Monthly Night Sky Report: January 2019

It's the beginning of another year, one that will likely be full of new and interesting discoveries made in science and the universe.  There were certainly quite a few discoveries and happenings made in 2018, a few of which I will remind you about at the end of this post.

January will bring another great meteor shower, one that the Moon will not interfere with.  There will also be a lunar eclipse over North America that the weather will hopefully not interfere with.  I hope that many of you will be able to witness this event!

Mercury

The presence of Mercury in our morning sky will be short lived during January.  It will only be visible during the first seven days or so, before the glare of the morning Sun overwhelms the planet.  By the 29th, Mercury will be on the far side of the Sun in its orbit from our perspective.

Venus

Venus will more than make up for Mercury's lackluster performance this month.  Venus will remain, shining brightly, in our morning sky this month.  On the morning of the 5th, Venus can be found nearly 25° high in the southeastern sky.  If you use a telescope, or even a pair of binoculars, this planet will appear half lit on this day, which is also the day that it reaches its greatest western elongation (the furthest point to the Sun's west when viewing the solar system from above.)  As the month progresses, Venus will lose altitude but still shine brightly.  By the 22nd, Jupiter can be found just 2° below Venus, and by the 30th, the Moon will join the pair, creating quite a nice trio.   

Mars

Mars can still be found in the constellation of Pisces the Fish all month long.  While it is to far away to offer any surface detail by Earthbound amateur telescopes, it is still an easy target with the unaided eye.  If you are unfamiliar with the location of Pisces, just look to the south after sunset.  Mars will shine more brightly than the stars of this constellation so it should be easy to tell the difference between the background stars and the planet.  The reddish orange shine also helps. 

Jupiter

Jupiter will remain in the morning sky this month.  While it won't shine as brightly as Venus, it should still be easy to spot before the Sun rises.  Jupiter will rise earlier with each passing morning and by the 22nd can be found just 2° away from Venus.  As mentioned, the Moon will join the pair on the 30th.  If you brave the cold and use a pair of binoculars, you will be able to spot Jupiter's four largest moons, and with a telescope you can see the cloud bands of this gas giant.  As 2019 progresses, Jupiter will return to our night sky.

Saturn

Saturn will pass on the far side of the Sun from our perspective on the first day of January.  We won't be able to see this planet until the second half of the month when it will join Venus and Jupiter in the morning sky.  While Saturn won't be in a very good position in the sky for telescope use, it will return to our evening sky later this year where the views will improve.       

Uranus

Neptune

Both Uranus and Neptune will again be found close to Mars this month.  If you target Mars with a pair of binoculars, you should be able to spot these two ice giants.  They will appear as a disk in your field a view while stars appear as points of light.  Neither planet will offer any planetary detail since they lie so far away, but you should still be able to detect the colors with your eyes.   

Meteor Shower

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks on January 3rd under moon free skies this year.  These meteors will appear to radiate from the direction of Ursa Major with a peak of nearly 120 meteors per hour.  It's not expected for the other meteor showers this year to do as well as this one, so if the weather permits and you can brave the cold, be sure to watch this shower.  I missed the meteor shower of December, so I hope to have the chance to watch this one.       

Total Lunar Eclipse

Towards the end of the month, the Earth will pass between the Sun and Moon, casting its shadow on the Moon creating a total lunar eclipse.  The event will begin on the evening of the 20th at 11:37 Mountain Time.  Totality occurs 2 hours later and lasts for about an hour before you notice the shadow of the Earth moving off of the Moon.  During totality, the Moon will appear about the same color as Mars, reddish-orange.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate this month so we can view this amazing event.  Be sure to bundle up if you plan on viewing the eclipse!     

Monthly Breakdown

January 01:  Moon and Venus pass within 2°
January 03:  Moon and Jupiter pass within 3°
January 03:  Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peaks
January 05:  New Moon 🌑
January 10:  Moon and Neptune pass within 3°
January 12:  Moon and Mars pass within 5°
January 14:  First Quarter Moon 🌓
January 20/21:  Total Lunar Eclipse starts at 11:37 Mountain Time
January 21:  Full Moon 🌕
January 22:  Venus and Jupiter pass within 2°
January 27:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗
January 30:  Moon and Jupiter pass within 3°
January 31:  Moon and Venus pass within 0.1 °

Think About This....💡

In late 2017, early 2018, we saw an object from another solar system pass through ours.  Scientists named it "Oumuamua", which means 'scout' in Hawaiian.   This was quite an exciting discovery because it is the first known object from outside our solar system to pass through ours.

