{"id":3426,"date":"2024-12-23T09:17:22","date_gmt":"2024-12-23T14:17:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/?p=3426"},"modified":"2025-02-07T08:49:12","modified_gmt":"2025-02-07T13:49:12","slug":"janfebmar2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/2024\/12\/23\/janfebmar2025\/","title":{"rendered":"JanFebMar2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

President’s Message<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

By Greg Barker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we near the end of our 87th year, we\u2019ve been super busy, and I\u2019m thrilled to tell you about all the amazing events we\u2019ve been involved in. From Hammonasset to Silver Sands, Young\u2019s Park to Cold Spring Farm in Colchester, and even the Durham Fair, we\u2019ve made a great impression on many groups. They\u2019re already asking us to host star parties for 2025, and I can\u2019t wait to see you all there!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Astronomically we had an unbelievable year, a total solar eclipse, a couple of auroras, and a naked eye comet (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

CSP34 was a blast, and the weather was perfect. I hope you all had a great time as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many thanks to all our volunteers who make all our events so successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking ahead to 2025, we\u2019ve already got 23 events on the calendar, and CSP35 is set for late September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wishing you all clear skies for the new year!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASNH at the<\/strong> Durham Fair, Friday September 27<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Along with two other astronomy clubs (Shoreline Astronomical Society and Thames Amateur Astronomy Society), members of ASNH participated in the astronomy exhibit at the Durham Fair. Inside, the ASNH meteorite collection was on display, and outside there was solar observing until it clouded over in the mid-afternoon. Members participating included Greg and Cheryl Barker, Andy and Shelly Buynak, and Don Straka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

By Donna Pursley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stargazing at the Seymour Public Library on Friday October 11<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I haven\u2019t spent much time in Seymour. There is no easy way to get there from my home. After all the New Haven Friday traffic, the rest of the drive to Seymour was easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was a nice place to set up in the parking lot. The library staff was able to turn off the outside lights but the moon was very bright. ASNH had plenty of scopes, maybe 10. We were able to see some other sights besides the Moon but it wasn\u2019t the best night. No clouds, just not good seeing. Maybe it was the light pollution from nearby towns. The people were very nice and we had a really good mix of ages, from grandparents to young children. All were very interested. They had many questions about the northern lights from last night. We tried but we weren\u2019t seeing them again tonight. The crowd thinned out early and we left about 9:30. It was a nice night. It feels good to have polite, interested attendees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Silver Sands Park, Milford, Friday October 25<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It was a beautiful day. The night started off slow before 7. People slowly and consistently started filtering in as it was getting dark. I think there were about 10 scopes set up and probably more than 150 people. But, as in the past, as it became dark the clouds starting coming in. We were able to see a few things (including Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, the Hercules cluster, Albireo) before we were mostly clouded out. Most of the telescopes were on Saturn, which seemed to stay in one of the few holes. Nobody complained. The people that came out were all very pleasant and polite. They were happy to see Saturn and understood about the clouds. We were able to pack up a little early and saw Jupiter rising in the East as we left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Young’s Park, Branford, Saturday October 26<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now at Young\u2019s Park, the sky was very clear. Greg Barker was able to stay on the comet for long enough for most everyone that came out was able to see it. We had about 10 scopes tonight also but we were able to move around the sky and show the people all sorts of different things. There weren\u2019t as many people, but still a good-sized crowd at maybe 50 or so. The smaller crowd meant that there weren\u2019t long lines and we could move the scopes around to many different things. Again, not a late night, but a successful weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At Young’s Park, Neal Lewis captured this image of the fading Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS in the constellation Ophiuchus with a 35-mm lens at f\/2.8.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hammonasset Family Astronomy Night, Friday November 1<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It was a warm day and a clear night. We don\u2019t get many clear nights for the Hammonasset stargazing so this was a bonus. Since it was getting dark early, many of us set up before official start time of 7pm. There were three astronomy groups here which added up to 22 scopes! Scopes of all different kinds. There was a large crowd, about 200 or so, but the lines moved and we were all able to move our scopes around to all sorts of different objects. The people seemed very enthusiastic and pleased to see everything that we showed them. The event winded down and we started packing up around 9pm. Another successful event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

