{"id":2104,"date":"2019-12-27T09:33:34","date_gmt":"2019-12-27T14:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/?p=2104"},"modified":"2019-12-27T15:21:17","modified_gmt":"2019-12-27T20:21:17","slug":"janfebmar2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/2019\/12\/27\/janfebmar2020\/","title":{"rendered":"JanFebMar2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Recent ASNH Activities<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

By Donna Pursley and Jim Mazur<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public Outreach Events for October<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, October 13 was the night of the Madison Moonlight Walk at the Madison Surf Club. ASNH has participated in this event for 25 years, and it is always a nice appreciative crowd. This year about 60 people attended. We were able to look at Jupiter and Saturn, which are always crowd pleasers. The nearly full Moon was a spectacular sight as it rose over the water and dipped in and out of the clouds. Despite the presence of some lights that should have been turned off, some of the larger scopes gave reasonably good views of a few deep sky objects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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There was a spectacular sunset as we set up for the Moonlight Walk at the Madison Surf Club.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On October 18 we had our public star gazing at Silver Sands in Milford. It was cloudy around setup time which probably deterred most from coming out. There were holes in the beginning which allowed for the quick view of some objects. The clouds quickly filled any gaps. The clouds did go away to a cloudless sky for the few observers that braved the cold to come out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 19 was our event at Young\u2019s Park in Branford. It was a patchy sky but most visitors were able to see the planets and other deep sky objects. When the public attendance died down, most of us packed up. All except a new couple that kept going. They told of their travels to many dark-sky star parties. As it turns out, this one scope became the focal point for the next hour as we had another experienced visitor show up and the scope was turned to many deep sky objects before we called it a night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Girl Scout Programs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We had two programs for Girl Scouts this past fall, both on fairly warm Saturday nights. The first one was in Northford on October 5, attended by about 30 scouts and their parents. A week later on October 12, we were at Eisenhower Park in Milford, where there were about 60 girls and their parents. The emphasis in these programs was on the solar system, and each event started with a short presentation about the planets by one of our members. Then we were able to show everyone the Moon, Jupiter, and Saturn. Each scout received a packet of goodies including pictures of the planets from NASA, a NASA sticker, an information sheet about the planets, and a glowing bracelet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Public Outreach Events for November<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The last Silver Sands event for the year was on November 1, 2019. It was a clear night!!!  For the first time in a long time we were able to show the 10-20 people that showed up the moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and other nice deep sky objects. There was a very enthusiastic young girl who showed up with her dad and her scope. Cheryl helped show them how to use the scope and she was able to find a few objects. She was very happy with her experience and most likely will be back again. She was one of the Girl Scouts from our Milford Girl Scout event that was held last October. We need more young people learning astronomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last Young\u2019s Park public viewing was on November 2, 2019. The day was beautiful. But, as it has happened many times before, the clouds started rolling in as darkness fell. We heard from many people that when they left home there was a clear sky. When they arrived at Young\u2019s Park it was cloudy. We all had a fun time jumping from sucker hole to sucker hole to catch the moon, Saturn, Jupiter and assorted stars that popped out. Then, after many of the dozen or so people left, the sky started to clear up. We were able to show the late arrivers some deep sky objects before the skies started to cloud up again and our customers departed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The night of Saturday, November 9 was quite cold and blustery at the Long Wharf Nature Preserve for the astronomy night sponsored by the New Haven Land Trust. We had quite a few scopes set up, but at first we wondered if anyone would come to look through them on this chilly night. They did! We had perhaps 85 people come by, and some times there were fairly long lines at a few of the scopes. A nice gibbous Moon provided a wonderful sight through the scopes, and those who came early got a quick glimpse of Saturn and its rings before it set in the west. Like most of our events this fall, the skies were partly clear and partly cloudy, but we did get to show visitors the Pleiades and a few other deep-sky targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Despite the city lights and patchy clouds at the Long Wharf Nature Preserve, visitors got to see the Moon, the Pleiades, and a few other objects.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Saturday, November 16, we held a good public observing event sponsored by the Colchester Land Trust at Cold Springs Farm. It was a cold night. It was a very clear cold night. There wasn\u2019t a cloud in the sky. Colchester is a long drive so we only had 3 scopes set up. Cheryl and I stayed on the larger items while Greg wowed everyone with great view in the 18\u201d.  There were well over 100 people by the time the night was through. The people came in waves but there were still lines of over 20 deep at some points during the night. I am really surprised that so many people came out with temperatures in the low 30s. There weren\u2019t any planets up but there we were able to show the many deep sky objects that are usually hidden from view. The moon came up late and really did look like an orange cheese wheel. By the end our feet and hands were frozen. We can chalk this up as another successful event for 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our final observing event of 2019 was held at the Meigs Point Nature Center at Hammonasset on Friday, November 22. All the forecasts predicted clear skies, but for most of the evening clouds covered more than half the sky. Still, we managed to show visitors Saturn low in the west, Uranus, and a variety of deep-sky targets, including the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus, the ET Cluster, and the Andromeda Galaxy. We had 6 or 7 scopes set up plus a pair of giant binoculars, and about 40 people attended during the course of the evening. Even with the limited clear skies, those who came seemed pleased with what they could see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Event for ASNH Members<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, January 11, 6:00pm<\/strong>
Solstice Dinner (potluck)
Unitarian Universalist Church
608 Whitney Ave, New Haven, CT (map<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Public Events<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