There was another spacecraft landing on Mars this year.  InSight from NASA, left Earth in May of 2018 and landed on the red planet on November 24th.  InSight was designed to measure the seismic activity, create 3D models of the planetary interior, and measure the internal heat flow of Mars.  This mission will likely produce interesting data and give us a better understanding of Mars.

A newly discovered object in our solar system is now the largest, most distant object known to orbit our Sun.  It has been nicknamed "Farout" with its orbit at around 120 AU from the Sun.  That's over 100 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun!  It likely takes over 1,000 Earth-years to complete one orbit of it's own around the Sun.  Farout is estimated to be about 500 km across and pinkish in color.  More research needs to be done on this newly discovered dwarf planet to narrow down the exact size, color, and the time to complete one orbit.  It is true that there are other objects with highly elliptical orbits such as comets and smaller rocky bodies in the Oort Cloud which orbits our Sun between 5,000 and 100,000 AU.  So far, Farout is the largest known body.

Don't forget to stargaze as often as you can in 2019.  You never know what you might find!             

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos taken by Jeff Greenland.

Monthly Night Sky Report: December 2018

I can't believe that another month has already gone by and it's time for a new Monthly Night Sky Report.  This year has certainly flown by for me!  I look forward to this time of year for the beauty that the snow in Utah can bring and also the peacefulness.  Have you noticed that while it's snowing, it's quieter outside?  Unfortunately, the frequent snow storms that we receive and the below freezing temperatures hinders the amount of time that can be spent comfortably under the stars.  Nevertheless, I find myself often gazing upwards in hopes of catching a star, planet, or even the Moon, peeking through the clouds.

Like me, I'm sure many of you have noticed the return of Orion to the morning sky.  This constellation will rise earlier with each passing day, and will soon be noticeable shortly after sunset.  You may have also noticed the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, and if you have dark enough skies, you may be able to see the Pleiades.  As mentioned in a previous post, you can use the three stars of Orion's belt to find Sirius and the Pleiades.  In the northern hemisphere, if you trace out a line from the belt stars to the left, you will come to Sirius.  If you go to the right, you will find the Pleiades.  I think this group of stars looks like a tiny dipper (like the big and little dippers, only much smaller).  I challenge you to find the Pleiades this winter and let me know what you see!

Mercury

Mercury will still be found in the eastern sky before sunrise during December.  It will be slightly brighter than it was in November, shining at magnitude -0.4.  The highest Mercury will reach in our sky this month will be about 10° which occurs on the 15th, about 45 minutes before the Sun rises.  Two other planets meet up with Mercury in the morning sky this month, Venus, which rises before Mercury, and Jupiter, which will rise later.  Venus and Jupiter will be much easier to spot since they will shine more brightly.

Venus

Venus will continue to dominate the morning sky throughout December.  A few people have mentioned how spectacular this planet has been in the mornings, but I haven't had a chance to witness it myself until this morning.  It was quite a sight!  I had to keep looking at it to make sure it wasn't an aircraft with its landing lights on.  Venus will start the month off shining at magnitude -4.9 and will only dim slightly as the month wears on.  This planet will rise around 4 in the morning and will be visible for approximately 3 hours before the Sun rises.  Venus will be joined first by Mercury, and then followed by Jupiter.         

Mars

Mars will be found in the constellation of Aquarius during the first half of the month, which can be found in our southern sky after sunset.  The red glow from Mars will dominate the other stars in this region of sky and should be easy to spot with it glowing at magnitude 0.0.  If you are able to use a pair of binoculars to target Mars during the first week of December, you should be able to spot the  blue-gray disk of Neptune which will lie within your field of view.  For the second half of the month, Mars will slide from Aquarius into the constellation of Pisces the fish. 

Jupiter

Jupiter will join Mercury and Venus in the morning sky this month.  The closest approach Jupiter will make to Mercury in our skies will be on the morning of the 21st when the two lie less than 1° apart.  Jupiter will be easier to spot since it will shine more brightly at magnitude -1.8.  This giant planet will lie too low on the horizon to offer any surface detail, but you should still be able to spot the four largest moons with a pair of binoculars.  The views will improve in January when Jupiter will climb high enough in the morning sky before the Sun's brightness washes it from view.

Saturn

Saturn will only be visible for the first half December.  It can be found towards the southwest after sunset and will shine at magnitude 0.5.  Saturn will be joined by the Moon on the 8th at which time only 3° will separate the pair.  Saturn will join the current morning planets early next year, so keep a look out for its return. 

Uranus

Neptune

The outer ice giants will require a telescope for the best possible views from Earth.  As mentioned, Neptune will be found close to Mars during the first week or two of December.  The closest approach will occur on the evening of the 7th when the two planets are nearly on top of each other, from our view, of course.  Uranus will be much harder to find this month.  It will start the month off in the constellation of Aries the Ram, but by the 3rd it will have already moved to a new constellation, Pisces the Fish.  There aren't any bright stars in this region of the sky to help guide you to this planet, but you can always use a phone app to aid in locating Uranus, if desired. 