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

On Thursday evening, October10, a group of us went to Fort Hale to try to see the comet. After failing completely, my brother Anthony and our friend Joe returned to Joe’s house to hang around outside. My friend Rose and her friends also returned to their homes. While Anthony, Joe and I yacked in the yard, Anthony yelled out “It’s the aurora”! I franticly called Rose that the aurora was out and she was able to contact her daughter Jenn and her friends. All of us were able to enjoy this great aurora. In less than half an hour it was all over. My brother was able to image the Big Dipper embedded within the aurora, and it’s in the image below. What started out as a failure for all of us turned out to be the second greatest aurora I ever saw. Of course, we all know the best one was at the CSP several years ago. Now, onto the comet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On Monday, October 14, Anthony imaged Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS with his digital camera while he, Joe and I observed the comet. In our 10×50 binoculars, the tail extended a long way from the comet’s head and to our surprise, the comet’s anti-tail was glimpsed in our binoculars and in our image of the comet. The comet also was an easy naked eye object with its long tail easily seen. In a one-week period the three of us were treated to a great aurora and a great comet. Isn’t astronomy wonderful?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In the first week of November, I was observing the Sun with my Sunspotter Solar Telescope. There were numerous spots on the Sun including a huge spot crossing the Sun’s face. On November 7, Anthony imaged the Sun with his digital camera and it came out great. What a year of astronomy we’ve had so far this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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On November 20, a 2.3 magnitude earthquake rocked Moodus for the third time this year. Each of the first two quakes knocked one ball out of six on my seismic wave detector. This time no balls dropped off its stem. The day before, Stamford CT had a 1.3 magnitude earthquake accompanied by loud booming noises heard in Stamford. Also, on the same day Lunenburg MA had a 1.5 magnitude quake. This time two out of six balls dropped off my detector. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why some quakes affect my detector and some of them don’t. I also have a P-Wave detector but it won’t go off unless there is a major earthquake of firth magnitude or better. I also have a lightning detector which can pick up radio noise from a tornado. I love this type of radio astronomy even though the information can be confusing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lunar Standstill.<\/strong> On December 14, the full Moon reached as high in the sky as it ever does. This won’t happen again until 2043. Also, the Moon rose farthest left in the eastern sky and that won’t happen again in 2043. When the Moon was at its highest last night, I had to look over the deck railing before I could crane my neck to see it. As for the Lunar Standstill, this is when this high up full Moon appears to stop moving for about five minutes.  Of course, this illusion is almost if not impossible to notice. Jupiter was next to the Moon all night when all this was happening. The lunar image was taken by Anthony while we watched it.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

