The Observer of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers

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THE OBSERVER OF THE TWIN CITY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS

Volume 46, Number 1 January 2021

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1 Editor’s Choice: Image of the Month – Conjunction! 2 President’s Note 3 Calendar of Astronomical Events – January 2021 3 New & Renewing Members/Dues Blues/E-Mail List 4 This Month’s Phases of the Moon 4 This Month’s Solar Phenomena 4 AstroBits – News from Around the TCAA 6 TCAA Image Gallery 7 Tentative Agenda Set for Feb. 6th Annual Meeting 7 Call for TCAA Awards Nominations 8 Public Viewing Sessions for 2021 8 TCAA Monthly Club Meetings to Resume in March 9 Unwanted TCAA Assets 11 January 2021 with Jeffrey L. Hunt 16 Did You Know? 17 “Publications & Notes” Website 17 TCAA Treasurer’s Report as of December 28, 2020 18 NCRAL Seasonal Messier Mini Marathons 18 Add Your Email to NCRAL Member Database 18 Check Out the NCRAL Website

The TCAA is an affiliate of the Astronomical League as well as its North Central Region. For more information about the TCAA, be certain to visit the TCAA website at

http://www.tcaa.us/ EDITOR’S CHOICE: IMAGE OF THE MONTH – CONJUNCTION!

Visit http://www.astroleague.org for This month’s image of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction was taken by additional information about the Scott Wade on December 21st, the evening of closest approach. He Astronomical League and its used the Canon 5D Mark IV camera on the 14” telescope at Prairie numerous membership benefits, Sky Observatory. This image is a composite of 10 such images taken including observing programs. at ISO 400, 1/125-second exposures. They were then stacked and processes in Photoshop. As Scott quipped, “It’s amazing how much Also, visit the NCRAL website at closer they were than when we were out on 12/17. Of course, they http://ncral.wordpress.com for in- were very low in the sky!” formation about our North Central Region. Find out about the many benefits of your membership from this site.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

PRESIDENT’S NOTE The OBSERVER It’s hard to believe I’m writing the is the monthly electronic newsletter of Twin first President’s Note of 2021. In some City Amateur Astronomers, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organiz- ways it feels like we’ve been through an ation of amateur astronomers interested in epic battle, complete with the sorrows of studying astronomy and sharing their hobby loss and the exultation of victory. I’ve lost with the public. friends this year, and some of them were

due to the COVID-19 virus. I feel happy TCAA OFFICERS & CHAIRPERSONS and fortunate to have made it through

President, Director, & Property Manager this rough year, but more than all that I Tim Stone 309-531-2401 feel like I’ve been given a great [email protected] opportunity to reset, recenter,

Vice President & Director/Membership Coord. reprioritize, and restructure my life. Some things that seemed important to me a Tom Willmitch 309-846-2423 TCAA President Tim Stone [email protected] year ago no longer seem to matter much,

Treasurer & Director/Registered Agent and some things I hadn’t spent much time thinking about are now much higher Dave Osenga 309-287-0789 priority in my life. While the year has been hard, it has been good, and I’m looking [email protected] forward to seeing what this personal growth will bring to fruition. I hope you all can Assistant Property Manager/ALCor say the same thing as you reflect on 2020 and look forward to 2021. Scott Wade 309-310-2464 [email protected] Looking forward for TCAA, our Annual Meeting will quickly be upon us. It will 5th Director begin at 6:00PM February 6th, but unfortunately, there won’t be a banquet this year. Sunil Chebolu 678-896-5967 To make up for that, we’ve invited two speakers to present on interesting topics. [email protected] We’re still finalizing the arrangements, and when it’s all set, we will post the agenda, Secretary/Historian/Editor topics, and Zoom link to our mailing list. If you’re not subscribed to the mailing list, Carl J. Wenning 309-830-4085 you should do that, so you don’t miss this and other informational postings from the [email protected] club leadership, as well as information exchange and conversations between club Technology Coordinator/Assistant Editor members. Subscribe by visiting the TCAA groups.io page. Sandullah Epsicokhan 309-828-0227 [email protected] Finally, I’d be remiss to not mention the remarkable conjunction between Webmaster Jupiter and Saturn. This “Christmas Star” occurs every two decades but human Lee Green 309-454-7349 [email protected] haven’t seen a separation this small for centuries. That it happened near Christmas is not particularly remarkable. In fact, it is the result of orbital mechanics as old as AL Observing Club Coordinator Lisa Wentzel unlisted number the solar system itself. It was always going to happen at this exact point in time. At [email protected] some point in recent history, we decided to call that point in time “December 21.” It was breathtakingly beautiful, and it did influence humanity. It wasn’t the mysterious The OBSERVER astrological effect some tried to say it was. Still, it was very real, at least for me. It Carl J. Wenning, Editor reminded me that hope is a choice, and to hope is a virtue. It gave me pause to Submission deadline two days before remember the universe and all its beauty is always there. It is up to us to make the the end of each month. choice to not focus on the horrible things going on around us, in our lives, our

MEMBERSHIP DUES country, our world. We can always look up and see the night sky, unaffected by human woes, telling us beauty still exists in overwhelming abundance, and is there Individual Adult/Family $40 for us to get lost in. I hope your 2021 is filled with more beauty than you’ve ever Full-time Student/Senior $25 imagined. (Senior status equals ages 60+)

To join, send your name, contact info, and Tim Stone dues payment to Dave Osenga, TCAA TCAA President Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., Normal, IL 61761-1471.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

CALENDAR OF ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS – JAN 2021 NEW & RENEWING MEMBERS

MORNING PLANETS (1/15): Venus (♀︎) The following individuals have paid dues for new or EVENING PLANETS (1/15): Mercury (☿), Mars (♂︎), Jupiter (♃), renewed memberships as of December 28, 2020. (Others Saturn (♄), Uranus (⛢), and Neptune (♆) who paid after that date will appear in the February 2021 issue of The OBSERVER.)

The following table gives the date and time (24-hour clock) of Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! important astronomical events for this month. All events are given in Central Standard Time. New: Jack Corzine