Meteor Shower

The Geminid Meteor Shower will peak on the night of the 13th/morning of the 14th.  The Moon will set around 11 on the 13th so it won't wash out any of the meteors after this time.  This is one of the best showers of the year, if you can stand to be out in the cold.  During the peak dates, viewers can witness up to 120 meteors per hour.  That's an average of 2 per minute!  These meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation of Gemini.  Gemini can be located towards the east after moonset, but by 1 in the morning, it can be found directly overhead.  It's best to not look directly at where they radiate from, but a few degrees away to catch the longest meteor trails.  If you are brave enough to take on the cold temperatures, let me know what you see!

Comet Watch

This month we will have a special visitor which might reach naked eye visibility.  Comet 46P/Wirtanen will make a close approach to the Earth, astronomically speaking, on the night of the 16th.  On this night, it will lie only 7.2 million miles away and will likely glow around 7.0 magnitude.  At this brightness, you will still need a pair of binoculars or larger instrument to see.  Some astronomers estimate that it may get as bright as 4.0 magnitude which you can see with the unaided eye if you have a dark enough sky.  Comet 46P/Wirtanen can be found in the constellation of Taurus the Bull, near the Pleiades and the star Aldebaran.  Those into astrophotography should try getting an image of this comet.  I know I will, as long as the sky is clear.  

Monthly Breakdown

December 01:  Venus at its greatest magnitude for the month (-4.9)
December 03:  Moon and Venus pass within 4°
December 05:  Moon and Mercury pass within 2°
December 07:  New Moon 🌑
December 07:  Mars and Neptune less than 1° apart
December 08:  Moon and Saturn pass within 1.5°
December 13/14:  Geminid Meteor Shower peak
December 14:  Moon and Neptune pass within 3°
December 15:  First Quarter Moon 🌓
December 16:  Comet 46P/Wirtanen closest approach
December 17:  Moon and Uranus pass within 5°
December 21:  Mercury and Jupiter pass within 1°
December 21:  Winter Solstice - shortest day of the year
December 22:  Full Moon 🌕
December 29:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗

Think About This....💡

I have another short topic for this section this month.  What I want to share with you, I saw on the Astronomy Picture of the Day website a couple of years ago and found it quite fascinating.  You will likely have to use a computer to view it since it's interactive and requires Adobe Flash Player to run it.

What I would like to share with you is the scale of the universe and all known things.  The largest, of course, is the universe, or at least the observable part that we have detected.  On the other end of the scale you have what is known as the Planck length.  I have studied this quite a bit in one of my classes this semester, but won't bore you with all of the details.  Pictures are more fun anyway!

Here is the link for the Scale of the Universe.  Enjoy!  

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos taken by Jeff Greenland.

Monthly Night Sky Report: November 2018

November nights will likely be too cold for all but the most determined star gazers.  However, with the way the end of October has been going in Utah, you might still be able to enjoy a few hours under the stars after sunset.  Even if you take the garbage out, take a pet out to do its business, or even getting the mail before going to bed for the night, take a look at the stars.  For me, it's a therapeutic experience, which is one more reason why I enjoy the night sky.

Mercury

Mercury will continue to be a hard target this month due to it lying so close to the Sun from our vantage point.  Towards the end of the month, Mercury will pass between the Earth and the Sun in its orbit and will be lost to view for earthbound observers.  While it is visible, it will shine around -0.2 magnitude and will be found close to the easier-to-spot, Jupiter which shines around magnitude -1.7.

Venus

Venus will return to our sky on the first morning of the month.  It will be easy to spot in predawn sky where it will shine brilliantly at magnitude -4.2.  Venus will rise about 30 minutes before the Sun on this morning, and will continue to rise earlier with each passing day.  Its brightness will also increase throughout the month, shining at -4.9 magnitude by month's end.  On November 6th, Venus will be joined by a crescent Moon, so you early risers should take a moment to enjoy the view.

Mars

Mars will dominate the early night sky during November.  It can easily be seen in the southern sky after sunset with its red glow.  Mars shines at magnitude -0.6 during the first part of November, but will dim slightly to magnitude -0.1 by the end of the month.  Mars will also "shrink" in size for earthly observers, which will be more noticeable to those using a telescope.  You may still see some surface details if you have a night of excellent viewing (no clouds and minimal atmospheric disturbance).  Mars will dip below the horizon by 1 in the morning during the beginning of the month, but will set sooner with each passing night.

