Midmonth Check-In: December 2024 and Best of 2023

          

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    December has been cold and hazy over Utah during the first half of the month. The haze, of course, has been caused by the infamous inversion that Utah experiences during the cold months. This inversion is generally bad for everyone, especially those individuals with breathing problems like asthma. For those unfamiliar with the Salt Lake Valley inversion, it's like fog full of pollutants, including vehicle emissions, factory emissions, and smoke. A large storm will usually blow the inversion out of the valley, but Utah hasn't seen a storm for a couple of weeks now. Needless to say, the inversion prohibits most stargazing unless an individual can travel away or above the haze. Bright objects, such as the Moon and Venus in the western sky, were easy to detect during the first few days of the month. Saturn was more difficult to spot, but I could pick it out through the haze, only to lose it once I shifted my gaze elsewhere. Jupiter and the bright stars of Orion were also easy to spot, along with Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. 

    I am looking forward to a large storm to clear out the inversion so I can enjoy Mercury reaching its greatest western elongation on the 24th. I will also try to catch some of the Ursid Meteors during the Last Quarter Moon phase. If the time and weather allow during the busy holiday season, I encourage others to look up at the heavens to see the sights of the universe!

Best of 2023   

        I neglected to share my best astrophotography images from 2023, so this post will do just that! I have included some of these images in previous posts but did not include much of a description, if any at all. Overall, 2023 was a busy year for me so I wasn't able to go on as many stargazing outings as I would like, but nevertheless, here are my best images from 2023. 

    This first set of images was taken on 10 February from Utah's west desert area. It was a cold but clear night, so I thought I should take advantage of the opportunity to take some pictures! My primary targets were Orion and the Zodiacal Light. This first image shows Orion in the upper right and the skyglow from Salt Lake City. I was also able to get some of the snow on the mountains in this image. 

 

Orion Skyglow

    The next image was aimed a little higher above the horizon, capturing a bright Sirius near the lower left, followed by Orion, Taurus, and the Pleiades, forming a line. The faint Milky Way Band can also be seen to the left.  

Sirius, Orion, Taurus, Pleiades, and Milky Way Band

    I then aimed the camera a little higher to capture Orion, Taurus, and the Pleiades. I also captured the Milky Way band and a faint meteor between Orion and Taurus. 

Orion, Taurus, the Pleiades, Milky Way Band, and meteor

     The last two images captured this night show Venus and Jupiter setting in the west. The light in line with Venus and Jupiter is the Zodiacal Light, which is caused by dust particles scattering the light from the Sun. The Milky Way Band can be seen on the right side of the image. The Andromeda Galaxy is near the top center. If the image is expanded, a few faint meteors can be seen near Jupiter. Both images were taken at the same time, one with a DSLR camera and the other with my smartphone, showing the capabilities smartphone cameras have!

Jupiter, Venus, Zodiacal Light, Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy, and meteors taken with DSLR

Jupiter, Venus, Zodiacal Light, Andromeda Galaxy, taken with smartphone

      These next few images were taken from the same location eight months later, on 10 October. I only took my smartphone with me on this trip. This first image shows the Big Dipper near the northern horizon, with some structures in the foreground.

Big Dipper

 

    The next image shows Jupiter and the Pleiades rising above the mountains with a little bit of skyglow from Salt Lake City. I was impressed with the silhouette of the hills and trees against the starry background. 

Jupiter and the Pleiades

    The final image shows a faint Milky Way Band being overpowered by an orange glow in the sky. The contrasting colors were interesting to me. A military base is in the direction of this light. I have taken thousands of pictures aimed this way, but this is the first time capturing this light. A passing car can also be seen in the foreground. 

Contrasting Colors

    In September of 2023, I was invited to Preston Ranch in Wyoming. We were there for a few days over a long weekend but were mostly plagued with rain and cloudy skies. However, on one clear night, I captured several images, which I turned into a short timelapse. It can be found on my new YouTube channel!