Renewing: Jamey Jenkins, Allan Griffith, Troy Berg Day Time Event

01 01:05 Beehive 2.3°S of Moon Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! Welcome! 02 08 Earth at Perihelion: 0.98325 AU 02 15:58 Regulus 4.7°S of Moon DUES BLUES 03 09 Quadrantid Meteor Shower If you have received a dues statement email along 06 03:37 LAST QUARTER MOON with this issue of The OBSERVER, please send your dues 09 09:39 Moon at Perigee: 367390 km to Mr. Dave Osenga, TCAA Treasurer, 1109 N. Linden St., 09 20:08 Antares 5.6°S of Moon Normal, IL 61761-1471. Dues are currently $25 for seniors 09 23 Mercury 1.6° of Saturn (60 years of age and over) and $40 regular. 10 14:14 Moon at Descending Node 11 12 Mercury 1.4° of Jupiter SUBSCRIBING TO THE TCAA EMAIL LIST 11 14:12 Venus 1.5°N of Moon 12 23:00 NEW MOON Welcome to the [email protected] group at Groups.io. 14 02:15 Mercury 2.3°N of Moon This is a free, easy-to-use group email service set up for 20 15:02 FIRST QUARTER MOON the TCAA’s communication purposes. You can subscribe, 20 23:37 Mars 5.1°N of Moon visit your group, read and post messages here: 21 07:11 Moon at Apogee: 404361 km https://groups.io/g/tcaa 23 20 Mercury Greatest Elong: 18.6°E The email address for this group is [email protected]. After you successfully subscribe, please add this email 23 20 Saturn in Conjunction with Sun address to your safe sender list in your email client’s 23 22:39 Aldebaran 4.7°S of Moon contacts, so emails from this list are not classified as junk 24 15:47 Moon at Ascending Node mail. 27 09:46 Pollux 3.8°N of Moon Once subscribed, you can set your subscription 28 08:50 Beehive 2.3°S of Moon settings here: https://groups.io/g/tcaa/editsub. You can 28 13:16 FULL MOON opt to receive all messages in individual emails, collections 28 19 Jupiter in Conjunction with Sun of messages in a digest, a daily summary, or only special 28 20 Mercury at Perihelion notices. If you do not wish to belong to this group, you 29 22:56 Regulus 4.6°S of Moon may unsubscribe by sending an email to [email protected] This Calendar of Astronomical Events courtesy of Fred Espenak. If you have general questions about the group, email http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2021cst.html [email protected]. For questions not answered there,

contact the moderators of this group (Deva C., Tim S., and EVENING SKY MAP Carl W.) by emailing [email protected].

Get the current evening sky map along with a more detailed celestial events calendar at the following URL: http://www.skymaps.com/

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

THIS MONTH’S PHASES OF THE MOON

Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter Full Moon Wednesday, January 6 Tuesday, January 12 Wednesday, January 20 Thursday, January 28

All moon phase dates are Central Time. Moon phases for the 2021 calendar year can be found by clicking here: http://www.astropixels.com/ephemeris/astrocal/astrocal2021cst.html Images provided by J. K. Howell of the Champaign- Urbana Astronomical Society & used with permission.

THIS MONTH’S SOLAR PHENOMENA

In the table below, you will find times of sunrise and sunset along with rising and setting azimuths (Az), length of the day including the change from the previous day, start and end times of astronomical twilight, the time of solar noon along with the elevation (El) of the midday sun, and solar distance. Data come from https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/bloomington

2021 Sunrise/Sunset Day Length Astronomical Twilight Solar Noon Solar Dist.

Jan Sunrise (Az) Sunset (Az) Length Diff. Start End Time (Elevation) MIL. MILES

1 7:19 AM (120°) 4:40 PM (240°) 9:21:00 +0:42 5:41 AM 6:18 PM 11:59 AM (26.6°) 91.400

11 7:18 AM (118°) 4:49 PM (242°) 9:31:28 +1:18 5:41 AM 6:26 PM 12:04 PM (27.9°) 91.420

21 7:13 AM (116°) 5:01 PM (245°) 9:47:17 +1:47 5:38 AM 6:36 PM 12:07 PM (29.8°) 91.480

ASTROBITS – NEWS FROM AROUND THE TCAA

Carl Wenning was part of the lineup of speakers for an Several members of the club observed a Starlink satellite online Astronomical League “star party” on December 5th. train on the evening of December 5th. Carolyn and Carl As Chair of the Region, Carl gave a 10-minute presentation counted 39 of the 42 satellites from about 2 miles east of about NCRAL. You might still be able to watch the star Airport Road in Normal. Dave Osenga, observing from party on the Astronomical League’s Facebook page or via town, counted 30. The presence of scattered clouds didn’t the website of www.explorescientific.com. help. Sharon MacDonald reported that she was clouded out. Troy Berg and a dozen of his relatives from around Central Illinois also observed this group of satellites. Sunil Chebolu also reported sighting the group. John Gahm counted 39 at Saunemin. John further noted, “I took my 6- year-old grandson out and he loved it.” Tim and Diann Stone also observed the satellite train from Bloomington. Lisa Wentzel has completed yet another AL observing program. This time it's the Advanced Open Cluster Observing Program with certificate and pin. The program requires finding and viewing 125 open clusters, sketching 50 of them and estimating their Trumpler classification. This is quite a challenge. Congratulations to Lisa!

Vol. 46 No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

It is with regret that the current hand controller works quite well, but users are editor reports the death of cautioned not to remove it from its holder due to Kora Searcy (1946-2020), connectivity problems. daughter of John and Betha Tim Stone and five others contributed to the making of the Kieviet who founded the image of M81 and M82 shown below. The image appeared TCAA. The Kieviet’s two in the December 2020 issue of Constellation Guide. When daughters, Kora and Valeria, asked for a history of this image, Tim remarked, “For a are now gone. Only one couple years I participated in a group of mostly European granddaughter remains – imagers led by Giuseppe Donatiello, a fellow amateur Diane Peterson. Neither astronomer from Italy I met on Astrobin.com, an Kora nor Valeria were astronomical image sharing site. He would take images of members of the club, but an object from the participants and combine them, often both Sharon MacDonald and Kora Searcy (1946-2020) with spectacular results. I enjoyed the collaboration Carl Wenning kept in touch with Kora until recent years. immensely. Some of the imaging I did was because that Several anonymous donations in her honor were made to was the target we were working on at the time. the Humane Society of Central Illinois. Unfortunately, the group has largely disbanded at this A worker from Bloomington Offset Process Inc. (bopi) point.” Congratulations to Tim and the team on this dropped off the TCAA’s spectacular work! 2,000 complimentary Following a brief chat copies of the 2021 Public with a staff member from Viewing Sessions ParkLands Foundation, Carl & brochure on December Carolyn Wenning traveled to th 9 . Letcher Basin seven miles NNW Despite an enhanced of Carlock on December 12th to chance for the examine it as a possible site for appearance of the future joint endeavors. Public Northern Lights observing sessions for meteor December 9/10, no one showers have been mentioned. observed the aurora. Tim Letcher Basin is geological Stone and Carl & Carolyn depression com-passed all Wenning reported around by hills and the negative results from Mackinaw River. It is in one of observations east of Messier 81 and Messier 82 by Tim Stone et al. the remotest areas of Woodford Normal running from approximately 11:30 PM to 12:30 County though its sky brightness is Bortle Class 4, the same AM. Carl reported seeing a bright yellow Geminid meteor. as SGNC. OPT Corp reports that the replacement hand controller The Winter 2021 issue of NCRAL’s Northern Lights ordered for PSO’s Celestron 11” telescope should be newsletter will be distributed soon. Be sure that you are available for shipping in late January. It is now on signed up to receive it. See the announcement on page 18. “extended back order” due to supply chain problems. The

This is a 180° Panoramic View of Letcher Basin centered on south.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