Jupiter

Like Mercury, Jupiter will be best viewed from an unobstructed western horizon after sunset.  This giant planet will slip below the horizon just 30 minutes after the Sun during the first evening of the month and will be lost from view by the second week.  Be sure to use binoculars or a telescope to enhance your views of Jupiter before it disappears for the rest of the month.

Saturn

Around the same time that Jupiter falls below the western horizon, Saturn will be found about 30° high in the southwestern sky after sunset.  It will still be a decent target during early November for telescope and binocular users alike.  Saturn will lie close to the nebulae, M8 and M20, which will be a treat for those observing with a telescope.  This will occur during the early part of November, but towards the middle of the month, Saturn will have moved to a different part of the sky which will place it near a few star clusters.  If you can get to a dark sky area, these clusters can be seen with binoculars, but of course will look better through a telescope.  Saturn will continue to edge its way closer to the Sun from our perspective, so if you are interested, catch Saturn while you can.

Uranus

Neptune

The outer ice giants will require a telescope for the best possible views from Earth.  Neptune will be visible about 40° high above the southeastern horizon once the sunlight leaves the area.  If you are using a telescope, it will appear as a disk instead of a pinpoint star and will have a distinctive blue-gray color.  Uranus will rise about 3 hours after Neptune and can be found in the constellation of Aries the Ram.  This planet will appear as a blue-green disk through a telescope and should be easy to differentiate from the surrounding stars.  If you follow Uranus throughout the night until it sets in the west, you can turn your attention to the eastern horizon to watch the rising of Venus.

Meteor Shower

November offers viewers the Leonid meteor shower.  This shower will peak on the night/morning of November 17/18.  A waxing gibbous Moon will sink below the horizon at around 2 in the morning which will leave the sky dark enough for those interested in viewing this shower.  The hosting constellation this month is Leo the Lion which can be found about 60° high in the southeast during peak time.  In past years, the average number of meteors during the peak dates ranged from 15 to 20 meteors per hour.

Monthly Breakdown

November 05:  Moon and Venus pass within 10°
November 07:  New Moon 🌑
November 09:  Mercury passes within 2° of Antares
November 09:  Moon and Mercury pass within 7°
November 11:  Moon and Saturn pass within 1.5°
November 15:  First Quarter Moon 🌓
November 15:  Moon and Mars pass within 1°
November 17:  Moon and Neptune pass within 3°
November 17:  Leonid Meteor Shower peaks
November 20:  Moon and Uranus pass within 5°
November 23:  Full Moon 🌕
November 29:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗

Think About This....💡

In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I would share some spooky sounds from space, or at least outside of our planet Earth.  While it is true that there is no sound in space (because molecules aren't as densely packed as they are on Earth allowing the sound waves to travel through), NASA has been able to convert and slow down different waves (electromagnetic, radiation, etc.) so that humans can experience outer space using more than just their sight.  You can listen to some of these sounds on SoundCloud by clicking HERE.

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos taken by Jeff Greenland.

Monthly Night Sky Report: October 2018

The cooler months of the year are beginning to arrive.  October will usually bring much colder nights in Utah and even chances of snow towards the end of the month.  The cooler nights make it more bearable and enjoyable for me, as well as many others I'm sure, to be out under the stars.  The cooler temperatures will bring fewer bugs, especially the pesky mosquitoes and other biting insects.

Astronomically speaking, October will bring the opposition of yet another planet as well as a meteor shower that may be decent if you are willing to be out late or get up early.  You will also be able to see all 8 planets during the beginning of the month if you are willing to stay up all night (or get up early), have a telescope, and know where to look. 

Mercury

Mercury will be found in the western sky just after sunset.  It will be hard to spot since it will lie so low on the horizon, but your best chance will be around the 27th when you can use Jupiter to help guide you to the innermost planet.  When you find Jupiter, Mercury will be located directly below, towards the horizon.  It will be shining at magnitude -0.2 which is only a quarter of the brightness of Jupiter on this evening.  To increase your chance of seeing the smallest planet in our solar system, get to a high location with an unobstructed view of the western horizon.  You will also want to use this location for viewing Venus this month.

Venus

Venus will disappear from our skies this month after the first week or so.  If you want to catch all eight planets in one night, it will have to be during this time.  Venus will be only 2° above our western horizon, so as mentioned, be sure to get to a high location with an unobstructed view to observe Venus.  While Venus is away for much of October, get geared up for its return to the morning sky in early November, when it will be frequently referred to as the "morning star".

