Monthly Night Sky Report: January 2022

Introduction

    Thanks to a stormy end to December, I missed out on Comet Leonard. Utah desperately needs as much precipitation as it can get, so I suppose me missing out on a comet is acceptable! I was able to view Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter shortly after sunset, however. Orion the Hunter was also an easy target to see between the clouds. I also missed the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on the 25th, but have been keeping up-to-date on the mission. So far everything is looking good! I'm excited for the discoveries this massive telescope will reveal. 

    January will hopefully continue to bring in the needed precipitation, even though I am anxious to do some astrophotography.  The first month of 2022 will show us Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn forming a line in the early evening sky. The early risers may also notice Mars returning to the sky. Observers will also be in for a treat during the first few days of the month with the Quadrantid meteor shower peaking without the brightness of the Moon interfering.   

             

Mercury

    Mercury will be found between brilliant Venus and Saturn during the first week or so of the month. Mercury will continue to climb higher in the early evening sky until the 7th when it reaches greatest eastern elongation from our vantage point. Mercury and Saturn will continue to move closer together until the 13th when the pair can be found within 4°. The inner planet will now fall quickly towards the Sun and will reach inferior conjunction on the 23rd. At this time, Mercury will be lost from view.

  

Venus

    Venus will be found close to the Sun this month as it reaches inferior conjunction with our nearest star on the 8th. Our sister planet will return to the morning sky around the middle of the month. Venus will continue to move away from the Sun making it easier to spot before sunrise.

    

Mars

    Mars  returned to the morning sky in December. The Red Planet will continue to rise before the Sun each morning while also rising slightly earlier with each passing day. During the first week, Mars and Antares will be found close in the morning sky before sunrise. By the end of the first week, Mars will have moved away from this red star and will continue to do so all month. Near the 20th, Venus will be found in the morning sky close to Mars. The brilliance of our sister planet will likely draw your attention away from the dim red glow of Mars. Onward form the 20th, Venus and Mars will approach each other in the morning sky until February, when Venus will be found higher in the sky.    

Jupiter

Saturn

    Jupiter and Saturn will be easy to spot after sunset. The two gas giants are falling closer to the Sun from our vantage point and will soon be lost from view for a short time. 

    Jupiter will be brighter and found higher in the sky than Saturn after sunset. January will be a great time to get your last views of Jupiter and the Galilean Moons before it's lost from view. The Moon will join Jupiter in the evening sky on the 5th. 

    Saturn will be found in the west shortly after sunset. Like Mercury, you will have to view this planet shortly after sunset before it sinks below the horizon. This pair of planets will be found close in the sky on the 13th but by the 20th, both planets will be found too close to the Sun to be viewed.    

   

Neptune

Uranus

    

    The outer two planets are best viewed through a telescope but can still be seen through a pair of binoculars.  Uranus can be found high in the sky after sunset. The Pleiades will continue to follow this ice giant through the sky this month. The Moon will join Uranus on the 11th in the night sky.

    Neptune continues to trail behind Jupiter but ahead of Uranus this month.  This most distant planet will be joined by the Moon on the 7th.  

Meteor Shower 

    This year will start off running with a great meteor shower, the Quadrantids. The Moon will not interfere with this shower, as has been the case for several past showers. The Quadrantids will be active between the 28th of December until the 12th of January, with the peak date falling on the morning of the 3rd. The peak date will bring the chance to see up to 120 meteors per hour if you are able to get away from city lights. The current weather forecast shows that we may have some clouds on the 3rd with a low temperature of 31°, just below freezing. This will likely change, as do all weather forecasts, so be sure to check the weather before heading out to watch this meteor shower! These meteors will appear to radiate from Bootes, which can be found high in the sky around 4 in the morning. This constellation consists of the bright star Arcturus, so look towards this star and you should see some meteors! 

