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Background: IC1396 (Elephant Trunk Nebula) Imager: Jerry Gardner Scope: Sky-Watcher Esprit 80 EDT f/5 Sky-Watcher Esprits are on sale throughout October! Designed with the discerning astrophotographer in mind, Sky-Watcher USA’s top-of- the-line refractor delivers the kind of imaging performance one would expect from telescopes costing thousands of dollars more. Sky-Watcher USA Esprits come with everything you see here. False color is a thing of the past with the Esprit’s apochromatic three-element, air-spaced objective lens design. re you I’d take advantage of it. Unlike other refractors, Sky-Watcher USA Esprits ithout notice. 20-18018 include a 2-element field corrector, guaranteeing a flat field across the entire imaging plane right out of the box. The Sky-Watcher proprietary rack- and-pinion focusing system provides a smooth, rock-solid focuser with zero image shift.

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Find more Omegon products at www.omegon.com! Online Content Code: ASY1811 Enter this code at: www.astronomy.com/code NOVEMBER 2018 to gain access to web-exclusive content VOL. 46, NO. 11 NASA/JHUAPL/CIW ON THE COVER Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, remains a world of mysteries. The BepiColombo spacecraft aims to unravel some of these.

COLUMNS 30 Strange Universe 12 CONTENTS BOB BERMAN Observing Basics 62 FEATURES GLENN CHAPLE 20 COVER STORY 36 54 For Your Consideration 64 Voyage to a world Sky This Month Our eighth annual JEFF HESTER of extremes Mars remains a beacon. Star Products Secret Sky 66 A world of both ire and ice, MARTIN RATCLIFFE AND We’ve combed manufacturers’ STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA Mercury excites and confounds ALISTER LING catalogs and surfed the web to scientists. he BepiColombo come up with a selection of 35 probe aims to make sense of this 38 products that are sure to fuel QUANTUM GRAVITY mysterious world. BEN EVANS StarDome and your astronomical passion. Snapshot 9 Path of the Planets PHIL HARRINGTON Astro News 10 30 RICHARD TALCOTT; Damien Peach images ILLUSTRATIONS BY ROEN KELLY IN EVERY ISSUE the cosmos Although best known for 44 From the Editor 6 planetary photography, the November’s 50 finest Astro Letters 8 author is equally adept at deep-sky objects Advertiser Index 67 capturing comets, stars, and Set aside some time under galaxies. TEXT AND IMAGES BY New Products 68 a moonless sky to view this DAMIAN PEACH wide variety of celestial treats. Reader Gallery 70 MICHAEL E. BAKICH Breakthrough 74

Astronomy (ISSN 0091-6358, USPS 531-350) ONLINE is published monthly by Kalmbach Media Co., 21027 Crossroads Circle, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187–1612. Periodicals postage FAVORITES paid at Waukesha, WI, and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Astronomy, P.O. Box 62320, Tampa, Fla. 33662-2320. Go to www.Astronomy.com My Science News Picture Trips Canada Publication Mail Agreement #40010760. for info on the biggest news and Shop The latest of the Day and Tours observing events, stunning photos, Perfect gifts for updates from Gorgeous Travel the world your favorite the science and photos from with the staff of informative videos, and more. science geeks. the hobby. our readers. Astronomy.

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WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 5 FROM THE EDITOR BY DAVID J. EICHER Editor David J. Eicher Art Director LuAnn Williams Belter EDITORIAL Senior Editors Michael E. Bakich, Richard Talcott Production Editor Elisa R. Neckar Associate Editors Alison Klesman, Jake Parks Copy Editor Dave Lee Take Editorial Assistant Amber Jorgenson ART Graphic Designer Kelly Katlaps Illustrator Roen Kelly Production Specialist Jodi Jeranek a trip CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Bob Berman, Adam Block, Glenn F. Chaple, Jr., Martin George, Tony Hallas, Phil Harrington, Korey Haynes, Jeff Hester, Liz Kruesi, Ray Jayawardhana, Alister Ling, Steve Nadis, Stephen James O’Meara, Tom Polakis, Martin Ratcliffe, Mike D. with us Reynolds, Sheldon Reynolds, Erika Rix, Raymond Shubinski SCIENCE GROUP Executive Editor Becky Lang alk to any astronomer mesmerizing sights. It’s an As part of the 2019 solar eclipse Design Director Dan Bishop about the job, and important trip to observe tour to Chile and Peru, Astronomy’s EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD travelers will visit the famous and Buzz Aldrin, Marcia Bartusiak, Timothy Ferris, Alex Filippenko, they’ll invariably dozens of deep-sky objects ethereal site Machu Picchu, an icon Adam Frank, John S. Gallagher lll, Daniel W. E. Green, William K. Hartmann, Paul Hodge, Edward Kolb, Stephen P. Maran, of Inca civilization. VITMARK/DREAMSTIME tell you that travel is we can’t see at all from the Brian May, S. Alan Stern, James Trefil an exciting part of Northern Hemisphere. Tit. Observatories get built The trip takes place at a Sedona’s red rock forma- Kalmbach Media on mountaintops in exotic base camp near the Gulf of tions, the Grand Canyon, Chief Executive Officer Dan Hickey Senior Vice President, Finance Christine Metcalf locations for a reason — the Nicoya, on Costa Rica’s Lowell Observatory, and Vice President, Content Stephen C. George Vice President, Consumer Marketing Nicole McGuire great seeing and transpar- Pacific coast. There, we can Meteor Crater. Vice President, Operations Brian J. Schmidt ency — so visiting astro- explore the magical forest Check out the details Vice President, Human Resources Sarah A. Horner nomical sites takes you to during the day, as well as at www.astronomy.com/ Senior Director, Advertising Sales and Events David T. Sherman Advertising Sales Director Scott Redmond some pretty cool places in ride horses, watch huge magazine/trips-tours/ Circulation Director Liz Runyon Art and Production Manager Michael Soliday the world. numbers of bird species and 2019arizona New Business Manager Cathy Daniels We take pride in partner- other wildlife, and enjoy And of course, there’s Retention Manager Kathy Steele Single Copy Specialist Kim Redmond ing with TravelQuest soothing waters. At night, as a major trip next year for ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT International, an experi- the stars come out in a dark eclipse chasers. The total Phone (888) 558-1544 Advertising Sales Manager Steve Meni enced touring company sky and the telescopes roll solar eclipse on July 2, 2019, Advertising Sales Representative based in Arizona that will be visible from Dina Johnston, [email protected] Ad Services Representative handles our trip logis- Chile, and we’re run- Christa Burbank, [email protected] tics. On our tours, For more, visit ning a trip that will RETAIL TRADE ORDERS AND INQUIRIES Selling Astronomy magazine or products in your store: editors travel with you www.astronomy.com/ explore that beautiful Phone (800) 558-1544 to provide guidance country as well as Outside U.S. and Canada (262) 796-8776, ext. 818 magazine/trips-tours Fax (262) 798-6592 and astronomical sites in Peru. Email [email protected] expertise. Why not Associate Editor Jake Website www.Retailers.Kalmbach.com CUSTOMER SALES AND SERVICE join us on one of our out, you’ll experience some Parks will be your guide Phone (877) 246-4835 Outside U.S. and Canada (813) 910-3616 upcoming journeys? of the most memorable here. The gems on this trip Customer Service [email protected] We currently offer several observing of your life. include the legendary Digital [email protected] Back Issues [email protected] exciting options. In For more information, Machu Picchu, as well as CONTACT US February 2019, you can join visit www.astronomy.com/ Lima, Cuzco, and observa- Ad Sales [email protected] Ask Astro [email protected] me on our 16th annual magazine/trips-tours/ tories at La Serena. Books [email protected] Costa Rica Southern Sky 2019-costa-rica See the full itinerary Letters [email protected] Products [email protected] Party. My old friend, the Or you could travel in here: www.astronomy.com/ Reader Gallery [email protected] great astronomer Bart Bok, May 2019 on the Arizona magazine/trips-tours/ Editorial Phone (262) 796-8776 used to say, “All the good Skies tour with Senior 2019-chile-northbound Copyright © 2018 Kalmbach Media Co., all rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Printed in the U.S.A. stuff’s in the southern sky.” Editor Michael E. Bakich. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for new subscriptions and address changes. Subscription Join us to explore our rate: single copy: $5.99; U.S.: 1 year (12 issues) $42.95; 2 years (24 issues) $79.95; 3 years (36 issues) $114.95. Canadian: Add $12.00 postage per year. That exaggeration isn’t far He will take you to a flurry beautiful planet and the Canadian price includes GST, payable in U.S. funds. All other international subscriptions: Add $16.00 postage per year, payable in U.S. funds, drawn off. The Magellanic Clouds, of Arizona’s greatest astro- amazing skies, and an on a U.S. bank. BN 12271 3209 RT. Not responsible for unsolicited materials. Southern Cross, rich star nomical sites, including Kitt eclipse! See you on the road! fields of Crux and Carina, Peak National Observatory, Follow Astronomy and the Sagittarius Milky the mirror-making lab at Yours truly, Way high overhead make the University of Arizona,

www.twitter.com/ www.facebook.com/ plus.google.com/ Follow the Dave’s Universe blog: AstronomyMag AstronomyMagazine +astronomymagazine www.Astronomy.com/davesuniverse David J. Eicher Follow Dave Eicher on Twitter: @deicherstar Editor

6 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 THE NEW LX85 GEM SERIES BUILT WITH THE ASTRO-IMAGER IN MIND

Meade’s new LX85 Series is the perfect instrument for chasing deep-sky objects! Built on an all-new industrial design by Meade, the LX85 German Equatorial Mount features a generous 33 pound load capacity with a Vixen-style dovetail receiver. The mount also boasts enhanced internal mechanics with low-cog servo-motors to provide the best possible pointing and tracking accuracy. This GoTo mount includes an integrated autoguider port to easily connect your ST-4-compatible autoguider, and an integer gear ratio for repeatable PEC performance. Whether you are a cultivated observer or an astrophotographer, the LX85 Series is the portable and reliable mount to grow with your level of experience for years to come.

80mm APO

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Ideal for all of your astrophotography pursuits, the DSI-IV features a big 16-megapixel CMOS sensor with low noise and fast USB 3.0 readout. This camera is suitable for both deep-sky and planetary imaging, making it one of the most versatile astronomy cameras on the market! Available in both color and monochrome models.

The DSI-IV features: 16MP Panasonic CMOS image sensor, 3.8μm pixels, 12-bit A/D conversion, and a two-stage thermoelectric cooler that is ideal for astrophotography. This camera is ASCOM compatible and includes Meade SkyCapture software. INCLUDES HARD CARRY CASE & AC POWER ADAPTER!

OPT Telescopes | optcorp.com High Point Scientific | highpointscientific.com MeadeInstruments Focus Camera | focuscamera.com Adorama | adorama.com Astronomics | astronomics.com Optics Planet | opticsplanet.com B&H Photo Video | bhphotovideo.com Woodland Hills Camera | whcamera.com Agena | agenaastro.com We welcome your comments at Astronomy Letters, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187; or email to [email protected]. Please include your name, city, state, and country. ASTROLETTERS Letters may be edited for space and clarity.

Tributes to Lucy and her discoverer of medieval lit, he did not pin his own I quite enjoyed reading Joel Davis’ viewpoint to it. Rather, he consistently “Exploring Jupiter’s Trojan Asteroids” presented a Neoplatonic view meshed article in the June 2018 issue. I serve with Christianity, and would not have on the board of the Institute of Human had a problem with any current, up-to- Origins (IHO) at Arizona State University, date cosmology. But he did consider the founded by noted paleoanthropologist material universe to be a secondary reality GREGG RUPPEL GREGG Dr. Donald Johanson. It is an honor to to the supremely real spiritual universe. Faint Mizar B have a Discovery-class robotic mission He could easily accept scientific truth A thank you to Phil Harrington for named after Lucy, our ancient human while dressing up a Christian worldview writing his enjoyable and informative ancestor discovered by Dr. Johanson. in Neoplatonism. — Russ Hickman, Binocular Universe columns in Astronomy. And now, Lucy will fly by a main belt Port Charlotte, FL Unfortunately, there’s an error in the asteroid named Donaldjohanson, a trib- caption of the photo of Alcor and Mizar ute to the IHO’s founder. I love all things on p. 68 of the June 2018 issue. That science, but having paleoanthropology Correction caption says, “Alcor is the fainter star and astronomy complement each other in In the July issue, between and just below the brighter twin this way is sure to expand the number of we misidenti- suns of Mizar A and B.” In fact, Mizar people following Hal Levison’s mission. fied this galaxy and Alcor are the brighter two of the — Carol A.P. Saucier, Cockeysville, MD in Reader three stars visible in the image, as those Gallery on p. 72. two represent an optical double. The correct desig- — Scott Satko, Lewisville, NC Various viewpoints nation is IC 4617, I believe that Jeff Hester has mischar- not NGC 6207. Astronomy responds acterized C.S. Lewis in the June issue. IC 4617 lies some Yes, the editors apologize for the misla- Having read many of his books, I’m con- 500 million light-

beled caption. vinced that even though he was a scholar years away. POMMIER RODNEY

8 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 QUANTUM GRAVITY QGEVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UNIVERSE THIS MONTH . . .

BREAKFAST TIME GRAVEYARD ORBIT SPACE SHARD HOT BYTES >> Scientists have determined When NASA’s Dawn Searchers have that a collision between spacecraft runs out of found a fragment TRENDING our galaxy and a sausage- fuel by October, it will of asteroid 2018 LA, TO THE TOP shaped dwarf galaxy 8 to remain non-operational, which exploded above 10 billion years ago shaped in orbit around the Botswana June 2 just the modern Milky Way. dwarf planet Ceres. hours after its discovery. N CARLOS MUÑOZ; MUÑOZ; CARLOS N THE SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY (SARAO); TOP FROM LEFT: V. BELOKUROV (CAMBRIDGE, U.K.), BASED ON IMAGE BY ESO/JUA BY IMAGE ON BASED U.K.), (CAMBRIDGE, BELOKUROV V. LEFT: FROM TOP (SARAO); OBSERVATORY ASTRONOMY RADIO AFRICAN SOUTH THE NASA/JPL-CALTECH/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA; PETER JENNISKENS NASA/JPL-CALTECH/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA;

SNAPSHOT South Africa’s Department of MeerKAT used its 64 antennas invisible to visible-light telescopes. Science and Technology’s long- to capture this incredibly detailed MeerKAT researchers now plan awaited MeerKAT radio telescope is radio image, which covers an area of to use the telescope’s unprecedented Super- officially operating after a decade of about 1,000 by 500 light-years. Built image quality to dissect the black construction. During its inaugura- in the Karoo region of the Northern hole’s mysterious properties. The massive tion July 13, MeerKAT showcased a Cape and operated by scientists at telescope is a precursor to the sample of its impressive capabilities: the South African Radio Astronomy Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an a stunning panoramic view of the Observatory, the telescope can pen- international collaboration to build start area surrounding the Milky Way’s etrate the thick clouds of gas and the world’s largest radio telescope. MeerKAT begins central supermassive black hole, dust that encompass the black hole, MeerKAT will be part of the SKA’s with a bang. Sagittarius A*. picking up radio emission that is first phase. — Amber Jorgenson

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 9 EDGE OF SPACE. The Kármán line — the boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space — is about 20 percent ASTRONEWS (12.5 miles [20 km]) closer to Earth’s surface than previously thought, new research says. ALL OBJECTS, EVEN STARS, FALL THE SAME WAY he equivalence principle states that all objects should fall the same way, regardless of mass. The principle has Tbeen tested time and again — and passed with flying colors — on Earth. It’s even been tested on the Moon, when Apollo 15 astronaut David Scott dropped a ham- mer and a feather from the same height. The two objects reached the lunar surface at the same time. Einstein’s theory of general relativity takes this concept a step further. It assumes the strong equivalence principle, which states that the laws of gravity should act the same, regardless of where in space-time they are tested. And now, for the first time, TEST BED. The triple-star system PSR J0337+1715, shown in this artist’s impression, is a unique place to test gravity based on predictions made by Einstein’s theory of relativity. PSR J0337+1715 contains a neutron star (right) an international team of astronomers has orbiting a white dwarf (left); the pair orbits a second, more distant white dwarf (upper left). NRAO/AUI/NSF, S. DAGNELLO confirmed this principle using a unique star system: PSR J0337+1715, which contains a the neutron star, which compacts more dwarf). If this were the case, the neutron rapidly spinning neutron star known as a mass than the Sun into an object about star would wobble slightly over time as it pulsar, and two remnants of Sun-like stars, 12 miles (20 kilometers) across, has enough orbits the more distant white dwarf with its called white dwarfs. Their results were gravity to warp space-time within its own less massive companion. published July 4 in Nature. interior. Despite this, the strong equiva- The researchers have observed the system Located 4,200 light-years away in the lence principle says the neutron star should regularly since its discovery in 2011, using constellation Taurus, PSR J0337+1715’s neu- still “fall” (i.e., orbit) around the distant the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope in tron star closely orbits one of the white white dwarf at the same rate as its nearer West Virginia, the Westerbork Synthesis dwarfs. The two circle each other every 1.6 companion. However, several alternative Radio Telescope in the Netherlands, and the days. The pair also orbits a second white theories state that the strong self-gravity of Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. These dwarf over a much longer period of 327 the neutron star should change its gravita- powerful radio telescopes picked up the days. This system is the perfect test bed for tional properties slightly when compared radio pulses from the pulsar as it spins 366 the strong equivalence principle because with other objects (such as the white times each second. “We can account for every single pulse of the neutron star since we began our observa- MERCURY’S GRAND VIEW tions,” said Anne Archibald of the University of Amsterdam and the Netherlands Institute TWIN PLANETS. Earthbound for Radio Astronomy, and first author of the skywatchers get paper, in a press release. “We can tell its loca- Capella to see Mercury low tion to within a few hundred meters. That is in the southwest after a really precise track of where the neutron AURIGA sunset November 6, when it reaches star has been and where it is going.” PERSEUS greatest elongation. Based on that precise track, the team But have you ever concluded that any change in acceleration wondered what the between the neutron star and the nearer GEMINI Earth night sky would look Venus ARIES like from Mercury? white dwarf is too small to detect. “If there Although the stars is a difference, it is no more than three TAURUS would all look the Aldebaran same, the planets parts in a million,” said Nina Gusinskaia of would appear the University of Amsterdam, a co-author CETUS Betelgeuse strikingly different. on the paper. From the inner world The results are another win for general Procyon on November 6, Venus and Earth would look relativity, which has passed several recent, ORION almost like twins, increasingly rigorous tests. This finding : ROEN KELLY ROEN : dazzling gems set also rules out several alternatives to general 10° against the backdrop relativity, including some versions of string

ASTRONOMY of Taurus the Bull. — Richard Talcott theory, and confirms what scientists cur- From Mercury, Venus would gleam at magnitude –5.3, FAST rently believe about gravity and the way it nearly four times brighter than magnitude –3.9 Earth. FACT acts, both on Earth and throughout the universe. — Alison Klesman

10 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 BIG LITTLE MAGNET. For the first time, astronomers have measured the magnetic field around supernova remnant ASTRONEWS SN 1987A, finding it about 50,000 times weaker than a refrigerator magnet. Lake of liquid QUICK TAKES LUNAR LIFE? water found New research indicates the Moon could have sustained simple life-forms during two on Mars periods in its history: 4 billion Astronomers have announced the and 3.5 billion years ago. discovery of a large underground • lake of liquid water lurking just MOONS GALORE below Mars’ surface. The new- Astronomers have discovered found lake stretches some 12 miles a dozen new moons around (19 kilometers) from end to end. It Jupiter, bringing the planet’s was discovered using a radar instru- roster of satellites to 79. ment called Mars Advanced Radar for • Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding COSMIC CANNIBAL (MARSIS) on board the European DEEP RED SEA. The European Space Agency’s Mars Express orbiter captured this For the first time, astronomers Space Agency’s Mars Express space- image of the planet’s south polar cap and Hellas basin. Scientists recently discovered may have witnessed a young craft, which reached Mars nearly 15 a 12-mile-long subsurface lake in this region. ESA/DLR/FU BERLIN star devouring its own planets. years ago. The results were published • August 3 in the journal Science. which is made of water ice covered Antarctica. In recent years, scientists HOW BIG? “This is just one small study area,” by frozen carbon dioxide. drilled deep beneath the Antarctic Physicists have refined the said lead author Roberto Orosei, who Though researchers have found ice into one of these, the subglacial limits on the size of neutron is also principal investigator of the hints of martian subsurface features Lake Whillans, which has been cut off stars, finding the hyperdense MARSIS experiment, in a press before, data resolution in the past from the surface for millions of years. objects typically have a radius release. “It is an exciting prospect to was too low to confirm their exis- They found bacteria living there in between 7.5 and 8.5 miles think there could be more of these tence. But the team found a new way complete isolation. (12 and 13.5 kilometers). underground pockets of water else- to operate the instrument that avoids However, while the find is tantaliz- • where, yet to be discovered.” processing data on the aging space- ing for astrobiologists eager to find SPACE GERMS Scientists found the lake by send- craft and instead sends observations alien life, it’s also a bit of a tease. It Some bacterial spores are able ing radar pulses from the orbiter to to Earth, resulting in crisper images will be decades before astronauts can to survive on decontaminated penetrate the surface and reflect on smaller scales. visit Mars, and likely much longer spacecraft, thanks to both per- oxide and radiation resistance. back, revealing secrets from just The discovery is especially intrigu- before we can drill a mile beneath the below the surface. They found it ing because similar underground dusty surface. So we may not see any • while surveying the Planum Australe lakes are also found near Earth’s martian fishing expeditions in our RAY GUNS region near Mars’ southern ice cap, poles, particularly in Greenland and lifetime. — Eric Betz Eta Carinae’s two massive stars (90 and 30 solar masses) generate intense stellar winds capable of producing high- First global maps of Pluto and Charon published energy cosmic• rays. COSMIC BILLIARDS A gigantic object roughly twice the size of Earth likely hit Uranus nearly 4 billion years ago, giving the gas giant its dramatic sideways• tilt. LET IT POUR A recent study found that the valley networks carved into Mars likely formed from the flow of rainwater.• MULTIMESSENGER China confirmed plans to launch a satellite that will hunt for gamma rays from gravitational• wave events. TRICKLE TRACKER A new instrument installed on the International Space Station will measure the temperature of plants to monitor their water use and study the impact of droughts. NASA/JHUAPL/SWRI MAJESTIC MOUNTAINS. Prior to New Horizons’ 2015 flyby, planetary scientists could only speculate about the terrain on Pluto • and its largest moon, Charon. The spacecraft revealed mountains, valleys, and much more. This image, taken 15 minutes after New CHAOTIC START Horizons’ closest approach to Pluto, shows a near-sunset view of a stretch of icy mountains on the dwarf planet. Norgay Montes appears New research suggests that in the foreground, with Hillary Montes in the distance. Haze in Pluto’s tenuous atmosphere is also visible. Recently, the first global maps more chaotic protoplanetary of Pluto and Charon based on that data have been published and archived in the Planetary Data System (pds.nasa.gov), available to disks push giant planets out- researchers and the public. The maps took two years to produce as images from the spacecraft’s Long Range Reconnaissance Imager and ward, while calmer disks drag Multispectral Visible Imaging Camera were received, analyzed, and combined into mosaics containing topographic information. — A.K. them inward. — Jake Parks