Mars

Mars can easily be found after sunset throughout the month.  Just look to the south and you should see a bright red "star" that is not twinkling.  In fact, it will be the brightest planet in the sky after Venus and Jupiter have slid below the horizon shortly after the Sun.  The red planet will be in a great location in the sky for viewing through a telescope.  You should still be able to make out some surface details if you get the chance to lock this planet into your telescope eyepiece.  During May, there was a planet wide dust storm which obscured much of the surface detail that we could see from Earth.  This dust storm has mostly cleared away so the surface details should be a little more prominent in your field of view.  I likely won't get the opportunity to take out the telescope again this year for a chance to see the surface of Mars, but if you or anyone you know are able to, please let me know what you see!

Jupiter

Like Mercury and Venus, Jupiter will be easiest to view in early October, especially if you want to use a telescope or binoculars.  Earlier in the month, Jupiter will be high enough above the horizon after sunset to view the cloud bands without much atmospheric distortion.  Jupiter starts the month off shining at a magnitude of -1.8 and can be found just about 15° to the upper left of Venus.  With each passing week, this gas giant will lose about 3° of altitude, meaning it will set sooner in the evening.  If you get the chance, be sure to check out Jupiter before it lies too close to the Sun, from our vantage point, to be seen.

Saturn

Saturn will again be a great target this month.  It won't fall below the western horizon until around 11 p.m. local time and can be found in the southern sky riding along the ecliptic, at 25° after sunset.  If you have a telescope, be sure to check out our ringed world.  It is truly a majestic sight to see with your own eyes, instead of looking at a picture online, in a magazine, or in a book.

Uranus

Neptune

The outer ice giants will require a telescope for the best possible views from Earth.  Uranus will reach opposition on the 23rd this month, making it possible to view throughout the night.  During the opposition, it will lie closest to Earth and will also reach an altitude of just over 60°.  This is the highest Uranus has been in our sky since the 1960's.  This means that it will be a great target for a telescope because the viewer won't have as much atmospheric disturbance as they would if it was closer to the horizon.  Neptune was at opposition last month, so it will also be in a great place in the sky to be viewed through a telescope.  It can be found about halfway between the eastern horizon and the southern sky just after sunset.

Meteor Shower

October's meteor shower will peak on the 21st but unfortunately, a waxing gibbous moon will be in the sky until around 4:00 a.m. local time.  This means that if you would like to maximize the number of meteors you see, you will have to wait until about this time to get up and watch.  This shower will appear to radiate from the constellation of Orion, which is how it received its name, the Orionid Meteor Shower.  During the peak date, and with the moon out of the sky, you should be able to see up to around 20 meteors per hour.

There will also be another meteor shower this month, the Draconids, although it is usually a minor one.  In previous years, this shower has had outbursts of activity and may do so again this year.  This shower will peak on the 8th and will appear to radiate from Draco the Dragon.  During the peak, you may be able to see more than 10 meteors per hour, which doesn't sound like much, but that's pretty good for a minor meteor shower.

Monthly Breakdown

October 02:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗
October 05:  Mercury and Spica pass within 2°
October 08:  New Moon 🌑
October 08:  Draconid Meteor Shower peaks
October 10:  Moon and Venus pass within 13°
October 11:  Moon and Jupiter pass within 4°
October 14:  Mercury and Venus pass within 7°
October 14:  Moon and Saturn pass within 2°
October 16:  First Quarter Moon 🌓
October 18:  Moon and Mars pass within 2°
October 20:  Moon and Neptune pass within 3°
October 21:  Orionid Meteor Shower peaks
October 23:  Uranus at opposition
October 24:  Full Moon 🌕
October 24:  Moon and Uranus pass within 5°
October 29:  Mercury and Jupiter pass within 3°
October 31:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗

Think About This....💡

There are all types of pollution, but since this blog is all about astronomy, I would like for you to think about light pollution and the ways you can help reduce it.  I recently attended an event presented by Science Friday, a group of people interested in everything science related such as, dinosaurs, plants, birds, biology, chemistry, and of course, astronomy.  Science Friday creates podcasts talking with different scientists about different topics, such as those listed above.  They have a website which features past talks, future talks and events, and much, much more.  You can get to their website by clicking HERE, if you are interested in giving it a look and even listening to the archived content.

Ever since early man created fire, they felt safe by having more light around them at night.  Today, there is light nearly everywhere you look at night, especially since the majority of Earth dwellers live in cities.  This light that helps people feel safe, might actually be making them less safe.  There was a study done in Chicago that was referenced in the lecture I attended that found when a poorly lit alley had more lights installed, the crime rate went up.  This could possibly be because the brighter lights actually caused more shadows.  This gives crooks more places to hide.  Since the human eye is drawn to brighter objects, this makes it ideal for these people.