Carl Wenning was featured in an hour-long broadcast on their observations and impressions – among them were Catholic SPIRIT Radio on Saturday/Sunday, December Troy Berg, Tim Stone, Christopher Franklin, Deva 19/20. He spoke about the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, Chatrathi, Jamey Jenkins, Sharon McDonald, Jack Corzine, the Star of Bethlehem, astronomy of the Bible, and the Dave Osenga, Bob Hoy, Sunil Chebolu, Darren Erickson, beauty of the heavens. You can hear the interview via Scott Wade, Tom Willmitch, Lisa Wentzel, Bob Finnigan, podcast by clicking here. Tony Cellini, Carl Wenning, Tom Weiland, Vivian Hoette, On the evening of December 20, 2020, the Kilauea and perhaps a few others. Their comments were volcano erupted with a steam cloud. This steam cloud fascinating to read. If you are not subscribed to the TCAA could be seen from the summit of Maunakea, site of listserv, see page 3 of this newsletter for details. several large observatories. A video was captured The TCAA’s Facebook page has been getting a huge through our summit cameras by remote observer Lisa number of “hits” for the past several days. On December Wells (from the Quad Cities) at the Canada-France- 21st alone, the date of the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, Hawaii Telescope during the night. Note that this video is there were over 2,000 views of four different posts. If you 10x the original speed. don’t follow the TCAA’s Facebook page, you don’t know Members observed the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn what you are missing. on Sunday, December 20th. Similarly, many members saw While doing some historical research on December 27th, the closest approach the next evening when the sky your editor discovered that the father of former TCAA cleared at the last minute. Below two images show what member Ayne Vandenbrook, passed away exactly one was visible telescopically each evening. year earlier. The obituary of William Vandenbrook can be The TCAA listserv and even Facebook was filled with accessed by clicking here. chatter on the evenings surrounding the closest The next meeting of the TCAA Board of Directors is approach of Jupiter to Saturn. Many members reported scheduled for Tuesday, January 5th.

Nearing Conjunction, December 20th Conjunction Day, December 21st

TCAA IMAGE GALLERY

JUPITER-SATURN CONJUNCTION by Jamey Jenkins – Jamey took these shots of the planetary duo as they approached and passed on another during the month of December. The dates of the pictures are in the corner of each frame. Each image was taken with the same setup: Nikon D3000 DSLR and a 150mm telephoto lens. Copyright © 2021 TCAA 6 All rights reserved.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

MESSIER 33 BY SCOTT WADE – Scott writes, “This is an image of Messier 33 (Triangulum Galaxy) that I captured with the new QHY600 full-frame color camera on 14" telescope in PSO (Prairie Sky Observatory). This image was created with ten 300- second subs and processed with PixInsight and Photoshop.”

TENTATIVE AGENDA SET FOR FEBRUARY 6TH ANNUAL MEETING

Plans are still being developed for the unprecedented online Annual Meeting of the TCAA on Saturday, February 6th. At this point, we have two invited speakers scheduled to give two talks according to the following timeline:

6:00 - 6:25 PM Open the meeting; business meeting; reports from the president, officers, and chairs; last call for nominations and elections; announcement of the registered agent; and miscellaneous items. 6:30 - 7:10 PM Dr Worden presentation and Q&A. 7:15 - 7:40 PM Presentation of TCAA and AL awards and recognitions. 7:45 - 8:25 PM Dr Sen presentation and Q&A. 8:30 PM Adjournment

Details about this meeting will be included in the February issue of The OBSERVER and distributed via the TCAA listserv. If you are not already subscribed, see the information on page 3 of this newsletter.

CALL FOR TCAA AWARDS NOMINATIONS

Each February at the club’s Annual Meeting, members are recognized for their service to the club. This is the first and only call for these nominations as the Board will act on them at their January Board meeting. Nominations are needed for the G. Weldon Schuette Society of Outstanding Amateur Astronomers. This award recognizes a TCAA member who has demonstrated great skill in observing, dedication to the club’s education and public outreach efforts, and commitment to providing service to the membership. While holding the AL’s Messier Award is recommended, it is not required by the Standing Rule that established this award in 1987. Nominations are needed for the John & Bertha Kieviet Founders Award. This award is conferred upon a TCAA member to recognize demonstrated leadership to the club. Those so recognized need not have been a president of the club. If leadership is interpreted in terms of service to the membership, this is as close as the TCAA comes to having a distinguished service citation. Nominations are needed for the Eugene & Donna Miller Family Award. This award acknowledges the strong efforts by a family to participate in the club as a unit. One or more parents are recognized for their efforts to instill within their children interest in and dedication to amateur astronomy.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

Please e-mail your nomination(s) for these awards to either President Tim Stone at [email protected] or Secretary Carl Wenning at [email protected]. A short description explaining why you feel the nominee(s) deserve(s) the award(s) is required. Again, the current Board of Directors will make decisions about the awards during their January meeting. Nominations are due prior to the Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, January 5th.

PUBLIC VIEWING SESSIONS FOR 2021

SGNC director Angela Funk approved the TCAA’s proposed schedule for 2021 public viewing sessions. The schedule is below. All dates are Saturdays. Note that a speaker is still needed for the April 17th event. Events are subject to cancellation if the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

APRIL 17: STAR CLUSTERS OF THE MILKY WAY (SPEAKER NEEDED) 8:00 – 10:00 PM The Milky Way is one of the countless stellar islands floating in a cosmic foam of matter, dark matter, and dark energy. Humanity is trying to find out what our galaxy looks like inside and out using ingenious observing methods and increasingly more sensitive equipment. Take a tour of our “cosmic home” to see what we have learned so far.

MAY 15: GALAXIES OF THE SPRING SKY (TIM STONE) 8:30 – 10:30 PM In the spring, our line of sight on the sky looks straight out of our galaxy into the vast depths of space beyond, showcasing thousands of bright galaxies and millions of dim ones. We will tour this neighborhood of the universe, highlighting some of the most beautiful galaxies in the heavens.

JUNE 12: NAVIGATING WITH STARS (SUNIL CHEBOLU) 9:00 – 11:00 PM For centuries, navigators have relied on stars to identify directions, compute latitude, and even read local time. We will explore these ideas and examine the problem of measuring one’s longitude at sea – a fascinating problem that defeated some of the best minds in the world for many years.

JULY 10: VENUS & MARS TONIGHT (SHARON MACDONALD) 8:30 – 10:30 PM Venus and Mars are alright tonight, but in the coming days Venus will pass Mars as seen in Earth’s evening sky. Venus is an inferior planet whereas Mars is a superior planet. Learn how and why they move as they do. OBSERVING FIRST!

AUGUST 14: OUR AMAZING MOON (CARL WENNING) 8:30 – 10:30 PM The moon has many regular features and changing appearances. Learn about our nearest neighbor in space and observe the 5-day-old moon through a telescope. SEPTEMBER 11: THE ISS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE (LEE GREEN) 7:30 – 9:30 PM The International Space Station has been orbiting Earth since its launch in 2000. Since that time, millions of Earthlings have seen it course across our morning and evening sky. If you’ve never seen it, learn where, when, and how to do so.

OCTOBER 9: JUPITER & SATURN (MARK & NATAYA BOULWARE) 7:00 – 9:00 PM Jupiter and Saturn offer stark contrasts when compared to the inner planets. We will review how and why they formed in their current locations and their impact on the formation of the rest of the solar system. We will learn how the two greatest planets are similar yet different.

