DOCSLIB.ORG

Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 SIGHT # 1 MICRO FULL MOON IS THE HUNTER’S MOON- OCOTBER 1 It is also called Travel Moon, Dying Grass Moon, and sometimes Blood Moon or Sanguine Moon. A Micromoon is when a Full Moon or a New Moon coincides with apogee, the point in the Moon's orbit farthest away from Earth. The point in the Moon's orbit closest to Earth is called perigee. The average distance between Earth and the Moon is 382,500 kilometers or 237,700 miles. A Micromoon is further away, it looks approximately 14% smaller than a Supermoon. In addition, the illuminated area appears 30% smaller, so it might look a little less bright. Micromoons do affect the tides. The greatest difference between high and low tide is around Full Moon and New Moon. During these Moon phases, the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun combine to pull the ocean’s water in the same direction. These tides are known as spring tides or king tides. Micromoons lead to around 5 cm (2 inches) smaller variation than regular spring tides, called apogean spring tides. Old folklore accounts suggest that Full Moons and Micromoons affect human mental health and bring on natural disasters, like earthquakes, but no scientific evidence supports any such correlation. SIGHT # 2 DRACONIDS METEOR SHOWER– OCTOBER 8 & 9 The Draconid meteor shower, also sometimes known as the Giacobinids, is one of the two meteor showers to annually grace the skies in the month of October. The Draconids owe their name to the constellation Draco the Dragon, and are created when the Earth passes through the dust debris left by comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. The comet takes about 6.6 years to make a single revolution around the Sun. The Draconids will peak on the night between Oct 7–8. Click on the table below for daily updated information about the meteor shower. Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 SIGHT # 3 ORIONIDS METEOR SHOWER-OCTOBER 20-21 The Orionids will peak on the night between Oct 20–21. At its peak, up to 20 meteors are visible every hour. They are the second meteor shower of the month. The Orionid meteor shower is the second meteor shower created by Comet Halley. The Eta Aquarids in May is the other meteor shower created by debris left by Comet Halley. Orionids are named after Orion, because the meteors seem to emerge or radiate from the same area in the sky as the constellation. The table is updated daily and shows the position of the Orionids radiant in the sky for the upcoming night. Click for link to webpage. SIGHT # 4 BLUE MOON- OCTOBER 31 The term once in a Blue Moon suggests something happens very rarely. So, how often do Blue Moons occur? The answer depends on how you define a Blue Moon. There are two ways of calculating the date of a Blue Moon. Definition 1 -Seasonal Blue Moon = The third Full Moon in an astronomical season with four Full Moons (versus the usual three). Definition 2 -Monthly Blue Moon = The second Full Moon in a month with two Full Moons. In the 1100 years between 1550 and 2650, there are 408 seasonal Blue Moons and 456 monthly Blue Moons. This means that either Blue Moon occurs roughly every two or three years, although the monthly ones are a little more frequent than the seasonal ones. Click on the picture for a link. Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Tonight’s Sky in Newton, NC –updated daily (Click on Photos) Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 (Click on photo to view hyperlinks) Distance of Each Planet from the Sun (Click on photo to view hyperlinks) Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Sky Map of Constellations for Kids Constellation Cards Downloadable Constellation in Summer Skies Warm, lazy July nights are great for learning and viewing the summer constellations. So spread a blanket out in the backyard and lie on your back with your feet facing the south. Can you find the Constellation: The Big Dipper ? High over your head on the right? Bootes ? Looks like a narrow kite. Cassiopeia ? Corona Borealis ? Just to the left of Bootes) aka the Northern Crown? The Crown is about as big as the Big dippers bowl. Its not too bright, but easy to spot in the city—it really looks like a crown. Hercules ? Just left of Corona Borealis The Summer Triangle ? Its to the left of Hercules and is the most famous feature of summer, the Summer Triangle. Its made up of three bright stars: Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, Altair in Aquila. Lyra ? Is a small constellation-it could fit into the Big Dippers Bowl. You’ll have to look hard to see the four stars below Vega, but when you find them, Lyra might remind you of a harp. Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Can you find the Constellation: Cygnus the Swan ? Is a lot larger than Lyra. You’ll find its main stars easily. Bright Deneb, the northernmost star, is the tail of this heavenly bird; bright Albireo far to the south is its head, when you look for Albireo, remember that swans have long necks. Aguila ? Is about the same size of Cygnus, but its shape is almost the opposite. If you can see the Milky Way from your observing site, think of Cygnus and Aquila flying down opposite lanes of a two-lane road. Delphinus, the dolphin ? The small constellation is between Cygus and Aquila. It looks a lot like a dolphin leaping out of the water. Sagittarius ? Follow the Milky Way all the way south to find Sagittarius. Sagittarius shares the southern horizon with the Scorpius. Made up of a centaur holding a bow and arrow and the Teapot. The Teapot ? Is not a constellation but is a asterism, a recognizable pattern of stars. Look towards the Center of the Milky Way Scorpius ? Scorpius is easy to identify, since it really looks like a scorpion. To find it face south about 10 pm towards the middle of the month. It is said July is one of the best months to view the constellation. Near the horizon you’ll find the bright star Antares, the heart of the scorpion. Down and to the left of Antares is the scorpion’s tail with the stinger raised to strike. Above and to the right is the row of stars that marks the scorpions head. Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 Star-Gazing Guide for October 2020 .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download This Article in PDF Format
    A&A 598, A40 (2017) Astronomy DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201629659 & c ESO 2017 Astrophysics Separation and confirmation of showers? L. Neslušan1 and M. Hajduková, Jr.2 1 Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, 05960 Tatranska Lomnica, Slovak Republic e-mail: [email protected] 2 Astronomical Institute, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 84504 Bratislava, Slovak Republic e-mail: [email protected] Received 6 September 2016 / Accepted 30 October 2016 ABSTRACT Aims. Using IAU MDC photographic, IAU MDC CAMS video, SonotaCo video, and EDMOND video databases, we aim to separate all provable annual meteor showers from each of these databases. We intend to reveal the problems inherent in this procedure and answer the question whether the databases are complete and the methods of separation used are reliable. We aim to evaluate the statistical significance of each separated shower. In this respect, we intend to give a list of reliably separated showers rather than a list of the maximum possible number of showers. Methods. To separate the showers, we simultaneously used two methods. The use of two methods enables us to compare their results, and this can indicate the reliability of the methods. To evaluate the statistical significance, we suggest a new method based on the ideas of the break-point method. Results. We give a compilation of the showers from all four databases using both methods. Using the first (second) method, we separated 107 (133) showers, which are in at least one of the databases used. These relatively low numbers are a consequence of discarding any candidate shower with a poor statistical significance.
    [Show full text]
  • Have Pictures of the Constellations (Cygnus, Perseus, Corona Borelis, Cassiopeia, Orion, Big Dipper, and Virgo) on the Seminary Tables in Front
    1. Gathering Activity : Have pictures of the constellations (Cygnus, Perseus, Corona Borelis, Cassiopeia, Orion, Big Dipper, and Virgo) on the seminary tables in front. Give each YW a chance to identify the constellation on a piece of paper. 2. Introduction : Before cell phones, GPS, satellites, or even maps, people navigated the globe by looking up to the heavens. Star constellations that we can see tonight have been around since before Christ’s birth. They have been a light and a standard to help people find their way home. This year the Mutual theme comes from Doctrine and Covenants 115:5 “Arise and shine forth that thy light may be a standard for the nations.” As children of God, we are being asked to be a standard, a light for people to find their way back to their Heavenly Father. Tonight as we introduce the YW program we are going to use stars and constellation to help teach and guide you about the Young Women’s program. 3. Young Women Motto and Logo: Just as stars shine brightly in the night time sky, the Young Women’s logo is a torch burning brightly. It is surrounded by the Young Woman Motto: “Stand for Truth and Righteousness”. The Moto invites all young women to make a commitment to hold up their light by being an example and remaining worthy to make and keep sacred covenants and receive the ordinances of the temple. When I think of the Young Woman’s motto, it makes me think of _____________________________________________________. 4. Young Women Theme/ Values Constellations were created to bring order to the night time chaos in the heavens.