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 11 STRANGEUNIVERSE BY BOB BERMAN Dark matter I, AND NASA AND I, alters autumn C Unseen forces are at play in the November sky.

or countless millennia, brightest companion galaxies the sky has provoked easily show up through back- questions — and yard telescopes. Our own gal- inspired the hard work axy is likewise escorted like an that yields answers. aircraft carrier, by small galax- What are those moving plan- ies trapped within our gravita-

F STS (MAST), TELESCOPES SPACE FOR ARCHIVE MIKULSKI ets? Why do the stars shine? tional epoxy. Observe Arcturus while you can! Thanks to dark matter, the solar system’s motion Resolving such ancient riddles Three years ago, a research through the galaxy means this bright star will be visible only for another 50,000 years. has let today’s backyard observ- team published a new analysis ers gaze into familiar constella- of the Milky Way’s inner rota- Instead, the Milky Way rotates as Our sister galaxy will be gone. tions where much is known. tion. That’s the section that fills if it were a solid structure, a vinyl Another change: While the But scientific comfort has your southern sky this month. record, so that the same stars strange uniformity to our gal- always been ephemeral. The The study, published in the tend to keep us company. axy’s rotation means that most conception of dark matter in the journal Nature Physics, con- This makes the constellations familiar stars like Vega and the 1930s and dark energy in the cluded that the Sun and Earth far more durable. And on a Dipper gang will keep hanging 1990s meant the universe is couldn’t be zooming along at larger but still visible scale, out near us like adjacent horses dominated by powerful-but- 143 miles (230 km) a second, there’s our Local Group of about on a carousel, Arcturus will be elusive entities. These raise keeping pace with all the galac- four dozen galaxies, blithely gone. It circles our galaxy’s cen- a basic and valid question: tic contents around us, if lots of defying the universe’s expan- ter not by orbiting along the Do these major, mysterious dark matter didn’t pervade our sion. While the universe blows dusty crowded disk, but instead headline-makers show them- galaxy. If the galaxy’s spin were itself apart, we and neighbors traveling perpendicular to it. selves in the visible heavens? dictated solely by the baryonic like M33 are so glued together For the past 500 centuries, it’s Dark energy does not. The matter that comprises stars, that we’ll hang out together been diving down toward us universe may be blowing itself planets, and black holes, it for the entire duration. Dark from the north, from the empty apart at an accelerating tempo, “halo” region. These days it’s but this enigmatic anti-gravity about as close to us as possible, force simply doesn’t manifest Dark matter’s proof sprawls around us a mere 36 light-years away. It itself locally within any particu- on November nights. will keep going until it reaches lar cluster of galaxies, including the limits of naked-eye visibility ours. So the multimillion light- in a mere 50,000 years. When it year range of the naked eye, would rotate much differently matter’s proof sprawls around returns to its present location, even under ideal unpolluted from the way it does. The us on November nights. we will be somewhere else. We rural skies, yields no trace of unseen matter isn’t concen- But one aspect of dark matter will never meet again. dark energy, whatever it might trated, but diffusely scattered as will change our view of the So before we get too carried ultimately prove to be. an immense halo. So the famil- autumn sky. While Andromeda away with either dark matter’s Dark matter is a different iar spiral we imagine ourselves is aligned a mere 13° from the promise of permanence or the story. First recognized by Fritz to be in is like a ship in a bottle. plane of tilt of our galaxy, it lies suggestion of celestial evanes- Zwicky 75 years ago, it is an The Milky Way is best seen at a galactic longitude offset 90° cence, we should keep things in invisible substance that exerts at nightfall, especially during from our core. This is changing. perspective. This strange entity enough gravitational force to November’s more moonless first As the Milky Way spins, our is indeed making many celestial glue together our Local Group half. Without dark matter criti- brisk rotation at 143 miles per favorites stick around. It’s pre- of galaxies despite each mem- cally influencing the way we second (230 km/s) will whirl us serving the constellations. But ber’s high speed. Without its spin, stars closer to the center around to the other side of our it can’t promise us the stars. pull, Andromeda wouldn’t con- — in the direction of Sagittarius galaxy in about 100 million tinue to zoom in our direction — would orbit faster than we do. years. Then the thick central Join me and Pulse of the Planet’s on a collision course at 70 miles Conversely, stars farther away, bulge will block Andromeda Jim Metzner in my new podcast, Astounding Universe, at (113 kilometers) per second. like those in Orion now rising by behind opaque clouds of carbon http://astoundinguniverse.com. Seen as a naked-eye smudge, its 10 P.M., would get left behind. dust for about 15 million years.

BROWSE THE “STRANGE UNIVERSE” ARCHIVE AT www.Astronomy.com/Berman.

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WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 13 RENDEZVOUS WITH RYUGU. On June 27, the Japanese Hayabusa2 spacecraft arrived at asteroid Ryugu, ASTRONEWS where it will eventually collect a sample and return it to Earth. Astronomers catch ghost particle from distant galaxy Neutrinos rarely interact with nor- in such a way that the jet points mal matter. They are notoriously directly at Earth. COSMIC PARTICLE GUN. On July 12, hard to detect, much less associate Less than a minute after the scientists announced the detection of a with their source. On July 12, the detection, IceCube sent out a neutrino (denoted by ν) spewed by the IceCube Collaboration announced worldwide alert. Several facilities supermassive black hole in a distant that the first confirmed extragalac- followed it up, among them the galaxy. Researchers believe fast- tic neutrino had been traced to its Major Atmospheric Gamma moving material in one of the black hole’s jets generated the particle. origin, in the central supermassive Imaging Cherenkov Telescope in Follow-up observations confirmed black hole of a galaxy 3.7 billion the Canary Islands and NASA’s Neil the same galaxy had sent out a light-years away in the constellation Gehrels Swift Observatory, Fermi burst of high-energy gamma rays Orion. The finding was published Gamma-ray Space Telescope, and (γ) at the same time. ICECUBE/NASA the same day in the journal Science. Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope IceCube-170922A, as the neu- Array. These observations con- trino is called, struck the Antarctic firmed that the neutrino strike ice September 22, 2017, generating coincided with a burst of gamma a particle called a muon in a flash rays from the same galaxy, clinch- of blue light. That event was picked ing the case for the blazar as the up by several of IceCube’s 5,160 particle’s origin. detectors embedded beneath the Tracing IceCube-170922A to its ice. IceCube-170922A was about source is a twofold achievement. 300 million times more energetic Not only is it the first time a neu- than neutrinos our Sun produces. trino has been tracked to a specific Its trajectory allowed scientists to extragalactic source, it also con- trace it back to TXS 0506+056 — a firms blazars as high-energy neu- blazar, or accreting supermassive trino generators. Combing through black hole, in a distant galaxy. As it nearly 10 years of prior data, pulls matter in, the black hole researchers led by scientists from shoots out powerful jets; blazars the Technical University of Munich are a class of galaxies that are tilted and the European Southern

Observatory found that TXS “This identification launches the 0506+056 emitted high levels of new field of high-energy neutrino gamma rays between September astronomy, which we expect will 2014 and March 2015. This period yield exciting breakthroughs in our overlaps with other neutrino understanding of the universe and detections made by IceCube, com- fundamental physics, including ing from the same direction. how and where these ultra-high- Archived data also show an energy particles are produced,” increase in radio emissions from said Doug Cowen of Penn State the blazar in the 18 months prior University, a founding member of to IceCube-170922A’s detection. IceCube Collaboration as well as a This could indicate an increase in co-author of the paper, in a press FOLLOW THE RAINBOW. When neutrino IceCube-170922A sparked the creation jet activity, which astronomers release. “For 20 years, one of our of a muon, several of IceCube’s subsurface detectors recorded the event. This figure believe accelerates particles to dreams as a collaboration was to shows the track of the resulting muon as seen by the detectors, each of which is high energies to create the cosmic identify the sources of high-energy denoted by a sphere. The color gradient, from red to green and blue, shows the rays that result in high-energy cosmic neutrinos, and it looks like time of the signal’s arrival. ICECUBE COLLABORATION neutrino emission. we’ve finally done it!” — A.K.

SUPER SHARP. The Multi Unit Spectroscopic VLT challenges Hubble for image quality Explorer (MUSE) instrument on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in northern Chile has just unveiled the first images with

OLLEFSON (UC BERKELEY) its new adaptive optics unit, the Ground Atmospheric Layer Adaptive Corrector for Spectroscopic Imaging. Adaptive optics systems compensate for the

WONG AND J. T WONG AND J. fuzziness that occurs when imaging through Earth’s turbulent atmosphere in real time, allowing ground- based telescopes to create crisper images. These

ESA, AND M.H. AND M.H. ESA, images of Neptune show the results achievable with MUSE’s adaptive optics system (left), compared with the image quality from the Hubble Space Telescope (right) from above our atmosphere. Using sophisticated adaptive optics techniques, it is now possible to achieve from the ground images on par with — and at times better than — Hubble at visible

ESO/P. WEILBACHER WEILBACHER (AIP)/NASA, ESO/P. wavelengths over small fields of view. — A.K.

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WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 15 WORKING MODEL. A final data release from the Planck mission confirms the current standard cosmological model ASTRONEWS provides an excellent description of the universe’s matter and energy content. ‘Oumuamua is likely a comet, not an asteroid Ever since astronomers first spotted 1I/2017 U1 ‘Oumuamua zipping through the solar system in October 2017, the peculiar object has been the target of intense scrutiny. And recently, researchers showed the object is slowly and steadily accelerating away from the Sun, sug- gesting that ‘Oumuamua is likely a comet, rather than an asteroid as previously thought. “Our high-precision measurements of ‘Oumuamua’s position revealed that there was something affecting its motion other than the gravitational forces of the Sun and planets,” team lead Marco Micheli of the European Space Agency said in a press release. The team’s findings were published June 27 in Nature. The researchers explored a number of possible scenarios in an attempt to explain ‘Oumuamua’s surprising speed. After consider- ing all possibilities — such as pressure from the photons in sunlight, frictionlike forces, and mag- netic interactions with the solar wind — the

team concluded the most likely explanation is KOMMESSER M. ESO, NASA, ESA/HUBBLE, that ‘Oumuamua is venting gas and dust from SPEED BOOST. New research suggests the first known interstellar interloper, ‘Oumuamua (shown in this artist’s its surface in a process called outgassing, which concept), is accelerating away from the Sun faster than expected, thanks to its venting of gas. almost exclusively occurs in icy comets, not rocky asteroids. boost in speed, the researchers say. interstellar nomad may remain a mystery,” said As the Sun sublimates ices trapped just Although the suspected outgassing tells us co-author Olivier Hainaut of the European below ‘Oumuamua’s surface, turning the solids a bit about the composition of ‘Oumuamua, it Southern Observatory. “’Oumuamua’s recently directly into gas, the process generates a tiny unfortunately makes determining the origin detected gain in speed makes it more difficult amount of thrust. Though this thrust is small, it of this puzzling object that much more chal- to be able to trace the path it took from its is enough to account for ‘Oumuamua’s observed lenging. “The true nature of this enigmatic extrasolar home star.” — J.P.

The number of times Apollo 12 was struck by 2 lightning during launch November 14, 1969. WHAT’S THE SUN MADE OF?

Helium 27.1%

Oxygen 0.97% Carbon 0.40% HANSUELI KRAPF/CREATIVE COMMONS/NASA/JPL-CALTECH/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA KRAPF/CREATIVE HANSUELI

Earth and Ceres: Striking similarities Hydrogen 71.0% TERRESTRIAL ANALOGS. Situated in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, Ceres is a small, dark dwarf planet with bitterly cold temperatures and Silicon Magnesium Sulphur no atmosphere. But NASA’s Dawn spacecraft, which has been orbiting the world 0.099% 0.076% 0.040%

since 2015, has revealed that despite its differences from Earth, Ceres also shows KELLY ROEN : remarkably similar features. The left side of this image shows the dome of Hlíðarfjall, an Icelandic mountain, with a digital projection of Ceres’ Ahuna Mons, Nitrogen Neon Iron

a cryovolcano that spews cold water and mud instead of lava, on the right. 0.096% 0.058% 0.014% ASTRONOMY The structures are roughly the same height and width, and both are made up of fine-grained, loose material. Other similarities between Earth and Ceres include ELEMENTARY. Like every other normal star, our Sun is landslide remnants, bright surface minerals left over from saltwater evaporation, mainly hydrogen and helium. But which elements are next Solar FAST and pingos — large domes that form when subsurface ice pushes upward beneath most abundant? Here are the top 10 that make up our physicists FACT looser soil. The worlds are far from twins, but forming from similar materials has daytime star, arranged by the percentage each has of have cataloged resulted in some uncanny resemblances. — A.J. the Sun’s total mass. — Michael E. Bakich 67 elements in the Sun so far.

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E PLURIBUS UNUM. An array of 10 modest telescopes will make up the Magdalena Ridge Observatory ASTRONEWS Interferometer, which will achieve the resolution of a single 347-meter telescope. Andromeda ate the Milky Way’s sibling The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is the largest member of the Milky Way’s gang of galactic neighbors, M32p known as the Local Group. With around a trillion Suns’ worth of M31 mass, Andromeda’s gravitational influence is a force to be reck- oned with. And, according to new research, no galaxy knows this bet- ter than M32, an oddball satellite galaxy now orbiting Andromeda. In a study published July 23 in Nature Astronomy, researchers used cosmological simulations of galaxy M31 formation to show that about ~ 2 billion 2 billion years ago, the Andromeda years ago Galaxy cannibalized what was once M31 now one of the largest galaxies in the M32

Local Group, turning it into the AAS/IOP M32: OF HALO STELLAR WANG; -HAO strange compact elliptical galaxy now known as M32. The massive collision stripped M32’s progenitor INCOMING! The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) shredded galaxy (dubbed M32p) of most of the galaxy M32p some 2 billion years ago. The collision its mass — taking it from a hefty ultimately left a stripped galactic core known as M32, as 25 billion solar masses to just a few well as a giant halo of metal-rich, intermediate-age stars. M32p now

billion solar masses. WEI OF COURTESY M31: D’SOUZA; R. “It was shocking to realize that the Milky Way had a large sibling, intermediate-age stars in its stellar Andromeda possesses a thickened mergers can drive the growth of and we never knew about it,” said halo, which have compositions sim- disk and experienced a significant galaxies throughout the universe. co-author Eric Bell, an astronomer ilar to those in M32. Andromeda’s burst in star formation about 2 bil- And considering that Andromeda from the University of Michigan, in particular population of halo stars lion years ago, when about 20 per- is currently on a collision course a press release. would not be the case if the galaxy cent of its stars were born. with the Milky Way, which will lead According to the researchers, underwent sporadic bursts of star By applying the same technique to a merger between the two this massive merger with M32p formation during multiple small used in this study to other galaxies in about 4 billion years, helps explain why Andromeda mergers. Furthermore, a single galaxies, the researchers hope to the more we know about such has a massive population of large collision would explain why better understand how various mergers, the better. — J.P.

The dayside temperature (in degrees Celsius) of KELT-9b, 4,300 the hottest known exoplanet. Massive organic molecules found in Enceladus’ plumes The Cassini spacecraft may be 300-mile-wide (500 kilometers) gone, but its data continue to world. CDA tasted the plume to reveal new details of the Saturn determine its composition, while system. One is the discovery of INMS measured the impacts of complex, carbon-rich organic molecules against its sensor molecules in the plumes that spew to derive their mass. About 3 per- from the southern hemisphere of cent of the molecules sampled Saturn’s icy moon Enceladus. approached the limits of the sen- “It is the first-ever detection of sor’s detection range at 200 atomic complex organics coming from an mass units — more than 10 times

extraterrestrial water-world,” Frank heavier than methane. INSTITUTE SCIENCE NASA/JPL/SPACE Postberg of the University of The presence of such large, SPRINKLER SYSTEM. Enceladus’ south pole spews water ice and other molecules Heidelberg, Germany, the first complex organic molecules is from fissures known as tiger stripes. NASA’s Cassini spacecraft spotted complex author of the discovery paper something researchers would organic molecules as it sampled the plume, shown here in false color. Such molecules published June 27 in Nature, said expect to see if life was present. bolster the case for Enceladus as a hospitable home for life in the solar system. in a press release. Furthermore, Cassini detected Before its mission ended in molecular hydrogen in the plume Southwest Research Institute this moon is the only body besides September 2017, Cassini used its during a 2015 flyby. “Hydrogen pro- (SwRI), a co-author of the paper. Earth known to simultaneously Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA) and vides a source of chemical energy Though these findings are far satisfy all of the basic requirements Ion and Neutral Mass Spectrometer supporting microbes that live in from evidence of actual life, “with for life as we know it,” said SwRI’s (INMS) instruments to sample the the Earth’s oceans near hydrother- complex organic molecules ema- Christopher Glein. plume emanating from the mal vents,” said Hunter Waite of nating from its liquid water ocean, — Nathaniel Scharping, A.K.

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WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 19 Voyage to a world

Color explodes from Mercury’s surface in this enhanced-color mosaic taken through several filters. The yellow and orange hues signify relatively young plains likely formed when fluid lavas erupted from volcanoes. Medium- and dark-blue regions are older terrain, while the light-blue and white streaks represent fresh material excavated from relatively recent impacts. ALL IMAGES, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED: NASA/JHUAPL/CIW

20 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 A world of both fire and ice, Mercury excites and confounds scientists. The BepiColombo probe aims to make sense of this mysterious world. of extremesby Ben Evans Mercury is a land of contrasts. The solar system’s smallest planet boasts the largest core relative to its size. Temperatures at noon can soar as high as 800 degrees Fahrenheit (425 degrees Celsius) — hot enough to melt lead — but dip as low as –290 F (–180 C) before dawn. Mercury resides nearest the Sun, and it has the most eccentric orbit. At its closest, the planet lies only 29 mil- lion miles (46 million kilometers) from the Sun — less than one-third Earth’s distance — but swings out as far as 43 million miles (70 million km). Its rapid movement across our sky earned it a reputation among ancient skywatchers as the fleet-footed messenger of the gods: Italian scientist Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo helped develop a technique for sending a space Hermes to the Greeks and Mercury to the Romans. probe to Mercury and having it execute multiple Even though Mercury lies tantalizingly close to flybys. The European Space Agency honored Earth, it is frustratingly hard to get to. Only two space- his contributions by naming the BepiColombo craft have ever visited this barren world. But that is spacecraft after him. ESA set to change October 19, when the international BepiColombo spacecraft begins a decade-long odyssey Before the Space Age, telescopic observa- to unlock the secrets of a planet that seems to defy tions indicated that Mercury was tidally common sense. locked to the Sun, rotating once for each The mission’s namesake — Italian scientist, math- 88-day orbit and thus perpetually show- ematician, and engineer Giuseppe “Bepi” Colombo ing the same hemisphere to its parent (1920–1984) — was instrumental in devising a means to star. But in the 1960s, radar measure- deliver a spacecraft from Earth, via Venus, to Mercury. ments pegged its actual rotation at Scientists already knew that a planet’s gravitational field 58.6 days, two-thirds of its orbital period. could bend the trajectory of a passing spacecraft and In essence, the planet spins about its axis Menable it to rendezvous with another celestial body. In three times for every two solar orbits. the early 1970s, Colombo showed that if a spacecraft As Colombo first described, this encountered Mercury, it would end up with a period means a day on Mercury lasts twice as almost twice that of the planet’s orbital long as its year. Day and night each last period. He suggested that a pre- a mercurian year apiece, with new cisely targeted flyby would sunrises arriving every 176 days present a possibility for — the same as the six-month an economical second interval between Mariner encounter. 10 flybys. So, the Sun NASA confirmed illuminated the same the idea and used it to hemisphere of send the Mariner 10 Mercury during all spacecraft past the three encounters, innermost planet and the spacecraft three times. The was able to map only probe encountered about 45 percent of Mercury in March the planet’s surface. 1974, September 1974, and March 1975. Its photographs gave Although Mercury appears humanity its first close-up mostly gray to the human eye, scientists often enhance the colors views of the world, and the in images to heighten differences in last ones we would see for chemical, physical, and mineralogical a generation. properties among surface rocks. The circular tan feature at upper right is the giant Caloris Sadly, Mariner 10 provided only a partial view Basin. The center of this hemispheric view lies because of a quirk in Mercury’s orbital parameters. at 0° latitude and 140° longitude.

22 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 Upper left: Explosive eruptions driven by superheated volcanic gases left behind these bright yellow deposits in Mercury’s southern hemisphere. This cluster of volcanic vents ranks among the largest on Mercury.