TCAA MONTHLY CLUB MEETINGS TO RESUME IN MARCH

The TCAA Board of Directors agreed at its November details of current benefits), renew friendships, and to build meeting to return temporarily to monthly club meetings camaraderie within the club considering the current COVID- during 2021. Monthly meetings will be continued if the 19 pandemic. The club’s leadership decided to stop holding membership shows sufficient interest. The goal of such such meetings in the late 1990s due to lack of interest and meetings is to increase benefits of club membership (see participation by the membership. TCAA’s Guide #2 – TCAA Membership and Benefits from The meetings were held on the third Thursday of each http://tcaa.us/Download/Membership_and_Benefits.pdf for month beginning at 7:00 PM for nearly 40 years. We will

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

resume that tradition next March. A trial run will last until Mar 18: Time Reckoning: Astronomical Calendars and December if the meetings are held as anticipated. Clocks (Sunil Chebolu) Rather than meeting at the planetarium, the TCAA Apr 15: Vesto M. Slipher and his Contributions to membership will meet online using Zoom, a service that the Galactic Astronomy (Tim Stone) Board has been employing for many months now to conduct May 20: Evidence for Evolution of the Universe its meetings electronically. Monthly club meetings will consist (Carl Wenning) of a speaker (mostly club members) to be followed with time Jun 17: Radio Astronomy for Amateurs for Q&A. Time for socializing will be provided, including the (Tim Stone) use of breakout rooms where small group discussions with Jul 15: TCAA Guides certain themes will take place following the main (Dave Osenga et al.) presentation. Aug 19: Solar System Updates: Comets, Asteroids, and There will be no business meetings as before as Minor Planets (volunteer needed) nowadays the Board of Directors, officers, and chairs manage Sep 16: Analog and Digital Computers in Astronomy the affairs of this group. At the end of nine months, the Board (Carl Wenning) will assess the situation and determine if meetings will Oct 21: The Sun and the Amateur Astronomer continue. (Jamey Jenkins) To see how Zoom works, visit the following link to watch Nov 18: How to Plan, Organize, Complete, & Submit a 2-minute video including an invitation by Carl to send in a an AL Observing Program (Lisa Wentzel) list of possible topics: https://youtu.be/u4_w41PGMrw Dec 16: TCAA Stories from Days Gone By Carl Wenning has agreed to arrange topics and speakers, (Tim Stone et al.) and manage the meetings using the club’s new Zoom account.

A tentative list of dates, topics, and speakers is as follows:

UNWANTED TCAA ASSETS

The following TCAA-owned equipment has been declared unwanted by the TCAA Board and is available to members. Per TCAA Board policy, we ask members who wish to have any of this equipment to consider making an appropriate donation to the club. Anyone who wants to inquire about or acquire any of this equipment can contact Tim Stone at the email given in The Observer’s masthead on page two. UPDATE: The Swift 11x80 binoculars shown last month have received a bid which the TCAA Board is likely to accept at their January 7th meeting. If interested in the remaining items, get your bid in now. TCAA and well as non-TCAA members are now welcome to bid on all the following items:

1. Celestron 6” Newtonian, mount, sundry eyepieces. The mount is not motorized, and at one time had a polar alignment scope that is missing. The tripod is wood; it

seems very solid. This is a complete telescope system which would be an excellent starter set for someone. 2. Celestron 5” SCT with eyepieces. This Schmidt-Cassegrain scope comes in a hard case (very nice) and a complete set of Celestron Plössl eyepieces and a Barlow. There is no mount. With an appropriate mount, this would be a great grab-and-go system.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

4. Oberwerks 10x70 binoculars. In a canvas case. No tripod or mounting bracket. A good, solid tripod will be required to use these high-power binoculars.

3. Meade 5” achromatic refractor. This is the OTA and some eyepieces. No spotting scope, mount, or tripod are included. Eyepieces include 2” 40/28/20 mm Meade Super-Wide Angle 5 Element Plössl, a 1.25” 12.4 mm Meade Super Plössl, a 1.25” 18 mm Meade Super-Wide Angle Plössl, a 1.25” 20mm Meade Super Plössl, and a diagonal. At 27.5 lbs., this is a very heavy piece of equipment. A solid mount

with at least 40 lbs. capacity will be required to use this TCAA’s Unwanted Assets Policy telescope. On January 6, 2015, the TCAA Board of Directors established a policy governing the disposal of unwanted club materials. The policy is as follows: Any unwanted assets, so deemed by the TCAA Board of Directors, may be offered to the membership in return for a donation to the club of an amount not less than a reserve amount determined by the Board.

The Board will from time to time determine which items, if any, are to be deemed “unwanted assets.” A reserve price is then set for each such item. Arrangements are then made through The OBSERVER to obtain bids for individual items from club members in good standing (i.e., dues current). Items will be given to the highest bidder in exchange for the indicated donation. It should be noted that donations in consideration of such exchanges are not tax-deductible contributions even though the TCAA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Bidding by TCAA members in good standing begins December 1 and concludes on December 8, 2020. Bidding for remaining items by non-TCAA members begins January 1 and concludes January 8, 2021. NB. The Board has agreed to avoid setting reserve prices for this lot of materials. However, the TCAA Board reserves the right to reject bids that are deemed not in keeping with the worth of the items bid upon.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

JANUARY 2021: PLANETS SCATTER, MERCURY IN EVENING SKY, MARS – URANUS CONJUNCTION ~ by Jeffrey L. Hunt ~

weather. Low in the north, the Big Dipper skims along the northern horizon.

• January 1: Happy New Year! Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Venus (m = −3.9) is about 6° in altitude in the southeast. It is over 12° to the lower left of Antares (α Sco, m = 1.0). The moon (17.8 days after the New moon phase, 94% illuminated) is nearly one-third of the way up in the west, between Pollux (β Gem, m = 1.2) and Regulus (α Leo, m = 1.3). The lunar orb is nearly 16° to the upper left of Pollux and over 20° to the lower right of Regulus. The sun illuminates the ground for nearly 9.25 hours. Forty- five minutes after sunset, Jupiter (m = −2.0) is less than 9° up in the southwest, 1.2° to the upper left of Saturn (m = 0.6). As the sky darkens further, Mars (m = −0.2) – 80.9°