    [Show full text]
  • CONSTELLATION BOÖTES, the HERDSMAN Boötes Is the Cultivator Or Ploughman Who Drives the Bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor Around the Pole Star Polaris
    CONSTELLATION BOÖTES, THE HERDSMAN Boötes is the cultivator or Ploughman who drives the Bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor around the Pole Star Polaris. The bears, tied to the Polar Axis, are pulling a plough behind them, tilling the heavenly fields "in order that the rotations of the heavens should never cease". It is said that Boötes invented the plough to enable mankind to better till the ground and as such, perhaps, immortalizes the transition from a nomadic life to settled agriculture in the ancient world. This pleased Ceres, the Goddess of Agriculture, so much that she asked Jupiter to place Boötes amongst the stars as a token of gratitude. Boötes was first catalogued by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the 2nd century and is home to Arcturus, the third individual brightest star in the night sky, after Sirius in Canis Major and Canopus in Carina constellation. It is a constellation of large extent, stretching from Draco to Virgo, nearly 50° in declination, and 30° in right ascension, and contains 85 naked-eye stars according to Argelander. The constellation exhibits better than most constellations the character assigned to it. One can readily picture to one's self the figure of a Herdsman with upraised arm driving the Greater Bear before him. FACTS, LOCATION & MAP • The neighbouring constellations are Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, Corona Borealis, Draco, Hercules, Serpens Caput, Virgo, and Ursa Major. • Boötes has 10 stars with known planets and does not contain any Messier objects. • The brightest star in the constellation is Arcturus, Alpha Boötis, which is also the third brightest star in the night sky.
    [Show full text]
  • Star Wheel Questions Set the Star Wheel for 9Pm on November 1St
    Star Wheel Questions Set the star wheel for 9pm on November 1st. the edges of the star window are where the sky meets the ground. This is called the horizon. 1. What constellation is near the northern horizon? (Ursa Major, Bootes) 2. What constellation is near the eastern horizon? (Orion, Eridanus) The center of the star wheel is the top of the sky, over your head. 3. Name two constellations that are near the top of the sky. (Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Andromeda) On the star wheel, bigger stars appear brighter in the sky. 4. Which constellation would be easier to see because it has more bright stars: Cassiopeia or Cepheus? (Cassiopeia) 5. Planets are not shown on the star wheel. Why not? (because they change positions over time) Now set the star wheel for midnight on March 15. 6. Where in the sky would you look to see Canis Major? (near the western horizon) 7. Look toward the east. What constellation is about halfway between the horizon and the top of the sky in the east? (Corona Borealis (best answer) also Hercules, Bootes) The lines connecting the stars give us an idea about which stars belong to a constellation, and offer a pattern for us to look for in the sky. Each star pattern is supposed to represent a person, object or animal. For instance, Leo is supposed to be a lion. You also may have noticed that some constellations are bigger than others. 8. What constellation in the southern sky is the largest? (Hydra) 9. What is a small constellation in the southern sky? (Corvus, Canis Minor) 10.
