{"id":3586,"date":"2025-06-24T07:56:44","date_gmt":"2025-06-24T11:56:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/?p=3586"},"modified":"2025-06-24T07:56:45","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T11:56:45","slug":"julaugsep2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/2025\/06\/24\/julaugsep2025\/","title":{"rendered":"JulAugSep2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Astronomical Society’s Summer Solstice Picnic for 2025<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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

Our picnic fell on the solstice day this year \u2013 June 21st<\/sup>. We had our solstice picnic at our usual place; the pavilion at Sleeping Giant State Park. Many people arrived about noon and the cooking started early. Cheryl did a fantastic job standing in the hot sun over the even hotter grill cooking all the hot dogs and hamburgers. There was way too much to eat, even if you just had a small bite of everything. There were many healthy choices like a huge salad, melon, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and homemade tomato-pepper salsa. And, as expected, there were unhealthy choices like picnic salads, chips, stuffed breads (Steve brought a homemade one) and cookies. We even had hot coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people had their solar scopes out to see the Sun between the clouds. There were two groups of sunspots for the solstice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I try to get around and talk to as many people as I can since we don\u2019t see each other very many times during the year. Everyone was having a good time. No one braved the heat for a walk to the tower this year. It was enough to brave the heat and the hill to visit the restroom trailer. It is great to be able to see each other and talk about things other than astronomy. Too bad the next picnic is a full year away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Solar Observing at the Solstice Picnic<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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

I had my Meade 90-mm f\/11 refractor with an Orion glass solar filter. Al Wasburn had his solar binoculars set up on a T&T mount (made by Tom Lloyd and Tony Melilio, past members and presidents of the club). Our current president Greg Barker had his 40-mm Coronado and his 90-mm Lunt that once belonged to Alan Sacahrow, both on a Celestron CG4 mount. We had different views of the Sun with each instrument.  We were viewing through thin clouds, with large puffier ones totally blocking the Sun at times. I snapped some photos with my iPhone through Greg\u2019s 90-mm Lunt and my scope. The red image of the Sun is in H-alpha. The detail seen by eye was not recorded in the image as the glare of thin clouds was picked up by the iPhone. But the image in the 90-mm Lunt was highly detailed. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Get Ready for Connecticut Star Party 35!<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Get information about CSP here<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

—<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Friday, August 15, 8:30 pm<\/strong> (rain date, Saturday, August 16)
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Meigs Point Nature Center, 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunday, October 5, 7:00 pm<\/strong> (rain date: Sunday, November 2)
Madison Moonlight Walk, Madison Surf Club
87 Surf Club Road, Madison CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, October 17, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Silver Sands State Park
Milford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, October 18, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Young\u2019s Park
60 Blackstone Ave, Branford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, October 24, 7:30 pm<\/strong> (rain date, Saturday, November 1)
Hammonasset Beach State Park
Meigs Point Nature Center, 1288 Boston Post Rd, Madison CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday, November 7, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Silver Sands State Park
Milford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saturday, November 8, 7:00 pm<\/strong>
Young\u2019s Park
60 Blackstone Ave, Branford CT (map<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Tuesday, July 29, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, August 26, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, October 28, 7:00 pm
Tuesday, November 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

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

Solar Viewing at Miller Memorial Library, Hamden CT, Thursday, April 24<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By Laurie Averill<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nine ASNH volunteers operated solar viewing telescopes and a binocular for this 1-1\/2 hour afternoon event near Josh\u2019s Jungle playscape, giving 60 appreciative people safe views of the Sun. The weather was clear, and the Sun active. We observed an exceptionally long lasting, swirling prominence at the pole, Sunspot groups with their umbra and penumbra, and filaments through refracting and reflecting telescopes and binoculars with different solar viewing systems\u2014hydrogen-alpha filters, solar filters, and projection for views of the Sun\u2019s chromosphere and photosphere.  Al Washburn provided handouts about the structure of the Sun and NASA\u2019s JPL sent materials about solar missions to distribute to attendees. Hamden Library staff coordinated and supported the event, reserving parking for us near the observing site and providing continuous on-site help.  The library also gave ASNH a donation of $125.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Young\u2019s Pond Park, Saturday, May 24<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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

The day was on and off clouds so we were unsure what would be happening at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It stayed with on and off clouds. There were enough sucker holes to be able to find the brightest objects. We could see the bright stars Arcturus and Vega and the double Mizar. We were also able to see Mars. There were 4 scopes and about 20 people. They were all very nice and interested in everything. A couple from the Bronx drove here for the event for a short getaway. Just before we left for the night, the ISS flew by which was a nice ending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