Mars, January 2021: Mars moves from Pisces and into Aries. of ecliptic longitude east of Jupiter – is over 55° up in the It passes Uranus on January 20. southeast. It is marching eastward in Pisces. In the starfield, it is 1.1° to the lower left of Pi Piscium (π Psc, m As the new year opens at the beginning of morning =5.5) and 2.5° above Omicron Piscium (ο Psc, m = 4.2). twilight, Leo is high in the south, west of the meridian. The Four hours after sunset (8:30 p.m. CST), the gibbous sidereal time indicates that this is the same celestial orientation that presents itself to us on a warm May evening. moon (18.4d, 90%), in western Leo, is over 12° in altitude Arcturus is higher in the sky, east of the meridian, while Spica in the east-northeast. is lower and closer to the celestial divider. The bright moon is • January 2: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, brilliant in Cancer between Gemini and the Lion. Beneath the moon, Venus is about 6° up in the southeast. The bright moon the arc – made by Procyon, Pollux, Castor, and Capella – is (18.8d, 88%) is 36° up in the west. The lunar orb is 8.4° to lower in the western sky. In the east, bright Vega and Deneb the upper right of Regulus. Earth is at its closest point to are there. Altair will appear soon. Antares is low in the the sun in its solar orbit, 0.9832 astronomical units from southeast, likely not visible unless you search for it. This sky, the sun, at 7:51 a.m. CST. In the evening, 45 minutes after though, is without any bright planets. After its show of last sunset, Jupiter is over 8° in altitude in the southwest. The year, Mars reigns early during evening hours, but it has set by gap to Saturn is 1.3°. Jupiter is to the upper left of Saturn. this time. Mercury is beginning a nice display but catch it early Farther east as the sky darkens further, Mars is marching after sunset. Its greatest elongation is less than 19°. In the eastward in Pisces. It is nearly 60° up in the southeast. evening at the end of twilight, the bright stars of winter are in Use a binocular to spot it 1.4° to the lower left of π Psc the eastern sky, led by the Pleiades cluster that is nearly two- thirds of the way up in the east-southeast. The star cluster and 2.5° to the upper left of ο Psc. Five hours after sunset seems to be pulling Taurus, Auriga, Gemini, and Orion into the (about 9:30 p.m. CST), the moon (19.5d, 83%) – 11° up in sky. Only Procyon and Sirius have not joined the annual the east-northeast – is 4.6° to the left of Regulus. celestial party at this hour. Farther west, Vega, Deneb, and • January 3: The moon (19.4d, 80%) is over 40° up in the Altair are in the western sky. Mars is the lone bright planet. It west-southwest. It is 7.2° to the upper left of Regulus. is in the southern sky, nearly two-thirds of the way up, but Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Venus is 5° up in the east of the meridian. Still among the dim stars of Pisces, it is southeast. As night falls, Jupiter is nearly 8° in altitude in to the lower right of Aries’ three brightest stars. It passes the southwest. It is 1.5° to the upper left of Saturn. Uranus early in the month. The Great Square of Pegasus is Farther east and when the sky is a little darker, find Mars west of the meridian to the upper right of Mars. Andromeda’s nearly 60° in altitude in the south-southeast. The planet stars stretch off the square toward the northeast and Perseus is nearing the Aries – Pisces border. In two evenings, the and Auriga. The Great Andromeda Spiral is slightly west of the meridian at this hour and nearly overhead. It’s in prime Red Planet moves into Aries. Tonight, the planet is 1.6° to observing celestial real estate if you can endure the winter the lower left of π Psc and 2.6° to the upper left of ο Psc. Copyright © 2021 TCAA 11 All rights reserved.

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

Six hours after sunset (10:30 p.m. CST), the moon (20.6d, • January 8: One hour before sunrise, the moon (24.8d, 73%) – about 10° up in the east – is 8.6° to the upper right 26%) – over one-third of the way up in the south- of Denebola (β Leo, m = 2.1). southeast – is 2.3° to the upper left of Zubenelgenubi (α • January 4: An hour before sunrise, the moon (20.8d, 71%) Lib, m = 2.8). Thirty minutes later, Venus is about 6° up in – nearly halfway up in the west-southwest – is 7.9° to the the southeast. Forty-five minutes after sunset, Jupiter is lower right of Denebola. As the sky brightens further, about 5° up in the west-southwest. With optical aid, locate Saturn, 2.0° to the lower right of Jupiter. Saturn Venus is about 5° up in the southeast. Forty-five minutes sets at Nautical Twilight when the sun is 12° below the after sunset, Jupiter is about 7° up in the southwest, 1.6° horizon. One hour after sunset, Mars (m = 0.0) is nearly to the upper left of Saturn. Fifteen minutes later, Mars is two-thirds of the way up in the south-southeast, 3.9° to nearly two-thirds of the way up in the sky in the south- the upper left of ο Psc and 6.6° below γ Ari. southeast. One night before it moves into Aries, it is 2.1° • January 9: One hour before sunrise, the moon (25.8d, to the lower left of π Psc and 2.7° to the upper left of ο 17%) is over 20° in altitude above the southeast horizon. Psc. As midnight approaches, locate the moon (21.6d, It is 2.2° to the upper right of Graffias (β Sco, m = 2.5). As 62%) low in the east, nearly 12° to the lower right of the sky brightens further, find Venus about 6° up in the Denebola. southeast. The moon is at perigee, 228,302 miles, at 9:37 • January 5: About an hour before sunrise, the moon a.m. CST. Thirty minutes after sunset, Jupiter, about 7° up (21.8d, 60%) – over halfway up in the south-southwest – in the west-southwest is 2.2° to the upper left of Saturn. is 6.6° to the upper right of Gamma Virginis (γ Vir, m = Use a binocular to locate them, especially Saturn. Mercury (m = −0.9) makes a pretty triangle with Jupiter 3.4). About 30 minutes later, brilliant Venus is about 7° and Saturn. It is 1.6° to the lower left of Saturn and 2.8° above the southeast horizon. Forty-five minutes after below Jupiter. As the sky darkens further, Mars is nearly sunset, Jupiter is less than 7° up in the west-southwest, 60° up in the south-southeast, 4.3° to the upper left of ο 1.7° to the upper left of Saturn. Mars (m = −0.1) moves Psc and 6.4° below γ Ari. into Aries. Over 57° in altitude in the south-southeast, the planet is 7.3° to the lower right of Gamma Arietis (γ Ari, m = 3.9). The Red Planet is 7.3° to the lower right of Uranus (m = 5.7). Mars is 81.7° of ecliptic longitude east of Jupiter. • January 6: The moon displays its Last Quarter phase at 3:37 a.m. CST. Forty-five minutes before sunrise, the moon (22.2d, 49%) is about halfway up in the south- southwest, 8.4° to the upper right of Spica (α Vir, m = 1.0). As the sky brightens further, Venus is less than 7° up in the southeast. At this hour the starfield is not visible, but the planet has moved into Sagittarius. In the evening, 45 minutes after sunset, Jupiter is 6.0° up in the west- southwest, 1.8° to the upper left of Saturn. What are the last dates you can see the Jovian duo, with and without optical aid? In a darker sky, Mars – in Aries – is nearly two- thirds of the way up in the south-southeast, 3.2° to the upper left of ο Psc and 7.0° to the lower right of γ Ari. • January 7: Forty-five minutes before sunrise, the moon (23.8d, 37%) is 38.0° up in the south, 9.8° to the upper left of Spica. During brighter twilight, Venus is about 6° January 10: Mercury makes nearly an equilateral triangle with Jupiter and Saturn after sunset. up in the southeast. In the evening during mid-twilight, Jupiter is less than 6° up in the west-southwest, 1.9° to • January 10: One hour before sunrise, the moon (26.8d, the upper left of Saturn. Use a binocular to find the 9%) – about 12° up in the southeast – is 7.0° to the left of Ringed Wonder. When the sky is darker, find Mars about Antares. About 30 minutes later, find Venus over 5° in two-thirds of the way up in the south-southeast, 3.5° to altitude in the southeast. Thirty minutes after sunset, the upper left of ο Psc and 6.8° to the lower right of γ Psc. look for Jupiter and Saturn with a binocular about 30

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

minutes after sunset. The Jupiter – Saturn gap is 2.0°. Ari. Find Uranus 4.1° to the lower left of Mars. The moon Mercury is 2.0° to the left of Saturn and 1.8° below is at its New phase at 11 p.m. CST. Jupiter. The trio makes nearly an equilateral triangle. In a darker sky, Mars is over two-thirds of the way up in the south-southeast. It is 4.6° to the upper left of ο Psc and 6.3° below γ Ari. With a binocular spot Uranus, 5.0° to the lower left of Mars.

January 20: The moon appears near Mars as the Red Planet passes Uranus.

