This is a condensed version of the Fab Fifty Presentation on January 19, 2018 TAAS Fabulous Fifty A program for those new to astronomy Friday Evening, January 19, 2018, 1900 MST (7 pm) All TAAS and other new and not so new astronomers are welcome. What is the TAAS Fabulous 50 Program? It is a set of 4 meetings events spread across a calendar year in which a beginner to astronomy learns to locate 50 of the most prominent night sky objects visible to the naked eye. These include stars, constellations, asterisms, and Messier objects. Methodology 1. Meeting dates for each season in year 2018 Winter Jan 19 Spring Apr 20 Summer Jul 20 Fall Oct 19 2. Locate the brightest and easiest to observe stars and associated constellations 3. Add new prominent constellations for each season Tonight’s Schedule 7:00 pm – We meet inside for a slide presentation overview of the winter sky. 7:45 pm – View night sky outside Remember coffee, warmth, & snacks in the Kitchen The Winter Midnight Sky Over London January 15, 1869 January 15 The Midnight Sky: Familiar Notes on the Stars and Planets, Edward Durkin, 1869 January 15 The Midnight Sky: Familiar Notes on the Stars and Planets, Edward Durkin, 1869 A Good Way to Start – Find North Polaris North Star Alcor - Mizar Polaris is about the 50th brightest star. It appears isolated making it easy to identify. Seasons of the t h e B i g D i p p e r Position at 10 PM Tonight Seasons of the t h e B i g D i p p e r Position at 10 PM Tonight Horizon Line at Albuquerque Latitude 18 Fab 50 Winter Objects Constellations Stars Messier Objects Ursa Minor (Little Bear) Polaris Taurus (the Bull) Aldebaran M 45 Pleiades Auriga (Charioteer) Capella Orion (Hunter) Betelgeuse & Rigel M 42 Orion Nebula Canis Major (Big Dog) Sirius Canis Minor (Little Dog) Procyon Gemini (Twins) Castor & Pollux What is a Constellation? A MODERN DAY CONSTELLATION is one of 88 precisely delineated regions of the celestial sphere with boundaries approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Image from The Astronomical Companion, Guy Ottewell, 1981 Ancient Constellation Modern Constellation Vincenzo Coronelli IAU and Sky & Telescope Magazine 1681-1683 What is a Asterism? An asterism is prominent pattern or group of stars, typically having a popular name but smaller than a constellation. Ursa Major The Great Bear Big Dipper Asterism Recognizing the Constellation Orion If you spot three bright stars in a row in the winter evening, you might realize, "Oh! That's part th of Orion!" 11 brightest Suddenly, the rest of the constellation falls into place. "There's BETELGEUSE in Orion's left shoulder and RIGEL is his foot." 8th brightest Once you recognize Orion, remember that his hunting dogs are following him. Procyon is bright star in the constellation Canis Minor, THE LITTLE DOG. Sirius is in the bright star in the constellation Canis Major, THE BIG DOG. WINTER TRIANGLE Canis Major + Betelgeuse + Procyon Now Let’s Advance Using Star Charts Star Charts Available in many sizes and kinds All are useful references Astronomy Phone Apps are plentiful, very useful, most are free. STELLARIUM An Extraordinary Free Computer Program!!! The Evening Sky Map for the current month can be downloaded for free at: Back of Map Location month time Outlines of the constellations Dates of celestial events of celestial Dates Symbols for the various objects Magnitude (brightness) of the stars General Info Visible with naked eye Observing Tips Visible with binoculars Astronomical Glossary Visible with telescope What Are the Messier Objects (M)? The Messier objects are astronomical objects first listed by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1771. Messier was a comet hunter, and was frustrated by objects which resembled but were not comets, He compiled a list of them to avoid wasting time on observing them 110 objects are in the catalog Are the first deep space objects (outside of our solar system) that amateur astronomers will attempt to observe after observing the moon and the planets All visible in small telescopes and many are observable in binoculars Few visible to the naked eye The Messier objects are astronomical objects first listed by French astronomer Charles Messier in 1771. Messier Objects Messier was a comet hunter, and was frustrated by objects which resembled but were not comets, He compiled a list of them to avoid wasting time on Galaxies observing them Globular Star Clusters 110 objects are in the catalog Open Star Clusters Are the first deep space objects (outside of our solar system) that amateur astronomers will attempt to observe after observing the moon and the planets Nebulas Double Stars All visible in small telescopes and many are observable in binoculars Few visible to the naked eye Orion Messier 42 by TAAS Member Shane Ramotowski Messier 42 How to use the Sky Map Locate the four cardinal directions: a. South b. North c. West d. East As you observe, hold the chart so that the direction you are looking is at the bottom of the chart Our eyes take 20–30 minutes to fully adapt from light to complete darkness. They become 10,000 to 1,000,000 times more sensitive than at full daylight. Use a dim red light to read your star chart to preserve your night adapted vison. Ursa Minor aka Little Dipper The North Star never “MOVES” Taurus the Bull Taurus the Bull Aldebaran (red/orange color) M 45 Pleiades 15th brightest (7 sisters) The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades In Japanese Subaru means unite. It is also a term used to signify the Pleiades, the cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus. The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades (Messier 45) The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades (Messier 45) by TAAS Member Shane Ramotowski Auriga (or-EYE-gah) Capella 6th brightest Auriga (or-EYE-gah) Capella 6th brightest Auriga carrying the goat and kids as depicted in Urania's Mirror, a set of constellation cards illustrated by Sidney Hall, London circa 1825. Orion “the Hunter” 3 stars * * * Betelgeuse (red/orange color) Rigel M 42 Orion Nebula Orion “the Hunter” 3 stars * * * Betelgeuse (red/orange color) Rigel M 42 Orion Nebula Canis Major “The Big Dog” Sirius The brightest star visible from earth Canis Major “The Big Dog” Sirius The brightest star visible from earth Canis Major “The Big Dog” Sirius The brightest star visible from earth Viewing to the Southeast Canis Minor “The HOT DOG” 9th brightest star Procyon Canis Minor “The HOT DOG” Gomeisa 9th brightest star Procyon Gemini “the Twins” Castor 24th brightest Pollux 18th brightest Gemini “the Twins” Castor 24th brightest Pollux 18th brightest Gemini “the Twins” Winter Triangle (asterism) Orion (Betelgeuse), Canis Major (Sirius) and Canis Minor (Procyon) The Winter Triangle The Winter Hexagon (Diamond) & Winter Triangle Gemini Canis Major Orion Ursa Minor Taurus Auriga Canis Minor Photos Courtesy of Naoyuki Kurita How Do We Find Fab 50 Objects in the Night Sky? 1. Take a sky map with you to dark location 2. Look for Polaris (North Star) 3. Look from map – to – stars then stars – to – map 4. Begin with the brightest and easiest to find 5. When you get “lost”, revert to what you know and try again GO FOR IT & HAVE FUN! END.