Spot Me....🕵️  

    I've had you try to spot quite a few different objects in the night sky, most of which require a telescope. With the cold and storms that plague Utah during this time of year, I encourage you to view some easy targets again this month. During the first part of the month, try to view Mercury, Venus, and Saturn before they dip below the western horizon. While you are looking at these planets, you might as well catch a glimpse of Jupiter, which will be found higher in the sky. If you miss Venus, try again towards the end of the month when it rises before the Sun. I also challenge you to view Mars before sunrise which will be joined by Venus towards the end of the month.

    I also encourage you to view the Quadrantid Meteor Shower around the peak date of the 3rd. I don't think that you will be disappointed, as long as the weather permits it. Remember to look east towards Arcturus which will rise at around 1 on the morning of the 3rd. The higher this star climbs into the sky, the more meteors you should be able to spot. Be sure to dress warmly! 

Monthly Breakdown

    

   January 02:  New Moon 🌑

    January 03:  Quadrantid Meteor shower peaks

    January 03:  Moon passes within 3° of Mercury

    January 04:  Moon passes within 4° of Saturn

    January 05:  Moon passes within 4° of Jupiter

    January 07:  Moon passes within 4° of Neptune

    January 07:  Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation

    January 08:  Venus in inferior conjunction

    January 09:  First Quarter Moon 🌓

    January 11:  Moon passes within 2° of Uranus

    January 17:  Full Moon 🌕 

    January 23:  Mercury in inferior conjunction

    January 25:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗

    January 29:  Moon passes within 2° of Mars

    January 29:  Moon passes within 10° of Venus

    January 30:  Moon passes within 8° of Mercury

       

    Remember to follow me on Instagram @CosmicLure01 to receive notifications for new posts.  You may also follow me on Twitter @CosmicLure.  

    

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos taken by Jeff Greenland.

    

Midmonth Check-In: December 2021and Upcoming Events of 2022

  

Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    

    The clouds continue to plague the night sky. I've been unable to do any imaging or stargazing due to the clouds and the cold temperatures. The current weather forecast is continued cloud cover, rain, and snow for the next ten days or so. Obviously this can change since the weather is so hard to predict. Much like the brightness of a comet! It seems that Comet Leonard has started to dim ahead of the predications. 

    Stargazers can catch the stragglers from the Geminids, if the clouds allow it. A pair of binoculars or a telescope will be required to view Comet Leonard, due to its dimming. Observers will still have the chance to watch the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope on the 22nd, as long as there are no more delays. If the weather permits it, stargazers can also still catch the close encounter of Mars and Antares during the dawn hours of the 25th. Evening observers will still be able to see the close approach of Mercury and Venus on the 28th as well.  

Think About This....💡

    

    A new year is nearly upon us. Since this is the last post of the year, I will give a brief overview of what you can look forward to in 2022. First, a short disclaimer. This overview will not include any comets since they are so unpredictable. Some comets have not been discovered yet so there is always the potential for an unaided eye comet to appear. If such an occurrence happens, I will let you know! 

    Starting with the planets, Venus will soon move from being the "Evening Star" to the "Morning Star." This will happen in January of 2022 and will remain the "Morning Star" until September. At this time, it will return as the "Evening Star." 

    Mars recently returned to the morning sky and will continue to be found there in early 2022. As the year progresses, Mars will climb higher in the sky and will reach opposition in December. At this time, Mars will shine brightly in the sky, begging for your attention.

    Jupiter will move to the morning sky in 2022, but return to the evening sky later in the year. It will reach opposition in September, offering great views. School will be in session by this time, so don't hesitate to spend the last few nights of summer out late to view this giant planet. Any instrument will reveal the Galilean Moons while a small telescope can reveal the cloud bands. 

    Saturn will be just a few weeks ahead of Jupiter, moving to the morning sky, then reach opposition in August. Use any clear night to view the rings of Saturn as it will surely not disappoint. 