There was also a study performed on people that work night-shift hours and it was found that they were more depressed, less healthy, and even were more likely to get cancer.  It was concluded that since these people were working nights and sleeping during the day, they weren't able to get a restful sleep because of the Sun's light.  This also applies to people that live in the city, watch TV, or even play on their mobile devices at night.  The light sources are keeping people awake and not letting their brains and bodies get the rest that is needed.

The effects that light plays in human health and crime & safety are worthwhile issues.  The focus, in my opinion, should be placed on reducing light pollution as much as possible near our cities to preserve the wonders of our night sky.  How many people are missing out on the experience of seeing the milky way, planets, or even some of the brightest constellations?

Below are a few pictures that I took at the same time of night but from different locations (and a one night difference).  The first few are from about 30 miles west of Salt Lake City in a semi-dark area, while the last few are from the city.  These look best on a computer or TV.

Mars from Area 62

Big Dipper from Area 62

Milky Way from Area 62

Mars from light polluted sky

Big Dipper from light polluted sky (sorry for the house)

Now imagine what these pictures would look like from a completely dark sky area.  One of my favorite dark sky areas, which was recently classified as an International Dark Sky Park, is Cedar Breaks National Monument.  At an altitude of about 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) and around 20 miles east of Cedar City, Cedar Breaks is the 16th National Park Service (NPS) unit to be designated as an International Dark Sky Park and the first in southwestern Utah. There are currently 417 NPS units in the nation. Wouldn't it be nice if all of the national parks were dark sky preserves?

If you would like to check out a video from the lecture I attended about light pollution and preserving our night sky, here is the link from Science Friday's website:  Save the night!

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos taken by Jeff Greenland.

Monthly Night Sky Report: September 2018

August has mostly been a great month for stargazing.  The temperatures have been a little warm for my taste in the evenings, but definitely good enough for getting out under the stars.  It has been pretty smokey over Utah due to forest fires in the state as well as the smoke from the California wildfires.  I have a trip planned to visit Mesa Verde before I head back to school and hope to have one more weekend under the stars this year during the last weekend of August.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate!

September will bring cooler nights across Utah.  This month will also bring another planetary opposition as well as the return of the zodiacal light.  I hope that this month will also find YOU out under the stars!

Mercury

Mercury returned to the morning sky during the last week of August.  It will continue to be found in the morning sky during September.  It will start the month off close to 10° high in the east.  As the month progresses, you will find Mercury sinking closer to the horizon and possibly being harder to detect in the glow of the morning Sun.  On the 5th and 6th, the innermost planet will find itself passing within 2° of the star Regulus.  Mercury will shine a little brighter than Regulus which shines at a magnitude of 1.

Venus

Venus will again dominate the early evening sky this month, shining up to magnitude -4.8.  It will likely be the first "star" that you will see.  Venus will be found near the star, Spica, on the first evening of the month.  Like Regulus, Spica also shines at magnitude 1.  Venus will lose altitude as the month progresses, so your best chances of viewing this bright planet will be earlier in the month and having an unobstructed view of the western horizon.  Don't forget that you can use a telescope or binoculars to view the "phases" of Venus!

Mars

Mars will continue to delight observers throughout September.  The views won't be as great as they were in July when it was at opposition, or even during August when it still was somewhat close to the Earth, but they should still offer views of the darker regions, known as "mares" as well as a chance to see Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system.  You might also be able to catch a glimpse of some clouds around the volcano if you have a night of really good seeing.  Mars will start the month off shining at magnitude -2.1 but will dim as the month progresses.  Be sure to view Mars while it lies high in the sky so that you will have less interference from the atmosphere.

Jupiter

Jupiter will also offer great views through a telescope, but the greatest details will be seen earlier in the month.  You should be able to make out the cloud bands of this gas giant with a telescope and any size of instrument will offer up views of the four largest moons.  If you view this planet hourly or even nightly, you will notice how the moons have changed position as well as the cloud bands.  Venus and Jupiter will pass within 23° during the first evening of the month.  The pair will be joined by the Moon on the 12th, and by the end of the month, the two planets can be found within 14° of each other.

Saturn

Saturn will be in a great position during the early evening hours for viewing its rings.  Any size of telescope will reveal these majestic rings as well as several of the larger moons.  Saturn will be found in the constellation of Sagittarius which is rich with deep sky objects.  If you have a telescope, be sure to target a few of these objects, especially if you are able to get away from city lights.  The Moon will join Saturn in this area of the sky on the 16th and 17th.   
 

Uranus

Neptune

The outer ice giants will require a telescope for the best possible views from Earth.  Uranus will rise around 9:30 at the beginning of the month and by months end, a full two hours earlier.  Neptune will reach opposition on the 7th, meaning it will rise at the same time the Sun is setting.  This will offer the best views of our outermost planet this year.  I have yet to see Uranus and Neptune, but will hopefully have a chance during my last outing with Hercules for the year.