Lower left: When planetary scientists first saw this oddly bumpy and grooved landscape, they informally dubbed it “weird terrain.” The region formed when seismic waves from the mammoth impact that created the Caloris Basin converged on the planet’s opposite side.

Right: Bright blue depressions litter the floor and mountain peaks in the Raditladi impact basin. These shallow “hollows” typically have smooth floors unmarked by impact craters, suggesting that they are among Mercury’s youngest features. Scientists created this five-image mosaic by merging high-resolution black-and-white photos with a lower-resolution image in enhanced color.

A STRANGE, OLD WORLD craters that occur in chains and Mariner 10 revealed an ancient terrain of clusters, covering the highlands. rugged highlands and smooth lowlands, In contrast, the sparsely cratered strikingly reminiscent of our Moon. Yet lowlands formed near the end of the the similarities aren’t even skin deep. Late Heavy Bombardment, about Mercury’s craters differ markedly from 3.8 billion years ago. Mariner 10 data lunar ones, because their impact ejecta suggested that the lowlands formed blankets a smaller area, partly due to either from volcanic activity or from the the planet’s much stronger gravity. The molten material splashed onto the sur- highland regions are less saturated with face after large impacts. Although the craters; instead they are mixed with roll- spacecraft found no obvious smoking ing “intercrater plains” that constitute gun for volcanism — such as lava one of the oldest-known surfaces on the flows, volcanic domes, or volcanic terrestrial planets. cones — it did uncover strong cir- The plains were laid down some cumstantial evidence. 4.2 billion years ago during the Late Mariner 10’s successor, NASA’s Heavy Bombardment, when remnants MESSENGER spacecraft, provided the from the solar system’s birth rained proof. During its initial flyby in January down on the infant planets. Mercury was 2008, the probe revealed a fractured only a few hundred million years old, region of ridges and furrows within the and the plains obliterated older craters, huge Caloris Basin. MESSENGER would buried several large basins, and carved go on to fly past Mercury twice more, in many of the pits and bowls seen today. October 2008 and September 2009, and The plains boast groups of secondary then orbit the inner world for four years The raven-colored rim of Poe Crater stands out from the smooth volcanic plains inside Caloris Basin. Note the hundreds of tiny blue-white hollows that dot the rim of this 48-mile-wide (77 km) crater.

As Mercury’s interior cooled, the planet’s radius shrank by up to 4 miles (7 km). The contraction buckled the surface and left behind steep cliffs, including Carnegie Rupes, seen here cutting through starting in March 2011. While in orbit, Duccio Crater. The colors in this perspective view highlight elevation changes, with red indicating the highest terrain and blue the lowest. the spacecraft discovered at least nine overlapping volcanic vents, each up to 5 miles (8 km) across and a billion years old, near Caloris’ southwestern rim. Mercury Planetary Orbiter Elsewhere on Mercury, MESSENGER uncovered residue from more than 50 ancient pyroclastic flows — violent outbursts of hot rock and gas — tracing SIMBIO-SYS back to low-profile shield volcanoes, (spectrometer) mainly within impact craters. Caloris itself is an impressive relic from Mercury’s tumultuous early days. SERENA The Sun illuminated only half the basin during Mariner 10’s visits, so it was left to MESSENGER to fully reveal its struc- ture. Caloris spans 960 miles (1,550 km),

MIXS placing it among the largest impact fea- MERTIS tures in the solar system, and it is ringed by a forbidding chain of mountains that SERENA SIMBIO-SYS rises 1.2 miles (2 km) above the sur- (high-resolution BELA camera) roundings. Beyond its walls, ejecta radi- SIMBIO-SYS Instruments inside (stereo camera) the spacecraft: ate in meandering ridges and grooves for ISA more than 600 miles (1,000 km). The MORE MGNS impact that created Caloris was so glob- ally cataclysmic that strong seismic waves pulsed through Mercury’s interior and MPO-MAG fragmented the landscape on the planet’s SIXS opposite side, leaving a region of jumbled rocks, hills, and furrows that some scien- tists have dubbed “weird terrain.” Despite Caloris’ huge dimensions, Mercury itself is quite small — just 3,032 miles (4,879 km) in diameter. The PHEBUS planet’s small size and high temperature led mid-20th-century astronomers to

24 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 suspect it could not retain an atmo- sphere. But Mercury is full of surprises. Mariner 10 discovered a thin layer of loosely bound atoms, known as an exo- sphere, albeit with a surface pressure tril- lions of times less than that at sea level on Earth. It contains hydrogen and helium atoms captured from the solar wind — the stream of charged particles emanat- ing from the Sun — together with oxygen atoms liberated from the surface by micrometeoroid impacts. Spectroscopic observations also revealed sodium, potas- sium, calcium, magnesium, and silicon. Caloris and the weird terrain appear to be key sources of sodium and potassium, indicating that impacts can release gases from below the surface. DIGGING DEEPER Farther down, the planet’s interior remains a puzzle. Before Mariner 10, scientists assumed Mercury had a solid interior that produced no intrinsic mag- netic field. They did realize, however, that the planet has an inordinately high density. Overall, Mercury’s density aver- ages 5.4 times that of water, close to those of the much larger Earth (5.5 times water) and Venus (5.2 times water). But the gravity of these bigger worlds crushes their interiors to far higher densities than they would have otherwise. Caloris Basin spans about 960 miles (1,550 kilometers) and ranks among the oldest and largest impact features in the solar system. Lava eventually flooded the floor to a depth of about 1.6 to 2.2 miles The only reasonable way to explain (2.5 to 3.5 km). The lava appears orange in this enhanced-color mosaic; more recent impact craters Mercury’s high density is with the pres- exposed darker material (blue) from below. ence of heavy elements — some 70 per- cent iron and nickel overall — with most of them concentrated in the planet’s giant rotational axis by 20 percent of Mercury’s temperatures can drop as low as core. This makes Mercury by far the radius and suggested that the planet pos- –370 F (–225 C). In November 2012, most iron-rich planet in the solar system. sesses a partially molten outer core that MESSENGER identified up to 1 trillion Scientists think the winding cliffs that surrounds a solid inner core. tons of water ice near the poles — reach up to a mile high and run for Astronomers still aren’t sure what enough to encase Washington, D.C., in hundreds of miles formed when the keeps the core in an electrically conduc- a frozen block 2.5 miles (4 km) deep. surface buckled as the interior cooled tive, semi-liquid state. Perhaps it is the and contracted. Despite this shrinkage, slow decay of the radioactive elements BEPICOLOMBO MESSENGER revealed that Mercury’s Mercury was born with. The Sun’s grav- COMES ON THE SCENE core stretches to within 250 miles ity, which raises tides as the planet fol- Despite Mariner 10’s and MESSENGER’s (400 km) of its surface. lows its eccentric orbit, could flex the incredible discoveries, scientists still have Scientists also were surprised when interior and play a contributing role. many questions about this enigmatic Mariner 10 discovered a magnetic field Despite this internal heat and the world. That’s where BepiColombo comes together with a small magnetosphere that blazing Sun above, Mercury also appears in. The European Space Agency (ESA) weakly deflects the solar wind around to be a land of ice. In the 1990s, ground- initially envisioned three spacecraft for the planet. A solid, slowly rotating planet based radar observations revealed a this ambitious venture: The Mercury shouldn’t be able to generate the strong number of bright spots within 6.5° of Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and Mercury internal dynamo needed to create an the planet’s north and south poles. Many Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) would intrinsic field, even one that’s just 1 per- scientists interpreted these findings as work in tandem to unlock Mercury’s cent as strong as Earth’s. MESSENGER evidence for ice deposits on the floors mysteries from above, and the Mercury showed the field is offset along the of permanently shadowed craters, where Surface Element (MSE) would explore the

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 25 MESSENGER took this mosaic in October 2008, Mercury moments after it flew past Mercury for the second Beneath two planets’ skin time. The probe captured the first image (at left) nine minutes after closest approach; subsequent Mercury’s interior differs significantly from Crust images came with the probe farther away (and Earth’s. The inner world’s gigantic core starts Mantle thus show more area) and the Sun higher in the just 250 miles (400 kilometers) below the Solid iron-sulide layer planet’s sky. This equatorial swath spans about surface and is surrounded by a relatively thin 1,200 miles (1,950 km). mantle and crust. Most of Earth’s volume Liquid middle core resides in its mantle. The liquid parts of both Solid inner core planets’ cores help generate their magnetic fields. ASTRONOMY: ROEN KELLY Earth

Crust study the role of the solar wind in weath- Upper mantle Lower mantle ering the planet’s surface. Liquid outer core MPO carries two instruments to help Solid inner core understand why Mercury has so much iron and what this reveals about its evo- lutionary history. The Italian Spring Accelerometer (ISA) and Mercury Orbiter Radioscience Experiment (MORE) will investigate the planet’s global gravitational field to understand surface. ESA The Bepi- the size and nature of the core as well as planned to Colombo Laser the structure of the mantle and crust. land the MSE Altimeter (BELA) MPO also houses one-half of the near the day-night and the Spectrometers and Mercury Magnetometer (MERMAG) terminator and have it Imagers for MPO BepiColombo that will study the magnetic field for survive for about a week in the Integrated Observatory System (SIMBIO- clues to the dynamo lurking inside. harsh environment. The lander would SYS) will create digital terrain models to MPO carries a 24.6-foot-long carry heat-flow sensors, a spectrometer, quantitatively map Mercury’s geology, (7.5 meters) solar array with integrated a magnetometer, a seismometer, a soil- elemental composition, and surface age. optical reflectors designed to keep the penetrating device, and a tiny rover. Together with the Mercury Radiometer spacecraft at a temperature below 390 F Unfortunately, budget considerations and Thermal Infrared Spectrometer (200 C). When in orbit around Mercury, forced ESA to abandon the lander in (MERTIS), Mercury Gamma-Ray and the array must continuously rotate to bal- November 2003. “The decision to cancel Neutron Spectrometer (MGNS), and ance MPO’s power requirements with the the lander was a loss for the mission,” Mercury Imaging X-Ray Spectrometer need to keep the probe says BepiColombo project scientist (MIXS), they will identify key rock- under its redline tem- PWI Johannes Benkhoff. “What we miss is a forming minerals, measure global surface perature. Meanwhile, so-called ‘ground truth.’ We can do many temperatures, and address competing a radiator angled toward the planet will things remotely with our instruments, theories of the planet’s origin and evolu- reflect the intense infrared radiation which are already on the other spacecraft, tion. These tools also will search for addi- coming from Mercury’s searing surface. but the measurements of a lander would tional ice deposits and other volatile “The solar arrays will be exposed to have been used to calibrate them, and substances at high latitudes as well as pro- high-frequency, high-intensity ultraviolet that can unfortunately not be recovered.” vide insights into the role of volcanism. radiation, combined with high tempera- The rest of the mission continued, To analyze the composition, structure, tures, which was discovered to induce an however. ESA led the development of the and formation of Mercury’s exosphere, unexpectedly fast degradation in solar- 2,535-pound (1,150 kilograms) MPO MPO provides BepiColombo’s Probing cell performance,” explains BepiColombo spacecraft. The probe’s 11 instruments of Hermean Exosphere by Ultraviolet project manager Ulrich Reininghaus. were fabricated by 35 scientific and Spectroscopy (PHEBUS) and Search for “This was resolved by a complex method industrial teams in Switzerland, Exosphere Refilling and Emitted Neutral of continuous solar array steering con- Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Abundances (SERENA) instruments. trol, in order to maintain the temperature Russia, Finland, Sweden, Austria, Meanwhile, the Solar Intensity X-Ray always below an allowed maximum, and France, and the United States. and Particles Spectrometer (SIXS) will by a specific redesign of the solar cells.”

26 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 JAPAN LENDS A HAND The mission drew more international mercurian surface; the Mercury Plasma hold regular joint meetings. Some of our collaboration when the Japan Aerospace Particle Experiment (MPPE), to scrutinize science goals can only be reached if we Exploration Agency (JAXA) joined the the planet’s magnetic field and its interac- work closely together.” project. JAXA developed the 630-pound tion with particles in the solar wind and The final element of the spacecraft is (285 kg) MMO spacecraft. Earlier this particles coming from Mercury; and the the Mercury Transport Module (MTM). year, the space agency renamed the craft Plasma Wave It holds four British-built xenon-ion PWI Mio, which comes from a Japanese word Investigation (PWI), engines, 24 chemical thrusters, and two meaning “waterway” or “fairway.” to study the planet’s large solar arrays that will provide elec- Mio carries five science instruments, electric and magnetic fields as well as look trical power to keep MPO and Mio alive including the second half of MERMAG. for evidence of aurorae and radiation belts. during their seven-year journey to the Its other tools are the Mercury Sodium “The collaboration with our Japanese Sun’s closest planet. “Solar electric pro- Atmosphere Spectral Imager (MSASI), to colleagues goes very well; we almost feel pulsion [SEP] allows very significant study the origin and extent of sodium in as one team,” says Reininghaus. “However, autonomous capabilities for readjusting the exosphere; the Mercury Dust Monitor the two spacecraft were designed and built the interplanetary trajectory, avoiding (MDM), to explore space dust in the plan- totally independently, although we had to altogether large midcourse maneuvers,” et’s vicinity and how it weathers the agree on interfaces. In the science area, we says Reininghaus. Mio (Mercury MMO-MAG MPPE Mio’s five instruments will focus on Magnetospheric MPPE Mercury’s magnetic field and the solar wind environment. Several Orbiter) of the instruments have multiple components. For example, the Mercury MPPE Plasma Particle Experiment (MPPE) MPPE has six sensors, one of which has two components. (See text above for MPPE instrument descriptions.) ASTRONOMY: ROEN KELLY, AFTER ESA

MSASI PWI MDM MMO-MAG

MPPE MPPE MPPE

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 27 PWI Left: Despite its proximity to the Sun, Mercury boasts some of the coldest spots in the solar system. The colors in this view of Mercury’s south pole show the fraction of time that specific regions lie in sunlight. The black areas are those in permanent shadow, the largest of which is the crater Chao Meng-Fu. MESSENGER found solid evidence that abundant water ice exists in this crater.

Below: This enhanced-color view shows the half of Mercury centered at 0° latitude and 320° longitude. The bright bluish rays that drape across this hemisphere stretch more than 600 miles (1,000 km) and emanate from the relatively fresh impact crater Hokusai at upper right.

Although the solar electric thrusters 60 percent propulsive provide low thrust, they operate over a greater than intervention long time, delivering what rocket scien- Earth’s, from the tists call high impulse. In fact, the demanding spacecraft. thrusters will accumulate the greatest a substantial “These flybys total impulse ever achieved by a space velocity depend on the mission. This posed considerable chal- change and [arrangement] lenges during preflight testing. “[We correspondingly of the planets, resolved this through] multiple test cam- high fuel and that is the paigns in different chambers and with consumption. reason for the long different test articles, combined with a To overcome these duration,” says sophisticated modeling approach that obstacles, BepiColombo ini- Benkhoff. “The flybys pro- allowed us to accurately predict end- tially will enter an orbit similar to vide almost half of the needed energy of-life performance of the thrusters,” Earth’s, using its high-impulse, low- to go to Mercury. The SEP engine will be explains Benkhoff. thrust xenon-ion engines to slowly used for about 50 percent of the time.” decelerate against solar gravity and Six flybys of Mercury between GETTING THERE adjust its orbital plane. “Solar electric October 2021 and January 2025 will slow Like Mariner 10 and MESSENGER propulsion was the only option to reach BepiColombo’s inbound trajectory until before it, BepiColombo will take a circu- Mercury,” says Benkhoff. “In principle, its orbit nearly matches that of the planet. itous route to reach Mercury. The space- one can fly a mission to Mercury with Finally, in December 2025, Mercury will craft will launch from Kourou, French chemical propulsion, but it all depends weakly capture the spacecraft into a Guiana, atop a giant Ariane 5 rocket, on the thrust-to-mass ratio. SEP is about polar orbit that comes within 420 miles perhaps as early as October 19 (the first eight times more efficient than chemical (675 km) of the planet’s surface and chance during a six-week launch win- fuel. Thus, for BepiColombo, we would swings out to 110,600 miles (178,000 km). dow). It will depart Earth 7,770 mph have needed at least 2 tons more mass to This so-called weak-stability-boundary (12,510 km/h) faster than the escape accommodate this.” technique adds flexibility compared with velocity from our planet. Although The spacecraft will complete 1.5 cir- traditional approaches, where a single impressive by many standards, this speed cuits of the Sun, returning to Earth in engine firing typically brings a spacecraft is problematic for a spacecraft heading April 2020 to pick up a gravitational into orbit. BepiColombo’s chemical directly into the Sun’s powerful gravita- boost. This will propel it to Venus for thrusters will stabilize the orbit gradually tional field. In fact, the energy needed to rendezvous in October 2020 and August and, after traveling 5.5 billion miles get to Mercury is larger than it would be 2021, which will reduce BepiColombo’s (8.9 billion km), the mission will at last to reach Pluto and leave the solar system. perihelion to about the same distance as be underway. Moreover, Mercury’s orbital velocity Mercury. Critically, this ingenious use After the MTM separates from the of 105,900 mph (170,500 km/h) is of gravitational fields requires little probes, Japan’s Mio will be spring-ejected

Launch: Earth flyby: First Second First Second On the road to October 19, 2018 April 6, 2020 Venus flyby: Venus flyby: Mercury flyby: Mercury flyby: October 12, 2020 August 11, 2021 October 2, 2021 June 23, 2022 Mission planners expect to launch BepiColombo as early as October 19, 2018. As long as Mercury the mission commences by November 29, subsequent timeline dates will remain the same. Molten lava once covered Mercury’s vast northern volcanic plains. Lava nearly filled the 181-mile-wide (291 km) Mendelssohn impact basin, which lies at the lower right of this enhanced-color image. As the lava cooled, it formed large ridges that appear particularly prominent at bottom left. Meanwhile, the bright orange region near the scene’s top shows the location of a volcanic vent that unleashed one of the planet’s largest pyroclastic flows.

from its protective sunshield and part least-known worlds in the solar system. gravitational field in detail and provide a company with Europe’s MPO. Three MPO will occupy a looping, 2.3-hour orbit rigorous test of Albert Einstein’s general months later, the pair will commence at a distance that ranges from 300 miles theory of relativity. autonomous operations, the former con- (480 km) to 930 miles (1,500 km); Mio Although the spacecraft’s roundabout trolled from the Usuda Deep Space will follow a highly elliptical path that route to Mercury is hardly in keeping Centre in Nagano, Japan, and the latter will carry it as close to Mercury’s surface with the fleet-footed nature of the plan- from the Cebreros ground station near as 365 miles (590 km) and as far away et’s mythological namesake, the mission Madrid, Spain. “However, from the as 7,230 miles (11,640 km) during a and the god do share some similarities. standpoint of science operations, coordi- 9.3-hour orbit. Both will deliver an abundance of learn- nation planning will be maintained Scientists expect the baseline mission ing, and both will accomplish their goals among the principal investigators of the to last until May 2027, but there’s a good through ingenuity, an element of trick- two spacecraft, and a certain amount of chance ESA will grant a one-year exten- ery, and a pinch or two of old-fashioned joint observations will certainly take sion. As a bonus, BepiColombo will good fortune. place,” explains Reininghaus. make precise measurements of Mercury’s All told, the two spacecraft will bring orbital parameters. Because the planet British spaceflight writer Ben Evans authored about 275 pounds (125 kg) of scientific lies so close to the Sun, this should the multivolume History of Human Space instruments to bear upon one of the allow astronomers to chart our star’s Exploration, published by Springer-Praxis.

Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Arrival at Mercury: End of nominal End of extended Mercury flyby: Mercury flyby: Mercury flyby: Mercury flyby: December 5, 2025 mission: mission? June 20, 2023 September 5, 2024 December 2, 2024 January 5, 2025 May 1, 2027 May 1, 2028

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 29 Although best y interest in astronomy by Neil Ardley, Astronomy by Iain really took flight at age Nicolson, and Travellers in Space and Time known for planetary 9 or 10. While looking by Sir Patrick Moore, all of which I still photography, the through books in my own. Another book from around this time primary school library, that I also loved was The Universe From author is equally adept I became fascinated by Your Backyard by current Astronomy at capturing comets, Mthe amazing pictures of far-off worlds and Editor David J. Eicher. It included many galaxies that filled the pages. drawings of nebulae and galaxies as they stars, and galaxies. Neither of my parents was interested in appeared through amateur telescopes. text and images by astronomy. One of my uncles, however, Soon after finishing that book, I got my Damian Peach owned a telescope, and another was a suc- first astronomical instrument: 8x30 bin- cessful photographer. oculars, with which I learned my way The first books I ever read on astron- around the sky. I recall vividly my first omy were the introductory Man and Space views of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

30 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 Above: The Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) lies some 160,000 light-years away in the Large and Jupiter through them. I also had Magellanic Cloud. For this image, the author a small 10x30 Russian spotting scope, collected six hours of exposures through a 27-inch corrected Dall-Kirkham telescope. which I used to track the nightly motions of the jovian moons. Even in these early Right: When you image for as many years as days, the planets were my favorite objects the author has, you can compile comparisons to observe. like this one, showing Saturn’s orientation from 2004 (top) through 2015. It’s also a When I was 13, after pestering my seasonal review. During this span, Saturn mother constantly, I finally got my first passed from summer in its southern telescope: a 2-inch red tube Tasco refractor. hemisphere to summer in its northern half. I still remember my first view of a 50-percent-illuminated Venus through it. I was amazed! By this time, I was also an avid watcher of the BBC’s The Sky at Night, hosted by the legendary Sir Patrick Moore.

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 31 Comet 17P/Holmes suddenly brightened by more than 14 magnitudes in 2007. The author captured it in December of that year through a 3.15-inch refractor. He used a DSLR and stacked twenty 1-minute exposures.

Planetary nebulae are well within the author’s reach. Shapley 1 (top) lies in Norma, about 1,000 light-years from Earth. IC 5148 is three times as far away in the constellation Grus. Each is an LRGB image with exposures of 60, 5, 5, and 5 minutes, respectively, taken through a 27-inch corrected Dall-Kirkham telescope.