    

    During the early part of 2022, observers willing to brave the cold can view the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula. As the Northern Hemisphere tilts towards the Sun and the warmth of Spring arrives, look to the sky for one of my favorite deep sky objects, the Beehive Cluster. During May, Utahns will be able to witness a total lunar eclipse. 

    As summer rolls around, so do more of my favorite deep sky objects. The Hercules Cluster, Ring Nebula, and the Wild Duck Cluster will be high in the sky and easy to spot with your telescope. Towards the end of summer, be sure to watch for the Perseid Meteor Shower, one of the best of the year. In autumn, observers can get the last of their viewing in before the cold sets in and snow covers the ground. This is the time when it's best to view the Andromeda Galaxy and the Double Cluster, more of my favorites. November will bring a second opportunity for Utahns to see a total lunar eclipse. 

    As a parting gift for the year, here is my favorite image that was taken in 2021. This image is from Cedar Breaks National Monument, a dark sky park. If you get the chance, be sure to visit this park at night for spectacular views of the night sky.   

Milky Way band with twilight glow from Cedar Breaks National Monument.

Remember to follow me on Instagram @CosmicLure01 to receive notifications for new posts.  You may also follow me on Twitter @CosmicLure.  

    

Now get outside and look up!

Monthly Night Sky Report: December 2021

    November was certainly much colder over Utah! The temperatures will likely continue their decline until March of 2022. I was unable to watch the partial lunar eclipse in November and the Leonid meteor shower due to cloud cover at my location. Typically, my luck has always been a cloudy or smoky sky on a night that I intend to do any observing. Next year will bring a few more eclipses with hopefully more favorable weather.

    The cold temperatures will continue into December, making nighttime observing difficult for many. During this last month of the year, four planets can be easily visible in the early evening sky. December also brings the return of two major meteor showers, the Ursids and the Geminids. The Geminids are one of the best showers of the year with up to 150 meteors per hour visible under ideal conditions. December will bring the return of Mars to the morning sky and the Winter Solstice. One of the more exciting things to (hopefully) happen this month is the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. There is also the possibility of seeing a comet if you have access to a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Read on for more details!

             

Mercury

    It seems that Mercury can't decide if it wants to rise before the Sun or stay up late. This month, the innermost planet will stay up late and be visible after sunset. Mercury will be lost in the glare of the Sun until later in the month, likely around the 21st. As the month progresses, this tiny world will climb higher in the sky to escape the glare of the Sun. As Mercury climbs higher, Venus will sink lower in the sky, bringing the pair closest on the 28th. Mercury will also continue to brighten as the end of December nears.

  

Venus

    Venus continues to beg for attention through December. It will continue to be one of the first, if not the first, object that an observer will notice in the sky after sunset. I have been surprised at its brightness throughout November, but Venus will unfortunately begin to dim towards the end of December. Our sister planet will appear to gravitate closer to the Sun this month, sinking closer to the western horizon each evening. A steely-eyed observer will notice tiny Mercury rising higher in the sky as Venus sinks lower. On the 28th, the pair of inner planets will make their closest approach from our vantage point, appearing just 4° apart. On the 6th, the two day old Moon will join Venus in the evening sky, being less than 2° away.  

    

Mars

    The long wait for Mars to return to our sky will come to an end this month. The red planet will be visible in the morning before sunrise. On the 25th, Mars will be positioned close to Antares, the stars' whose name literally means "not Mars." Don't confuse these two as many often do! Mars lies on the far side of the Sun from Earth and will appear less bright than Antares. Antares is much further from the Earth (about 555 light years) but it is also many times larger than our own Sun. 

Jupiter

Saturn

    Jupiter and Saturn will be easy to spot after sunset. These two gas giants will form a line with Venus that was noticeable in November. This trio will be joined by Mercury later in the month. The pair of gas giants are sinking closer to the Sun so if you get the chance, break out your telescope to give these planets a final look in 2021.