    The following month, I went to Richfield, Utah for the Annular Solar Eclipse. I set up my camera on some farmland to capture the entirety of the eclipse with minimal interference from others. The eclipse lasted about three and half hours but I have converted it to a timelapse lasting only a minute and a half. Clouds can be seen passing through the video and several planes carrying individuals to Richfield for the eclipse can be seen. Near the end of the video, a cat, the only intruder, can be seen wandering the field. An annular eclipse isn't nearly as dramatic as a total solar eclipse with the only indication of an eclipse is the darkening sky and cooler temperatures during the peak. The darkness can be seen in this video. This video can also be found on my new YouTube channel! I took my binoculars and solar filters on this trip to enjoy the eclipse. I made several attempts to capture the eclipse through the binoculars with my smartphone but could not get any images worth sharing. 

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: December 2024

     Introduction

    Rain, snow, and cold temperatures plagued northern Utah during the week of Thanksgiving. Throughout November, I watched Orion rise earlier and earlier and was often amazed by the size of this constellation. It's easier to tell how large it is when it first comes over the Rocky Mountains. Jupiter and Mars were close to Orion, with Jupiter's luminosity overtaking any other light point in the sky. Venus was easy to spot in the western sky during twilight, and Saturn was also easy to identify in the southeast as the sky darkened. The Sun remained active throughout the month with many sunspots, some quite large, visible with optical aid and appropriate eye protection. Unfortunately, the Northern Lights were not visible over Utah.

    December brings the return of the Geminid and Ursid Meteor Showers. The Geminids typically produce the largest number of meteors per hour if the peak date coincides with the New Moon phase. That will not be the case this year, but they are still worth a look! Jupiter will reach opposition, making it the best time to view this giant planet in 2024. Mars and Saturn will remain great targets for telescopes if the weather permits. The Winter Solstice occurs this month, the favorite day for a co-worker as the daylight hours increase.       

                      

Mercury

  Beginning with the innermost planet, Mercury will be visible to interested observers in the morning sky after its inferior conjunction with the Sun on the 5th. As the month progresses, Mercury will gain altitude and brighten, making it easier to spot in the predawn sky. The best chance will come on the final morning of 2024 when Mercury can be found above the Rocky Mountains about an hour before sunrise. Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation on the 24th, with a thin crescent Moon joining this planet in the morning sky on the 28th.    

  

Venus

   Venus will again dominate the early evening sky. Shining brightly at magnitude -4.06 on the 1st and will continue to brighten as the remainder of the year races by. The Earth's evil twin will reach peak brightness on the 31st, shining at magnitude -4.25, easily outshining any natural object in the sky other than the Sun and Moon. A three-day-old Moon will join Venus in the evening sky on the 4th when the pair will be less than 2° apart. An observant astronomer will notice Saturn moving closer to Venus. The pair will experience a conjunction around the middle of January.    

    

Mars

    Mars will lag behind the other planets and be the last to rise in the evening sky. The Red Planet will be easy to spot due to its reddish glow and its shining at magnitude -0.5 at the start of the month. The views will only improve as the month progresses as Mars rises earlier and brightens to -1.2 by the end of the year. This most explored planet will reach opposition in January, making it visible all night for observers willing to brave the cold. M44, the Beehive Cluster, and one of my favorite open star clusters, can be found less than 3° below Mars as December begins. As the month continues, Mars will move further above M44, but will still be within 10 degrees. The Moon will pass less than a degree away from Mars in the early morning hours on the 18th.

Jupiter

Saturn

   Jupiter will reach opposition on the 7th, making this planet visible all night. This giant planet will climb high into the sky, making the best appearance for Northern Hemisphere observers in over a decade. Several Galilean Moon transits can be viewed throughout the month, so be sure to check out the Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or JupiterMoons for Apple devices. The Great Red Spot may also be seen at specific times depending on the observers' location, which the resources mentioned above can also be helpful. An observer will need a four-inch (100 mm) telescope or larger to view the transits and the Great Red Spot. I enjoy viewing all of the planets, but Jupiter is one of my favorites. I can still recall one of the first times I used my telescope and focused on Jupiter. The cloud bands could be easily seen, and I was lucky enough to see the Great Red Spot! During that same night, I witnessed one of the Galilean Moons transit the giant planet, leaving a shadow that was clearly visible through my scope. The Earth's own Moon will pass close to Jupiter on the 14th, the day before the Full Moon.  