His boundless enthusiasm further nurtured my growing fascination with the night sky. To create the color image (left) of Jupiter on September 30, 2011, the author combined I later got a second 2-inch white tube exposures through red, green, and blue filters (second, third, and fourth images, respectively). He had to work quickly so that Jupiter’s rapid rotation wouldn’t blur the result. It took him Tasco refractor, which was of better quality a scant 2 minutes and 7 seconds to get the data. At the time, the planet stood 45° high and than the first one. I still have that telescope sported a diameter of 48.29". today. It gave sharp images and allowed views of all manner of objects: double stars, the belts of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, and His captivating talks and infectious enthu- didn’t use it much, but the refractor gave the phases of Venus. siasm really rubbed off on me. He even wonderful views. I recall well the stunning My foster father, in particular, really visited my home and gave a talk in my liv- views of Mars and comets Hyakutake and encouraged me in astronomy during the ing room for my family — something I still Hale-Bopp. early 1990s, helping me with telescopes remember well! In 1997, thanks to my mother, I and driving me to meetings of the Boston After joining the society, I was able to acquired an 8-inch Meade Schmidt- Astronomical Society of Lincolnshire. Sadly, use the group’s 4.5-inch and 10-inch Cassegrain telescope (SCT). I had relocated he passed away in 1999, so he never got to reflecting telescopes. Finally, I could see to the town of Kings Lynn, on the Norfolk see what I would accomplish. I’m sure he the kind of details that I had read so much coast of England. During the summer of would not have been surprised that my life- about. I spent many nights during my teen- 1997, I experienced what I can only long obsession has brought some rewards. age years observing the planets, with a spe- describe as the most amazing sight through It wasn’t until 1992 or so that my atten- cial fascination for Jupiter. a telescope ever. tion seriously turned toward the planets. In the mid-1990s, I acquired my own On July 23, I saw a spectacular view of Around this time, I joined the Boston “proper” telescopes, a 6-inch f/6 Newtonian Jupiter. My logbook, which I still have Astronomical Society, led by well-known reflector and a 3.5-inch f/11 refractor. The today, is filled with exclamation marks, British amateur astronomer Paul Money. Newtonian was a poor instrument, so I along with my comments at the eyepiece.

32 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 The author has captured many lunar vistas. This one, taken in 2016, shows Plato Crater and the lunar Alps. The straight gash dividing the mountain range is Vallis Alpes (the Alpine Valley). The author’s choice of cameras for high-resolution lunar and planetary imaging is either a SKYnyx 2.0M or an LU075M, both by the Lumenera Corp.

During the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse, the author traveled to Hodges, South Carolina, where he experienced 2 minutes 30 seconds of totality. This montage from second to third contact includes both diamond rings and Baily’s beads. So much detail was visible; I could not hope to sketch it all. From that point on, I was totally hooked on observing the giant planet. Around this time, I joined the My very first session targeting Jupiter at 2002–2003, where I spent more than 100 British Astronomical Association and the the beginning of the planet’s 1998 appari- nights imaging the planets. At this time, Association of Lunar and Planetary tion was disappointing, even after many I started using the new Philips Toucam Observers (ALPO). practice sessions on deep-sky objects with webcam, which revolutionized planetary During that year, I also discovered the my new camera. I soon learned that cap- imaging. Also in 2003, to coincide with amazing images by Florida planetary pho- turing finely detailed images was far the great Mars opposition that year, I trav- tographer Donald Parker. His images of harder than it looked. However, during the eled to La Palma in the Canary Islands to Jupiter revealed the details I was seeing, second session a few nights later, the seeing image Mars live on British national televi- and much more. conditions (of which I knew next to noth- sion. The whole event was a great success. With further superb views of the planet ing) must have been good because there Later that year, I finally got to meet during 1997, I began to seriously consider before me were detailed images showing Moore — author, TV host, and my astro- buying a CCD camera and trying to take everything that I could see through the nomical hero since childhood. I traveled my own images. I upgraded my telescope eyepiece and more. From then on, my to his home in Selsey for an afternoon to a 12-inch Meade SCT. I also purchased results rapidly improved. visit, and I ended up spending three days an SBIG ST-7 CCD camera. The learning In the years that followed, my images there! From then on, we became good curve was steep in those early days, but I continued to improve. I moved briefly friends and remained so until his death soon had everything working well. to Tenerife in the Canary Islands in in 2012. It was always a great pleasure to

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 33 NGC 1232 in the constellation Eridanus is one of the sky’s finest face-on spiral galaxies. At magnitude 9.9, it’s visible through even moderate scopes from a dark site. Note the small companion galaxy, NGC 1232A, to the left of the main object.

The author captured globular cluster 47 Tucanae (NGC 104) The Southern Beehive (NGC 2516) is a gorgeous open star cluster through a 20-inch corrected Dall-Kirkham reflector. He took in the constellation Carina. It’s bright, too, shining at magnitude 45 minutes of exposures through R, G, and B filters. Note how 3.8. The author captured this LRGB image of it through a 20-inch the star density increases toward the core. Visually, this gives corrected Dall-Kirkham reflector. the cluster a 3D appearance.

On April 14, 2014, the author captured this four-part rotational sequence of Mars under excellent seeing conditions. At the spend time with him, often talking late years, and it was always a great pleasure and time, the Red Planet’s apparent diameter was 15.16". Tharsis and the giant volcanoes into the night. privilege to be part of this historic program. are shrouded in bright clouds to the right, A surreal moment happened when, in The year 2008 was special, as I finally while the North Polar Cap at bottom shows 2003, Moore asked me to appear on his The got to meet Parker, the Florida planetary the dark Chasma Borealis rift. Sky at Night program. I appeared on the photographer who had inspired me to show many times during the next several become a planetary observer. I spent a

34 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 The author created this detailed look at the amazing tail structure of Comet ISON (C/2012 S1) with a 4.3-inch refractor at f/5.6. It’s an LRGB image with exposures of 10, 2, 2, and 2 minutes, respectively, taken November 15, 2013.

The author created this image of Hind’s Crimson Star (R Leporis) to show the intense red hue of this carbon star. He points out that he applied no extra color saturation — this is a true RGB image of one of the reddest stars in the sky.

week with him at his home, and it remains competition for my image, which was used one of the highlights of my career. It was by the media throughout the world during great fun imaging and observing together, ISON’s close approach to the Sun. and we had many laughs — mainly due to In 2014, I was elected a fellow of Don’s wicked sense of humor. the Royal Astronomical Society and During my astronomical journey, I’ve made honorary president of the Adur had some acclaim. In 2004, I received Astronomical Society. NASA and ESA also ALPO’s Walter H. Haas award for my have used my images to illustrate what Damian Peach has used a variety of telescopes and cameras during the contributions to planetary observing. ground-based telescopes can achieve in years he’s created celestial images. Two years later, in 2006, I was awarded photographing the planets, and the support Many have appeared in Astronomy. the British Astronomical Association they can provide to space-based missions. Merlin Medal, again for contributions to In 2017, I was part of a small team of planetary observing and photography. In observers who used the famous Pic du 2007, I was featured in the Explorers of the Midi Observatory 1.06-meter telescope to League’s Leslie C. Peltier award for my Universe exhibition at the Royal Albert obtain some of the most detailed ground- contributions to astronomy. Hall, one of only a few amateur astrono- based images of Jupiter and Saturn. You My life could have turned out much mers to be chosen. can read about that trip in the June 2018 differently. But astronomy has provided In 2011, I was crowned winner of issue of Astronomy. That same year, the many wonderful friends, lots of travel, the Royal Greenwich Observatory International Astronomical Union desig- and a bit of recognition for my images. “Astro-photographer of the Year” competi- nated asteroid 27632 Damianpeach for my I wouldn’t trade it for the universe! tion, in which I was a prize-winning final- contributions to amateur astronomy. ist from 2012 through 2015. I also won first Finally, in 2018, I was elected to the board Damian Peach is the finest planetary imager place in the National Science Foundation’s of the Aster Academy scientific committee on Earth. He’s contributed to Astronomy for Comet ISON (C/2012 S1) photo and also awarded the Astronomical more than 15 years.

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 35 THIS SKY Visible to the naked eye MARTIN RATCLIFFE and ALISTER LING describe the Visible with binoculars solar system’s changing landscape as it appears in Earth’s sky. MONTH Visible with a telescope November 2018: Mars remains a beacon

You can afford to let the sky 5th-magnitude open cluster darken some before hunting M25 and 1.5° northwest of the for Saturn. The ringed world similarly bright globular clus- stands 20° above the south- ter M22. western horizon an hour after You’ll also want to observe sunset in early November. the ringed planet through a Under a dark sky just 30 min- telescope. The best views utes later, the background stars come in early evening during of Sagittarius and the central November’s first couple of regions of the Milky Way weeks, when it still lies rea- nicely frame the planet. Saturn sonably high. As Saturn sinks shines at magnitude 0.5, more lower, its image starts to than a full magnitude brighter dance like a bowl of jello. On than any of the Archer’s stars. the 1st, Saturn’s globe mea- Be sure to scan this area sures 16" across the equator, through binoculars. Several and the ring system spans 36". bright star clusters lurk in the Pay particular attention to region as well as the gorgeous the rings. They currently tip Lagoon and Trifid nebulae 26.4° to our line of sight, just (M8 and M20, respectively). 0.6° less than at their maxi- These two gas clouds lie just mum last year. They tilt this 4° west of Saturn in early wide open only twice during November. the planet’s 29.5-year orbit, The planet’s eastward and will appear slightly thin- motion against this backdrop ner next year. So take this Saturn (top) and Mars (right) appeared near the bright globular star cluster carries it 3° farther from the opportunity to view the dark M22 in late March. Although Mars has long since moved on, Saturn remains Lagoon and Trifid by the end Cassini Division that sepa- in the same binocular field as M22. DAMIAN PEACH of November, when star clus- rates the outer A ring from ters replace nebulae in the bin- the brighter B ring. Under everal bright planets early November, so find a site ocular vista. On the 30th, excellent observing condi- linger in November’s that offers an unobstructed Saturn lies 3.6° south of the tions, you also might spot the evening sky. You’ll want view in this direction. On the to catch Jupiter early 1st, Jupiter hangs 4° high The Red Planet rules the evening sky in the month before it 30 minutes after sunset and Altair Sdisappears in the Sun’s glow. Mercury stands 5° to its left. Mercury holds on a bit longer, At magnitude –1.7, Jupiter but it succumbs to the solar appears four times brighter AQUILA AQUARIUS glare after midmonth. Saturn than its magnitude –0.2 com- fares much better, delivering panion. Plan to use binoculars nice views well after darkness to observe the planetary pair. Mars falls, though even it pales in Jupiter vanishes in twilight CAPRICORNUS comparison to dazzling Mars. during November’s second Fomalhaut The ruddy world dominates week as it makes its way the sky until midnight. Then, toward solar conjunction on after an hours-long lull with- the 26th. Mercury maintains GRUS SAGITTARIUS out any bright planets, brilliant its altitude through mid- Venus emerges into the pre- month, however, before our 10° dawn sky. star’s light overwhelms it dur- To see Mercury and ing November’s third week. November 1, 8 P.M. Looking south Jupiter, you’ll have to be ready The innermost planet passes to observe at dusk. Both hug between the Sun and Earth Although Mars reached opposition four months ago, it still dominates the the southwestern horizon in on the 27th. southern sky after darkness falls. ALL ILLUSTRATIONS: ASTRONOMY: ROEN KELLY

36 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 RISINGMOON Explore the Moon’s Byrd, Peary, and Nansen Anaxagoras Goldschmidt north pole Anaxagoras Plato A visual trip to the polar regions Plato Goldschmidt of the Moon proves far easier than an actual excursion to Peary Earth’s poles. After all, there’s no need to bundle up in your Nansen heaviest winter parka (even Byrd though November evenings can get quite chilly). When you examine the lunar landscape, you’ll recognize many craters in the far north and south take N their names from early explorers of Earth’s polar regions. E To see the Moon’s poles well, timing is key. The Sun best illu- The viewing geometry on the November 22/23 Full Moon is perfect for glimpsing craters near the lunar north minates these areas near Full pole. The Jupiter-bound Galileo spacecraft took both these images in December 1992. LEFT: NASA/JPL/USGS; RIGHT: NASA/JPL Moon, but our satellite also has to be positioned so that one of On the evening of the 22nd, Anaxagoras, and Goldschmidt. few nights, return to this region its poles tips in our direction. the Full Moon’s orientation will Then, let the Galileo image at and watch the shadows of the The geometry works out per- be similar to the Galileo space- right guide you to Byrd, then crater rims shift from one side fectly in November to give us a craft image at left. First, pick Peary, and finally Nansen. If the of their southern flanks to nice view of the lunar north pole. out the landmark craters Plato, weather cooperates the next the other.

ghostly C ring closest to the planet. It looks like a faint METEORWATCH shadow cast onto the planet’s atmosphere, but in reality it is Dark skies to see Leonid meteor shower blocking light reflected from the bright cloud tops. the Lion roar URSA MAJOR A telescope also reveals HYDRA Saturn’s brightest satellites. The Leonid meteor shower peaks Radiant the night of November 17/18. The Regulus You can see 8th-magnitude LEO Titan, the planet’s largest and waxing gibbous Moon sets before Alphard brightest moon, through any 2 A.M. local time and morning twi- scope. A 4-inch instrument light starts after 5 A.M., leaving also pulls in a trio of 10th- more than three hours of undis- magnitude moons: Tethys, turbed viewing. The meteors radi- Denebola ate from the constellation Leo the Dione, and Rhea. All three 10° orbit closer to Saturn than Lion, which climbs more than 60° high in the southeast before dawn. their big brother. The Leonid shower derives Scan one constellation east from debris ejected over many November 18, 3 A.M. of Sagittarius, and you’ll be millennia by Comet 55P/Tempel- Looking east among the relatively incon- Tuttle. This periodic visitor last Viewers have more than three Leonid meteors spicuous stars of Capricornus. returned to the inner solar system hours of dark skies to enjoy this Active dates: Nov. 6–30 But in early November, the in 1998, and astronomers don’t prolific shower once the Moon Peak: November 17/18 sets around 2 A.M. local time. Sea Goat hosts stunning anticipate any unusual meteor Moon at peak: Waxing gibbous Maximum rate at peak: Mars, the star of our evening activity this year. Still, observers average of between 15 and 20 meteors/hour show. The Red Planet shines under dark skies could see an 20 meteors per hour. at magnitude –0.6 and, from mid-northern latitudes, it OBSERVING Asteroid Juno reaches opposition and peak visibility November 17, stands 34° high in the south HIGHLIGHT — Continued on page 42 when it shines brighter than it has in 35 years.

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 37 STAR N

DOME _

M81

_

k How to use this map: This map portrays the M82

sky as seen near 35° north latitude. Located

inside the border are the cardinal directions CO and their intermediate points. To find `

stars, hold the map overhead and a

orient it so one of the labels matches MINOR URSA

the direction you’re facing. The NE LYNX

stars above the map’s horizon NCP

now match what’s in the sky. Polaris

CAMELOPARDALIS

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The all-sky map shows _ Capella

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how the sky looks at: `

CEPHEUS

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10 P.M. November 1 M38

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8 November 15 AURIGA d

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at midmonth 869 NGC

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a c En _ P at e STAR h o k f a the _ MAGNITUDES b Mira Su n (e AQUARIUS clip Sirius tic) a ERIDANUS 0.0 d 3.0 1.0 CETUS 4.0 2.0 5.0 b o Mars b ` STAR COLORS NGC 253 A star’s color depends FORNAX on its surface temperature. _ SGP _ The hottest stars shine blue • SE _ Fomalhaut • Slightly cooler stars appear white SCULPTOR • Intermediate stars (like the Sun) glow yellow PISCIS U • Lower-temperature stars appear orange AUSTRIN The coolest stars glow red • PHOENIX Fainter stars can’t excite our eyes’ color _ • a S receptors, so they appear white unless you GRU use optical aid to gather more light ` `

38 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 S Note: Moon phases in the calendar vary in size due to the distance from Earth NOVEMBER 2018 and are shown at 0h Universal Time. SUN. MON. TUES. WED. THURS. FRI. SAT. MAP SYMBOLS Open cluster

f Globular cluster 123 C

DRA Diffuse nebula

45678910

d NW Planetary nebula

Galaxy

M13

c 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

d

: ROEN KELLY ROEN :

i ` c

HERCULES

/ 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 ASTRONOMY a

25 26 27 28 29 30

b BY ILLUSTRATIONS

+

Vega ¡

_ Calendar of events

LYRA b

` 5 The Moon passes 10° north of 17 The Moon passes 3° south of

D

a P.M. A.M.

CYGNUS Venus, 9 EST Neptune, 1 EST

M57

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d a 6 Mercury is at greatest eastern Asteroid Juno is at opposition,

` A.M. P.M.

r elongation (23°), 10 EST 5 EST

¡ _ 7 New Moon occurs at Leonid meteor shower peaks

11:02 A.M. EST c

VULPECULA 20 The Moon passes 5° south of M27

c W 9 Mercury passes 1.8° north of Uranus, 3 P.M. EST a Antares, 1 A.M. EST 23 Full Moon occurs at _ The Moon passes 7° north of 12:39 A.M. EST a

AQUILA SAGITTA A.M. ` _ Mercury, 7 EST Neptune is stationary, b 25 M15 ` A.M. Altair 11 The Moon passes 1.5° north of 3 EST Saturn, 11 A.M. EST DELPHINUS Enif d _ 26 Jupiter is in conjunction with _ h 12 The Moon passes 0.9° north of the Sun, 2 A.M. EST e EQUULEUS P.M. M11 Pluto, 1 EST The Moon is at perigee 13 Venus is stationary, 10 P.M. EST (227,807 miles from Earth), ` SCUTUM 7:12 A.M. EST 14 The Moon is at apogee _ (251,245 miles from Earth), 27 Mercury is in inferior CAPRICORNUS 10:56 A.M. EST conjunction, 4 A.M. EST ` a b 15 First Quarter Moon 29 Last Quarter Moon occurs at 9:54 A.M. EST occurs at 7:19 P.M. EST

SPECIAL OBSERVING DATE 15 The First Quarter Moon passes 1.0° south of Mars SW in this evening’s sky. 16 Mercury is stationary, US midnight EST a MICROSCOPIUM

S

BEGINNERS: WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO READ A STAR CHART AT www.Astronomy.com/starchart.

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 39 PATH OF THE PLANETS The planets in November 2018

Objects visible before dawn AND UMa CVn LMi AUR TRI BOÖ GEM CrB

Path of the Sun (ecl COM iptic) ARI LEO Path Harmonia of t Comet 38P he M Uranus ORI oon PSC SER CNC TAU CMi VIR Hebe Celestial equator Ceres Pallas SEX MON CET Venus CRV CRT HYA Asteroid Juno reaches CMa opposition November 17 Sun LIB Comet PYX ERI FOR 46P ANT COL Comet LUP 21P PUP CAE VEL CEN

Moon phases Dawn Midnight

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20

The planets These illustrations show the size, phase, and orientation of each planet and the two brightest dwarf planets at 0h UT for the dates in the data table at bottom. South is at in the sky the top to match the view through a telescope.

Mercury Mars Uranus

S

WE

N Saturn Pluto

10" Neptune Venus Ceres Jupiter

Planets MERCURY VENUS MARS CERES JUPITER SATURN URANUS NEPTUNE PLUTO Date Nov. 15 Nov. 15 Nov. 15 Nov. 15 Nov. 1 Nov. 15 Nov. 15 Nov. 15 Nov. 15 Magnitude 0.1 –4.7 –0.3 8.8 –1.7 0.6 5.7 7.9 14.3 Angular size 8.0" 52.4" 10.5" 0.4" 31.3" 15.5" 3.7" 2.3" 0.1" Illumination 39% 11% 86% 99% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Distance (AU) from Earth 0.844 0.318 0.888 3.511 6.290 10.755 18.952 29.568 34.214 Distance (AU) from Sun 0.360 0.721 1.406 2.622 5.367 10.062 19.867 29.939 33.681 Right ascension (2000.0) 16h44.7m 13h30.3m 22h07.6m 14h05.2m 15h44.1m 18h25.7m 1h50.2m 23h00.6m 19h22.3m Declination (2000.0) –24°41' –11°15' –13°22' –5°37' –19°04' –22°45' 10°45' –7°25' –22°07'

40 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 This map unfolds the entire night sky from sunset (at right) until sunrise (at left). Arrows and colored dots show motions and locations of solar system objects during the month.