    Jupiter will be brighter and found higher in the sky than Saturn after sunset. Binoculars will reveal the four Galilean Moons, which change position very quickly. A telescope will show the contrasting cloud bands, moon transits, and the Great Red Spot. The Earth's moon will join Jupiter in the sky on the 8th this month.

    Saturn can be found sandwiched between Venus and Jupiter. December will be your final chance to view the majestic rings of Saturn this year, and likely for a while as this planet falls closer to the Sun. A telescope will easily reveal the rings but you may also view Titan and a few other moons of Saturn. Since Saturn is closer to the horizon, the Moon will join this planet a day before Jupiter.        

   

Neptune

Uranus

    

    The outer two planets are best viewed through a telescope but can still be seen through a pair of binoculars.  Uranus will continue to be visible all night through December. The Pleiades will be following this ice giant through the sky this month. The Moon will join Uranus on the 14th this month.

    Neptune continues to trail behind Jupiter but ahead of Uranus this month.  This most distant planet will be joined by 50% lit Moon on the 10th.       

Meteor Shower and Comet Leonard

    The Earth will find itself being pummeled by two separate meteor showers this month. Unfortunately, the Ursids, which peak on the 22nd, will be washed out by a nearly Full Moon. A few of the brightest meteors may shine through the glare from the Moon, however. The Geminids will fair slightly better on the morning of the 14th. The Moon will be present but a greater distance from the origin of the meteors as compared to the Ursids. The Moon will set around 3 in the morning, making the sky darker and the more dim meteors easier to see. The Geminids are one of the best showers of the year, producing around 150 meteors per hour. This shower is active from December 4th until the 17th, so be sure to watch for them during this 2 week period. The Geminids will appear to radiate from Gemini, which is easy to find in the sky by the pair of bright stars, Castor and Pollux. This constellation rises about the same time as Orion but will be the next constellation to the left, as you face east.  

    December will also bring the possibility of seeing a comet! Comet Leonard should be visible with the unaided eye by the second week of the month, but will rapidly lose its brightness as the month progresses. The best time to view Comet Leonard is in the morning from the 1st until the 12th of December in the southeast sky. Following the 12th, the best time will be after sunset in the southwest.  Be sure to get to a light pollution free sky and a location that you can clearly see the horizon.  On the 17th, Comet Leonard will be directly below Venus. For those into astrophotography, you should be able to capture this comet in a long exposure picture.  

Spot Me....🕵️  

    I've had you try to spot quite a few different objects in the night sky, most of which require a telescope. I highly encourage you to try to view Comet Leonard this month. For the best results, get away from all sources of light pollution and have a clear view of the eastern horizon if you are viewing before December 12th, and clear view of the western horizon if you are viewing after the 12th. A telescope or binoculars will increase the detail that can be seen of this comet. A long exposure image should reveal the colors of Leonard's tail. 

    I also encourage you to view the Geminid Meteor Shower. This is one of the best showers of the year, rivaled only by the Perseids. With up to 150 meteors visible per hour, you are almost guaranteed to see meteors from this shower if you get away from city lights and have a clear sky. I hope to be able to capture some images of Comet Leonard and some meteors to share in January. 

    Be sure to watch the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) which is scheduled to occur on the 22nd at 5:20 AM Utah time. This telescope will be the successor to the Hubble Telescope. JWST will take about 6 months to arrive at its orbit location, be calibrated, and return images to Earth. This telescope is many times larger than Hubble and should allow scientists to discover even more about the cosmos. 

Monthly Breakdown

    

    December 02:  Moon passes within 1° of Mars

    December 04:  New Moon 🌑

    December 06:  Moon passes within 2° of Venus

    December 07:  Moon passes within 4° of Saturn

    December 08:  Moon passes within 4° of Jupiter

    December 10:  First Quarter Moon 🌓

    December 10:  Moon passes within 4° of Neptune

    December 14:  Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks

    December 14:  Moon passes within 2° of Uranus

    December 18:  Full Moon 🌕 

    December 21:  Winter Solstice

    December 22:  James Webb Space Telescope launch at 5:20 AM Utah time

    December 25:  Mars and Antares within 5°

    December 26:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗

    December 28:  Mercury and Venus pass within 4°

       

    Remember to follow me on Instagram @CosmicLure01 to receive notifications for new posts.  You may also follow me on Twitter @CosmicLure.  