    Saturn can be found above the southern horizon throughout December and will be visible until midnight during the first two weeks of the month and until about 11 PM by mid-month. Saturn's alignment with the Earth is approaching a point where its majestic rings will nearly disappear from our vantage point. Observers should soak up ringed views while they can! Of course, the rings will be visible again as the alignment of the Earth and Saturn change over time. A few of Saturn's moons can be seen transiting the planet during December. The Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or Saturn's Satellites web app can be used to find the locations of several of Saturn's moons. For those with Apple devices,  JupiterMoons and SaturnMoons should offer similar results. The Earth's Moon will pass close by on the 8th. Those observing Saturn throughout the month will notice it moving closer to brilliant Venus in the evening sky. Their closest approach during December will come on the last day of the month, leading up to their conjunction in early January.     

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

    This month, Uranus will again be found close to M45, the Pleiades. An observer using a pair of binoculars or a telescope to view M45 would only have to shift their gaze to the lower right of this open star cluster to see the blue-green disk of Uranus. The Moon will pass close to this ice giant on the 12th.  

   Neptune is located a short distance to the left of Saturn and will follow its path through the night sky. Binoculars and a telescope will reveal the blue disk of the most distant planet. The Moon will pass between Saturn and Neptune on the 9th, with the Moon closer to Neptune than Saturn for those hunting for this elusive planet. As mentioned, Neptune follows the path of Saturn in the night sky and approaches Venus in the early evening sky. However, these two planets will not experience a conjunction until February.   

The Geminids and Ursids

    Earthlings can experience two prominent meteor showers this month if they are willing to spend some time outdoors in the likely below-freezing temperatures. The Geminid Meteor Shower is the most major of the two showers, with a maximum rate of 150 meteors per hour during a moon-free night. Unfortunately, this year, the Geminids peak on the 13th, with a Full Moon falling on the 15th, so many of these meteors will be lost in the moonlight. This shower will be active from December 4th-20th, so interested observers should watch for these meteors the week before or after the peak date. As the name suggests, the Geminids will appear to radiate from the constellation of Gemini.

    The Ursid Meteor Shower has a low meteor rate, with only about 12 meteors per hour on its peak date. However, this year, the Moon will be out of the sky for evening observers on the 22nd, the peak of the Ursids. This shower is active between the 17th and 26th, a shorter duration than the Geminids, but still worth a look. These meteors will appear to radiate from  Ursa Minor and Polaris, meaning they will be visible all night.  

Monthly Breakdown

December 01: New Moon 🌑
December 04: Moon passes within 2° of Venus
December 05: Mercury reaches inferior conjunction with the Sun 
December 07: Jupiter reaches opposition
December 08: First Quarter Moon 🌓
December 08: Moon passes within 0.5° of Saturn 
December 09: Moon passes within 0.8° of Neptune
December 13: Moon passes within 4° of Uranus

December 13: Geminid Meteor Shower peaks

December 14: Moon passes within 5° of Jupiter 

December 15: Full Moon 🌕 
December 18: Moon passes within 1° of Mars
December 21: Winter Solstice
December 22: Last Quarter Moon🌗 

December 22: Ursid Meteor Shower peaks

December 24: Mercury reaches greatest western elongation

December 28: Moon passes within 6° of Mercury

December 30: New Moon 🌑 

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

                

Midmonth Check-In: November 2024 and Edwin Hubble

         

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    Overall, November has been much colder. Utahns have experienced large temperature fluctuations, with snow on some days and 60° temperatures on other days. According to the extended weather forecast, this trend will continue with alternating days of low temperatures and storms, with days of higher temperatures in the 50s. As long as there are some clear nights, the fluctuations are fine by me! While I haven't been able to do any imaging or telescope viewing, I have enjoyed looking up and spotting Venus and Saturn in the early evening sky. On the nights where I have stayed out later, I've been able to see Jupiter rising with Taurus, Orion, and the Pleiades. I've also caught these wonders with Mars in the predawn sky. 