Objects visible in the evening LAC Jupiter’s moons Dots display positions Io CYG LYR HER BOÖ of Galilean satellites at 8 P.M. EST on the date Europa VUL shown. South is at the CrB PEG top to match DEL S SGE the view Ganymede EQU through a WE AQL N OPH SER telescope. Callisto SER The Moon passes 1.0° south of Mars on November 15 VIR Mars AQR 1 Jupiter SCT Neptune Mercury 2 Sun Pluto Saturn 3 Io SCL CAP Vesta 4 PA 5 CRA LUP PHE GRU SCO 6

TEL ARA 7

Early evening 8

To locate the Moon in the sky, draw a line from the phase shown for the day straight up to the curved blue line. 9 Callisto Note: Moons vary in size due to the distance from Earth and are shown at 0h Universal Time. 10

11 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 12 Jupiter

13

14

15

16 Europa Venus 17 Earth 18 Mars Mercury 19 Greatest eastern elongation Ceres is November 6 20 Ganymede

21

22

23 Jupiter Jupiter Solar conjunction is 24 November 25/26 25 The planets Uranus 26 in their orbits 27 : ROEN KELLY ROEN : Arrows show the inner planets’ Neptune 28 monthly motions and dots depict Saturn

29 ASTRONOMY the outer planets’ positions at mid- month from high above their orbits. 30 Pluto 31 ILLUSTRATIONS BY BY ILLUSTRATIONS

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 41 — Continued from page 37 Saturn and its entourage

WHEN TO VIEW THE PLANETS Rhea S

EVENING SKY MIDNIGHT MORNING SKY Saturn Tethys Mercury (southwest) Uranus (southwest) Venus (southeast) Dione Mars (south) Neptune (west) W Jupiter (southwest) Saturn (southwest) Uranus (east) 30" Neptune (southeast) as the last vestiges of twilight moon on the 24th, when it fade away. The orange-colored passes 8' southeast of magni- world doesn’t dip below the tude 4.8 Sigma (σ) Aqr. horizon until 1 a.. local By the time November daylight time. wraps up, Mars glows at Mars’ eastward motion rel- magnitude –0.1 and lies 2.5° November 1, 8:30 P.M. EDT Titan ative to the starry background southwest of magnitude 3.8 Target the ringed planet through a 4-inch telescope the evening of carries it 0.6° north of magni- Lambda (λ) Aqr. The planet’s November 1, and you’ll easily spot its four brightest moons. tude 2.8 Delta (δ) Capricorni rapid easterly motion this on November 5. The planet month helps it keep pace with some details through amateur While the parade of bright crosses into neighboring the Sun. It still lies due south scopes, though it’s a far cry planets attracts attention to Aquarius on the 11th and, two as evening twilight ends on from the 24.3" at its peak in the southwest and south these evenings later, it passes within the 30th, but now at an alti- late July. November evenings, the east a Moon’s width of magnitude tude of 41°. Fortunately, two of the and southeast quietly intro- 4.3 Iota (ι) Aquarii. This higher elevation planet’s most conspicuous fea- duce the distant ice giant If you have trouble visual- improves viewing conditions tures lie near the center of the worlds, Neptune and Uranus. izing how big the Moon looks for Northern Hemisphere martian disk on November’s Neptune is up first, residing against the sky, be sure to look observers, and partially com- first few evenings. Look for the among the background stars the evening of November 15. pensates for the planet’s dark, wedge-shaped Syrtis of Aquarius some 40° above The First Quarter Moon then shrinking size. Mars’ disk Major just north of Mars’ equa- the southeastern horizon as passes 1.0° (two Moon-widths) spans 11.8" the evening of the tor. If you see it clearly, you darkness falls. It stands just south of Mars. The planet 1st and 9.3" on the 30th. This also should notice the bright 2° from Lambda Aqr, the seems to gain its own bright is still large enough to show oval Hallas basin to its south. 4th-magnitude star Mars

COMETSEARCH

The Princess’ ghostly apparition Comet 64P/Swift-Gehrels N After whetting our appetites for peak near 10th magnitude, coin- + brighter objects later this year, cidentally near the same total ANDROMEDA Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner has brightness as the nearby ellipti- 45 started to fade away. The best of cal galaxy NGC 404. Observers the lot in November should be have dubbed this distant fuzzy 64P/Swift-Gehrels, which passes the “Ghost of Mirach” because it E Path of Comet 64P nearly overhead during the eve- lies a mere 7' northwest of Beta 7 4 Nov 1 10 ning hours. It should hold us and has tricked unwary sky- 13 until the year’s brightest comet, watchers into thinking it was an 16 46P/Wirtanen, comes to the fore internal reflection of the star. NGC 404 in December. Swift-Gehrels should be eas- ` Plan to look for Swift-Gehrels ier to see than NGC 404, but it during the first half of November depends on how large and dif- 0.5° when the Moon won’t affect fuse the comet is — the more This periodic visitor slides north of 2nd-magnitude Beta (β) Andromedae viewing. The comet moves east- its light spreads out, the lower and its galactic neighbor, NGC 404, in mid-November. ward during this period slightly its surface brightness and the north of the 2nd-magnitude star harder it is to see. Use a 4-inch the background sky and make the side of the field) to take Mirach (Beta [β] Andromedae). or larger telescope and medium the comet appear larger. Then advantage of your eye’s Astronomers think 64P could power (at least 100x) to darken try averted vision (glancing to sensitive peripheral vision.

42 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 Venus dazzles before dawn LOCATINGASTEROIDS Arcturus BOÖTES Juno makes a historic return VIRGO Asteroid 3 Juno reaches oppo- four or five brightest objects in Spica sition November 17. But this is your telescope’s field of view. CORVUS no ordinary opposition — Juno Come back a night or two later peaks at magnitude 7.4, the and find the “star” that has Venus brightest it has been since shifted position. That is Juno. October 1983. Use 5th-magnitude Juno rises during twilight 35 Eridani as a guide during and by midevening appears in November’s first week. On the LIBRA 10° the southeastern sky to the 4th, Juno lies 0.1° southeast of lower right of Aldebaran. The this star and the same distance asteroid resides in northern northwest of a fainter star. The November 30, 1 hour before sunrise Eridanus the River, a region three objects form a straight Looking southeast lacking in prominent stars. In line that changes noticeably in fact, only a handful of the stars less than an hour as Juno heads The inner planet passed between the Sun and Earth in late October, but it quickly emerges as the brightest point of light in the morning sky. in the finder chart are brighter southwest. In mid-November, than Juno. You should be able the asteroid passes the magni- to pick out the asteroid based tude 4.7 star 32 Eri. Juno approaches at the end of Your best bet for finding it solely on its location plotted remains within 0.5° of this star the month. is to start at 4th-magnitude below. If in doubt, sketch the from November 13–16. Because Neptune glows at Omicron (ο) Piscium in magnitude 7.9, you’ll need bin- neighboring Pisces. Uranus Floating down the celestial River oculars or a telescope to spot it. stands 2.4° northeast of this On the 1st, you can find it 2.1° star November 1 and 1.6° N east of Lambda and 0.3° south- north-northeast of it on the 25 southwest of 6th-magnitude 30th. Don’t confuse the planet 81 Aqr. The planet creeps west- with the magnitude 5.9 star Nov 1 24 ward until the 25th, when it SAO 92659. Uranus passes 14' 35 reaches its stationary point 0.1° due south of this star on the 6 closer to Lambda. It then heads 9th. The easiest way to tell the 11 off on an easterly track for the two apart is to point a tele- E 32 rest of the year, though its scope at them. Only Uranus ERIDANUS 16 position barely budges by shows a disk, which spans 3.7" Path of Juno November’s close. and sports a distinctive blue- 21 26 Every star looks like a point green color. Dec 1 of light through a telescope, At just about the same but a planet lies close enough time Uranus dips below the to Earth that it shows a dis- western horizon, Venus 1° 30 tinct disk. It’s a small one in appears in the east. Although 22 Neptune’s case, just 2.3" across, the inner planet passed When asteroid 3 Juno reaches opposition against the backdrop of so you’ll need moderate mag- between the Sun and Earth Eridanus in mid-November, it glows brighter than it has in 35 years. nification to see it. A scope’s during October’s final week, added light-gathering power it quickly establishes itself as also reveals Neptune’s subtle the brilliant “morning star” but appears twice as bright Venus hanging 9° to the right blue-gray color. The best views in the predawn twilight. On (magnitude –4.9) by month’s of a slender crescent Moon. will come during midevening November 1, Venus rises end. The changes to Venus’ It’s also worth watching from when the planet lies high in about a half-hour before the telescopic appearance are no the 11th to the 19th, when the the south. Sun. That grows to an hour less dramatic. On the 1st, the planet approaches within 2° of Uranus trails about three on the 4th, two hours on planet spans 61" and the Sun 1st-magnitude Spica. hours behind Neptune. It lies the 13th, and three hours on illuminates just 2 percent of its in the southwestern corner of the 25th. Earth-facing hemisphere. Its Martin Ratcliffe provides plane- Aries the Ram, about 10° due A brightness surge accom- diameter dwindles to 41" by tarium development for Sky-Skan, south of 3rd-magnitude Beta panies this quick leap into the the 30th while its phase waxes Inc., from his home in Wichita, (β) Arietis. Uranus shines at morning sky. The inner world to 25 percent lit. Kansas. Meteorologist Alister magnitude 5.7, so it’s barely shines impressively at magni- You’ll want to set your Ling works for Environment visible to the naked eye from tude –4.2 in early November alarm early November 6 to see Canada in Edmonton, Alberta. under a dark sky and an easy target through binoculars. GET DAILY UPDATES ON YOUR NIGHT SKY AT www.Astronomy.com/skythisweek.

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 43

Polaris NGC 891

at magnitude 10.1 and mea- sures 12.0' by 7.4'. To find it, point your telescope 2° east of Gamma (γ) Trianguli. Through a small scope, NGC 925’s fig- ure appears indistinct, but an 8-inch or larger instrument reveals the spiral arms that NGC 956 NGC 908 fold back abruptly from a long bar. At high magnification, say, above 250x, you’ll spot the stellar nucleus. AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS LOVE LISTS, probably because we’re goal oriented. So, for this roundup, I chose 50 deep-sky objects best seen Polaris throughout November. Of course, you’ll also be able to spot them several Ursa Minor months before and after this month. Because most of our readers live north of The first double star on this the equator, I didn’t select any targets in the far-southern sky. And I list them list is the North Star. William in order of right ascension, so if you start observing selections at the top of the Herschel discovered that Polaris was binary in 1780. Although list, subsequent objects will rise higher as the night goes on. the yellow magnitude 2.0 pri- Before you start, let me offer three tips. First, dress warmly, because observing mary outshines the blue mag- involves just sitting (or standing) and looking. Second, head to as dark a site as nitude 9.0 secondary by more you can find because my list contains galaxies, and you won’t see those from a than 600 times, the separation MARTIN C. GERMANO, GERMANO, C. MARTIN city. Third, although I’ve chosen some objects for small scopes (and even a few is a worthy 18.3", so a 3-inch

NGC 956: NGC for naked eyes or binoculars), haul out the biggest telescope you can. You won’t telescope at 100x easily will be sorry. Good luck! show you Polaris B.

JEREMY PEREZ, PEREZ, JEREMY NGC 956 Andromeda

POLARIS: NGC 891 bulge. A dark dust lane bisects by 2.3' stretched roughly east This magnitude 8.9 open clus- Andromeda the galaxy and runs nearly its to west. The core is quite a bit ter lies 5.7° east-northeast of NGC 891’s only problem is that entire length. Dozens of fore- brighter, and ghostly hints of Almach (Gamma Andromedae). R. JAY GABANY, GABANY, JAY R. it’s Andromeda’s second-best ground stars populate the field, spiral structure appear at high This odd group has a 9th- galaxy. Not bad, except the adding a third dimension to the magnifications. magnitude star at both its north NGC 891: NGC constellation’s top dog is one of view. At magnifications above Through a 16-inch scope, an and south end, a couple more the sky’s supreme wonders — 200x, note the sections of NGC arm that radiates to the north 10th-magnitude stars, and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). 891’s nucleus on each side of the of the core and turns abruptly about a dozen magnitude 12 Despite that, NGC 891 — also lane. The western section is to the west is quite prominent. and fainter stars. It spans 6'. known as the Silver Sliver slightly brighter. A fainter arm extends due Galaxy — ranks as one of the east and ends near a 15th- NGC 957 sky’s best edge-on spirals. It NGC 908 magnitude star. The core also Perseus inclines only 1.4° to our line of Cetus appears irregular. This open cluster, which glows sight, glows at magnitude 9.9, To find this spiral galaxy, look at magnitude 7.6 and spans 10', and measures 13.0' by 2.8'. 5.4° east of Upsilon (υ) Ceti. NGC 925 lies about 1.5° east-northeast A 10-inch telescope reveals Through an 8-inch telescope, Triangulum of the famous Double Cluster. a symmetrical object with a magnitude 10.4 NGC 908 This attractive, nearly face- Through an 8-inch scope at ADAM BLOCK/MOUNTADAM LEMMON SKYCENTER/UNIVERSITY ARIZONA, OF

appears as an oval haze 5.9' on barred spiral galaxy glows : GEORGE: AND LAURA MISHLER/ADAM BLOCK/NOAO/AURA/NSF noticeable but narrow central 100x, you’ll count two dozen NGC 925: NGC NGC 908 NGC WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 45 stars. A magnitude 8.0 star sits slightly southeast of the cluster’s center. At the cluster’s southwest edge sits a magni- tude 8.5 star. IC 1805 Cassiopeia Because this object, also known as the Heart Nebula, has a diameter of 1°, you can approach observing it either with low or high magnification. Each requires at least an 8-inch telescope and a dark sky. Look 4.9° east-southeast of Epsilon NGC 1023 (ε) Cassiopeiae. For an overall view, insert a nebula filter and identify the than the background sky. Eridani) lies a nice trio of gal- Heart’s brightest regions: the Once you’ve located the axies highlighted by magnitude central cluster, the knot of neb- Fornax Dwarf, crank up the 10.5 NGC 1052. Through an ulosity to the east, and the cres- magnification and aim for its 8-inch telescope, it appears oval cent of gas to the southwest. northern edge. There sits glob- (2.5' by 2.0') with an extended NGC 1027, a magnitude 6.7 ular cluster NGC 1049. This central region surrounded by a open cluster, shines 1.2° east of object shines at magnitude 12.6 slight haze. the nebula and spans 15'. and measures roughly 1.2' Only 15' to the southwest Another bright nebulous knot, across. lies the magnitude 11.0 spiral NGC 896, lies 1° southwest of NGC 1042. It’s more than 50 the Heart. Many observers see NGC 1023 percent bigger than NGC 1052, this 20'-wide object before they Perseus but you’ll need at least a spot IC 1805. The magnitude 9.3 spiral gal- 16-inch scope to bring out any axy (known as the Perseus trace of the arms. Fornax Dwarf NGC 986 Lenticular) measures more Even fainter is magnitude Fornax than twice as long as it is wide 12.2 NGC 1035, 23' northeast To find this magnitude 10.8 (8.6' by 4.2'), stretching in a of NGC 1042. This galaxy is 9th magnitude spread out over spiral galaxy, first locate Iota (ι) rough east-west direction. three times as long as it is wide, an area 35' across. Eridani, then move 1.6° west- Through small telescopes, the but doesn’t show details A 4-inch scope reveals three northwest. Small telescopes core appears almost starlike. through most scopes. Use a dozen member stars between will show an oval shape (4' by Use a 14-inch or larger scope, magnification around 100x to 8th and 12th magnitude. At 3.2') elongated northeast to however, and you’ll see that the catch all three galaxies at once. 100x, look for chains of faint southwest. Through 11-inch central region spans half of this stars crisscrossing the field of and larger scopes, you’ll spot galaxy’s overall length. NGC 1055 view. the two broad but incred- Cetus ibly short spiral arms, one on NGC 1027 Look 39' east of Delta (δ) Ceti, M77 SKYCENTER/ LEMMON BLOCK/MOUNT ADAM the north end and the other Cassiopeia and you’ll find this magnitude Cetus angling south. You’ll find this nice open clus- 10.6 spiral galaxy. Through Cetus A (the first strong radio 1052: NGC

ter not quite 6° east-southeast a 6-inch telescope, it appears source discovered in this BLOCK/MOUNT ADAM LEMMON SKYCENTER/UNIVERSITY ARIZONA, OF

The Fornax Dwarf of Epsilon Cassiopeiae. It glows twice as long as wide (7.3' by constellation) lies 0.9° east- M77: Fornax at magnitude 6.7 and spans 15'. 3.3') and aligned nearly east- southeast of Delta Ceti. The

Although the Fornax Dwarf Through an 8-inch telescope west. Just to the north of the galaxy’s central area, one-third FERA, BOB ANTHONY AYIOMAMITIS, AYIOMAMITIS, ANTHONY

Galaxy’s stated magnitude is at 100x, you’ll see the brightest galaxy you’ll find a magnitude its width, will command your M34: 8.1, its size (12' by 10.2') makes 15 or so members in front of a 11.2 star. attention. Although you can 1805: IC its surface brightness low. That haze of fainter stars. A 12-inch spot M77, which glows at mag- said, I’ve spotted this object scope resolves about 20 more M34 nitude 8.9 and measures 8.2' by JASON JENNINGS, through a 4-inch refractor stars. A magnitude 7.0 star Perseus 7.3', through any telescope, an CRAWFORD KEN using a wide-angle eyepiece. glows at the heart of NGC 1027. From a dark site, you’ll find 11-inch or larger instrument ANTHONY AYIOMAMITIS, AYIOMAMITIS, ANTHONY Through an 8-inch scope, the Spiral Cluster with your and a magnification above NGC 1055: FORNAX DWARF: FORNAX

choose an eyepiece that yields NGC 1052 naked eyes roughly 5° west- 300x will let it put on a show. 1027: NGC a 1° field of view, and slowly Cetus northwest of Algol (Beta [β] Ignore the bright core and sweep the area. You’re looking At the eastern edge of Cetus, Persei). At magnitude 5.2, it search the disk surrounding it KEN CRAWFORD, CRAWFORD, KEN for a faint haze just brighter 3.8° west of Azha (Eta [η] contains 10 stars brighter than for signs of mottled structure. AYIOMAMITIS, ANTHONY NGC 957: NGC UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, ARIZONA, OF UNIVERSITY 46 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 1023: NGC M34

NGC 1052 NGC 1027

IC 1805

M77 NGC 957 NGC 1055 Look for the tightly wound spi- is the extinct constellation much more, but it does show ral arms — the brightest one lies Musca Borealis the Northern the core is broad — as much southeast of the core. Fly. Dutch mapmaker Petrus as three-quarters the galaxy’s Plancius introduced it around length. The edges of this galaxy Kaffaljidhma 1614 under the name Apes (the are irregular with no hint of Cetus Latin word for “bee”), but it was spiral structure. This colorful double, also later changed. Plancius formed known as Gamma Ceti, is a bit it from four stars — 33, 35, 39, NGC 1097 puzzling. The magnitude 3.5 and 41 Arietis. Fornax primary appears white or “just To find them, look about 9° Our next object is a magnitude a bit” yellow. There’s not much east-northeast of Hamal (Alpha 9.2 barred spiral that sits 2° dispute about that. Lying 2.8" [α] Arietis). The brightest of north of Beta Fornacis. Through away, however, the magnitude these stars, 41 Arietis, shines at an 8-inch telescope, you’ll see 7.3 companion should not only magnitude 3.6, and the NGC 1097’s core as a bright appear the shade of blue most faintest, 39 Ari, glows at magni- disk surrounded by an oval observers report. It’s a spectral tude 5.3. If you have any trouble haze. Within that oval is the class F star, which is hotter, seeing the group, use binocu- galaxy’s faint bar. You won’t see and therefore should be just a lars. The Northern Fly spans much of the thin spiral arms no bit whiter, than our Sun. What only 2.5°. matter what scope you observe color do you see? through. This system measures NGC 1084 10.5' by 6.3'. Musca Borealis Eridanus Aries This magnitude 10.7 spiral IC 1848 Indulge me on this object. I’m galaxy lies 2.9° west-northwest Cassiopeia something of a constellation of Azha. Through a 4-inch tele- The Baby (or Soul) Nebula sits historian, so I thought it would scope, NGC 1084 has a nearly 2.5° east-southeast of the Heart be fun if something on this list rectangular shape and is twice Nebula (IC 1805). Although no longer existed in its original as long as it is wide (2.8' by 1.4'). equally as wide (1°) as the form. This naked-eye object A 12-inch scope won’t reveal Heart, the Baby doesn’t cover as NGC 1097

IC 1848

NGC 1245 NGC 1300 NGC 1275 much area, so it appears more Algol instruments with at least NGC 1275 concentrated. Perseus 12 inches of aperture. Seeing Perseus A nebula-filtered view shows The variable star Algol (Beta — the steadiness of the air At magnitude 11.9, spiral gal- two large regions that form the Persei) normally shines at a above your observing site — is axy NGC 1275 is the brightest head and body. The head bright magnitude 2.1. Every the key to discerning the indi- member of the Perseus galaxy appears denser, while the body 2 days, 20 hours, and 49 min- vidual spiral arms. Can you cluster (Abell 426). To find it, surrounds a small star cluster utes (2.867 days), however, it see three? Four? More? It all look 2° east of Algol. This galaxy

R. JAY GABANY, GABANY, JAY R. within. To see the stars better, dims to magnitude 3.4. So, at depends on your seeing. appears small and nearly circular

GEORGE GREANEY GEORGE remove the nebula filter. maximum, Algol is 3.3 times as NGC 1232 isn’t quite round. (3.2' by 2.3'). Don’t confuse it

NGC 1275: NGC Through a 12-inch or larger bright as at its minimum. This It measures 6.8' by 5.6'. Through with NGC 1272, a similar but

NGC 1232: NGC scope, you’ll notice brightness dip in brightness occurs when a a large scope, this galaxy’s slightly fainter galaxy just 5' to differences along the body’s faint, unseen star orbiting Algol nucleus has a slight east-west the west. R. JAY GABANY, GABANY, JAY R. edge. Look for two crescent- passes in front of it and blocks elongation, which puts it in the Through a 10-inch telescope,

JEREMY PEREZ, PEREZ, JEREMY shaped nebulae, a smaller one some of its light. Each eclipse barred spiral category. you’ll spot a dozen galaxies in a NGC 1300: NGC to the northeast and a larger lasts approximately 10 hours. field of view 1° across. Most lie

STRUVE 331: STRUVE one to the west. Algol’s brightness changes NGC 1245 south and west of NGC 1275. are easy to observe. Most of the Perseus Struve 331 time it appears nearly as bright To find NGC 1245, which glows Pazmino’s Cluster Perseus as magnitude 1.8 Mirfak (Alpha at magnitude 8.4, draw a line Camelopardalis ANTHONY AYIOMAMITIS, AYIOMAMITIS, ANTHONY BERNHARD HUBL, HUBL, BERNHARD This stellar pair lies near the Persei), but keep an eye on it between Iota and Kappa (κ) This small-telescope target is

NGC 1245: NGC Pleiades (M45), but the easi- and you may catch it when it’s Persei. This nice cluster lies less also known as Stock 23. To est way to find it is to start at fainter than magnitude 3.0 than 1° east of the line’s center find it, scan 5.3° northeast of Tau (τ) Persei, and head 1.5° Delta Persei. point. Through an 8-inch tele- Eta Persei. The cluster shines BOB FERA, FERA, BOB PAZMINO’S CLUSTER: northwest. The 12.1" separation scope, you’ll see more than 50 at a respectable magnitude 6.5.