By Ray Kaville<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 10.<\/strong> I was wrapping up work on the car around 7pm. My son was over and heading out. I mentioned the aurora chances and he recalled a night where we watched from the front yard. All red. He also attended the Bowbriwka event years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About 5 minutes after he left, I was looking at the “sunset” and marveling at how bright it was. Then it got brighter. Over in the west it ramped up quickly including white\/gray spires from time to time. Spread across the sky from west to northeast and just kept growing. Even with the neighbors\u2019 bright lights it was immense. I wandered down to the street to see if it was viewable and it got better yet. As I was shielding my eyes from glare bombs and car coming up the hill, one of the students next door stopped his car and said “Am I crazy or is the whole sky RED?” I told him it was the aurora borealis. He exclaimed “What?” So much for college at Quinnipiac. I told him to park and come over. Immediately he walked right into his rental and never said a word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lasted from about 7 to 7:30 or so and out at the street the white spires became intense as they meandered to the east. Been checking for awhile, but it seems to have dissipated. Helluva night though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 15.<\/strong> Okay, so I got jazzed and managed to find my two little digital cameras that should do a decent job on this beast. I ordered two new batteries and a charger for the Nikon 4500 and charged them up. Works. Packed all the electronics in a bag and grabbed a bottle (of water) and around twenty before 7 I beat it over to the best flat, high, and wide open spot I could think of. Passed the observatory which now looks like a house in the woods and headed up to the airport. Almost missed the driveway after being blinded by the stadium lights that are now installed. There was a football game. Headed towards the fire department and I stopped between a couple of cars along the road. Could not find my 10x50s so I was hand holding the 15x70s. Good news is it wasn’t that bad. The guy behind me had his two kids out running around, but he also had his spotting scope set up and pointed just about where I wanted to look. There was a voice from the far tree line (towards Rt 63) and someone was down there with a scope. Their conversation was about the comet. They’d both had it in their sights. What luck! I wandered over and chatted him up, got a look through his scope and identified just about where it was. WOW! What a gorgeous comet! That tail had to be three fingers long off the nucleus. He was just about to hit the road so I found a place between me and the stadium lights by the front of my car and overheard another conversation. Two more folks had found it! After a while I opted to stop panning and ask. I got the exact location (he was using binocs too) and swung up where he said (about 5 degrees right of where I was looking) and BAM! There it was! Dropping the binocs I could easily see it naked eye even with the nearly full Moon and the stadium lights! I’ll be back out the next couple of days and hopefully I’ll find a decent spot nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Chris Predom<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday, December 8, I saw this interesting feature on the Moon, a backward Z with a dash through it. I included a screen shot of the app Moon Globe showing what the feature is, at the intersection of Purbach and Regiomontanus.  The app only gives approximate lunar lighting.   It does not show correct Sun angle lighting for your area.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Members with telescopes are needed for these outreach events. If the weather looks questionable for an observing event, check the ASNH website<\/a> after 4:00 pm. There will be a scrolling message on the home page if an event has been cancelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, March 1, 6:00 pm<\/strong>
Lyman Orchard Observing Event
70 Lyman Rd Middlefield, CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, March 8, 7:00 pm<\/strong> (PRIVATE EVENT)<\/strong>
Regional Water Authority
Lake Gaillard, North Branford, CT<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, March 15, 6:00 pm<\/strong>
Lyman Orchard Observing Event
70 Lyman Rd Middlefield, CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, March 29, 7:30 pm<\/strong>
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Meig\u2019s Point Nature Center, 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison CT (map<\/a>) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Upcoming Monthly Meetings on Zoom<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Tuesday, January 28, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, February 25, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, March 25, 7:00 pm

We will continue to use this format for monthly meetings for now. A week or two before each meeting, members will receive an email announcement with a link that will allow them to connect to the online meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just click the link or copy and paste in your browser and that will connect you to the meeting. You can do this on any device that has an internet connection and a browser.  You can do this on a smart phone. You can display yourself if you like with your selfie camera on your device. If you don’t that’s okay, don’t feel you have to.

You can also dial in to the meeting. The number and password will be given in the announcement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Astronomy Links<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

From Ray Kaville:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Porphyrion:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Porphyrion\u2019s Giant Jets Blast Across Space<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Image of multi-planet system:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First Ever Image of a Multi-Planet System around a Sun-like Star Captured by ESO Telescope<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is our first direct look at a multiplanet system around a Sun-like star<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NASA unveils model of LISA, a satellite array for studying ripples in space-time<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

AstroHopper: Using a smartphone to point any telescope:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=6-_58mSGz1Q<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mel Bartels, an amateur who makes amazing large scopes by sagging mirrors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.bbastrodesigns.com\/tm.html#about<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Carmelo Aresco:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good maps for finding all the Messier objects:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/custerobservatory.org\/docs\/messier2.pdf<\/a><\/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

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Night Sky Highlights for January-March 2025<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