    [Show full text]
  • 17. a Working List of Meteor Streams
    PRECEDING PAGE BLANK NOT FILMED. 17. A Working List of Meteor Streams ALLAN F. COOK Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Cambridge, Massachusetts HIS WORKING LIST which starts on the next is convinced do exist. It is perhaps still too corn- page has been compiled from the following prehensive in that there arc six streams with sources: activity near the threshold of detection by pho- tography not related to any known comet and (1) A selection by myself (Cook, 1973) from not sho_m to be active for as long as a decade. a list by Lindblad (1971a), which he found Unless activity can be confirmed in earlier or from a computer search among 2401 orbits of later years or unless an associated comet ap- meteors photographed by the Harvard Super- pears, these streams should probably be dropped Sehmidt cameras in New Mexico (McCrosky and from a later version of this list. The author will Posen, 1961) be much more receptive to suggestions for dele- (2) Five additional radiants found by tions from this list than he will be to suggestions McCrosky and Posen (1959) by a visual search for additions I;o it. Clear evidence that the thresh- among the radiants and velocities of the same old for visual detection of a stream has been 2401 meteors passed (as in the case of the June Lyrids) should (3) A further visual search among these qualify it for permanent inclusion. radiants and velocities by Cook, Lindblad, A comment on the matching sets of orbits is Marsden, McCrosky, and Posen (1973) in order. It is the directions of perihelion that (4) A computer search
    [Show full text]
  • A Collection of Curricula for the STARLAB Greek Mythology Cylinder
    A Collection of Curricula for the STARLAB Greek Mythology Cylinder Including: A Look at the Greek Mythology Cylinder Three Activities: Constellation Creations, Create a Myth, I'm Getting Dizzy by Gary D. Kratzer ©2008 by Science First/STARLAB, 95 Botsford Place, Buffalo, NY 14216. www.starlab.com. All rights reserved. Curriculum Guide Contents A Look at the Greek Mythology Cylinder ...................3 Leo, the Lion .....................................................9 Introduction ......................................................3 Lepus, the Hare .................................................9 Andromeda ......................................................3 Libra, the Scales ................................................9 Aquarius ..........................................................3 Lyra, the Lyre ...................................................10 Aquila, the Eagle ..............................................3 Ophuichus, Serpent Holder ..............................10 Aries, the Ram ..................................................3 Orion, the Hunter ............................................10 Auriga .............................................................4 Pegasus, the Winged Horse..............................11 Bootes ..............................................................4 Perseus, the Champion .....................................11 Cancer, the Crab ..............................................4 Phoenix ..........................................................11 Canis Major, the Big Dog
    [Show full text]
  • Constellation Is the Corona Australis
    CORONA AUSTRALIS, THE SOUTHERN CROWN Corona Australis is a constellation in the southern celestial hemisphere. Its Latin name means "southern crown", and it is the southern counterpart of Corona Borealis, the northern crown. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it remains one of the 88 modern constellations. The Ancient Greeks saw Corona Australis as a wreath rather than a crown and associated it with Sagittarius or Centaurus. Other cultures have likened the pattern to a turtle, ostrich nest, a tent, or even a hut belonging to a rock hyrax (a shrewmouse; a small, well-furred, rotund animals with short tails). Although fainter than its northern namesake, the oval - or horseshoe-shaped pattern of its brighter stars renders it distinctive. Alpha and Beta Coronae Australis are its two brightest stars with an apparent magnitude of around 4.1. Epsilon Coronae Australis is the brightest example of a W Ursae Majoris variable in the southern sky (an eclipsing contact binary). Lying alongside the Milky Way, Corona Australis contains one of the closest star-forming regions to our Solar System —a dusty dark nebula known as the Corona Australis Molecular Cloud, lying about 430 light years away. Within it are stars at the earliest stages of their lifespan. The variable stars R and TY Coronae Australis light up parts of the nebula, which varies in brightness accordingly. Corona Australis is bordered by Sagittarius to the north, Scorpius to the west, Telescopium to the south, and Ara to the southwest. The three-letter abbreviation for the constellation, as adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 1922, is 'CrA'.