• January 13: During bright twilight, Venus is about 5° up in the southeast. Thirty minutes after sunset, Jupiter is January 11: The crescent moon makes its last visible pass of over 4° in altitude above the west-southwest horizon, Venus during this Venusian apparition. 3.3° to the lower right of Mercury. One hour after sunset, • January 11: Thirty minutes before sunrise, locate a clear Mars (m = 0.1) is 6.0° to the lower left of γ Ari. Look for horizon to observe the final visible grouping of the moon the planet and the star over 60° up in the south- and Venus during this Venusian apparition. The moon southeast. Uranus is 3.7° to the lower left of Mars. (27.8d, 3%) is 3.9° to the right of the brilliant planet. • January 14: Venus rises before Nautical Twilight, 64 Saturn continues to be difficult to see as it is lower in the minutes before sunrise. It is less than 5° in altitude in the west-southwest during early evening twilight. Look with southeast at 30 minutes before sunrise. Depending on a binocular to see Jupiter, less than 6° in altitude and 2.4° the weather and the view from your location, Venus to the upper left of Saturn. Mercury is 3.1° to the upper may be visible low in the southeast until January 20 (or left of Saturn and 1.4° to the lower left of Jupiter. Jupiter later) without optical assistance at about 30 minutes sets at Nautical Twilight. When the sky darkens further, before sunrise. What is the last date that you see the Mars is 60.0° in altitude in the south-southeastern sky. It planet without a binocular or telescope before sunrise? continues its eastward parade through Aries. This Venus does not reach its superior conjunction until evening is 6.2° below γ Ari. The Mars – Uranus gap is 4.6°. March 26. Thirty minutes after sunset, with a binocular Uranus is to the lower left of Mars. look for Jupiter about 3° in altitude in the west-southwest. • January 12: Thirty minutes before sunrise, locate Venus Mercury is 4.5° to the upper left of Jupiter. The young about 5° up in the southeast. Let’s attempt to view Saturn moon (1.8d, 4%) is nearly 7° to the upper left of Mercury. one more evening with optical aid around 30 minutes As the sky darkens further, Mars is over 60° in altitude in after sunset. This will be a challenge. Jupiter is about 5° the south-southeast. This evening it passes 6.0° below γ up in the west-southwest, 2.5° to the upper left of Saturn. Ari. With a binocular or through a telescope with some Mercury is 4.5° to the upper left of Saturn and 2.1° to the magnification to resolve its disk, Uranus is 3.2° to the upper left of Jupiter. Thirty minutes later, Mars is over lower left of Mars. 60° up in the south-southeast, 6.1° to the lower left of γ

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

• January 15: One hour before sunrise, the Gemini Twins – a somewhat oval group of 3rd and 4th magnitude stars that Castor (α Gem, m = 1.6) and Pollux – are about 15° up in is 12° to the upper right of the lunar crescent. Mars (m = the west-northwest. Thirty minutes after sunset. the 0.2) is over 62° up in the south-southeast, 9.2° to the moon (2.8d, 9%) is about 20° up in the southwest. The lower right of Hamal (α Ari, m = 2.0), 1.3° to the lower crescent is about 18° to the upper left of bright Mercury. right of 19 Ari, and 2.0° to the upper right of Uranus. The speedy planet is 5.8° to the upper left of Jupiter. In a • January 18: One hour before sunrise, find Capella (α Aur, darker sky and over 60° up in the south-southeast, the m = 0.1) about 7° in altitude above the west-northwest Red Planet passes 7.3° to the lower left of Beta Arietis (β horizon. Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury (m = −0.8) Ari, m = 2.6). The Red Planet is 2.2° to the lower right of is over 6° up in the west-southwest. Farther east, the 19 Arietis (19 Ari, m = 5.7) and 2.8° to the upper right of crescent moon (5.8d, 32%) – nearly halfway up in the Uranus. south-southwest – is in Cetus. Mars is over 62° in altitude in the south-southeast, 9.0° below Hamal, 0.9° to the At mid-month when morning twilight begins (about 5:30 lower right of 19 Ari, and 1.8° to the upper right of Uranus. a.m.), Spica is low in the south at the meridian. Arcturus is • January 19: One hour before sunrise, the Gemini Twins – higher in the sky and about an hour east of the meridian. The Big Dipper is high in the north with its handle at the meridian. Castor and Pollux – are less than 15° in altitude above the Looking westward, Leo occupies the sky in the southwest-northwest horizon. Thirty minutes after sunset, southwest. Procyon, Pollux, Castor, and Capella are low in the Mercury is 7.0° up in the west-southwest. One hour after west. At this hour you can trace out the plane of the solar sunset, the moon (6.8d, 42%) is over 50° in altitude above system from Procyon, past Regulus, above Spica, and passing the south-southwest horizon. Mars – over 17° to the above Antares, now low in the south-southeast. At this hour, upper left of the moon – is over two-thirds of the way up Vega and Deneb are in the eastern sky. Since New Year’s Day, in the south. It is 8.9° below Hamal, 0.9° below 19 Ari, and the sun has only gained 15 minutes of extra time in the sky. 1.6° to the upper right of Uranus. During the next two weeks, daylight increases another 30 minutes. At the end of evening twilight, the entire Winter Congregation is in the eastern sky. Procyon and Sirius have joined the crowd at this hour. Dimming Mars is at the meridian beneath the brightest stars of Aries. Looking westward, Pegasus is in the southwest. The Great Andromeda is very high in the west. The waxing moon is in the southwest. If you have a clear western horizon, you might see Altair, but Vega and Deneb are easily found in the northwest. In the north, the Big Dipper is rising up from the horizon.

• January 16: One hour before sunrise, find Altair (α Aql, m = 0.8) about 9° up in the east. Along with Deneb (α Cyg, m = 1.2), in the northeast, and Vega (α Lyr, m = 0.0), high in the east-northeast, the Summer Triangle is in the morning sky. Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury is over 5° up in the west-southwest. The crescent moon (3.8d, 15%) is to the planet’s upper left. Saturn sets at Civil Twilight, when the sun is 6° below the horizon. As the sky darkens further, find Mars nearly 62° up in the south- southeast. It is 1.8° to the lower right of 19 Ari and 2.4° to the upper right of Uranus. January 20: The moon appears near Mars as the Red Planet passes Uranus. • January 17: One hour before sunrise, find Spica (α Vir, m = 1.0) 36° above the south-southwest horizon. Thirty • January 20: One hour before sunrise, Regulus (α Leo, m = minutes after sunset, Mercury is 6.0° up in the west- 1.3) is less than 30° up in the west. If you’re still looking southwest. The crescent moon (4.8d, 23%) is to the for Venus, it is over 3° in altitude in the southeast at 30 speedy planet’s upper left, over 30° in altitude. As the sky minutes before sunrise. The moon is at its First Quarter darkens further look for Pisces western fish (the Circlet), phase at 3:02 p.m. CST. Jupiter sets at Civil Twilight. At