By Jim Mazur<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Total Lunar Eclipse<\/strong>
Friday, March 14, early morning<\/strong>
This should be a nice lunar eclipse, but you will have to get up early (or stay up all night) to see it. The penumbral phase begins just before midnight on the 13th. Other times are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partial phase begins: 1:09 am
Maximum eclipse: 2:58 am
Partial phase ends: 4:47 am<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Partial Solar Eclipse
Saturday, March 29<\/strong>
When the Sun rises this morning, the eclipse will be its maximum, with slightly less than half the Sun covered by the Moon. It all ends about half an hour later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunrise: 6:36 am
Maximum eclipse: 6:39 am
Eclipse ends: 7:06 am<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mercury<\/strong>
Mercury will make an appearance in the western sky right after sunset from the last week of February through mid-March. It will be about 5 degrees to the left of Venus on the evenings of March 12-14<\/strong>, which can help you to locate it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venus<\/strong>
Bright Venus will be visible in the western sky after sunset through about mid-March., easily visible even bright twilight. Through a telescope, its disk will show dramatic changes during the winter. It will be about half lit at the beginning of January, and change to a thin crescent (nearly 3 times larger in apparent size) in the middle of March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mars<\/strong>
Mars will be visible in the evening, traveling through Cancer and Gemini. Its reddish disk will be largest in the beginning of January (about 14″) and shrink to about 9″ at the end of March. (For comparison, the apparent size of Jupiter will be about 40″-45″ during this time.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jupiter<\/strong>
Jupiter, in Taurus near the Hyades cluster, will be visible in the evening sky throughout the winter months.

Saturn<\/strong>
Saturn is in Aquarius, and it will be visible in the west right after sunset in January and February. Its rings will be almost edge-on. It will be just 2 or 3 degrees to the left of Venus on February 17 and 18<\/strong>. In a medium-sized telescope, a few of its brighter moons should be visible nearby, especially Titan at magnitude 8.9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uranus<\/strong>
Uranus, near the border of Aries and Taurus, will be well placed for evening observation all winter. A finder chart can be found at: https:\/\/theskylive.com\/uranus-info<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neptune<\/strong>
Throughout 2025, Neptune will be trailing Saturn across the sky, lagging behind the ringed planet by less than an hour. It can be found in the west after sunset in January and February, before getting lost in the evening twilight. Here is a finder chart for Neptune: https:\/\/theskylive.com\/planetarium?obj=neptune<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Here is a selection of some good targets for a clear winter night, along with links to star-hop charts to find them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 35, Gemini<\/strong>
Open cluster, with dimmer cluster NGC 2158 about 30′ to the southwest. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 36, 37, and 38, Auriga<\/strong>
Three bright open clusters. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 41, Canis Major<\/strong>
Open cluster about 3 degrees south of Sirius. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 42 and 43, Orion<\/strong>
The beautiful Orion Nebula.  Star-hop chart<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 46 and 47, Puppis<\/strong>
Two open clusters. M46 includes a planetary nebula, NGC 2438, in the foreground. Star-hop chart<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 78, Orion
<\/strong>Reflection nebula, magnitude 8, around a pair of stars.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 79, Lepus<\/strong>
Globular cluster, magnitude 7.7. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 81 and 82, Ursa Major<\/strong>
Two bright nearby galaxies–Bode’s Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beta Monoceros
<\/strong>Triple star, with components separated by 2.8″ and 7.2″. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Gallery<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Aurora of October 10, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Neal Lewis, Killingworth CT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS<\/strong>
Our members had many opportunities to observe and image this great comet. Here are some of their photos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chris Predom, October 14, Hamden CT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chris Predom, October 15, Hamden CT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Greg Barker, October 15, Milford CT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Neal Lewis, October 15, Madison CT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Neal Lewis, October 15, Madison CT<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Jim Mazur, Madison CT, October 12<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Jim Mazur, St. Albans Bay VT, October 18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rich Asarisi, October 17<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Rich Asarisi, October 18<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

President’s Message By Greg Barker As we near the end of our 87th year, we\u2019ve been super busy, and I\u2019m thrilled to tell you about all the amazing events we\u2019ve been involved in. From Hammonasset to Silver Sands, Young\u2019s Park … 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":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3426","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-23"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3426","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=3426"}],"version-history":[{"count":54,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3426\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3513,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3426\/revisions\/3513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3426"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3426"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3426"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}