ASNH Meteorites Exhibited<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

By Al Washburn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

East Haven Hagaman Library<\/strong>
On the evening of April 2, 2025, the ASNH meteorite collection was presented to the public at the Hagaman Library. A general introduction started the evening off at 6:30 pm, which was followed by a Powerpoint presentation on the different kinds of meteorites. This was followed by a hands-on examination of the samples by the attendees, and then questions. All was over by 8 pm.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Hammonasset Event<\/strong>
Visitors to the Meg\u2019s Point Nature Center at Hammonasset State Park were greeted at 10 am, Saturday, May 10th, to a special presentation of the ASNH\u2019s meteorite collection, sponsored by the \u201cFriends of Hammonasset\u201d organization. A short greeting by Ranger Russ Miller led to an introduction on the topic of meteorites which was followed by a \u201cmeteorite crater drop box\u201d investigation. After the drop box was a Powerpoint describing the different types of meteorites. Finally came the opportunity to hold and ask questions about the samples. Thirty-four enthusiastic adults and children were in attendance. The session ended around 11:30 am.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

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

On Tuesday evening, April 1, four of us, Ray in Ansonia, Anthony in West Haven, Rose in New Haven and I in West Haven enjoyed looking at the close encounter between the crescent Moon and the Pleaides open cluster in Taurus. We had to use binoculars to see this conjunction clearly and I must say it was a beautiful sight for all of us. My brother Anthony imaged this great sight from his backyard and the image is below. I was still able to see that the stars were blue through my 10×50 binoculars. As a bonus, Jupiter was nearby also. All four of us agreed it was a nice evening of astronomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Moon and Pleiades<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On Sunday evening, April 13, I was able to observe the Moon on the day after the full Moon. On this evening, the Moon was at its farthest point away from the Earth on its orbital journey around our planet. I have observed full Moons almost my entire life so I can easily tell the difference between the sizes of the super Moon and the micro Moon. This past Moon really looked small to me and when I observed it in my Richfield telescope, I was able to really notice the size difference. The entire Moon fits completely into the field of view and this allows me to notice the size differences of each full Moon. The difference in size of a super Moon and micro Moon in my scope is dramatic. If you start viewing each full Moon, even with your naked eye, you will be able to easily see the size difference in full Moon sizes. This is another reason to love astronomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Friday morning, April 25, before dawn, Anthony and I got up early to try to see the crescent Moon with Venus and Saturn. First Venus rose and it was very bright. Next the crescent Moon came up on its side here in the northeast and we saw the beginning of a sideways smiley face. By the time Saturn rose above the obstacles, it was too bright to see the ringed planet. The result was that we observed 2\/3rds of the smiley face. Venus and the Moon were about three or four degrees apart. It was still worth getting up to see what we were able to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the evening of April 28, Anthony imaged the Coma Cluster with his digital camera while we did some casual astronomy. I must say it came out pretty nice. We also looked at the Northern Crown to see if expected nova had occurred yet. It didn’t. I’m beginning to think this might not happen at all. I’ll continue watching the Northern Crown for the nova.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Coma Berenices cluster<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the evening of June 4, I turned my 5″ Short Tube Richfield Newtonian toward the constellation Lyra to try to observe the sparse open cluster Stephenson 1. Once I arrived at the cluster, I spotted the two fairly bright foreground stars that are in front of the cluster. The cluster was large with just about 15 or so stars that I could see. They were faint but they looked nice. This open cluster is also supposed to be a nice view with binoculars so that is another way to observe this cluster. Also, on June 1, I observed the close encounter of the waxing crescent Moon and Mars which was 1.4 degrees away from the Moon. I used my 10×50 binoculars for that observation. It was two nice evenings of astronomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

—<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

On June 16, I woke up at 3 am to try to watch the shadow of Titan pass over Saturn. It was somewhat clear. I could visually see Saturn and our Moon. I took out the Coulter Dob and got Saturn in view. Below is one image of Saturn and Titan. I had a good image of Saturn until 5 minutes before the event when it started getting washed out. I looked up. The Moon was covered by clouds and Saturn was almost entirely covered. For a few minutes Saturn came in and out of view, but at the start of the event, it was gone, completely clouded over. I am hoping the next event on July 2 will be better.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

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

Lunar maps suitable for printing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/astrostrona.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MOON-MAP-WITH-ENGLISH-NAMES-astrostrona.pl-v1.3.6.1-E.png<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/astrostrona.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MOON-MAP-WITH-ENGLISH-NAMES-astrostrona.pl-v1.3.6.1-E.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/astrostrona.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/MOON-MAP-WITH-ENGLISH-NAMES-astrostrona.pl-v1.3.6.1-E-pdf.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NASA photo of Saturn eclipsing the Sun \u2014 with Earth as a tiny dot in the right corner:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov\/figures\/PIA17172_fig3.jpg<\/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 July-September 2025<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