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

this time, Mercury is over 7° in altitude in the west- bright Mercury (m = −0.5) is about 10° up in the west- southwestern sky. Nearly 63° in altitude in the south, the southwest. Thirty minutes later, the moon (12.8d, 92%) – moon (7.8d, 51%) is 7.3° to the lower right of Mars. The in Gemini – is 40° up in the east, 9.7° to the upper right of Red Planet passes 1.6° above Uranus. The planet is 8.8° Gamma Geminorum (γ Gem, m = 1.9) and 8.7° to the left below Hamal and 0.7° to the lower left of 19 Ari. of ζ Tau. Bright Mars is in the southern sky, about 64° • January 21: One hour before sunrise. Antares (α Sco, m = above the horizon. It is 2.9° to the lower left of 19 Ari. The 1.0) is nearly 16° in altitude above the south-southeast planet is approaching a dim starfield. This evening it is horizon. The moon is at apogee (251,232 miles) at 7:11 4.6° to the upper right of Omicron Arietis (ο Ari, m = 5.8). a.m. CST. Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury is 8.0° up Use a binocular to see Mars against the starfield. in the west-southwest. The gibbous moon (8.8d, 61%) is • January 26: One hour before sunrise, Zubenelgenubi and farther east to the lower left of Mars. As the sky darkens Zubeneschamali are approaching the meridian. Sunrise is further, Mars is over two-thirds of the way up in the approaching 5 p.m. CST. The sun has been setting before south. It is 8.8° below Hamal, 1.0° to the lower left of 19 5 p.m. since the second half of October. Thirty minutes Ari, and 1.7° to the upper left of Uranus. after sunset, Mercury (m = −0.3) is about 11° up in the • January 22: One hour before sunrise, find Arcturus (α Boo, west-southwest. The moon is in the eastern sky. As the m = −0.1) nearly 70° up in the south. Thirty minutes after sky darkens further, find it 8.8° to the right of Pollux. Mars sunset, Mercury is 8.0° in altitude above the west- is about 64° up in the south, 3.4° to the upper left of 19 southwest horizon. The bright gibbous moon (9,8d, 70%) Ari and 4.2° to the right of ο Ari. is in the southeast. As the sky darkens further, Aldebaran • January 27: One hour before sunrise, the moon (14.3d, (α Tau, m = 0.8) is nearly 15° to the left of the moon. Mars 98%) is less than 5° in altitude above the west-northwest is over 63° in altitude above the south horizon. It is 8.7° horizon, 5.1° to the lower left of Pollux. After sunset, below Hamal, 1.4° to the lower left of 19 Ari, and 1.9° to locate Mercury (m = −0.2) over 10° up in the west- the upper left of Uranus. southwest. An hour after sunset, Mars (m = 0.4) is over • January 23: On hour before sunrise, the Big Dipper is high two-thirds of the way up in the south, 3.9° to the upper in the northwest. Procyon (α CMi, m = 0.4) rises at sunset. left of 19 Ari, 3.7° to the upper right of ο Ari, and 5.0° to Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury is nearly 11° up in the right of Pi Arietis (π Ari, m = 5.2). With the bright the west-southwest. As the sky darkens further, find moon (14.8d, 99%) in the sky at this hour and the dim Mars nearly 64° up in the south. It passes 8.7° to the starfield, use a binocular to see the starfield with Mars. lower left of Hamal (α Ari, m =2.0). The planet is 1.9° to That bright moon is about 20° in altitude in the east- the left of 19 Ari. At this time, the moon (10.8d, 78%) is northeast, 6.8° below Pollux. The lunar orb is in Cancer. 4.3° to the upper right of Aldebaran. Mercury reaches its • January 28: One hour before sunrise, the moon (15.3d, greatest elongation (18.6°) at 7:57 p.m. CST. Saturn is at 100%) is nearly 12° above the west-northwest horizon its solar conjunction, 9:01 p.m. CST, ending its apparition and nearly the same distance to the upper left of Pollux. of its 2020 Great Conjunction. The Full moon phase occurs at 1:16 p.m. CST. Sirius (α • January 24: One hour before sunrise, Cassiopeia is low in CMa, m = −1.5) rises at sunset. Thirty minutes after the north-northeast. Thirty minutes after sunset, sunset, Mercury is over 10° in altitude in the west- Mercury (m = −0.6) is nearly 11° in altitude in the south- southwest. At this hour the bright moon (15.8d, 100%) is southwest. Thirty minutes later, Mars is nearly 64° up in low in the east-northeast. Mars – parading eastward in the south, 8.8° to the lower left of Hamal and 2.4° to the Aries – is over 64° in altitude above the southern horizon. left of 19 Ari. Farther east, the bright moon (11.8d, 86%) In the starfield it is 4.5° to the upper left of 19 Ari, 3.3° to is between the horns of Taurus, 4.7° to the upper right of the upper right of ο Ari, 4.4° to the lower right of π Ari, Zeta Tauri (ζ Tau, m = 3.0) and 6.0° to the lower right of and 4.9° to the upper right of Sigma Arietis (σ Ari, m = 5.5). Elnath (β Tau, m = 1.6). ο Ari and σ Ari are below the ecliptic, while π Ari is above • January 25: One hour before sunrise, the constellation the solar system’s plane along with Mars. The dim stellar Corvus – to the lower right of Spica – is low in the south- trio forms a small triangle. Watch Mars approach and southwest. Venus rises 45 minutes before sunrise. It is pass these stars during the next several evenings. Jupiter only 15° west of the sun. Thirty minutes before sunrise, it is at its solar conjunction, 7:40 p.m. CST. This ends is only 2° up in the southeast. Astronomer Jean Meeus Jupiter’s apparition during the occurrence of the Great predicts that Venus can be observed before sunrise or Conjunction of 2020. after sunset, with only a 7° elongation. The ecliptic’s angle with the horizon is approximately 35° and the planet is near that plane. Thirty minutes after sunset

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

• January 30: One hour before sunrise, the moon (17.3d, 97%) is nearly one-third of the way up in the west, 4.0° above Regulus. Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury is less than 9° up in the west-southwest. Several minutes later find Mars, over 64° up in the south. Use a binocular to spot Mars in the dim starfield, 2.5° to the upper right of ο Ari, 4.1° to the upper right of σ Ari, and 3.4° to the lower right of π Ari. Three hours after sunset, the moon (17.9d, 93%) is less than 20° in altitude above the eastern horizon. It is over 12° to the lower left of Regulus. • January 31: One hour before sunrise, the moon (18.3d, 91%) is over 30° up in the west-southwestern sky, 9.8° to the lower right of Denebola (β Leo, m = 2.1). Only 20 minutes before sunrise, Venus is only 2° up in the east- southeast. Can you find it? Thirty minutes after sunset, Mercury (m = 1.0) is less than 8° up in the west-southwest. One hour after sunset, Mars is high in the southern sky, west of the meridian. It is 2.1° to the upper right of ο Ari, 3.7° to the upper right of σ Ari, and 2.8° to the right of π Ari. Five hours after sunset (10 p.m.), the moon (19.0d, January 29: The bright moon appears near Eta Leonis (η Leo) 86%) – over 15° up in the east – is 8.8° to the lower right in the eastern sky later during the evening. of Denebola.