    

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos taken by Jeff Greenland.

    

Midmonth Check-In: November 2021 and Galaxies

 

Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    It has been a mild November for Utah so far. We have seen a little valley rain and mountain snow and have experienced many cloudy days. If this trend continues, astronomers will be fortunate enough to view the night sky all winter long! I was unable to enjoy the night sky during the first half of the month, but will hopefully have the opportunity before the end of the year. I was, however, able to take some decent images of the sky just east of Cedar City at Cedar Breaks. I will share some of my favorites at the end of this post.

    Observers still have a few exciting astronomical events coming up in November. On the morning of the17th, the Leonid meteor shower will peak with only the brightest of meteors being visible due to the nearly Full Moon. If you get the chance, get to dark sky place after Thanksgiving and you should hopefully still be able to see some of these meteors. Coinciding with the Full Moon this month, Utah will experience a partial lunar eclipse. The eclipse will begin around 11 pm Utah time on the 18th and continue through the night. It will end just after 5 in the morning on the 19th. For Utahans, this eclipse will not be a total lunar eclipse, but an observer should still be able to see the shadow of the Earth move across the Moon. The next lunar eclipse over Utah will occur in May 2022.   

Think About This....💡

    I am constantly sharing images that I've taken of the Milky Way band from some remote area, but have never really talked about what the Milky Way band is. Hopefully most of my readers know that our Sun is just one of billions of stars that are a part of the Milky Way galaxy. The images that I take are of just one spiral arm of our galaxy that we call home. Typically, the images are towards the center of our galaxy, which contains a black hole. Galaxies are made up of billions of stars, dust, gas, planets, and anything else you can image. Galaxies are, in a way, like humans. They come in many different shapes and sizes, but are still made up of the same materials. 

    

    There are four main types of galaxies, spiral, barred-spiral, elliptical, and irregular. When I think of a galaxy, usually an image of a spiral galaxy comes to mind. These galaxies have a central point that all of the stars, gas, dust, etc. that make up the galaxy appear to orbit around. These galaxies look like water going down a drain. If you want to try an experiment, use some food coloring and add it to some water going down a drain and it should be easier to see that spiral shape. It wasn't until recently that astronomers and other scientists discovered that the Milky Way galaxy was not a spiral galaxy, as previously believed.  The Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) is the galaxy that comes to mind when I think of a spiral galaxy. It is the most common image that is shown if you search for "spiral galaxy."

    The next type of galaxy, the barred-spiral galaxy is similar in shape to a spiral galaxy. The main difference is that there is a "bar" of stars in the center instead of a simple spiral. Most astronomers and scientists now agree that the Milky Way is a barred-spiral galaxy. Since we can't fly outside of the Milky Way galaxy, no one knows for sure what the shape is, but based on what we can see from our vantage point, our galaxy is most likely a barred-spiral galaxy. M58 in Virgo is a popular barred-spiral galaxy. 

    An elliptical galaxy has an elongated spherical shape but can also be almost perfectly round or a long cigar shape. These galaxies do not have a nucleus or bulge at the center like spiral galaxies, but they still appear bright in the center and lose their brightness towards the outer edges. M87 in Virgo is an example of an elliptical galaxy.  

    The final type of galaxy is the irregular galaxy. These galaxies do not have a symmetrical or well defined structure.. These galaxies are usually formed by two galaxies colliding or merging. Irregular galaxies are the least common of all galaxies that have been discovered, with only 1 in 5 being classified as such. Two such galaxies can be easily seen from Earth...if you live in the southern hemisphere. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are actually galaxies that are interacting with the Milky Way. The Milky Way is much larger and has caused these two smaller galaxies to be torn apart. If you get a chance to travel to the southern hemisphere, be sure to check these out!  