    Observers can still look forward to the Leonid Meteor Shower, which will peak on the 17th. The best chance to see these meteors would have been the week before or the week after the peak date due to the Full Moon. Uranus will reach opposition on the 16th, making this the best time of the year to view this planet. Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation on the 16th as well. 

Edwin Hubble   

    Born 135 years ago in Missouri, Edwin Hubble excelled in many sports, including basketball, baseball, boxing, football, and track. He also enjoyed science fiction novels, an interest many would-be astronomers share. Hubble's father wanted him to pursue a career in law, where he would have no doubt excelled. However, fortunately for astronomers, Edwin preferred the sciences and studied math and astronomy, earning a PhD in astronomy from the University of Chicago in 1914. The understanding of our universe would never be the same.     

    During the 1920s, Hubble used the 100-inch reflecting telescope (more than eight times the size of my 12-inch telescope) at Mount Wilson Observatory in California. Hubble noticed a Cepheid variable star while observing a nebula in the Andromeda constellation. This type of star was discovered to pulsate at regular intervals, allowing astronomers to determine its distance from the Earth.  It is important to note that Hubble did not discover that Cepheids could be used to determine distances. This honor belongs to Henrietta Swan Leavitt and other devoted female astronomers in the late 1800s and early 1900s. I won't go into detail about Cepheid variable stars now, but I will cover them in an upcoming post. Hubble determined the distance to the Cepheid variable star in the Andromeda Nebula and noticed that its distance was much more significant than any Cepheid in the Milky Way Galaxy. This discovery led Hubble to classify the Andromeda Nebula as a completely different galaxy and renamed it the Andromeda Galaxy. This discovery is recent enough that older astronomers still refer to the Andromeda Galaxy as the Andromeda Nebula. I had a couple of astronomy professors who mentioned that their professors still called it the Andromeda Nebula.

The Andromeda Galaxy (top, right of center) from Spirit Lake, Utah.

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) was taken from Area 62.

    After realizing that the Andromeda Nebula was a galaxy, Hubble shifted the 100-inch reflecting telescope to other nebulae in the sky. By locating other Cepheid variable stars, Hubble concluded that many of these nebulae were galaxies and that our universe was much larger than previously thought. Due to this monumental discovery, Hubble began to study the light emitted from the newly classified galaxies. To his surprise, all the galaxies had light wavelengths stretched out to the red end of the visible light spectrum. This is known as a redshift. 

    Recall the Doppler shift or effect from an early science class that describes the change in sound as an object moves. One of the most widely used examples is an emergency vehicle siren. As it approaches a stationary observer, the sound frequency increases, creating a higher-pitched sound. The frequency decreases as the vehicle moves away, creating a lower-pitched sound. The same is true for light waves. As the light from an object approaches, it produces a higher frequency light, producing light closer to the blue end of the spectrum. If the object is moving away, it will create a lower-frequency light close to the red end of the spectrum.

    

    During Hubble's observations, he noticed that they all redshifted no matter which direction the galaxies were from the Earth. This meant all the observed galaxies were moving away from the Earth. This does not mean that the Milky Way Galaxy is the center of the universe! When learning about this in school, an analogy of raisin bread and the expanding universe was given. I think that a balloon analogy would work better. Using a pen or marker, place several dots on the balloon representing individual galaxies. As the balloon is inflated, notice how all of the dots will move away from each other. This is a simple way to see what an expanding universe looks like! We now understand that the universe is expanding from Hubble's observations and calculations. 

    Due to the contributions made by Edwin Hubble, NASA named one of the most famous telescopes after him, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Launched in 1990, the HST has sent back millions of images of various objects from space. Astronomers were shocked by an image the HST returned when aimed at a small, dark patch of sky where nothing could be seen by the unaided eye. The image below, known as the Hubble Ultra Deep Field, shows several thousand galaxies in a region of space where nothing was thought to have existed.    