IC 1848: IC allows splits through even small NGC 1232 stars evenly distributed across Through your finder scope, telescopes. The magnitude 5.3 Eridanus its 10'-wide face. A magnitude Stock 23 is an unresolved clump JEREMY PEREZ, PEREZ, JEREMY primary shines lemon yellow, Although a 4-inch telescope 8.0 star gleams at the cluster’s of stars. View it through a 3-inch R. JAY GABANY, GABANY, JAY R. and the magnitude 6.7 second- will reveal magnitude 10.0 southern edge. telescope at a magnification of ary is pale blue. NGC 1232, I recommend 50x, however, and you’ll spot two NGC 1097: NGC KAFFALJIDHMA:

Kaffaljidhma

Pazmino’s Cluster

Struve 331 NGC 1232 WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 49 NGC 1316

NGC 1333 NGC 1491 Melotte 20

dozen stars spread across an the bright oval nucleus, roughly the star Mirfak (Alpha Persei). west-southwest of Omicron (ο) area 15' wide. twice as long as it is wide. The At magnitude 1.2, this large, Persei. Through an 8-inch tele- Four cluster stars shine next features that will become scattered group of stars is obvi- scope, you’ll see a 6' by 3' haze brighter than 8th magnitude, evident are the beginnings of ous to the naked eye. For the that’s brightest at the north- including double star ADS the spiral arms. They’re quite best view, however, try binocu- eastern end, where a magnitude 2426 at the center. Its separa- clumpy near the nucleus. lars or a rich-field telescope. 10.5 star that illuminates the tion is only 7". If you can’t split Finally, through a large scope Keep the magnification under nebula resides. You’ll also spot it at 50x, just double the power, try to trace the thin spiral arms 20x. You’ll see 50 bright stars several voids. and you’ll have no problem. as they tightly curve past the with the most prominent being Because this object contains nucleus on the northern and Mirfak and Psi (ψ) Persei. All emission and reflection nebu- NGC 1291 southern sides. told, more than 100 young stars lae, a nebula filter will dim the Eridanus brighter than magnitude 12 reflection component, increas- You’ll find this magnitude 8.5 NGC 1316 spread across the association’s ing the contrast of the emission spiral galaxy 3.7° east of Theta Fornax 3° width. nebulosity. Remove the filter, (θ) Eridani. NGC 1291 appears The powerful radio source and your mind will fool you slightly oblong (11' by 9.5'), Fornax A is a bright (magni- NGC 1332 into thinking the reflection but, apart from a faint outer tude 8.9) spiral galaxy you can Eridanus nebulosity has gotten brighter. halo, you’ll see no details here find 1.4° south-southwest of The magnitude 10.5 ellipti- through even a medium-sized Chi1 (χ1) Fornacis. This galaxy’s cal galaxy NGC 1332 lies 1.6° NGC 1342 telescope. With larger aper- spiral arms wrap so tightly east-northeast of Tau4 Eridani. Perseus tures, you may see two faint, around its core that it appears This highly elongated object This magnitude 8.9 open clus- broad arcs of light. elliptical through most tele- (5' by 1.8') appears like a stubby ter lies 5.7° west-southwest of scopes. NGC 1316 is about half cigar three times as long as it is Epsilon Persei. Through an NGC 1300 again as long as it is wide (11' wide. Through small telescopes 8-inch telescope at 150x, you’ll Eridanus by 7.6'), and it orients northeast the surface brightness remains spot 50 stars evenly distributed NGC 1300 has a simple shape to southwest. remarkably constant across across its 11.0' by 7.6' face. A — that of a squashed letter S Slightly more than 6' north NGC 1332’s surface. Larger 12-inch scope shows lines and — making this magnitude 10.4 of Fornax A lies NGC 1317, a scopes reveal the outer 10 per- arcs of the brighter members wonder a classic barred spiral similar spiral that also has tight cent is fainter than the rest, and and brings 50 more stars into with two arms. Both originate spiral arms. This galaxy glows it fades rapidly with increasing view. from the ends of the bar and at magnitude 11.9. distance from the core. move out at right angles to it. NGC 1360 To find NGC 1300, look 2.3° Melotte 20 NGC 1333 Fornax due north of Tau4 Eridani. Perseus Perseus If you expect planetary nebu- Crank up the magnification The Alpha Persei Association, You’ll find this mix of emission lae to appear round, you’re past 200x, and you’ll first spot as the name implies, surrounds and reflection nebulosity 3.3° not alone. Magnitude 9.4

50 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 NGC 1360 NGC 1365

NGC 1342 NGC 1499

NGC 1360, however, appears NGC 1444 twice as long as it is wide, extended in a roughly north- south orientation. To find it,

ANTHONY AYIOMAMITIS, AYIOMAMITIS, ANTHONY look 5.6° northeast of Alpha central region. The galaxy spans Fornacis. 8.9' by 6.5'. Notice how the bar

NGC 1342: NGC Through a 12-inch telescope near the core appears dimmer at a magnification above 200x, than it does farther out. An both sections have a darker lane 8-inch scope shows the spiral RICK BENO, BENO, RICK

ADAM BLOCK/NOAO/AURA/NSF, BLOCK/NOAO/AURA/NSF, ADAM crossing them. The brighter arms. The brighter one extends northern half’s lane enters from northward from the bar’s west MELOTTE 20: MELOTTE NGC 1499: NGC the east and is thin. By contrast, end. The other arm, only the dark region in the southern slightly fainter, appears some- half of NGC 1360 is wide, what blotchy, revealing huge extending all the way from star-forming regions within it.

MARTIN C. GERMANO, GERMANO, C. MARTIN the southern tip to the 11th- magnitude central star. NGC 1399

NGC 1444: NGC Fornax NGC 1365 This bright (magnitude 9.6) M45 Fornax galaxy appears ever-so-slightly

DON GOLDMAN, GOLDMAN, DON The best example of a barred oblong (8.1' by 7.6') under high spiral — NGC 1365 — lan- magnifications. To find NGC 1

NGC 1365: NGC guishes in Fornax, more than 1399, draw a line from Chi to similar ellipticals, NGC 1404 is M45 one-third the way from the Chi2 Fornacis, and extend that smaller (4.8' by 3.9') and slightly Taurus ADAM BLOCK/MOUNT ADAM LEMMON SKYCENTER/UNIVERSITY ARIZONA, OF celestial equator to the South line five times the distance fainter (magnitude 10.0). A One of the finest naked-eye Celestial Pole. It’s a relatively between those two stars. The magnitude 8.1 star lies just 3' objects also ranks as the sky’s NGC 1491: NGC bright magnitude 9.3, and you large central region takes up south-southeast of NGC 1404. brightest star cluster (mag- can star-hop to it if you first three-quarters of this galaxy’s nitude 1.2). It’s the Pleiades find a triangle of three faint diameter. Only a quickly fading NGC 1444 (M45). Often called the Seven stars, Chi1, Chi2, and Chi3 fuzz lies outside. Perseus Sisters, most people see only DANIEL VERSCHATSE, VERSCHATSE, DANIEL Fornacis. From Chi2, which This nice magnitude 6.6 open six stars. Observers with good is the brightest, move 1.3° NGC 1404 cluster combines the magnitude vision can spot more than that, NGC 1316: NGC east-southeast. Fornax 6.7 star SAO 24248 and about with reports of up to 13 naked- Through even a 4-inch tele- This galaxy lies a scant 10' 10 others. It has a diameter of 4'. eye stars within the cluster. scope at a dark site, you’ll see south-southeast of NGC 1399. To find it, look 3.5° northwest of Although M45 is a great tar- ADAM BLOCK/MOUNT ADAM LEMMON SKYCENTER/UNIVERSITY ARIZONA, OF THOMAS V. DAVIS, DAVIS, THOMAS V. NGC 1365’s bar and brighter Although both galaxies are Lambda (λ) Persei. get to just look at, it’s terrific MARK HANSON/JEFF HAPEMAN HANSON/JEFF MARK NGC 1360: NGC NGC 1333: M45: WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 51 through binoculars. Choose a a circular disk 52" across. bit distracting. An OIII filter NGC 1528 as a hazy star from unit that magnifies between Through larger scopes at will dim it. If you still have a dark observing site. Through 10 and 15 times. magnifications above 350x, trouble spotting the nebula, try a 4-inch telescope, use 150x to however, you’ll note that the increasing the magnification spot 50 member stars spread 32 Eridani magnitude 11.5 planetary is to 150x or beyond. This object across 18'. Many group into Eridanus ever-so-slightly oval in an east- is brighter along its rim. Bright whirls and other patterns. An This double star sits in a lonely west orientation. knots intermingle with the gas 8-inch scope will show nearly part of northern Eridanus near The magnitude 14 central on the northwestern and south- 100 stars. the Taurus border. It’s worth star is easier to see than its eastern sides. seeking out, however, because brightness suggests. It peeks NGC 1535 the two stars, separated by 6.8", through a slightly darker center NGC 1532 Eridanus have a nice color contrast. The that suggests the presence of a Eridanus You’ll find Cleopatra’s Eye, a yellow primary shines at mag- thick ring structure. The plan- This object is a double galaxy. magnitude 9.6 planetary nebu- nitude 4.8, and its blue com- etary’s face also appears patchy, It combines the magnificent la, 4° east-northeast of Zaurak panion glows at magnitude 6.1. with several small dark areas edge-on spiral NGC 1532 (Gamma Eridani). Through visible. (magnitude 9.9) with elliptical a 6-inch telescope, NGC 1535 NGC 1491 NGC 1531 (magnitude 11.7), has a sharply defined disk (18" Perseus Kemble’s Cascade which sits less than 2' to the across) surrounded by a faint This emission nebula lies 1.1° Camelopardalis northwest. But NGC 1532 is the envelope. Double that aperture north-northwest of Lambda This object is a chance align- real treat here. It appears nearly to 12 inches, and you’ll begin to Persei. A 10-inch telescope ment of stars first described four times as long as it is wide pick up this object’s color. Now, equipped with a nebula filter by the late Franciscan amateur (11.2' by 3.2'). Find this pair 1.5° crank the magnification past clearly shows its bright fan astronomer Father Lucian northwest of Upsilon4 Eridani. 300x, and you’ll observe a dark shape. Start with a magnifica- Kemble, who found it through Through a 16-inch or hollow around the central star. tion of about 75x, then gradu- binoculars. A magnification of larger telescope, you’ll see the At this aperture and power, ally increase the power. 15x works best for framing the spiral arms extend in a north- you’ll note that the contrast NGC 1491 appears brightest starry chain. The Cascade is northeast to south-southwest between the sharp inner disk on the western edge and fades 15 stars that stretch 2.5°. Most orientation. With magnifica- and the fainter outer shell is at gradually toward the more dif- of the stars range from 7th to tions of 200x or more, the bril- its maximum. fuse eastern side. A 16-inch 9th magnitude. The exception liant core appears surrounded scope reveals striations that is the 5th-magnitude sparkler by an oblong haze. NGC 1545 extend away from the southern SAO 12969 that sits in the Perseus tip. Don’t expect to see an center. NGC 1528 This magnitude 6.2 open clus- object that even approaches the At the southeast end of Perseus ter lies 2.3° east of Lambda cataloged size of 25'. Through Kemble’s Cascade, in the same This magnitude 6.4 open clus- Persei. Look for it as a faint, the eyepiece it scarcely spans 4'. field of view, sits the tight open ter lies 1.6° east-northeast of fuzzy star with your naked cluster NGC 1502 (7' across). Lambda Persei. Sharp-eyed eyes. Through a 4-inch tele- NGC 1499 You’ll need a telescope to see its observers may just detect scope, you’ll see about 20 stars Perseus individual stars, but you won’t From a dark site, sharp- miss its overall magnitude 5.7 eyed observers can spot the glow. California Nebula with their naked eyes — almost. Look NGC 1514 through either a Hydrogen- Taurus beta or deep-sky nebula filter. The Crystal Ball Nebula is a (An Oxygen-III filter will round, magnitude 10.9 hazy reduce what you can see.) planetary that spans 114". It When you switch to a tele- sits 3.4° east-southeast of Atik scope, select your eyepiece that (Zeta [ζ] Persei). The magni- provides the lowest magnifica- tude 9.4 central star can be a tion. NGC 1499 spans 160' by 40', so if even that view isn’t wide enough, slowly move the telescope back and forth. NGC 1501 Camelopardalis Move 6.9° west of magnitude 4.0 Beta Camelopardalis to find the Blue Oyster Nebula. An 11-inch telescope shows

52 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 NGC 1514 NGC 1555 spanning 12'. The three bright- Hind’s Variable Nebula. Note est (magnitudes 7.1, 8.1, and the name for NGC 1554, and 9.3) form an isosceles triangle don’t look for it. It’s not there. near NGC 1545’s center. To start your search Spend some time with this for NGC 1555, head 1.7° west- cluster at magnifications above northwest of Epsilon Tauri. 200x. You’ll see many colored Near that position, you’ll see a stars and also several nice dou- magnitude 8.4 star. From there, ble stars. move 5' northeast, and you’ll encounter the variable star T Chi Tauri Tauri, which usually shines at Taurus magnitude 9.6. Hind’s Variable You’ll find this double star Nebula appears as a faint wisp equidistant from the Pleiades of nebulosity near T Tauri. It’s (M45) and Epsilon Tauri. tiny (1'), so use a big scope. Although most observers see some combination of a yellow Michael E. Bakich is a senior magnitude 5.5 primary and a editor of Astronomy who has been blue magnitude 7.6 secondary, making lists of deep-sky objects ADAM BLOCK/MOUNT ADAM LEMMON SKYCENTER/UNIVERSITY ARIZONA, OF

KEN CRAWFORD KEN others have seen the brighter for decades. star as blue-white and its com- Kemble’s Cascade NGC 1535: NGC

NGC 1532: NGC panion as deep blue. Decide for yourself by

RUBEN KIER, KIER, RUBEN cranking up the magnification JOHN CHUMACK, CHUMACK, JOHN as much as the sky will allow

NGC 1501: NGC and moving first the primary, then the secondary, out of the field of view. Seeing the stars KEMBLE’S CASCADE: KEMBLE’S alone will give you a better

MARTIN C. GERMANO, GERMANO, C. MARTIN gauge of their true colors. The separation is 19.4". THOMAS V. DAVIS, DAVIS, V. THOMAS NGC 1545: NGC NGC 1554/1555 NGC 1528

NGC 1555: Taurus This emission nebula combines

MARTIN C. GERMANO, GERMANO, C. MARTIN two objects in one. Observers RUBEN KIER, KIER, RUBEN refer to NGC 1554 as Struve’s NGC 1514: NGC NGC 1528: NGC Lost Nebula, and NGC 1555 is NGC 1535

NGC 1545

NGC 1501 NGC 1532 20201818 Our eighth annual STAR PRODUCTS

by Phil Harrington 10MICRON nce again, 1 GM1000 HPS German it’s time for equatorial mount O The importance of a high-quality mount rises exponentially as Astronomy’s telescope aperture and weight grow. To address this, 10Micron annual Star Products. from Caronno Pertusella, Italy, offers a series of German equa- torial mounts for serious scopes. The smallest, the GM1000 We’ve combed HPS, can handle a 55-pound (25 kilograms) scope. Inside, a pair of servo motors drives a worm gear smoothly, with zero manufacturers’ backlash. Users can control the mount either with the catalogs and surfed included hand controller, or by connecting it via Eth- ernet to a PC with the RS-232 serial port. The the web to come up RS-232 port can also control a dome, making this mount ideal for robotic observatories. with a selection of $9,541 • www.10micron.eu/en 35 products (roughly alphabetical) that are ALTAIR ASTRO sure to fuel your 2 Lightwave Hyperwide astronomical passion. 20mm Eyepiece This 20mm eyepiece from Altair Astro is shaped like a hand gre- nade and delivers images with a bang. With its 100° apparent field of Phil Harrington is an Astronomy view, the Lightwave doesn’t just show you the universe, it pulls you contributing editor and author of into it. The nine-element optical system uses special low-dispersion Cosmic Challenge: The Ultimate glass, blackened lens edges, and fully multicoated internal surfaces Observing List for Amateurs for excellent image sharpness and contrast, along with 14.5 millimeters (Cambridge University Press, 2010). of eye relief. The Lightwave Hyperwide’s 2" barrel also features a rubber- ized grip and folding eyecup. At nearly 2 pounds (875 grams), it’s no lightweight, but if you have a heavy-duty focuser, you’ll find the perfor- mance impressive. $400 • www.altairastro.com

54 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 ASTRO-TECH 5 AT60ED Here’s a mighty mite of a telescope that’s perfect for travel, whether half- way around the world or out to the yard for a quick midweek look- around. Although it measures only 9.5 inches (24 centimeters) long with the dew shield retracted and weighs just 3.25 pounds (1.5 kg), the AT60ED is a lot of scope. Its 2.4-inch f/6 FPL-53 air-spaced doublet delivers excellent APM TELESCOPES resolution and sharpness with no spurious color. The dual- 3 LMS 16×70 ED APO speed 2" rack-and-pinion focuser moves smoothly with no back- lash, making it perfect for on-the-go photography as well as visual Magnesium Series Binocular observing. The AT60ED includes a mounting ring to attach to any This binocular offers exceptional image quality and standard photographic tripod. contrast with no chromatic aberration, whether $369 • www.astronomics.com you’re viewing distant galaxies, the Moon, or terres- trial scenery. That’s thanks to the optical heart and soul within it: fully multicoated twin objectives MAGAZINE with FK-61 extra-low-dispersion glass and BAK-4 6 Backstage Pass: Chicago Porro prisms. Eyeglass wearers also will rejoice at a comfortable 20 mm of eye relief, letting them take Thanks to Astronomy magazine’s Editor David J. in the full 4.1° field of view with glasses on. Topping Eicher and Senior Editor Michael E. Bakich, you can BACKSTAGE PASS everything off, the manufacturer purged the mag- get your own private tour on DVD of four great Adler Planetarium • Field Museum • Fermilab • Yerkes Observatory nesium barrels of air and filled them with nitrogen institutions in and around Chicago: Adler Plan- to prevent internal fogging. etarium, the Field Museum, Fermilab, and Yerkes $684 • www.apm-telescopes.de, Observatory. Astronomy Backstage Pass: Chicago www.farpointastro.com in the U.S. is a three-hour informal account of the editors’ visit to these wonderful facilities. You’ll see and hear people at each location talk about current ATIK programs, exhibits, and research, and you’ll “walk through” some fascinating public — and With Astronomy magazine editors David J. Eicher and Michael E. Bakich 4 16200 CCD camera not-so-public — areas. And stay tuned: This DVD is just the first in the Backstage Pass series. If you’re in the market for a top-end CCD camera $29.95 • www.myscienceshop.com to couple to your telescope, then the ATIK 16200 may be just what you’re looking for. Its 16.2-megapixel MAGAZINE KAF-16200 class II 7Venus globe sensor can be used with a wide range Venus is often called Earth’s sister planet. The of telescopes. It is Magellan orbiter, which imaged 84 percent of just as adept at the planet’s surface, proved that our “sister” is photographing more like a distant relative. Based on those wide-angle views of the images, Astronomy’s Venus globe pulls back night sky as it is at capturing the curtain of the second planet’s opaque intricate detail in small, faint targets, thanks atmosphere to unveil a colorful (albeit false- in part to the sensor’s 6-micrometer pixel size. color) complex surface. More than 200 fea- The housing is sealed and argon-purged to keep tures — such as Beta Regio, Atanua Mons, the innards dry, while a dual-stage cooling system Epistle Regio, Var Mons, and Maxwell Montes lowers the sensor to 81 degrees Fahrenheit — are labeled, as are all 10 Venera landing sites. (45 degrees Celsius) below ambient temperature Measuring 12 inches (30.5 cm) in diameter, the to minimize electronic noise. injection-molded globe comes with a clear acrylic $3,570 • www.atik-cameras.com display base. $99.95 • www.myscienceshop.com CELESTRON CELESTRON 9 Elements 12NexStar Evolution FireCel Mega 6 8 HD with StarSense This is a must-have multitool for Celestron set a high standard when every backyard stargazer. Using a it created its latest flagship Schmidt- rechargeable 6000 mAh lithium- Cassegrain telescope. The NexStar ion battery, the FireCel Mega 6 Evolution 8 uses Edge HD optics to combines a hand warmer, a USB deliver sharp images free of coma and power bank, and a four-mode red field curvature. The one-armed and/or white LED flashlight. Cold computer-driven mount serves as a fingers? The hand warmer can steady platform that is accurately reach a toasty temperature of controlled by precision worm gears 114 F (45.6 C) for up to eight hours. The FireCel can on both axes. Wireless control ends power cameras, phones, and other USB-connectable the hassle of dangling cables, which devices, as well as light your way to and from your can be such a nuisance at night. telescope. The unit measures 2 inches by 1 inch by Finally, the StarSense employs a small BAADER 4.63 inches (51 by 24 by 118 mm) in size and weighs digital camera that takes a series of 8 17.5mm just 6.2 ounces (177 g). wide-field sky images to align the Morpheus 76° $59.99 • www.celestron.com telescope. The result is an exception- ally versatile instrument, both visu- Eyepiece ally and photographically. $2,099 • www.celestron.com From Germany’s Baader KASAI TRADING Planetarium comes this new entry in the wide-field eyepiece 10 WideFinder 28 market. The Morpheus offers a The WideFinder marries one side of Kasai’s 76° apparent field for a pan- WideBino 28 to a red-dot reflex finder to boost what oramic view that is sharp and you see when aiming your scope. The distortion-free right to the erect (right-side-up) image means edge. Thanks to the 20 mm you can still aim with both eyes of eye relief, that full field open. Like other reflex finders, can be enjoyed by everyone, the WideFinder’s view includes including observers who two concentric circles, ½° and 2° wear glasses. Want to photo- in diameter. Their brightness is graph the view? The folding adjustable, and you can set them to rubber eyecup comes with an pulse or shine continuously. Kasai integral M43 threaded metal includes two bases, two dust covers, ring for attaching a camera. and a dew/light shield. $239 • www.baader- $220 • www.kasai-trading.jp planetarium.com