    Below you will find some of my favorite images from the area around Cedar Breaks that I was able to take in late October. I wish I could have stayed out longer to capture more images but it was below freezing temperature! The first four images were taken with my phone. In the second image, I was lucky and caught a meteor! 

Milky Way band and trees.

Northern Milky Way band with meteor streak.

Jupiter, Saturn, airplane trail, and trees.

Milky Way sunset.

    

    The next 8 pictures were taken with my DSLR camera. None of these photos have been edited, they are straight from the camera. I felt they looked great how they are!  In the first image, a passing vehicle illuminated a tree in the foreground. It ruined the Milky Way shot I was going for but I thought this was pretty nice looking too.  

Illuminated tree from passing vehicle and a faint Milky Way band.

Andromeda Galaxy is faint but at the center of the image with a faint northern Milky Way band and airplane trail by the tree.

Large tree with starry background.

Jupiter in the upper left, Saturn left of center, Milky Way band, and the remaining sunlight.

Lucky picture of a satellite flash with Andromeda Galaxy just below and the northern Milky Way band.

Jupiter at bottom center and Milky Way band with a silhouette tree on the left.

Andromeda Galaxy and northern Milky Way band with some glow from a rising Moon.

Bright southern Milky Way band.

Remember to follow me on Instagram @CosmicLure01 to receive notifications for new posts.  You may also follow me on Twitter @CosmicLure.  

    

Now get outside and look up!

Monthly Night Sky Report: November 2021

    October in Utah experienced much cooler weather and a wet end to the month.  We were able to enjoy a few clear nights however.  I was able to have one final night out during the last week of the month and captured a few decent images which will be shared in my next post.     

    November will continue to cool down with Utah likely seeing the first major snowstorm of the season.  The 11th month will bring the return of the Leonid Meteor Shower which is joined by a nearly Full Moon this year.  Observers can also watch Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter, which will stretch across over 30° of the ecliptic by the end of the month.  This would be a great opportunity for astrophotographers.  Perhaps the biggest highlight this month for many will be the partial lunar eclipse.  Read on for more details about the eclipse and other highlights for the month.    

             

Mercury

    Mercury can be found in the morning sky shortly before sunrise.  It will begin the month shining at a magnitude of approximately -0.8.  This tiny world will brighten but also fall closer to the Sun throughout the month.  By the 28th, Mercury will be in superior conjunction with the Sun causing it to be lost from view.    

  

Venus

    Venus will be hard to miss this month as it continues to dominate the evening sky.  The first evening of the month, our sister planet can be found with the Milky Way band behind it, creating a cool astrophotography opportunity.  Between the 4th and the 7th, Venus can be found close to the Lagoon Nebula which will create another cool astrophotography moment.  The 14% lit Moon will join the pair on the 7th.  By the 10th or so, Venus will have moved to the left of the Milky Way band, closer to Saturn and Jupiter.   Our closest neighboring planet will continue its trek towards the gas giants throughout the month.

    

Mars

    Mars will continue to be lost from view until December, when it returns to the morning sky.

Jupiter

Saturn

      The two gas giants will form a trio with Venus.  These three planets will be bright and easy to spot after sunset during November.  On the first night of the month, the two gas giants will be visible until midnight.  Due to daylight savings time, the two planets will set 3 hours earlier (instead of 2 hours earlier) by the end of the month.  At this time, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus will form a line in the sky, creating a nice astrophotography opportunity.  

    Jupiter will offer some great views to anyone with a telescope.  The cloud bands can easily be seen as can the Great Red Spot.  Jupiter completes one revolution on its axis every 10 hours meaning that a different part of its "surface" can be seen during this time.  Binoculars will reveal the four Galilean Moons while a telescope can show the shadows of one of these moons on the cloud tops of Jupiter.  The 56% lit Moon will be close to Jupiter on the 11th this month.  