The Hubble Deep Field image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: November 2024

    Introduction

    Utah's temperatures certainly cooled down during October. The state did not receive as much precipitation as it had in years past. Comet A3 delighted many observers, and many images are available online with just a quick search. Orion is one of the most recognizable constellations, and I have enjoyed watching it return to our evening skies this month.

    November will continue to bring cold weather and likely snow over much of Utah. Observers should not let this discourage them! Just a few minutes out under the stars can do wonders for the mind, letting the body relax from a long day at work or school. Astronomers and observers alike can still view Comet A3 during November as it returns to the outer solar system. Uranus will reach opposition this month, and the Leonid Meteor Shower will return. Astronomers are still waiting for the Blaze Star as well.     

                      

Mercury

  Most of the planets will be visible as soon as or shortly after sunset for the majority of the month. Beginning with the innermost planet, Mercury will hug the western horizon for the first week but observers will notice it climb higher in the sky. A thin crescent Moon will be just 3° below Mercury on the 2nd. Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation on the 16th, making this the best time to view the innermost planet in November. 

  

Venus

   Following Mercury, it's only natural for an observer to shift their gaze to brilliant Venus. The Earth's evil twin will be easy to spot against the twilight sky and will likely be the first object an observer will notice after sunset. Venus will be joined by the Moon on the 4th. The Milky Way Band will create a spectacular background for Venus, adding to binocular and telescope views and also to astrophotography images. A dark sky site will also enhance these views. Venus will share a wide field of view with M8, the Lagoon Nebula, on the 11th and the bright globular star cluster, M22, the Great Sagittarius Cluster, on the 18th. The second planet from the Sun will shine brightly all month and remain above the horizon for three hours after sunset by the end of the month. 

    

Mars

    Mars will be the only planet not visible shortly after sunset at the beginning of the month. This will be remedied by month's end, however. The Red Planet will be easy to spot high in the early morning sky, and its views will only improve as the month progresses. Mars rises close to midnight or 12:30 Utah time, depending on how much the Rocky Mountains block the eastern horizon. By the end of the month, Mars will peak above the mountains close to 10:00 PM. While Mars is a great target, M44, the Beehive Cluster, one of my favorite open star clusters, will join this planet in the sky at the end of the month. The pair will continue to share the night sky throughout the first week of December. The Moon will join Mars and M44 on the 20th.   

Jupiter

Saturn

    Jupiter will be a great target throughout November. It rises about two hours after sunset as the month begins and shortly after sunset by month's end. Jupiter's opposition is fast approaching, bringing the best time of the year to view this giant world. Several Galilean Moon transits can be viewed throughout the month, so be sure to check out the Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or JupiterMoons for Apple devices. The Great Red Spot may also be seen at specific times depending on the observers' location, which the resources mentioned above can also be helpful. An observer will need a four-inch (100 mm) telescope or larger to view the transits and the Great Red Spot. By the end of November, Jupiter will be above the horizon for nearly 13 hours, allowing the planet to complete one full rotation about its axis. This means that it could be possible for an observer to see the Great Red Spot twice during one night! Weather permitting, of course. 

    Saturn will continue to be a great target through the end of 2024. The very few times I've had my telescope out this year, Saturn did not disappoint me or those who were observing with me. Saturn's ring system will soon disappear from our Earthly view as the tilt of the two planets coincides just right. It will be like looking at a piece of paper edge-on. The Moon will be less than 1° from Saturn on the 10th, creating a great opportunity to view both objects in a single field of view. The Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or Saturn's Satellites web app can be used to find the locations of several of Saturn's moons. For those with Apple devices,  JupiterMoons and SaturnMoons should offer similar results.   

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

    Uranus will remain close to M45, the Pleiades, this month. The pair can be found within 7° of each other, with the Moon passing between the pair on the 15th. Uranus will reach opposition the following night, rising while the Sun sets. A pair of binoculars will help find this planet and be handy to have to view M45 since the pair are close to each other in the sky. With M45 centered in the field of view, scan to the right (westward) of this magnificent star cluster to locate Uranus. It will appear as a blue-green disk in binoculars and a telescope.  