These events are free and open to the public. If the weather looks questionable for an observing event, check the ASNH website<\/a> after 4:00pm. There will be a scrolling message on the home page if an event has been cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, January 24, 7:00-10:00pm<\/strong>
One World Roasters
967 N High St East Haven, CT<\/a>
Public outreach event, telescopes needed <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, January 28, 7:00pm<\/strong>
Unitarian Universalist Church
608 Whitney Avenue, New Haven CT (map<\/a>)
General monthly meeting <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, February 25, 7:00pm<\/strong>
Unitarian Universalist Church
608 Whitney Avenue, New Haven CT (map<\/a>)
General monthly meeting<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, March 31, 7:00pm<\/strong>
Unitarian Universalist Church
608 Whitney Avenue, New Haven CT (map<\/a>)
General monthly meeting <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASNH Elections<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

At the October monthly meeting, elections were held for those positions with terms expiring. Donna Pursley was elected for another term as Secretary. Allan Sacharow, Bob Carruthers, and Al Washburn were re-elected as Members at Large. Thanks to all for your continuing service to ASNH!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Observing Report<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

While observing both the Pleiades and Hyades open clusters with my 10X50 binoculars, I was able to pick out a few double stars from within both clusters. I never looked at these clusters that way. Anyone looking at both clusters with binoculars should get some nice double star views. Also, there are two asterisms between both clusters which are also interesting to look at. One asterism has brighter stars than the other but both are easy binocular objects. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, my brother and I enjoyed watching the transit of Mercury with my solar telescope. We tracked it to the center of the sun before clouds moved in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michael Amato<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Features<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

If you have not looked at the newsletter before, check out some of the regular features. There are four useful links in the menu at the top of this page:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calendar <\/strong> This is a monthly calendar that includes all the scheduled events of ASNH, other regional events of interest, plus the dates and times of noteworthy events in the night sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SkyMap <\/strong> This page has a chart of the sky as it appears over the New Haven area at the present date and time. It is constantly updated, so you can go to this page on any clear night to see what is overhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Space Place<\/strong> Read the monthly article from Space Place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Directions <\/strong>This page gives directions to all the locations where regular activities of ASNH take place, including the monthly meeting, public observing sessions, and the annual Connecticut Star Party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other regular features can be found within these pages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Public Events <\/strong>Many ASNH events are free and open to the public. These include the monthly meetings and public observing sessions at Young’s Pond Park in Branford and Silver Sands State Park in Milford. This section gives the dates, times, and descriptions of these events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Events for ASNH Members <\/strong>These events are for ASNH members only. Some are private observing nights, and others are outreach events where volunteers are needed with the telescopes and equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Night Sky Highlights <\/strong>This section lists some objects to observe in the sky during the next few months, whether you are using just your eyes, a pair of binoculars, or a telescope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gallery <\/strong> This section features photographs of celestial targets taken by ASNH members and others. If you have a picture you want to share with us, please submit it to newsletter@asnh.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Night Sky Highlights for January-March 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Solar System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Quadrantid Meteor Shower<\/strong>
Peaking in the early morning hours of January 4<\/strong>
It’s hard to get out and observe meteors in January, but this is the best shower of the winter. The shower is predicted to peak around 3:00 am on January 4, when rates of 100 meteors per hour are possible. The radiant is in the northeast sky below the Big Dipper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mercury<\/strong>
The best chance to spot Mercury this winter will be in mid-February, when it will be low in the west right after sunset. It will be farthest from the Sun in the few days surrounding February 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venus<\/strong>
Throughout the winter months, Venus will be very bright and unmistakable in the southwest during the evening hours. Through a telescope it will be in a gibbous phase during January, gradually changing to a half-lit appearance by the end of March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mars<\/strong>
Throughout the winter, Mars will be to the west of Jupiter in the predawn sky. To the naked eye, Mars will be reddish and fairly bright (first magnitude). It is far from Earth right now, and through a telescope it will shown only a tiny disk, even at high magnification. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jupiter<\/strong>
In February and March, Jupiter shines brightly in the southern sky in the hours before dawn. It is the brightest object in the predawn sky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturn<\/strong>
The ringed planet will be too close to the Sun to be seen in January and much of February, but by March it will be visible in the eastern sky in the predawn hours.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uranus and Neptune<\/strong>
It will still be possible to spot Uranus in the southwest after sunset in January and February, and on March 7 is will be about 2 degrees southwest of Venus. If you want to spot Neptune, try in January before it gets too close to the Sun later in the winter. To find these two gas giants you will need a go-to scope or a finder chart such as the one in this article from the Sky & Telescope<\/em> website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