BERLEBACH 11Charon observer’s chair Spending time at the eyepiece is something we all enjoy. But bend- ing over while doing so is decidedly unpleasant. Many opt for the comfort of an observing chair to ease the burden on their backs. Such chairs come in several designs, but Berlebach’s folding Charon chair is one of the best. It’s made from birch plywood, and the seat has 12 height settings from 4 to 36.6 inches (10 to 93 cm). This makes it ideal for viewing through Newtonian reflectors, which require a broad range of seating positions. The chair weighs less than 13 pounds (5.9 kg), yet can sup- port 264 pounds (120 kg) of astronomer. $189 • www.berlebach.de, www.mrstarguy.com in the U.S. CORONADO 13 SolarMax III 70mm Solar Telescope Coronado’s SolarMax III Hydrogen-alpha refractor delivers unparalleled images of our star’s turbulent nature. Available in several models, the Solar Max III’s design places its H-alpha etalon filter in front of the objective. This improves contrast and sharpness. Two variations of each model are avail- able, either with a single filter and a 0.7-angstrom bandpass or a double- stacked filter offering a 0.5-angstrom bandpass. Each comes with a 2" dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser, a 90° diagonal with a built-in blocking filter, an 18mm CEMAX eyepiece, a Sol Ranger Solar Finder, a Vixen-style dovetail mounting rail, and a black and gold aluminum carrying case. $2,299 and up • www.meade.com

IOPTRON 14 SkyTracker Pro Never one to rest on its past successes, iOptron’s latest nightscape camera drive, the SkyTracker Pro camera-tracking platform, improves on previous versions that have been popular for years. The SkyTracker Pro attaches to any tripod with either ¼" or ⅜" threads. Once you align it to the celestial pole using the included GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE polar finder scope 15 Eclipse maps for 2024 — easily done thanks to the The next total solar eclipse visible in the United States will be on geared altitude- Monday, April 8, 2024. For those of us who are already planning where azimuth base — the we will be, Michael Zeiler has created an indispensable series of detailed tracker will move your camera in time with the sky to maps showing the exact eclipse path from the Rio Grande River to create dramatic nightscapes. iOptron states that the northernmost Maine, as well as over portions of southeastern Canada. rechargeable internal battery can run the SkyTracker Like his similar work for the 2017 eclipse, the 2024 maps are available Pro continuously for up to 24 hours on a single charge. in different formats. It’s never too early to start planning for the next $399 • www.ioptron.com Great American Eclipse. $10 and $29.99 • www.greatamericaneclipse.com

DAYSTAR 16 SR-127 Dedicated Solar Telescope Looking for even more aperture for studying the Sun? DayStar’s SR-127 should satisfy the need. It features the company’s Quark H-alpha filtering technology combined with a 5-inch achromatic objective made by iStar Optical. Four models varying in bandpass width from 0.7 angstrom to an incredible 0.1 angstrom are available. Each includes a digital readout for precise tuning control accurate to 0.01 angstrom. And if that isn’t enough, the SR-127 includes a carbon-fiber tube, a 2" rack-and- pinion focuser, mounting rings with a Vixen-compatible dovetail, and a hardwood case. $5,745 to $9,890 • www.daystarfilters.com

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 57 DAYSTAR 17 80mm Solar Scout DayStar offers its 80mm achromatic Solar Scout dedicated solar scope for the price other companies charge for smaller apertures. Two models are available, both based around DayStar’s Quark H-alpha filter. One is designed to highlight prominences, while the other is meant to capture chromospheric details such as filaments. Power to control the internal etalon tuning is delivered using the included 110-volt AC adapter or an optional 24-mAh battery. DayStar gave the MATTHEW LLOYD Solar Scout a carbon-fiber tube, an internal helical focuser, a Solar Bullet finder, 19 Good To Stargaze app and a Vixen-style mounting plate. $2,695 • www.daystarfilters.com Will the stars be out tonight? Or should you plan to catch up on your Netflix viewing instead? Basing that decision on the local weather forecast can be frustrating because meteorologically clear IOPTRON and astronomically clear can be quite different. 18 AZ Mount Pro Good To Stargaze, created by Matthew Lloyd, gathers the local weather forecast, transparency, Here’s a mount that’s an outstanding choice for seeing, and light pollution all in one handy app. visual observers looking for a travel-ready, state-of- It’s free from your app store for both iOS and the-art way to view the universe. Designed for tele- Android phones. scopes weighing up to 33 pounds (15 kg), the AZ Free • www.goodtostargaze.com Mount Pro is a compact all-in-one unit that features full computer control, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and iOptron’s “level-and-go” technology for simplified setup. Tracking and go-to aiming accu- LOWE’S racy are both spot-on. With its AZ Mount Pro, 21“Good Neighbor” iOptron proves once again that it remains a leading manufacturer of sophisticated portable mounts. dark-sky-friendly lighting $1,299 • www.ioptron.com It’s been said that the higher the wall, the better the neighbor. For astronomers, though, the saying could be the KASAI TRADING darker the sky, the better the 20 WideBino 28 neighbor. Lowe’s Home Center offers a variety Kicking back and viewing the night sky is both of shielded outdoor fun and relaxing. But have you ever wished fixtures designed to that your eyes had a little more light-gathering aim lighting earth- power? Check out Kasai’s 2.3x40 WideBino 28 ward, not skyward. binoculars. Non-prismatic in design, the One such product is the WideBino combines two-element multicoated objective lenses lantern-style Ellicott wall light by Portfolio. with two-element eyepieces to produce a stated 28° true field of Measuring 10.75 inches (27.3 cm) tall by view. This gives you a one- to two-magnitude gain over traditional 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) in diameter, the silver naked-eye viewing. Do note, however, that the field you see depends on Ellicott lights doorways and other entrances how you use the binoculars. To see the widest field, you’ll need to press your eyes without any annoying glare or light-spill. All light close to the eyepieces. Also, the field of view of a Galilean optical system like this stays approximately 30° below the horizon. And if depends on pupil size — the 28° field is viewable only when the pupils are fully your local Lowe’s doesn’t carry them on the shelf, dilated to around 7 mm. Kasai also sells a custom viewing goggle to hold the or if there is no Lowe’s in your area, you can WideBino in place for hands-free viewing. always order them online. $170 • www.kasai-trading.jp $39.98 • www.lowes.com

58 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 OMEGON ORION 22 Panorama II 10mm eyepiece 24 6" f/4 Newtonian Omegon may not be a familiar name to most readers, but this Astrograph Reector small company from Landsberg, Germany, sells a line of four If you’re looking to break into wide-field eyepieces with huge fields of view. Each focal length in their astrophotography on a budget, then Panorama II collection offers a spacious 100° apparent field. We’ve you’ll find this 6-inch reflector from singled out the 10mm eyepiece because it combines that wide view Orion of special interest. The primary with 19.7 mm of eye relief, all in a housing that fits into 1¼" focus- mirror is made of Schott B270 glass to ers. The 10mm is built around an eight-element design set in a quickly reach thermal equilibrium when waterproof barrel. The combination of moderate magnification brought out into the cool night air, while and field size hits the sweet spot especially for fainter deep-sky objects. the secondary mirror is oversized to $199 • www.omegon.eu deliver excellent field illumination for photography. Both are coated with enhanced aluminizing to heighten con- MASUYAMA trast. The dual-speed Crayford focuser 23 60mm eyepiece will hold heavy cameras without slip- ping, while a steel reinforcing plate If you own a long-focal-length telescope, you’re underneath the focuser effectively elimi- usually restricted to small fields of view. While nates flexure. The entire package — even that’s perfect for planets and binary stars, it’s with the included tube rings, extension also nice to be able to stretch now and then and tube for visual use, Vixen-style dovetail view larger targets. Masuyama’s 60mm super- mounting plate, and 8x50 finder scope low-power eyepiece is your redemption. Housed — weighs only 12.7 pounds (5.8 kg). inside its 2" barrel are five lens elements set into Given the fast focal ratio, an optional three groups, creating a coma corrector is recommended to “hybrid Plössl” design. eliminate inherent coma. Weighing in at 21 ounces $399.99 • www.telescope.com MEADE (600 g), the Masuyama 60 measures 5.8 inches 25 70mm (148 mm) long and apochromatic 2.6 inches (65 mm) in refractor diameter. If you remove the rubber grips from The competitive niche market of the barrels, a pair of astrophotography-specific tele- these eyepieces will slim scopes, or astrographs, just got a down enough to fit into little hotter with Meade Instru- many 2" binoviewers. ments’ 2.76-inch apochromatic $595 • www. refractor. Its fast f/5 focal ratio hutech.com means that it will record lots of detail quickly in wide-field shots that feature targets like the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), the THE MARTIAN GARDEN North America Nebula (NGC 26 Mars Regolith Simulant kit 7000), and the Pleiades (M45). Its four-element objective, incorporat- One look at any color photo of the red, iron-rich surface of ing FPL-53 extra-low-dispersion Mars and it’s pretty obvious that you’re not in Kansas anymore. glass, delivers images that are sharp Although we have yet to return a sample of martian soil to to the edge — no field flattener Earth, our armada of robotic landers and rovers has precisely required — and free of false color. investigated the chemical composition of the Red Planet’s soil. Meade designed this scope with Based on those analyses, scientists have found that crushed DSLRs in mind. Not only is the 10:1 basalt from an ancient volcano in the Mojave Desert is a dual-speed Crayford focuser well good replica. Can martian soil support plant life? You can made, it allows a camera body to be find out for yourself with a Mars Regolith Simulant kit. Each threaded directly onto the focus includes simulated martian soil, a plastic greenhouse, and a tube using the included adapter. seed mix of cabbage, kale, spinach, and broccoli. $1,199 • www.meade.com $14.99 • www.themartiangarden.com

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 59 QHYCCD 27 QHY183M camera The QHY183M, a 20-megapixel back-illuminated camera, is the latest addition to QHYCCD’s lineup of high-end digi- tal imagers. While its near twin, the QHY183C, is a one- shot color camera, the monochromatic QHY183M expands your creative freedom to allow RGB, luminance, or narrow- band exposures using a filter wheel (sold separately). Thanks to Sony’s IMX183 CMOS sensor, pixel size is only 2.4 micrometers, promising high-resolution results using modest-sized telescopes with fast focal ratios. Its two-stage thermoelectric cooler drops the sensor’s temperature 72 to 81 F (40 to 45 C) below ambient to reduce noise. Finally, USB 3.0 connectivity makes download times quick, up to 15 full-resolution frames per second. $1,099 • www.qhyccd.com

STELLARVUE SKYSAFARI 28 Optimus 9mm 29 6 Pro app eyepiece Since it was Like all four members in Stellarvue’s family of introduced in highly acclaimed ultra wide-angle eyepieces, 2009, SkySafari the 9mm Optimus features everything that you by Simulation would expect from a $600 eyepiece: sharp, Curriculum has high-contrast views of everything it’s aimed become the toward across a vast 100° apparent field of view most popular that engulfs the observer. Fur- astronomy app ther, 15 mm of eye relief and a for iOS devices. foldable rubber eyecup makes Earlier this year, viewing comfortable. It doesn’t version 6 came out with many new features that have raised the get any better, until you realize bar even higher. The basis for the app is the UCAC5 star cata- that this “$600 eyepiece” costs log, which includes 25 million stars as faint as 15th magnitude. only $349. Owner Vic Maris The Pro version ups that number to more than 100 million has done what others couldn’t stars, as well as adds 3 million galaxies down to 18th magni- do, creating a world-class eyepiece that is 40 percent less expen- tude and a full inventory of solar system objects. The app also sive than its nearest competition. The 9mm is an excellent offers wireless telescope control with voice activation. And if choice for general viewing. Its moderately high magnification you feel like slewing your telescope toward random targets, enhances contrast to bring out faint targets, while the wide field aim your phone or device skyward, and SkySafari’s “tilt to prevents cosmic claustrophobia. slew” option will move the telescope in that direction. $349 • www.stellarvue.com $39.99 • www.skysafariastronomy.com

ORION 30 Tritech CFX tripod This accessory offers sturdy support for cameras, spotting scopes, and binoculars, but weighs just over 6 pounds (2.8 kg) — about 30 percent less than comparable metal tripods. That’s because the Tritech’s three extendable legs are made of carbon fiber, which is lightweight yet strong and great at dampening vibrations. The tripod is topped with an aluminum fluid-pan-head with three axes of motion. A pair of twist-lock handle grips allows smooth control in all directions. The Tritech comes with a quick-release mounting plate featuring a captive ¼"-20 threaded post, with addi- tional plates sold separately. When the legs and center post are fully extended, the tripod can raise its payload to 65 inches (165 cm). Collapsed, it measures 29 inches (73.6 cm) long, fitting neatly into its soft carrying case. $299.99 • www.telescope.com TAKAHASHI 33 FSQ-130ED Astrograph What makes a great tele- scope? To me, it must be a superb optical performer, have solid mechanical con- struction, and be outfitted with no-compromise com- ponents. Finding all three of those qualities in a single instrument is difficult, until you look at Takahashi’s 5.1-inch f/5 FSQ- 130ED Astrograph apochromatic refractor. The outstanding five-element optical system consists of a three-element objective plus a two-element rear corrector. These effectively squelch spherical and chromatic aberrations. Takahashi’s dual-speed rack-and-pinion focuser is beautifully made, STELLARVUE designed to support even heavy cameras with ease. A mount, tripod, tube SV152T refractor rings, and finder are each sold separately. 31 $13,460 • www.takahashiamerica.com Stellarvue’s new flagship, the 6-inch f/7.9 SV152T apo- chromatic triplet refractor, excels as both a visual and photographic instrument. Optically, it uses a three- element objective with a conventional front element, VIXEN an FPL-53 center element, and a lanthanum rear ele- 34 Atera Vibration ment. That winning combination produces images that are extremely sharp and high in contrast. The scope Cancelling Binocular comes with a Feather Touch dual-speed focuser, a Using a proprietary prism system mounted in right-angle finder, a Losmandy-compatible mounting a two-axis gimbal base, Vixen’s Atera Vibration plate, and rotating mounting rings. The aluminum Cancelling Binocular effectively steadies out jitters even at a magnification of tube, weighing 27 pounds (12.2 kg) and measuring 12. A battery-powered sensor (two AAA batteries required) detects motion 44½ inches (1.1 meters) long with the dew shield and then compensates for it by adjusting the prism assembly in the direction retracted, sits safe and sound in the standard, wheeled needed to maintain a stable field of view. With fully multicoated optics and storage case. Optional accessories include a 2" star phase-coated roof prisms, the Atera promises excellent images across its 4.2° diagonal, a field flattener, and a focal reducer. field. At less than 6 inches (15 cm) long and weighing less than a pound $8,995 • www.stellarvue.com (0.5 kg), the Atera is small and light enough for one-handed support. $649 • www.vixenoptics.com UNIVERSE2GO 32 Personal planetarium VIXEN 35 Replica of Isaac This smartphone-based viewer combines vir- Newton’s original reector tual reality with real The company calls it a replica, but it’s not just a reality. By installing reproduction. It’s a working 2.8-inch f/4 tele- the free app on scope. Outwardly, it faithfully re-creates the look of your iOS or the original instrument built by Sir Isaac Newton, with a Android two-part sliding aluminum tube wrapped in waxed smartphone, parchment paper and an ash globe mount atop a and then mount- metal base. The scope focuses just as Newton’s did, by ing it to the lightweight handheld turning a key behind the primary mirror — but he viewer, Universe2Go brings the sky to you. could only dream of what’s inside this replica. Look up, and an overlay of the app’s screen is super- Newton’s reflector had an aperture of only 1.3 inches imposed on the actual sky, identifying planets, stars, with a speculum primary made of an alloy of tin constellations, and a wealth of deep-sky objects. You’ll and copper. Vixen’s optical system brings this find a full list of compatible smartphones on the into the 21st century, with a multicoated glass Universe2go website. mirror teamed with a pair of 1¼" eyepieces. $49.90 • www.universe2go.com $299 • www.vixenoptics.com

WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 61 N Aldebaran OBSERVINGBASICS TAURUS BY GLENN CHAPLE ORION

Betelgeuse E Juno’s Juno on November 16 35 32 22 planetary past M42 Though once considered a full-sized planet, the third Rigel ERIDANUS asteroid ever discovered faced demotion long ago. 5° Throughout the month of November, observers can spot dwarf planet Juno as it treks within a degree of a trio of bright stars. Juno is shown here during its opposition on few months ago, — Neptune, which orbits the November 16, when it will sit next to the binary star 32 Eridani. ASTRONOMY: ROEN KELLY we were privy to a Sun more than 800 million close opposition of miles closer than suggested by a typical opposition, Juno distinctly yellow and blue. The Mars — an event Titius-Bode — closed the book might shine at magnitude 9 or magnitudes are 4.8 and 5.9 with that occurs all too on that so-called law. 10. Every 13 years, however, an a separation of 6.9". It was a Ainfrequently. This month, we This state of affairs set a opposition coincides with easy choice to make my Double set our sights on another favor- precedent for Pluto’s recent fall Juno’s closest approach to the Star Marathon list, and it is a able but uncommon opposition from planetary grace. Like Sun. Such is the case with this definite bonus for anyone who of a planet: Juno. Ceres, Pluto was originally month’s opposition, which looks for Juno during its close “Wait a second,” you protest. thought to be the only body of occurs on the 16th. Juno will be encounter with this pretty pair. “Juno isn’t a planet!” Actually, its kind in that part of the solar 96.3 million miles away and an Now back to Juno. Since it it was — two centuries ago. system. It, too, was much easy magnitude 7.4 binocular looks like a star, how do you Here’s the story. By the end smaller than the traditionally target. We’ll have to wait until know you’re seeing the real of the 18th century, the dis- known planets. When more October 2031 to see Juno this deal? Your first clue is if your tances from the Sun to the “Plutoids” came to light — bright again. suspect is close to where the known planets seemed to obey including Eris, which is slightly Now that you know Juno is finder chart indicates. If you’re a mathematical sequence as smaller than Pluto — these two, much more than a diminutive like me and want to be 100 proposed by Johann Titius and along with Ceres, were reclassi- speck of light through binocu- percent sure, take advantage of Johann Bode. But there was a fied as dwarf planets. lars or a telescope, you’ll want the fact that asteroids move glitch: No planet existed Because Juno appears as a to view it for yourself. First, — stars don’t. Make a sketch of between Mars and Jupiter, mere telescopic speck, we’ll you’ll need the finder chart on the field that includes your pos- where Bode’s law predicted one sible Juno and nearby field stars. should be. Then, on the very Mounting your binoculars on a first day of 1801, Italian astron- “Wait a second,” you protest. tripod will help a lot. Through a omer Giuseppe Piazzi discov- “Juno isn’t a planet!” Actually, it was — telescope, use low magnification ered a body, later named Ceres, two centuries ago. to encompass as large a chunk in the prescribed location. The of sky as possible, particularly solar system was complete, the area where Juno is predicted according to Bode’s law. need to mentally enhance the the right side of page 43. If to be one or two evenings later. However, things began to view with some background you’re a “star hopper,” focus on On the next clear night, reob- unravel when, during the next knowledge. Juno was discov- those times when Juno passes serve the area. If the suspect you six years, three more bodies ered in 1804 by German astron- within a degree of a bright field sketched is no longer in the — Pallas, Juno, and Vesta — omer Karl Harding and named star. During November, these original spot but has moved to were discovered orbiting in the after the highest-ranking opportunities occur when Juno the location predicted for that same zone as Ceres. Worse yet, Roman goddess. As one of the encounters 35 Eridani (magni- night, break out the champagne none of these bodies, dubbed larger asteroids (10th or 11th in tude 5.3) early in the month, — you’ve captured Juno! “asteroids” by William rank), it has a diameter of 32 Eridani (magnitude 4.5) at Questions, comments, or Herschel, came close to approx- 150 miles (240 kilometers), midmonth, and 22 Eridani suggestions? Email me at imating the size of the known roughly the width of New (magnitude 5.5) at month’s end. [email protected]. Next planets. A rash of asteroid dis- Hampshire and Vermont com- Because none of these stars is month: The treasures of the coveries in the mid-1800s bined. Juno orbits the Sun once bright, you want to set up in an triangle. Clear skies! sealed the deal. every 4.7 years, with opposi- area with reasonably dark skies. Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta, tions about every 15.5 months. And now I must digress: Glenn Chaple has been an and the others were reclassified Like Mars, its eccentric orbit 32 Eridani is a showpiece dou- avid observer since a friend as minor planets. And in 1846, means that not all Juno opposi- ble star whose G8 and A2 spec- showed him Saturn through a small backyard scope in 1963. a newly discovered planet tions are created equal. During tral class components appear

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Entries from any person submitting more than the as a result of the prize, or acceptance, possession, or may be awarded (collectively, “special damages”), and (4) stated number will be disqualii ed. use/misuse of the prize, or from participation in the entrant hereby waives all rights to claim special damages Sweepstakes; (v) any printing or typographical errors 4. Prizes/Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) in U.S. and all rights to such damages multiplied or increased. in any materials associated with the Sweepstakes; Dollars. One (1) Grand Prize consisting of a Mercury Wisconsin law, without reference to choice of law rules, (vi) any change in participant’s telephone number, globe. ARV of Grand Prize: $99.95. governs the Sweepstakes and all aspects related thereto. mailing address, or email address. Sponsor reserves 10. Sponsor. Sponsored by Kalmbach Media, P.O. Box 5. Drawing/Odds/Noti cation. A random drawing for the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or cancel 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612. the Grand Prize will be held on or around November 20, the Sweepstakes at any time if a computer virus, bug 2018. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries tampering, unauthorized intervention, or other technical P33956 FORYOURCONSIDERATION BY JEFF HESTER ‘Miracle’ work A run-in with a show aimed at the incredibly credulous.