    Saturn won't shine as brilliantly as Jupiter and Venus, but will be bright enough to easily spot.  If you have trouble, it's the brightest "star" sandwiched between Venus (close to the horizon) and Jupiter (almost directly south).  Saturn will offer magnificent views of its rings with a telescope.  The larger the telescope, the better the view!  Titan, the largest moon of Saturn should be easy to spot, but with a larger telescope, an observer should also be able to pick out a few of the other moons, such as Rhea, Tethys, and Dione.  Saturn will be joined by Earth's own Moon on the 10th, which will be 45% lit.         

   

Neptune

Uranus

    

    The outer two planets are best viewed through a telescope but can still be seen through a pair of binoculars.  Uranus will be visible all night, every night this month as it will reach opposition on the 4th.  This ice giant will be joined by the nearly Full Moon (99% lit) on the 17th this month.

    Neptune continue to trail behind Jupiter but ahead of Uranus this month.  This most distant planet will be joined by 76% lit Moon on the 13th.       

Meteor Shower

    The Leonid Meteor Shower will peak this month on the morning of the 17th.  Unfortunately, there is a Full Moon on the 19th, so only the brightest meteors will be able to be seen on this peak date.  If you are able to get away from city lights the week before, say around the 10th, you should have a higher chance of seeing some of these meteors.  This shower will appear to radiate from Leo the Lion, which begins to peek above the mountains around midnight on the 17th and will be high in the southern sky around 4 in the morning, making this the best time to view the meteors.    

Spot Me....🕵️  

    I've had you try to spot quite a few different objects in the night sky, most of which require a telescope.  As the temperature continues to drop during November, I encourage you to view some easy targets again this month.  While the early evening after sunset is still bearable, take out your binoculars, telescope, or just your unaided eyes to view Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.  These three are easy enough to spot, so I won't bore you with how to locate these objects. However, I will provide a few sample images of what you might see!

    Below is an image of what the night sky may look like just after sunset around the middle of the month.  The brightest object near the bottom of the image is Venus.  Moving towards the upper left, the next bright "star" will be Saturn, followed by brighter Jupiter.  

Looking South-Southwest after sunset on the 15th.

       Begin your evening viewing Venus.  It is the brightest of the trio and is also the closest to the western horizon, meaning it will be the first to set.  A telescope will show the phase of our sister planet.  Below is an image of what Venus will look like midmonth.

Venus on the 15th of November.

  Notice how it looks just like the Moon!  I promise, it is not.  We see "phases" of Venus because it lies closer to the Sun than the Earth, meaning that we can never truly see a "full Venus" like we can see a Full Moon.  

    Next, point your binoculars, telescope, or your unaided eye towards Saturn.  A pair of binoculars will allow an observer to view Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, while a telescope will additionally reveal its rings and a few more moons.  Below is an image of what Saturn, Titan, and a few other moons may look like through a telescope.

Saturn on the 15th of November.

    The largest moon (lower right) is Titan. The furthest moon to the left is Rhea.  The upper moon of the two that are close together is Dione, followed by Tethys.  As the caption below the image says, this is the night of the 15th.  These moons will be in different positions on a different night.

    Finally, adjust your gaze to Jupiter, the king of the planets.  The Galilean Moons change position hourly as do the cloud tops of Jupiter. Below is an image of what Jupiter will look like on the 15th through a telescope.  

Jupiter on the 15h of November.

   

The moon right next to Jupiter is Europa.  Moving toward the upper left, the next moon is Io, followed by Ganymede, and then Callisto at the upper left.  Be sure to check back often to see a different view of this planet and its moons!

    If time and weather allow, don't hesitate to view some of the other wonders of the night sky!  Remember go back to some of my past posts if you need help finding specific targets or just scan the sky to find something new!     

   

These images were provided by Stellarium.