Zodiacal Light

This month does not offer a major meteor shower but instead brings the return of the zodiacal light.  The best chance of viewing this light will be in the morning sky between the 8th and the 23rd when the Moon is out of the morning sky.  It will also help to get away from all sources of light pollution.  The zodiacal light is caused by sunlight being reflected off of tiny dust particles that get caught in the atmosphere. 

Monthly Breakdown

September 02:  Venus and Spica within 2°
September 02:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗
September 06:  Mercury and Regulus pass within 2°
September 07:  Neptune at opposition
September 09:  New Moon 🌑
September 12:  Venus and Moon pass within 10°
September 13:  Moon and Jupiter pass within 4°
September 16:  First Quarter Moon 🌓
September 17:  Moon and Saturn pass within 2°
September 20:  Moon and Mars pass within 5°
September 22:  Autumn Equinox
September 24:  Full Moon 🌕

Think About This....💡

In early August, the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) was launched to study the Sun in more detail than ever before.  The PSP will fly into the corona (atmosphere) of the Sun which will be a distance of about 4 million miles from its center.  The temperatures this far away from the Sun is still very high at about 1650 Kelvin (2500° F).  The PSP is designed to continue flying closer to the Sun until the heat shields and thermal insulation can no longer take the punishment, at which point the probe will burn up.

The Parker Solar Probe will take more accurate measurements of the magnetic field as well as studying the plasma and energy particles of the Sun.  It will also study the solar wind, the wind created by the charged particles (electrons, protons, etc.) created by the Sun.  The PSP will take about 7 years to reach the Sun which will be acheived by using the gravity of Venus to assist in getting the probe to its destination.

You may have heard of solar storms, solar flares, and may have seen sunspots, either images or with your own eyes.  You may not know that the Sun has an 11 - 12 year cycle where it reaches solar maximum and minimum.  During solar maximum, the Sun is more active and will have more sunspots and larger solar flares which send tons (literally, tons) of electrified gas clouds through space, which may or may not impact the Earth.  During the solar maximum, earthbound observers can enjoy the many different colors of the aurorae, which is caused by the electrified particles interacting with the Earth's magnetic field.  When the electrified gas clouds have a more head on collision with the Earth, we may suffer power outages, failing satellites, and higher radiation in the atmosphere which impacts the astronauts and even airline pilots.  The most recent solar maximum was the weakest in over 100 years, meaning there was less solar activity, including sunspots, during this cycle.

During solar minimum, the solar flares and sunspots are less common and typically smaller in size.  Sometimes the surface of the Sun will not have a sunspot for days or even weeks at a time.  This is a safer time to fly and for astronauts in space, but a less impressive time for the aurora observers.  We are currently headed towards solar minimum.  You may click here to see the latest images of the Sun provided by the Solar Dynamics Observatory.  The bottom image on this page is the best view if you want to see if there are currently any sunspots on the Sun.

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Above image taken by Jeff Greenland.

Monthly Night Sky Report: August 2018

Like June, July also turned out to be a pretty good month for getting out under the stars.  Venus and Jupiter in the evenings were a beautiful sight as well as the red glow of Mars in the mornings.  The thin crescent Moon was also a beautiful sight just before and after the New Moon.

August will be a great month to continue viewing the planets and the Moon.  August will also bring one of the best meteor showers of the year, the Perseids.  This year should prove to be exceptional since the peak date will coincide with a New Moon.  I hope you will be able to enjoy this meteor shower, as well as the other great sights in the night sky.

Mercury

If you like viewing Mercury, you will have to wait until the final week of August where it will again return to the morning sky.  The innermost planet will be found about 10° high in the sky about 45 minutes before sunrise.  You may have to find a location with an unobstructed view to the east as the glare from the morning Sun may wash out the glow of Mercury.

Venus

You should start your evenings out by viewing Venus just after sunset.  It will be easy to spot as the brightest object in the western sky, unless the Moon happens to join Venus.  This will happen on the nights of the 13th and the 14th.  If you haven't noticed this pairing over the past few months, be sure to check it out this month.  It is quite a beautiful sight and the pictures I take don't do it any justice.  Venus will also increase in magnitude from -4.3 to -4.6 during August.  Our sister planet will be found in the constellation of Virgo all month and make a close approach to the star Spica in this constellation. 

Mars

Mars will still be a great target throughout August.  It reached opposition during the final week of July which provided great views of the red planet.  Mars will begin to lose its brightness during August, so if you get a chance to view the planet, the earlier in the month, the better.  If you use a telescope, be sure to wait until Mars is high in the sky where you will have less atmospheric interference.  While you are waiting for Mars to climb higher in the sky, turn your attention to Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.  Mars will be found between the constellations of Sagittarius and Capricornus.

