Moon.
Feb. 13: First quarter Moon.
Feb. 20: Full Moon – total lunar eclipse begins at 10 pm.
Feb. 25-27: Mercury is very close to Venus low in southeast just before dawn.
Feb. 28: Last quarter Moon.

“As the clouds parted briefly a few nights ago I was reminded of the beauty of the winter constellations, especially Orion, with his distinctive belt and bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel, Taurus, with red giant Antares and the lovely Pleiades cluster, and Canis Major, one of Orion’s hunting dogs with the star Sirius, the brightest in our night sky.” -P. Burkey

What’s Up in the Sky January 2008
By Peter Burkey

The weather this time of year is usually bad but every now and then we get nice, crisp, clear nights and early mornings. That’s why it is helpful to know ahead of time what interesting objects or events may be visible at that time. This month offers a variety of opportunities.

The constellation Orion is easily recognized in the southeast around 10:00 p.m. He is surrounded by a number of bright stars including Sirius to the lower left and Aldebaran to the upper right. But this year he is joined by the planet Mars, shining as brightly as Sirius but high above Orion.

Another planet, Saturn, can be found near the eastern horizon just below the star Regulus.

The first week of January offers an opportunity to view a lovely predawn gathering. On Friday, January 4th, look near the eastern horizon for dazzling Venus. To its right will be a thin crescent moon and directly below the planet will be the star Antares.

On the 9th and 10th, 45 minutes after sunset, scan the southwest horizon with binoculars to see Mercury just below the thin crescent moon.

During the third week of January you may spot Jupiter in the morning to the lower left of Venus. The two move closer together as the month progresses until February 1 when the separation will be less than the diameter of a full moon! Don’t miss that one.

Just before sunset on the 19th, face east and use binoculars to look for Mars immediately to the right of the Moon. You may be able to see Mars with the unaided eye in the daytime, something to tell your friends.

Finally, on Friday, January 24, look for Saturn and the Moon rising side by side in the east around 10:00 p.m.

We may only get a few opportunities to observe, but at least this month offers a variety to see up in the sky.

This month in history:
Jan. 5: Pluto/Planet debate begins after discovery of UB313(Eris) – 2005
Jan. 8: Stephen Hawking born – 1942
Jan. 13: Galileo discovers Jupiter’s moon Ganymede – 1610
Jan. 14: Huygens spacecraft lands on Saturn’s moon Titan – 2005
Jan. 27: Apollo 1 astronauts Chaffee, White and Grissom die in fire in capsule-1967
Jan. 28: Seven astronauts killed when Space Shuttle Challenger explodes during launch – 1986
Jan. 31: Apollo 14 launched – 1971

Here are this month’s viewing highlights:
Planets this month: Venus is low in SE before sunrise. Jupiter becomes visible at mid-month, joining Venus in spectacular conjunction Feb. 1. Mars can be found directly above Orion and is visible all night. Saturn is farther East below Leo, rising around 9 pm at mid month.
Jan. 4: Moon-Venus-Antares form predawn triangle.
Jan. 8: New Moon.
Jan. 15: First quarter Moon.
Jan. 19: Use binocs to see Mars very close to Moon just before sunset.
Jan. 22: Full Moon.
Jan. 30: Last quarter Moon.
Jan. 31: Venus/Jupiter 1.2 degrees apart.

What’s Up in the Sky December, 2007
By Peter Burkey

While researching the history for this month, I noticed that several “stars” of astronomy were born in December. Here is some background information on these folks, all of whom made major contributions to the field and have birthdays next month.

Gerard Kuiper’s name has been in the news recently in connection with the status of Pluto as a planet. Pluto is actually a member of a family of icy objects that orbit the sun just beyond Neptune. Kuiper was the first to theorize their existence. Recent discoveries of several additional objects have confirmed what is now known as the Kuiper Belt.

Annie Jump Cannon was one of the women “computers” at the Harvard College Observatory during the late 1800’s who performed the long, tedious calculations necessary to classify stellar spectra. She personally classified over 500,000 spectra and established the system of classifying stars by their spectra that is still in use today – OBAFGKM.

E. E. Barnard was another famous astronomer of that time period. He discovered Amalthea, the fifth known moon of Jupiter. He also pioneered photographic studies of the structure of the Milky Way and discovered the star, now known as Barnard’s Star, that changes its position over the years by the greatest amount.

It is interesting that Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, and Isaac Newton all share the same birth month. Tycho’s comprehensive observations and accurate record keeping enabled Kepler to determine the true nature of planetary orbits. And, using one of Kepler’s discoveries, Newton was able to describe mathematically how gravity works.

Sergie Korolev can be described as the father of the Soviet space program, comparable to Wernher Von Braun in the US. After surviving Stalin’s concentration camps he was sent to Germany to study captured rocket technology. He later went on to become the Chief Designer or head rocket engineer for the Soviet Union during the space race.

All of these individuals influenced our understanding of what’s up in the sky.

This month in history:
Dec. 2: Pioneer 11 spacecraft makes closest approach to Jupiter – 1974
Dec. 7: Gerard Kuiper born – 1905
Dec. 11: Annie Jump Cannon born – 1863
Dec. 14: Tycho Brahe born – 1546
Dec. 16: Last two Saturn V moon rockets are donated to museums
Dec 16: E. E. Barnard born – 1857
Dec. 25: Isaac Newton born – 1642
Dec. 27: Johannes Kepler born – 1571
Dec. 30: Sergei Korolev born – 1906

Here are this month’s viewing highlights:
Planets this month: Jupiter sinks low in WSW as month progresses – gone by the 22nd. Venus continues to dominate the predawn sky where she is joined by Mars and Saturn.
Dec. 1: Last Quarter Moon
Dec. 5: Look for crescent Moon and Venus – 90 min. before sunrise.
Dec. 9: New Moon
Dec. 13-14: Geminid meteors peak.
Dec. 17: First Quarter Moon.
Dec. 22: Winter solstice – first day of winter – 1:08 a.m.
Dec. 23: Look for Mars just below Full Moon.
Dec. 31: Last Quarter Moon