    [Show full text]
  • Meteor Showers # 11.Pptx
    20-05-31 Meteor Showers Adolf Vollmy Sources of Meteors • Comets • Asteroids • Reentering debris C/2019 Y4 Atlas Brett Hardy 1 20-05-31 Terminology • Meteoroid • Meteor • Meteorite • Fireball • Bolide • Sporadic • Meteor Shower • Meteor Storm Meteors in Our Atmosphere • Mesosphere • Atmospheric heating • Radiant • Zenithal Hourly Rate (ZHR) 2 20-05-31 Equipment Lounge chair Blanket or sleeping bag Hot beverage Bug repellant - ThermaCELL Camera & tripod Tracking Viewing Considerations • Preparation ! Locate constellation ! Take a nap and set alarm ! Practice photography • Location: dark & unobstructed • Time: midnight to dawn https://earthsky.org/astronomy- essentials/earthskys-meteor-shower- guide https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor- showers/meteor-shower-calendar/ • Where to look: 50° up & 45-60° from radiant • Challenges: fatigue, cold, insects, Moon • Recording observations ! Sky map, pen, red light & clipboard ! Time, position & location ! Recording device & time piece • Binoculars Getty 3 20-05-31 Meteor Showers • 112 confirmed meteor showers • 695 awaiting confirmation • Naming Convention ! C/2019 Y4 (Atlas) ! (3200) Phaethon June Tau Herculids (m) Parent body: 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann Peak: June 2 – ZHR = 3 Slow moving – 15 km/s Moon: Waning Gibbous June Bootids (m) Parent body: 7p/Pons-Winnecke Peak: June 27– ZHR = variable Slow moving – 14 km/s Moon: Waxing Crescent Perseid by Brian Colville 4 20-05-31 July Delta Aquarids Parent body: 96P/Machholz Peak: July 28 – ZHR = 20 Intermediate moving – 41 km/s Moon: Waxing Gibbous Alpha
    [Show full text]
  • 16Th HEAD Meeting Session Table of Contents
    16th HEAD Meeting Sun Valley, Idaho – August, 2017 Meeting Abstracts Session Table of Contents 99 – Public Talk - Revealing the Hidden, High Energy Sun, 204 – Mid-Career Prize Talk - X-ray Winds from Black Rachel Osten Holes, Jon Miller 100 – Solar/Stellar Compact I 205 – ISM & Galaxies 101 – AGN in Dwarf Galaxies 206 – First Results from NICER: X-ray Astrophysics from 102 – High-Energy and Multiwavelength Polarimetry: the International Space Station Current Status and New Frontiers 300 – Black Holes Across the Mass Spectrum 103 – Missions & Instruments Poster Session 301 – The Future of Spectral-Timing of Compact Objects 104 – First Results from NICER: X-ray Astrophysics from 302 – Synergies with the Millihertz Gravitational Wave the International Space Station Poster Session Universe 105 – Galaxy Clusters and Cosmology Poster Session 303 – Dissertation Prize Talk - Stellar Death by Black 106 – AGN Poster Session Hole: How Tidal Disruption Events Unveil the High 107 – ISM & Galaxies Poster Session Energy Universe, Eric Coughlin 108 – Stellar Compact Poster Session 304 – Missions & Instruments 109 – Black Holes, Neutron Stars and ULX Sources Poster 305 – SNR/GRB/Gravitational Waves Session 306 – Cosmic Ray Feedback: From Supernova Remnants 110 – Supernovae and Particle Acceleration Poster Session to Galaxy Clusters 111 – Electromagnetic & Gravitational Transients Poster 307 – Diagnosing Astrophysics of Collisional Plasmas - A Session Joint HEAD/LAD Session 112 – Physics of Hot Plasmas Poster Session 400 – Solar/Stellar Compact II 113
    [Show full text]
  • Superflares and Giant Planets
    Superflares and Giant Planets From time to time, a few sunlike stars produce gargantuan outbursts. Large planets in tight orbits might account for these eruptions Eric P. Rubenstein nvision a pale blue planet, not un- bushes to burst into flames. Nor will the lar flares, which typically last a fraction Elike the Earth, orbiting a yellow star surface of the planet feel the blast of ul- of an hour and release their energy in a in some distant corner of the Galaxy. traviolet light and x rays, which will be combination of charged particles, ul- This exercise need not challenge the absorbed high in the atmosphere. But traviolet light and x rays. Thankfully, imagination. After all, astronomers the more energetic component of these this radiation does not reach danger- have now uncovered some 50 “extra- x rays and the charged particles that fol- ous levels at the surface of the Earth: solar” planets (albeit giant ones). Now low them are going to create havoc The terrestrial magnetic field easily de- suppose for a moment something less when they strike air molecules and trig- flects the charged particles, the upper likely: that this planet teems with life ger the production of nitrogen oxides, atmosphere screens out the x rays, and and is, perhaps, populated by intelli- which rapidly destroy ozone. the stratospheric ozone layer absorbs gent beings, ones who enjoy looking So in the space of a few days the pro- most of the ultraviolet light. So solar up at the sky from time to time. tective blanket of ozone around this flares, even the largest ones, normally During the day, these creatures planet will largely disintegrate, allow- pass uneventfully.