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

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

Delta Aquariid Meteor Shower<\/strong>
Peaking around July 30
This should be a favorable year for this relatively minor shower (maximum of about 20 meteors per hour) because the Moon will set near midnight around the peak nights. The best time to look is in the hours after midnight, when the radiant will be highest in the southern sky. You may catch a few early Perseids too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perseid Meteor Shower<\/strong>
Peaking on August 12
A nearly full Moon will interfere with the Perseids this year, but the brighter meteors will still be visible. Some Perseids can be seen for several days both before and after the peak night of August 12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mercury<\/strong>
This elusive planet will be visible in the west right after sunset for the first few days of July. Then it can be seen in the eastern sky before dawn for several days before and after August 19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venus<\/strong>
Venus will be visible in the east before dawn throughout the summer, moving closer to the Sun as the summer progresses. It will be passing by Jupiter in August, and the two bright planets will be less than a degree apart on August 12<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mars<\/strong>
Mars is the only bright planet that will be easily visible in the evening this summer as it moves through From Leo into Virgo. By September it will be getting lower in the west and more difficult to see after sunset. It’s disk will only be about 4″ to 5″ in diameter, which is only slightly larger than the apparent size of Uranus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jupiter<\/strong>
This giant planet will be too close to the Sun to see in early July. Then it emerges from the morning twilight, and by August it will be near Venus in the east before sunrise.

Saturn<\/strong>
Saturn will rise around midnight in July, around 10 pm in August, and it reaches opposition (rising as the Sun sets) on September 21. Its rings will be tilted just 2 degrees from edge-on, but now they will very slowly start to open up as viewed from Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uranus<\/strong>
Uranus will be a few degrees south of Messier 45, the Pleiades, through the rest of 2025. It will be visible in the early morning hours in July, and by September it will be rising in the east around 10 pm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neptune<\/strong>
Throughout 2025, Neptune will close to Saturn, making it possible to locate this gas giant by using Saturn as a starting point. They will reach a conjunction on August 6<\/strong>, when Neptune will be about 1.1 degrees north of Saturn, rising in the east around 10 pm local time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The summer evening sky has so many wonderful deep-sky objects that it is hard to know where to start. Here are a dozen from Messier’s catalog that can be observed with telescopes of all sizes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 8, Lagoon Nebula, Sagittarius<\/strong>
This bright diffuse nebula and star cluster can be spotted with the naked eye.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 10 and 12, Ophiuchus
<\/strong>Two nice globular clusters, both magnitude 6.6, about 3 degrees apart. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 11, Wild Duck Cluster, Scutum
<\/strong>A very rich open cluster with stars forming a rough wedge shape. Star-<\/a>h<\/a>op chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 13, Great Hercules Cluster<\/strong>
One of the most spectacular globular clusters in the sky. S<\/a>tar-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 17, Swan Nebula, Sagittarius<\/strong>
Also known as the Omega Nebula or Checkmark Nebula, bright and easy to see. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 20, Trifid Nebula, Sagittarius<\/strong>
The brightest section has a three-lobed appearance.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 22, Sagittarius<\/strong>
One of the nearest and largest globular clusters, magnitude 5.1. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 23 and 25, Sagittarius<\/strong>
Two good open clusters for binoculars or small telescopes. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 57, Ring Nebula, Lyra
<\/strong>The famous planetary nebula, magnitude 8.8.  Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Messier 97, Owl Nebula, Ursa Major<\/strong>
This large planetary can be challenging because of its low surface brightness, but it is worth searching for. Star-hop chart<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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

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

These images of the Moon were taken on June 3 with a Coulter 8-inch f\/4.5 dob. The eyepiece was a 4-mm 82-degree Astrotech UWA. All images were straight through the eyepiece with an iPhone.  The last image used the iPhone\u2019s zoom. Tycho is in the center right of the image. You can just make out some of the light and dark areas on crater\u2019s right wall, and its lit center peak. In the scope visually there were quite a few light and dark areas that were very nice to observe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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—<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

The Moon was less than 29 hours old when I took this shot on April 28 with a Canon T6i camera and a 200-mm lens. For me, this is was a personal record for the youngest Moon I have seen. Any Moon younger than 24 hours is supposedly very hard to see, but this one, just a few hours older, was easy once the sky got dark enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Astronomical Society’s Summer Solstice Picnic for 2025 By Donna Pursley Our picnic fell on the solstice day this year \u2013 June 21st. We had our solstice picnic at our usual place; the pavilion at Sleeping Giant State Park. Many … 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-3586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-23"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3586","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=3586"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3660,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3586\/revisions\/3660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.asnh.org\/ShootingStar\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}