• January 29: One hour before sunrise, the bright moon At the beginning of morning twilight at month’s end, (16.3d, 99%) is over 19° in altitude in the west. It is 12° to Arcturus is high in the south at the meridian. Spica is to the the lower right of Regulus. In the evening, about 30 lower right, nearly an hour west of the celestial divider. The minutes after sunset, Mercury is less than 10° in altitude trapezoid shape of Corvus is to Spica’s lower right. The bright in the west-southwest. As the sky darkens further, Mars gibbous moon is in the southwest, beneath Leo. The Big is over 64° in altitude above the southern horizon, west Dipper is high in the west above the Lion. Farther west, Pollux, of the meridian. In the starfield, use a binocular to Castor, Capella are now low in the northwestern sky. Looking observe the Red Planet 2.8° to the upper right of ο Ari, northward, Cassiopeia is low just east of the north cardinal 4.5° to the upper right of σ Ari, and 3.9° to the lower right point. Now that Altair is over 10° in altitude in the eastern sky, of π Ari. Two hours after sunset, the bright moon (16.8d, the Summer Triangle is easy to spot. Turning southward, 98%) is less than 10° in altitude above the east-northeast Antares is in the south-southeast. During the evening at the horizon. In a few hours, the moon occults Eta Leonis (η end of twilight, the bright Winter Congregation dominates the Leo, m = 3.5), the star above Regulus in the Sickle of Leo, eastern sky. With a binocular scan the sky to spot the varying from the southern tier of the U.S., Mexico, Central star colors and intensities. The Pleiades star cluster is at the America, and northern South America. Begin looking meridian leading these stars westward. At this hour, Mars is before 9 p.m. CST. The star is to the immediate left of the over two-thirds of the way up in the sky and hour west of the bright moon. If you are traveling the details to observe meridian, to the lower left of the stellar trio that makes Aries. the occultation are here: http://www.lunar- Farther west, Pegasus is about halfway up in the sky, while occultations.com/iota/iotandx.htm Deneb is low in the northwest. Cassiopeia is above Deneb, while the Big Dipper is low in the north-northeast.

DID YOU KNOW?

Are you looking for back issues of The Are you looking for information about Are you looking for the TCAA Guides to OBSERVER? Look no further than here: the history of the TCAA? Find out more amateur astronomy? Visit this page: http://tcaa.us/Observer.aspx here: http://tcaa.us/History.aspx http://tcaa.us/TCAAGuides.aspx

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

“PUBLICATIONS & NOTES” WEBSITE ~ by Sunil Chebolu ~

Astronomy is my favorite hobby. Besides enjoying the night sky with a telescope or a pair of binoculars, the thing that makes me ecstatic is being able to understand or explain an astronomical phenomenon mathematically. My key to understanding the cosmos is mathematics!

On my Publications & Notes website, you will find my astronomy-related publications, notes, talks, calculations, experiments, and some astrophotography images with elementary observations. Please check out my latest addition “A Clock Model for Planetary Conjunctions” found at https://sites.google.com/illinois.edu/chebolu/astronomy

TCAA TREASURER’S REPORT AS OF DECEMBER 28, 2020

Checking Account Information

Memo Category Amount BALANCE 11/28/2020 1,971.22 Jamey Jenkins Dues Received 25.00 Zoom Subscription Credit Card (119.92) Allan Griffith Dues Received 25.13 Jack Corzine Dues Received 40.00 Jack Corzine Dues Received 10.00 Troy Berg Dues Received 39.80 Electrical Service Waynesville Observatory (49.77) Transfer from Savings to Create Activity Transfer from Savings 100.00 BALANCE 11/28/2020 2,041.46

Checking Account Balance – December 28, 2020 $2,041.46 Savings Account Balance – December 28, 2020 $1,868.08 - Includes $0.01 cents interest as of this date

Total TCAA Funds – December 28, 2020 $3,909.54

All transactions are reconciled with the bank statements as of this date. Respectfully submitted,

Dave Osenga, Treasurer

NCRAL SEASONAL MESSIER MINI MARATHON OBSERVING PROGRAM

Don’t overlook or forget about the NCRAL Seasonal Messier Marathon! The Seasonal Messier Marathon observing program is NCRAL’s introduction to viewing the Messier objects. This program is intended to serve as motivation to get NCRAL-affiliated members out under the stars to observe. The program permits the use of goto telescopes to find the objects and, as such, the program must not be taken as proof of observing prowess. NCRAL will permit Astronomical League’s Messier observing program to serve that purpose. Still, for

Vol. 46, No. 1 The OBSERVER of the Twin City Amateur Astronomers January 2021

those who have asked for some sort of demarcation, NCRAL observing certificates will hence forth include the words “manual” or “assisted.” Certificates and pins are now being distributed on the equinoxes and solstices along with Northern Lights. Up-to-date details about the Region’s four observing program and helpful observing record sheets can now be found on the NCRAL website: https://ncral.wordpress.com/awards/. Below are the seasonal observing lists followed by some helpful observing notes.

Autumn: M55, M69, M70, M75, M11, M26, M56, M57, M71, M27, M29, M39, M2, M72, M73, M15, M30, M52, M103, M31, M32, M110, M33, M74, M77, M34, and M76. (27 objects)

Winter: M1, M45, M36, M37, M38, M42, M43, M78, M79, M35, M41, M50, M46, M47, M93, M48, M44, M67, M40, M81, M82, M97, M101, M108, M109, M65, M66. (27 objects)

Spring: M95, M96, M105, M53, M64, M85, M88, M91, M98, M99, M100, M49, M58, M59, M60, M61, M84, M86, M87, M89, M90, M104, M3, M51, M63, M94, M106, and M68 (28 objects)

Summer: M83, M102, M5, M13, M92, M9, M10, M12, M14, M19, M62, M107, M4, M6, M7, M80, M16, M8, M17, M18, M20, M21, M22, M23, M24, M25, M28, and M54. (28 objects)

OBSERVING NOTES:

• Winter: It probably would be best to begin the winter Marathon around mid-February or later. Any earlier in the year, observers will have to wait until late into the night for all winter objects to have risen high enough in the sky to observe. With winter weather moderating in March, it wouldn’t be too late to start then so long as observations are completed by the March equinox.

ADD YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO THE NCRAL MEMBER DATABASE

Did you know that just over 425 of some 1,900 NCRAL members are receiving this newsletter via email? That’s only 23% of the membership. Please help NCRAL get its newsletter out to the membership by encouraging fellow club members to add their email addresses to the NCRAL member database. Editors, please include this information in your affiliate’s newsletter. When one adds his or her email address to the NCRAL member database, he or she will receive direct notifications about the availability of Northern Lights. In addition, subscribers will receive important and timely announcements about Regional conventions, star parties, and so forth. Only blind addressing (Bcc:) will be used with this email list so that others will not see your email address. Email addresses will never be shared with or sold to outside entities. No one will add your email address to this list for you, so you’ll need to do it yourself. Sign-up takes only about a minute. You’ll need to provide your name, email address, astronomy club affiliation (or indicate A.L. membership-at-large) and let us know if you hold specific positions within your club. Go to the following case-sensitive URL to add your information to our database at https://goo.gl/gsS8SF today so you won’t miss important future communications.

CHECK OUT THE NCRAL WEBSITE ~ by Jeff Setzer ~

Did you know that NCRAL has its own website? Point your browser to ncral.wordpress.com and you’ll see a central repository for information about our Region and affiliates, the Region’s Bylaws, back issues of Northern Lights, information about observing programs, awards, and grants, and much more. Will the website progress from an occasionally used reference to something more? That’s entirely up to you, dear reader. If you have ideas or submissions, contact me at [email protected]