    [Show full text]
  • The Night Sky This Month
    The Night Sky (June 2019) BST (Universal Time plus one hour) is used this month . The General Weather Pattern June is usually the driest month of the year. Inland, however, cumulous clouds can develop to great heights giving way to thunder storms which signal the end of a dry spell. Here in Wales a coastal fog can sometimes mar an evening. Temperatures are usually above 10 ºC at night, but always prepare for the worst. Should you be interested in obtaining a detailed weather forecast for observing in the Usk area, log on to https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/forecast/seeing/usk_united-kingdom_2635052 Other locations are available. Earth (E) The ecliptic is low throughout the night in June and the first half of July. Since the Moon and planets appear to closely follow this path, they will be found low in the night sky too, causing problems for observers combating astronomical twilight and the murk and disturbance of a thicker atmosphere at that elevation. Consequently, planets do not present themselves at their best at this time. However, if that is where they are situated we must make the best of it. In keeping with the equation of time the latest sunset is on the 25th June this year, and the earliest sunrise is on the 18th June. The summer solstice, when daylight lasts longest, is at 15:55 on the 21st June, and darkness is short-lived here in South Wales. Technically, astronomical twilight exists when the centre of the Sun is less than 18º below the horizon. Conditions apply as to the use of this matter.
    [Show full text]
  • Smithsonian Contributions Astrophysics
    SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS to ASTROPHYSICS Number 14 Discrete Levels off Beginning Height off Meteors in Streams By A. F. Cook Number 15 Yet Another Stream Search Among 2401 Photographic Meteors By A. F. Cook, B.-A. Lindblad, B. G. Marsden, R. E. McCrosky, and A. Posen Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory Smithsonian Institution Press SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO ASTROPHYSICS NUMBER 14 A. F. cook Discrete Levels of Beginning Height of Meteors in Streams SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS CITY OF WASHINGTON 1973 Publications of the Smithsonian Institution Astrophysical Observatory This series, Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics, was inaugurated in 1956 to provide a proper communication for the results of research conducted at the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution. Its purpose is the "increase and diffusion of knowledge" in the field of astrophysics, with particular emphasis on problems of the sun, the earth, and the solar system. Its pages are open to a limited number of papers by other investigators with whom we have common interests. Another series, Annals of the Astrophysical Observatory, was started in 1900 by the Observa- tory's first director, Samuel P. Langley, and was published about every ten years. These quarto volumes, some of which are still available, record the history of the Observatory's researches and activities. The last volume (vol. 7) appeared in 1954. Many technical papers and volumes emanating from the Astrophysical Observatory have appeared in the Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. Among these are Smithsonian Physical Tables, Smithsonian Meteorological Tables, and World Weather Records. Additional information concerning these publications can be obtained from the Smithsonian Institution Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
    [Show full text]