Jupiter

After viewing Venus, point your telescope to the south to view the largest planet of our solar system, Jupiter.  Jupiter will be in a great location in our sky to view through a telescope or binoculars.  Jupiter can be found in the constellation Libra throughout the month.  You can easily make out a few moons of Jupiter through binoculars and through most telescopes, you will be able to make out the cloud bands.  Using colored eyepiece filters will help tease out the details.

Saturn

After viewing Jupiter, you should turn your attention to Saturn.  It can be found in the southwest sky after sunset and should be easy to spot.  The ringed world can be found in the constellation of Sagittarius all month which places it near some great deep sky objects.  If you own a telescope, be sure to target these as well.  They include a couple of nebulae, M20 and M8, and also an open star cluster, M21.  When viewing Saturn through a telescope, you will be mesmerized by the majestic rings, but don't forget to look for Titan, Tethys, and other moons of Saturn.

Uranus

Neptune

Uranus will rise around 1 AM during the first week of August and by midnight at months end.  Uranus can be seen with the unaided eye if you are able to get away from city lights.  Using a pair of binoculars or a telescope will make finding this planet easier.  Uranus will be found in the constellation of Aries throughout August.  Our outermost planet will rise 3 hours earlier but will require binoculars or a telescope to view.  Neptune will be found in Aquarius during the month.

Meteor Shower

The meteor shower that you have been waiting for all year is finally here.  The Perseids will peak on the night of the 12th, morning of the 13th this year.  This coincides with a New Moon, so you should be able to see up to 110 meteors per hour.  Get away from the city lights to increase the number of meteors you will see.  This shower will appear to radiate from the constellation of Perseus which can be found in our northeast sky.

Monthly Breakdown

August 03:  Moon and Uranus pass within 5°
August 04:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗
August 11:  New Moon 🌑
August 12:  Perseid Meteor Shower peaks 🌠
August 14:  Moon and Venus pass within 6°
August 17:  Moon and Jupiter pass within 5°
August 18:  First Quarter Moon 🌓
August 21:  Moon and Saturn pass within 2°
August 23:  Moon and Mars pass within 7°
August 26:  Full Moon 🌕
August 27:  Moon and Neptune pass within 2°

Think About This....💡

This month offers one of the best meteor showers of the year.  It is usually easy to view since the nights are still warm.  All you really need is your favorite chair or blanket which will allow you to be comfortable while gazing up at the sky.  But what exactly are you seeing when you are enjoying a meteor shower?  I have lightly touched on this topic in a previous post, but I thought I should remind you so you have something to consider while watching this years Perseid Meteor Shower.

I'm sure you have heard of comets, such as Halley's Comet and Hale-Bopp, and maybe even know that comets are basically just a dirty snowball, made up of ice, dust and small rocks.  Comets reside in the Oort Cloud which lies at the outer edge of our solar system, some 5,000 AU away and extends up to 100,000 AU.  Occasionally, a comet will get nudged out of its orbit in this region of space which can cause it to come towards the inner solar system and the Sun.  As the comet approaches the Sun, the heat will begin to melt the ice which causes the small rocks and dust to break loose.  This creates a "tail" that can shine bright enough that it can be seen with the unaided eye on Earth.  The "tail" leaves a trail of debris which I will talk about more later.  Some comets are periodic, such as Halley's Comet, which has an orbital period of 75 years and others only make one trip towards the Sun and get destroyed from the heat and gravity.

You have also likely heard about asteroids, which seem to be in the news quite a bit lately.  These are generally composed of rock and sometimes of metal, such as iron.  Most of the asteroids are found in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter.  Occasionally the asteroids can smash into one another and break apart.  This can cause pieces to fall in towards the Sun, and sometimes the Earth gets in the way and gets hit by these, usually small, pieces of rock or metal. 

Meteoroids range in size from a grain of sand to a large boulder and are flying freely through space.  This can be the debris left from the tail of a comet and asteroids smashing together.  In the case of a meteor shower, the Earth is typically in a place of its orbit where it passes through the debris field of a comet tail.  The Perseids for example occur when the Earth passes through the debris left behind from Comet Swift-Tuttle.  The streak that you see across the sky during a meteor shower is called (surprise!), a meteor or, as commonly heard on the news, a shooting star.  If the meteor survives passing through the Earth's atmosphere and makes it to the ground, it is called a meteorite.  Most meteors are around 60 miles above the Earth when they begin to burn up.

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Above image taken by Jeff Greenland.