www.skyandtelescope.com\/observing\/planets\/ice-giants-neptune-and-uranus\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deep Sky Objects<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Besides the most famous deep-sky targets in the winter sky, there are many more objects that are not viewed as often but are still well worth observing. Click on the link after each object to get a star-hopping chart with directions for finding it in the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 34<\/strong>
Open cluster in Perseus
This is a nice bright cluster of several dozen stars, some bright and some dim, about 1500 light years away. It is easy to spot in binoculars.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 50<\/strong>
Open cluster in Monoceros
Messier 50 is a nice open cluster for telescopes of all sizes. Look carefully at the star colors. The cluster contains mainly white and blue-white stars, but a few red and yellow stars are visible as well.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 40<\/strong>
Double star in Ursa Major
If you want to see the least impressive object on Messier’s list, this is probably it. Apparently Messier thought there was a hint of nebulosity around this double star, but there is not. However, with a medium to large scope, see if you can spot the oblong galaxy NGC 4290 just 1\/5 degree to the east.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 101<\/strong>
Galaxy in Ursa Major
This is a large but dim face-on spiral galaxy above the handle of the Big Dipper, about 23 million light years away. A small telescope will show its brighter nucleus, and with larger scopes some detail can be seen in its spiral arms. Star-hop chart<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 109<\/strong>
Galaxy in Ursa Major
This is another galaxy near the Big Dipper. This barred spiral is fairly easy to find because it is just 2\/3 degree to the east-southeast of Phecda, the star at the bottom corner of the bowl of the Big Dipper. It is estimated to be about 82 million light years away.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 93
<\/strong>Open cluster in Puppis
The Milky Way passes through the southerly constellation Puppis, and many open clusters can be found in this area. A nice bright one is Messier 93, which includes about 80 stars. Its densely packed center has a wedge shape. The cluster is about 3400 light years away. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NGC 1514
<\/strong>Planetary nebula in Taurus
Here is a planetary nebula with a 10th magnitude central star that is quite easy to see through most telescopes. The surrounding nebula is dim, and through large telescopes it has a mottled appearance.  The perfectly centered star convinced William Herschel that this object was not an unresolved star cluster but was some type of faint “atmosphere” surrounding the star. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NGC 1980<\/strong>
Open cluster and nebula in Orion
This loose cluster is easy to spot just below the famous Orion nebula (M42). It consists of iota Orionis and a handful of other stars that form the shape of a fish. The nebula shows up in photos but is hard to see visually. Star-hop chart<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sigma Orionis and Struve 761<\/strong>
Multiple star systems in Orion
If you want to observe some interesting multiple star systems, these two are easy to find just below the belt of Orion. Most telescopes will show the four bright stars that are the Sigma Orionis system. This group is about 1270 light years away, and all of these stars are larger and brighter than our Sun. Just to the west, in the same telescopic field of view, is the triple star Struve 761. Star-hop chart<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gallery, page 1<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Transit of Mercury.<\/strong> On November 11, 2019, Mercury crossed the face of the Sun over a period of more than 5 hours. The skies in Connecticut were clear at first, but clouds thickened when Mercury was about half way across the Sun. While it was still clear, Joe Trerotola obtained the two images below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Below is a sequence of two images by Jim Mazur taken about 85 minutes apart. He used a hand-held Canon camera at the eyepiece of a Personal Solar Telescope (PST).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gallery, page 2<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conjunction of Moon and Saturn.<\/strong> On October 5, 2019, Joe Trerotola used a Televue TV85 with a Canon 60DA camera at prime focus to capture the Moon and Saturn in a single image. The tiny oblong shape of Saturn is in the upper right corner, just about 2 degrees away from the Moon. Below the full image is an enlargement that shows Saturn’s rings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recent ASNH Activities By Donna Pursley and Jim Mazur Public Outreach Events for October Sunday, October 13 was the night of the Madison Moonlight Walk at the Madison Surf Club. ASNH has participated in this event for 25 years, and … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-17"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2104"}],"version-history":[{"count":25,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2140,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2104\/revisions\/2140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}