’ve done a lot of television our memories are erased, interviews over the years, how can we tell when we’ve but maybe the most improb- been abducted?” able was for an old TV “Simple! Just put your under- show called Sightings. To wear on backwards when you go Ibe honest, I had never heard of to bed. Then if you get up in the the show and almost backed out morning and your underwear is when I discovered its standard the right way around, you’ll fare involved flying saucers, ESP, know space aliens took you!”

and things that go bump in the Speaking personally, if I roll DREAMSTIME night. But the producer seemed out of bed wearing disheveled

reasonable and insisted that he clothes it probably has more to MIK3812345/ just wanted to talk to a real sci- do with tequila than little green entist for a change. men, but that’s just me. I forgot about the whole pile of bovine manure?” He Ultimately I took the gamble, Eventually we stopped laugh- business until some months seemed insulted. Of course he and they actually did a pretty ing and got back to my inter- later when I got an email that knew it was bogus! Did I think nice job. I doubt the segment view. But that’s not what I want the documentary was sched- that he was a complete idiot? inspired anyone to recommit to talk about. The real story is uled to air. The program It was then that he unapolo- their life to truth, justice, and what came next. started out with a disclaimer: getically disabused me of my the American way, but at least After my interview, the cam- “We present both sides of con- naiveté. there was one fewer story about eraman asked if he could show troversial topics. We leave it to “Documentaries on stuff like how Bigfoot saved Grandma’s me some footage from a docu- the viewer what to believe.” this aren’t meant to educate peo- ghost from being eaten by the mentary he was working on. What followed was mostly ple. They’re meant to sell soap. Loch Ness monster. I’ll chalk This was back when sharing a “experts” asserting, “No one My job is to tell the intended that up as a win. video meant sending a VHS tape could ever fake that,” followed audience exactly what it wants The shoot itself was fun to a TV station and crossing by me saying something like, to hear. If people want to see because the crew was a hoot! I’d miracles and space aliens, I never considered that there are show them miracles and space perfectly reasonable, intelligent It’s not that people who pander aliens. That way they tune in, people who make their living to the public’s taste for anti-science watch to the end, leave happy, flying all over the country inter- have necessarily been taken in. and buy the sponsors’ products.” viewing vocal members of the There it was, bald-faced and tinfoil hat crowd. But that’s direct from the horse’s mouth. exactly how this crew spent its your fingers. The producer of “There are things we don’t It’s not that people who pander working hours. this nascent documentary had understand.” to the public’s taste for anti- They had some hilarious sto- gotten hold of a handful of such After I managed to pick my science have necessarily been ries. One I remember involved a videos that purported to show jaw up off the floor, I called the taken in. Mostly they’re just self-professed “world’s leading “miraculous events.” producer of the “documentary” plain, old-fashioned carnival expert on alien abductions.” I don’t recall the videos in to say, “Dude!?!” OK. I used hucksters, picking the pockets During their visit, this guy told detail. What I do recall is noting more colorful language than of gullible people they play the crew, in all earnestness, that that they were so badly faked that. I got the sense it wasn’t the for rubes. he was sure they all had been that Ed Wood’s special effects first time he’d gotten a French There wasn’t much to do at abducted by aliens at some were photorealistic by compari- lesson from “the talent.” that point but thank him for point. “You see,” he explained, son. Before long, I was sitting in “You do remember me his time and hang up. At least “everybody has! We just don’t front of another camera. This debunking that nonsense, now I was in on the joke. remember because they wipe time I was going through the right?” He said yes, and even our brains afterwards.” “miraculous” videos one by one, complimented me on how effec- Jeff Hester is a keynote speaker, Feigning shock and suppress- pointing out that it didn’t take an tively I’d torn them to shreds. coach, and astrophysicist. ing a guffaw, one of the crew expert in astronomy or optics to “So you know that the pro- Follow his thoughts at jeff-hester.com. asked the obvious question. “If tell that these things were frauds. gram you just aired is a stinking

BROWSE THE “FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION” ARCHIVE AT www.Astronomy.com/Hester.

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WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 65 SECRETSKY BY STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA Lessons from the bush We can learn a lot from Earth-focused nature observers.

Five animals are visible in this image — try locating them before reading further. have great respect for Seasoned Mars observers Most identifiable at a glance are the three impala. The warthog, near center, can be approach their target the same easily mistaken for a log. The most difficult animal to see is the giraffe. Its spotted neck Botswana’s safari veterans rises above the tall hedge of grass just right of center. Look at the 2 o’clock position — especially the guides. way. They first familiarize beyond the impala at far right. Training your eyes to see earthly objects will help you Their visual awareness themselves with the biggest become a better observer. STEPHEN JAMES O’MEARA and keen knowledge of the bright features, such as the Ibush wilderness is unrivaled. polar caps, and the extensive novice. Similarly, as seen a faint naked-eye satellite had How often I have sat in amaze- dark features, like Syrtis Major through a telescope, a new no motion, we’d have no ment of their ability to pick out and Sinus Sabaeus. They thus dark marking on Mars — pro- chance of detecting it at a birds and animals in a rugged build firm knowledge of the truding, say, from Syrtis Major glance. Motion also comes into landscape — while driving a large-scale martian landscape, — will distort that feature’s play when we observe the plan- vehicle — usually long before and that forms the foundation familiar wedge-shaped pattern ets. The primary cause is the I, or anyone else, notices them. on which they can search for and grab the attention of a vagaries of Earth’s turbulent I’m not talking about the finer features or rogue phe- skilled observer, but perhaps atmosphere, which can shift broadside of an elephant, but nomena, such as clouds and not that of a novice. details about and create false about the white tip of a wild dust storms. markings. But one trick of the dog’s tail or the flick of a bush- Lesson 3: amateur astronomer trade is buck’s ear barely visible above a Lesson 2: Perform a detailed to not track the planet with a wide expanse of tall grass. The Make a quick scan inspection clock drive. guides are shining examples of Both skilled terrestrial and When an alarm sounds in the As the planet drifts through how training leads to outstand- telescopic observers begin mind, the eye/brain system the field of view, skilled observ- ing visual acuity that reaches their observations with a quick shifts gear, changing from ers use peripheral vision to wait far beyond the norm. scan of the environment using peripheral vision (sensitive to out the times of bad seeing and So this month, I thought I’d their peripheral vision. As general shapes and movement) catch glimpses of details under look at some basics of how Marc Antrop and Veerle Van to direct vision (sensitive to moments of steady seeing — these expert wilderness observ- Eetvelde explain in their book fine detail and color). So if a before locking on to them with ers train, and apply them to Landscape Perspectives: The safari veteran notices a foreign direct vision. The exchange visual telescopic observing, par- Holistic Nature of Landscape bulge on a tree with peripheral between peripheral and direct ticularly of the planets. I’ll use (Springer, 2017), a quick glance vision, the eye’s central vision vision can occur in a fraction of Mars as my example because it’s provides a wide-angle view in can resolve it into an owl. This a second. By continually still magnificent in the evening which the eye traces contours all occurs within a matter of repeating this exercise, an sky and has a relatively perma- and fixes on objects that are seconds. observer can walk away from nent large-scale landscape. conspicuous in the scene, not- That the eye’s peripheral the telescope with a mental ing the shape, size, and color vision is sensitive to movement map of a planet’s appearance Lesson 1: of objects as the brain creates is another factor in picking out that may exceed expectations. Learn the landscape a mental image. birds and animals in the bush. So give it a try. Both Mars Unlike a city with its mov- Once the general appear- A wild dog whose body is hid- and Saturn are well placed this ing traffic and construction, ance of large-scale objects is den in the tall grass can give its month for learning their land- the bush landscape (barring stored in memory, any notable location away to a perceptive scape, scanning their faces, and catastrophe) changes little change in shape, size, or color observer with a swish of its tail. inspecting any fine details. As day to day. Because the natu- can set off a mental alarm. For Once locked on to that tail, the always, send your thoughts and ral environment is relatively instance, an owl standing on a observer’s central vision can comments to sjomeara31@ static, when guides make repeat tree branch will distort the perceive its white tip, thus gmail.com. observations of it, they recall known contour of the branch identifying it as a distinctive from their memories large-scale (even when seen at a great dis- marking of a wild dog. Stephen James O’Meara structures. This cache of imag- tance), thereby making it con- In backyard astronomy, we is a globe-trotting observer es forms the foundation upon spicuous to the trained generally use motion detection who is always looking for the next great celestial event. which discoveries are made. observer but “invisible” to a when searching for satellites. If

BROWSE THE “SECRET SKY” ARCHIVE AT www.Astronomy.com/OMeara.

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68 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 2018 ASTRO SWEEPSTAKES – OFFICIAL RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR CLAIM PRIZE. Protect A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. 1. Eligibility. The 2018 Astro Sweepstakes (the fails to fully comply with these Oficial Rules, he/ Your “Sweepstakes”) is open to residents of the United she will forfeit that Prize, and if time permits, an States and Canada (except Quebec and Rhode alternate winner will be randomly drawn from among Island) only, who are age 18 years or older and have all remaining Sweepstakes entries. Canadian prize reached the age of majority in their state/province of winners subject to skill test requirement. Investment! residency at the time of entry. Employees (and their 8. Winners List. 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WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 69 READER GALLERY

1

1. ENCHANTED BELT Orion’s Belt, a line of three bright blue stars, serves as a visual guide to find the Horsehead and Flame nebulae. At the bottom left in this image, you can see the reflection nebula M78, along with a bit of Barnard’s Loop. Dark clouds — part of the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex — surround the entire scene. • Manolis Petrakis

2. LONE STARGAZER A solitary observer targets the 6.8-percent-illuminated waxing crescent Moon on March 19, 2018, at 7:39 P.M. EDT. Also visible are bright Venus, to the left of the telescope, and fainter Mercury, visible through the tripod’s legs. • Chris Cook

2 — Continued on page 72

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ORDER NOW! Sales where tax applicable. MyScienceShop.com/FlashcardSets FLASHCARD SETS FLASHCARD cation tips, interesting facts about the object, and more. MESSIER Astronomy magazine! ashcard SAVE 15%SAVE buy all 3! when you — Continued from page 70

3. CROWN JEWELS King 5 is a little-known open cluster in the constellation Perseus the Hero. It contains some 40 stars, the brightest of which glows faintly at 13th magnitude. • Dan Crowson

4. RINGED GLORY This image, taken one day before Saturn’s 2018 opposition, shows the Seeliger effect, a brightening of the planet’s rings. The brightening occurs for two reasons: The ring particles are scattering sunlight coming from directly behind the observer, and all the particles’ shadows are hidden by the fronts of particles illuminated by the Sun. Because of the Seeliger effect, 3 Saturn’s cloud tops seem pale by comparison. Note the polar hexagon and the multiple storms visible in the polar region. • Christopher Go

5. DAYTIME FIREBALL A blazing, bright meteor streaks across this dramatic scene from Zellwood, Florida. The photographer didn’t realize what he captured until he viewed the image on his computer. He took it just past noon December 5, 2017. • Victor Lee

6. NICE VIEW The staff facility at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile sits peacefully under the spectacular southern Milky Way. Alpha (α) and Beta (β) Centauri point to Crux near the top, just to the right of center, while the two Magellanic Clouds lie near the horizon. The photographer was there as part of the Astronomy in Chile Educator Ambassadors Program when she captured this nine-panel 4 5 panorama. • Samara Nagle

Send your images to: Astronomy Reader Gallery, P. O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187. Please include the date and location of the image and complete photo data: telescope, camera, filters, and exposures. Submit images by email to [email protected]. 6

72 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018 GET READY FOR A YEAR OF EXPLORATION! Deep Space Mysteries 2019 Calendar

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The world’s best-selling astronomy magazine brings you a calendar  lled with dramatic images of the mysteries of deep space! • Gorgeous photos of nebulae, star clusters, and the Apollo astronauts on the Moon. • Monthly details of planet visibility, meteor showers, and conjunctions. • Moon phases, major astronomical events, and other observing opportunities. • 13" x 21" when open, with plenty of room to write appointments and reminders. ORDER NOW AT MyScienceShop.com P33973 BREAK THROUGH The HAWK takes flight

Dust clouds typically shroud optical views of the youngest star clusters. Although searing radiation from massive newborn suns in the cluster’s core excites surrounding gas to incandescence, it has yet to blow away much dust. Short-wavelength infrared radiation pierces this dust, however, revealing young stars and protostars. This recent image showcases the cluster RCW 38, which lies 5,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Vela the Sails. Scientists captured it through one of the 8-meter telescopes at Paranal Observatory in Chile during test observations of the HAWK-I infrared imager and its adaptive optics system. ESO/K. MUZIC

74 ASTRONOMY • NOVEMBER 2018

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B&H Photo – 800.947.9970 – bhphotovideo.com OPT Telescopes – 800.483.6287 – optcorp.com High Point Scientifi c – 800.266.9590 – highpointscientifi c.com Woodland Hills – 888.427.8766 – telescopes.net Optics Planet – 800.504.5897 – opticsplanet.com Adorama – 800.223.2500 – adorama.com SHOP THE SALE AT Astronomics – 800.422.7876 – astronomics.com Focus Camera – 800.221.0828 – focuscamera.com SOUTHERN MARTIN GEORGE describes the solar system’s changing landscape SKY as it appears in Earth’s southern sky. January 2019: Totality comes to the Crab

Six months ago, Southern the end of the month, the Sun morning, the ringed world rises the beautiful wide multiple Hemisphere observers feasted illuminates 62 percent of its two hours before our star and star Gamma (γ) Velorum. on a smorgasbord of bright 19"-diameter disk. lies about 10° high in the east- Observing just this handful of planets spread high across the The second-brightest point southeast an hour later. Shining deep-sky objects can make for a evening sky. But as the New of light in the predawn sky at magnitude 0.6 against the pleasant hour or so on a warm Year dawns, we’re left with only belongs to Jupiter. The giant backdrop of Sagittarius, Saturn summer’s evening. crumbs. The lone survivor of world shines at magnitude –1.8 should be easy to spot with Have a good look at the winter’s glory is Mars, and it’s against the background stars of your naked eye. Unfortunately, Gamma Velorum system. You just a shadow of its former self. Ophiuchus. Like Venus, it treks the planet’s low altitude means may be surprised to learn that a The Red Planet shines at eastward relative to the starry it won’t look exceptional huge but nearly invisible object magnitude 0.5 in early January backdrop. As an outer planet, through a telescope. Much bet- surrounds this spot. The Gum and dims to magnitude 0.9 late however, Jupiter moves far ter views await in the months Nebula spans about 40°, but its in the month. Still, it stands out more slowly. The gas giant to come. light spreads so thinly that it’s nicely against the backdrop of appears to Venus’ lower right in A total lunar eclipse difficult to see anything but the Pisces the Fish, which holds early January, but the gap closes graces the skies above South brightest areas. few prominent stars. Look for day by day. On January 22, the America and parts of Africa on Australian astronomer the ruddy world in the west- two pass 2° from each other. January 21. The Moon lies Colin Stanley Gum (1924– northwest as darkness falls. As Jupiter gains altitude among the background stars of 1960) first described the nebula Unfortunately, Mars appears during January, it becomes a Cancer the Crab, about a bin- in a 1952 paper. He included it only 7" across when viewed much better target for telescope ocular field away from the as the 12th entry in his 1955 through a telescope and likely owners. The planet shows a lovely Beehive star cluster catalog of ionized hydrogen won’t show any surface details. noticeably flattened disk — it (M44). From South America, regions in the southern sky. Planet viewing grows more measures 32.5" across its equa- this region stands fairly high in The Gum Nebula’s irregular appealing at the other end of tor and 30.4" through the poles the north around mid-eclipse. shape is centered near right the night. The brightest of the at midmonth — with a wealth The partial phases begin at ascension 8h20m and dec- predawn worlds is Venus, of colorful features in its cloud 3h34m UT and end at 6h51m lination –40°, just a few which reaches greatest elonga- tops. Also keep an eye out for UT, while totality runs from degrees from Gamma Vel. tion January 6. It then lies 47° Io, Europa, Ganymede, and 4h41m UT to 5h43m UT. Astroimagers can capture the west of the Sun and rises three Callisto. The giant planet’s four nebula quite easily, though it hours before sunup. Gleaming bright moons show up through The starry sky shows up best in Hydrogen- at magnitude –4.6, it is by far any telescope. If you stay up until twilight alpha images, which increase the brightest object in the east- You can catch a final morn- fades away these January eve- the contrast between the nebula ern sky. ing view of Mercury during nings, you’ll get a nice view of and its surroundings. The inner planet begins the January’s first week. The inner- the Milky Way stretching from Astronomers suspect the year in the constellation Libra, most world then hangs at least the northern to the southern Gum Nebula is the remains of but it moves quickly eastward. 5° high in the east-southeast horizon. The disk of our galaxy a titanic supernova explosion It crosses through Scorpius 30 minutes before sunrise. climbs high in the east, arching that occurred a million or during January’s second week Glowing at magnitude –0.4, it from just east of Orion to Crux more years ago, though some and enters Ophiuchus around stands out in twilight under the Cross. researchers suggest more than midmonth. Be sure to look for good conditions. (Binoculars Scattered along this band one supernova may have been it January 2, when a waning can help you spot it initially.) are many objects of interest. responsible. As you gaze in this crescent Moon passes nearby. But Mercury soon disappears Take a few moments to view direction on a beautifully clear Keep an eye on Venus in the Sun’s glare, and it passes open cluster M41, which lies a January night, contemplate the through a telescope during behind our star January 30. few degrees south of brilliant vast-yet-unseen contours of the January. On the 1st, it shows Although Saturn also Sirius. Then scan the region to Gum Nebula. It extends from a fat crescent phase on a disk passes behind the Sun from our the upper left of Crux, which Gamma Vel south to the vicin- that spans 26". The planet perspective this month (on the contains several more stunning ity of the False Cross, east to appears 25" across and half-lit 2nd), it returns to view by clusters. About halfway the constellation Antlia, and at greatest elongation. And, by month’s end. On January’s final between these two areas lies west into central Puppis. STAR S

DOME _

THE ALLSKY MAP PAVO

AUSTRALE

INDUS `

SHOWS HOW THE TRIANGULUM SKY LOOKS AT: CIRCINUS

11 P.M. January 1

P.M. APUS

10 January 15 TAURUS

N

9 P.M. January 31 OCTANS

NGC 4755 NGC MUSCA

GRUS

Planets are shown ` TUCANA _

at midmonth a

b

SCP

NGC 104 NGC CRUX

AUSTRINUS

PISCIS

CHAMAELEON SMC

HYDRUS _

NGC 3372 NGC

MENSA Fomalhaut

CARINA

PHOENIX SCULPTOR

VOLANS

2070 Achernar

NGC RETICULUM

_

NGC 2561 NGC

LMC

PICTOR

HOROLOGIUM

VELA

_

DORADO

NGC 253 NGC

a

SGP Canopus

c

FORNAX

`

CAELUM

PUPPIS

PYXIS

CETUS NGC 2477 NGC

W ¡ ERIDANUS LEPUS

M41

` CANIS MAJOR Mars M47 _ Mira Sirius

k Rigel M42 _

_

PISCES Uranus _ Betelgeuse MONOCEROSProcyon _ ` CANIS MINOR Pa ORION th o f th e Su n (e Aldebaran ARIES cli a ptic) _ ` c _ M Pleiades TAURUS M1

TRIANGULUM M35 GEMINI ` M33 ` Pollux _ M37 MAGNITUDES M36 Castor Sirius Open cluster M38 PERSEUS 0.0 Globular cluster Algol 1.0 ` AURIGA Diffuse nebula 2.0 _ ` 3.0 Planetary nebula Capella LYNX 4.0 5.0 Galaxy _

N HOW TO USE THIS MAP: This map portrays the sky as seen near 30° south latitude. JANUARY 2019 Located inside the border are the four directions: north, south, east, and

west. To find stars, hold the map

NGC 5139 NGC N Calendar of events CE overhead and orient it so a direction label matches the 1 The Moon passes 1.3° north of 14 First Quarter Moon occurs at direction you’re facing. Venus, 22h UT 6h46m UT The stars above the map’s horizon now 2 Saturn is in conjunction with the The Moon passes 5° south of match what’s Sun, 6h UT Uranus, 12h UT in the sky. 3 Earth is at perihelion (147.1 15 Venus passes 8° north of Antares, million kilometers from the Sun), 21h UT 5h UT 21 Full Moon occurs at 5h16m UT; The Moon passes 3° north of total lunar eclipse Jupiter, 8h UT The Moon is at perigee 6 New Moon occurs at 1h28m UT (357,342 kilometers from Earth), 20h00m UT Venus is at greatest western elongation (47°), 5h UT 22 Venus passes 2° north of Jupiter, 6h UT 7 Uranus is stationary, 2h UT 27 Last Quarter Moon occurs at

HYDRA 9 The Moon is at apogee 21h10m UT ANTLIA

CRATER (406,117 kilometers from Earth), 4h29m UT 30 Mercury is in superior conjunction, 3h UT 10 The Moon passes 3° south of Neptune, 22h UT 31 The Moon passes 3° north of Jupiter, 0h UT E 11 Pluto is in conjunction with the Sun, 12h UT The Moon passes 0.09° north of Venus, 18h UT 12 The Moon passes 5° south of _ Mars, 20h UT Alphard SEXTANS

Regulus

_

a

LEO CANCER M44 STAR COLORS: Stars’ true colors depend on surface temperature. Hot stars glow blue; slight- ly cooler ones, white; intermediate stars (like the Sun), yellow; followed by orange and, ulti mately, red. Fainter stars can’t excite our eyes’ color receptors, and so appear white without optical aid.

Illustrations by Astronomy: Roen Kelly

BEGINNERS: WATCH A VIDEO ABOUT HOW TO READ A STAR CHART AT www.Astronomy.com/starchart.