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Home , 53 Aurigae, Auriga (constellation), Canis Major, Canis Minor, Pleiades, Ursa Minor

This is a condensed version of the Fab Fifty Presentation on January 19, 2018 TAAS Fabulous Fifty A program for those new to astronomy

Friday Evening, January 19, 2018, 1900 MST (7 pm)

All TAAS and other new and not so new are welcome. What is the TAAS Fabulous 50 Program?

It is a set of 4 meetings events spread across a calendar in which a beginner to astronomy learns to locate 50 of the most prominent objects visible to the .

These include , , asterisms, and Messier objects. Methodology

1. Meeting dates for each season in year 2018

Winter Jan 19 Spring Apr 20 Summer Jul 20 Fall Oct 19

2. Locate the brightest and easiest to observe stars and associated constellations

3. Add new prominent constellations for each season Tonight’s Schedule

7:00 pm – We meet inside for a slide presentation overview of the winter sky.

7:45 pm – View night sky outside

Remember coffee, warmth, & snacks in the Kitchen

The Winter Midnight Sky Over London January 15, 1869 January 15 The Midnight Sky: Familiar Notes on the Stars and Planets, Edward Durkin, 1869 January 15 The Midnight Sky: Familiar Notes on the Stars and Planets, Edward Durkin, 1869 A Good Way to Start – Find North

Polaris North

Alcor - Mizar is about the 50th brightest star. It appears isolated making it easy to identify. Seasons of the t h e B i g D i p p e r

Position at 10 PM Tonight Seasons of the t h e B i g D i p p e r

Position at 10 PM Tonight

Horizon Line at Albuquerque Latitude 18 Fab 50 Winter Objects Constellations Stars Messier Objects

Ursa Minor (Little ) Polaris

Taurus (the Bull) M 45

Auriga (Charioteer)

Orion (Hunter) & M 42

Canis Major (Big Dog)

Canis Minor (Little Dog)

Gemini (Twins) & What is a ? A MODERN DAY CONSTELLATION is one of 88 precisely delineated regions of the with boundaries approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Image from The Astronomical Companion, Guy Ottewell, 1981 Ancient Constellation Modern Constellation

Vincenzo Coronelli IAU and Sky & Magazine 1681-1683 What is a ?

An asterism is prominent pattern or group of stars, typically having a popular name but smaller than a constellation. The Great Bear

Big Dipper Asterism Recognizing the Constellation Orion If you spot three bright stars in a row in the winter evening, you might realize, "Oh! That's part th of Orion!" 11 brightest

Suddenly, the rest of the constellation falls into place.

"There's BETELGEUSE in Orion's left shoulder and RIGEL is his foot."

8th brightest Once you recognize Orion, remember that his hunting dogs are following him.

Procyon is bright star in the constellation , THE LITTLE DOG.

Sirius is in the bright star in the constellation , THE BIG DOG.

Canis Major + Betelgeuse + Procyon Now Let’s Advance Using Star Charts Star Charts

Available in many sizes and kinds

All are useful references Astronomy Phone Apps are plentiful, very useful, most are free. STELLARIUM An Extraordinary Free Computer Program!!! The Evening Sky Map

for the current month can be downloaded for free at: Back of Map Location month time

Outlines of the

constellations Dates of celestial events of celestial Dates

Symbols for the various objects

Magnitude (brightness) of the stars General Info Visible with naked eye

Observing Tips

Visible with binoculars

Astronomical Glossary

Visible with telescope What Are the Messier Objects (M)?

The Messier objects are astronomical objects first listed by French in 1771.

Messier was a hunter, and was frustrated by objects which resembled but were not ,

He compiled a list of them to avoid wasting time on observing them

110 objects are in the catalog

Are the first deep space objects (outside of our ) that amateur astronomers will attempt to observe after observing the moon and the planets

All visible in small and many are observable in binoculars

Few visible to the naked eye The Messier objects are astronomical objects first listed by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1771. Messier Objects Messier was a comet hunter, and was frustrated by objects which resembled but were not comets,

He compiled a list of them to avoid wasting time on observing them Globular Star Clusters 110 objects are in the catalog Open Star Clusters Are the first deep space objects (outside of our solar system) that amateur astronomers will attempt to observe after observing the moon and the planets

Double Stars All visible in small telescopes and many are observable in binoculars

Few visible to the naked eye Orion Messier 42

by TAAS Member Shane Ramotowski

Messier 42 How to use the Sky Map

Locate the four cardinal directions:

a. South b. North c. West d. East

As you observe, hold the chart so that the direction you are looking is at the bottom of the chart Our eyes take 20–30 minutes to fully adapt from light to complete darkness. They become 10,000 to 1,000,000 times more sensitive than at full daylight.

Use a dim red light to read your to preserve your night adapted vison.

Ursa Minor aka Little Dipper

The North Star never “MOVES” the Bull Taurus the Bull

Aldebaran (red/orange color)

M 45 Pleiades 15th brightest (7 sisters) The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades

In Japanese Subaru means unite. It is also a term used to signify the Pleiades, the cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus. The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades (Messier 45) The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades (Messier 45) by TAAS Member Shane Ramotowski (or-EYE-gah)

Capella 6th brightest Auriga (or-EYE-gah)

Capella 6th brightest Auriga carrying the and kids as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards illustrated by Sidney Hall, London circa 1825. Orion “the Hunter”

3 stars * * *

Betelgeuse (red/orange color)

Rigel

M 42 Orion “the Hunter”

3 stars * * *

Betelgeuse (red/orange color)

Rigel

M 42 Orion Nebula Canis Major “The Big Dog”

Sirius The brightest star visible from Canis Major “The Big Dog”

Sirius The brightest star visible from earth Canis Major “The Big Dog”

Sirius The brightest star visible from earth Viewing to the Southeast Canis Minor “The HOT DOG”

9th brightest star

Procyon Canis Minor “The HOT DOG”

Gomeisa 9th brightest star

Procyon “the Twins”

Castor 24th brightest

Pollux 18th brightest Gemini “the Twins”

Castor 24th brightest

Pollux 18th brightest Gemini “the Twins” Winter Triangle (asterism)

Orion (Betelgeuse), Canis Major (Sirius) and Canis Minor (Procyon) The Winter Triangle The

Winter

Hexagon (Diamond)

&

Winter Triangle Gemini Canis Major Orion

Ursa Minor

Taurus Auriga Canis Minor

Photos Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita How Do We Find Fab 50 Objects in the Night Sky?

1. Take a sky map with you to dark location

2. Look for Polaris (North Star)

3. Look from map – to – stars then stars – to – map

4. Begin with the brightest and easiest to find

5. When you get “lost”, revert to what you know and try again

GO FOR IT & HAVE FUN! END