Monthly Breakdown

    

    November 03:  Moon passes within 2° of Mercury

    November 04:  New Moon 🌑

    November 04:  Uranus reaches opposition  

    November 07:  Moon passes within 2° of Venus

    November 10:  Moon passes within 4° of Saturn

    November 11:  First Quarter Moon 🌓

    November 11:  Moon passes within 4° of Jupiter

    November 13:  Moon passes within 4° of Neptune

    November 17:  Leonid Meteor Shower peaks

    November 17:  Moon passes within 2° of Uranus

    November 19:  Full Moon 🌕 

    November 27:  Last Quarter Moon 🌗

       

    Remember to follow me on Instagram @CosmicLure01 to receive notifications for new posts.  You may also follow me on Twitter @CosmicLure.  

    

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos taken by Jeff Greenland.

    

Midmonth Check-In: October 2021 and The Twilight & Magic Hours

  

Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    The first couple of days in October were great for stargazing!  I was able to capture a few images that I will share at the end of this post, as well as a reader submitted picture.  The clear skies and warm weather quickly retreated going into the first full week of the month and continues to do so.  Watching the weather, it appears that the third week of the month might be a good time to get the last of your stargazing in before the cold weather sets in.

    The biggest thing to look forward to this month, in my opinion, is the Orionids meteor shower.  It will peak on the 21st, but will be lackluster due to the Full Moon occurring on the 20th.  Remember to get away from as much light pollution as possible so that you can see the maximum number of meteors that the Moon will allow us to view.  On the 16th, Venus and Antares will be within 2°.  This will offer a nice contrast with the red of Antares and the brilliant white of Venus.  Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation on the 25th, meaning it should be easier to spot before sunrise.          

Think About This....💡

   

    The topic this month goes along with astrophotography which I touched on last month.  There are different points of time after sunset and before sunrise which are referred to as "magic hours."  These come in a few different kinds such as "golden hour" and "blue hour."  There are also different types of twilight, like "civil twilight" and "astronomical twilight" which coincide with the magic hours.  After sunset and just before sunrise, the sky is illuminated by the Sun but the Sun is still below the horizon.  This is known as twilight.  Civil twilight is when there is enough natural light that artificial light is not needed.  Only the brightest astronomical targets will be visible, such as Venus and Jupiter.  The Sun will be between 0° and 6° below the horizon at this time.  This is also known as the golden hour because of the gold color of the sky.  During the golden hour and Civil twilight, portrait, city, landscape, Moon, and backlight portrait photography are the best.  

    Nautical twilight begins when the Sun is between 6° and 12° below the horizon.  At this time, the brightest stars can be seen.  Nautical twilight gets its name from when sailors used the brightest stars at night to find the direction they needed to sail.  The horizon is still visible during nautical twilight.  This form of twilight is also called the blue hour.  During this time, landscape, portrait, Moon, and city photography is suggested.  This is also a great time to start long exposure photography.

    Finally, we have astronomical twilight.  This is when the Sun is between 12° and 18° below the horizon.  The glow of the Sun still lingers but most celestial objects can be seen.  This is the time for longer exposure photography, the Milky Way band photography, northern light observation, and other night sky observation.  The times for each different twilight and magic hours varies depending on your location and the time of year.  There are several apps you can get for your phone or tablet that can let you know the time for each of these.  

    Below, you will find a few of my latest pictures as well as one submitted by my niece.  Enjoy!  

          

           

Milky Way band with phone from Fairfield cemetery.  

    

Milky Way Band and Jupiter at Fairfield cemetery.

Milky Way Band and trees.

Milky Way Band with green trees.

Another Milky Way Band picture.

Northern Milky Way Band with Andromeda Galaxy.

Big Dipper with tree.

Sunset from my niece.

Remember to follow me on Instagram @CosmicLure01 to receive notifications for new posts.  You may also follow me on Twitter @CosmicLure.  

    

Now get outside and look up!