    Neptune will be trailing after Saturn during November. The best time to view this planet will come on the 11th when the Moon is very close. The pair will be so close that Utahns will be able to watch the Moon pass in front of this most distant planet. Neptune will be to the upper left of the Moon after sunset. By 6:40 PM Utah time, the Moon will occult (pass in front of) Neptune, blocking this planet from view. About 40 minutes later, Neptune will reemerge on the upper right side of the Moon. Binoculars or a telescope will be required to view this rare event. Observers should bundle up and hope for clear skies!

Blaze Star, Leonids, Comet A3

    As of this writing, astronomers are still waiting for a star known as T Coronae Borealis, or the Blaze Star, to go nova. As mentioned in my September and again in my October post, the Blaze Star is actually two stars, a white dwarf and a red giant. The white dwarf, a star that has used up all of its own material, is siphoning material from its companion. When the white dwarf has gathered enough material, which increases its pressure and heat, a thermonuclear explosion known as a nova will happen. This event occurs, on average, every 80 years. Before the nova event, this binary star system, glowing dimly at magnitude 10.13, is undetectable by the unaided human eye. When the nova event does occur, the Blaze Star will brighten to about 2.0 magnitude, roughly the same brightness as Polaris. The North Star is bright enough to be seen from my light-polluted skies near Salt Lake City. The Blaze Star belongs to Corona Borealis, the constellation between Boötes and Hercules in the night sky. These constellations are currently found in the west after sunset. An observer's best bet for finding the Blaze Star is first locating Arcturus, a bright red giant star close to the western horizon, and Vega, a bright blue-white star located nearly overhead as the Sun sinks below the horizon. Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern hemisphere, followed by Vega during summer and early fall, so they should be easy to find. The Blaze Star is located about halfway between these stars. 

    Earthlings get to experience the Leonid Meteor Shower during November. From the 6th until the 30th, the Earth passes through the debris left by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. The Leonids will peak on the 17th, which nearly coincides with the Full Moon this month. Interested observers should try to catch this shower a week early by going to a dark sky site. Typically this shower produces up to 10 meteors per hour, which isn't a much better rate than the average 7 meteors per hour on a normal night under the stars. The Leonids, as the name suggests, appear to radiate from the constellation Leo the Lion.     

    Comet A3 (C/2023 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is visible after sunset. It can be found high in the western sky but will require binoculars, telescope, or imaging software to see. During the beginning of October, Comet A3 was bright enough to see with the unaided eye but has since dimmed dramatically as it continues its journey back to the outer solar system. I have yet to see this comet, but not for lack of trying! Comet A3 will reside in the Milky Way Band above Venus shining dimly at magnitude 6.34 during the first two weeks of November. It will remain in the Milky Way Band all month and should be a great target for imagers and visual astronomers alike. Even though Comet A3 will be a great location for viewing, it will continue to dim. By the end of the month, Comet A3 will be a dim 9.31 magnitude.

Monthly Breakdown

November 01: New Moon 🌑
November 03: Moon passes within 2° of Mercury

November 04: Moon passes within 3° of Venus 

November 09: First Quarter Moon 🌓

November 10: Moon passes within 0.1° of Saturn

November 11: Moon occults Neptune 

November 15: Full Moon 🌕

November 15: Moon passes within 4° of Uranus

November 16: Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation

November 16: Uranus reaches opposition 

November 17: Leonid Meteor Shower peaks

November 17: Moon passes within 6° of Jupiter

November 20: Moon passes within 2° of Mars 

November 22: Last Quarter Moon🌗

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

                

                

Midmonth Check-In: October 2024 and Olbers' Paradox

        

  Introduction and Monthly Reminders   

    October nights have been cool and very pleasant for stargazing. Grab a comfortable chair—a zero-gravity chair is best—and perhaps a hoodie, blanket, gloves, and beanie, and an observer should be set for the night! During the first part of October, I was able to take out the telescope and view Saturn, M13 (Hercules Cluster), NGC 457 (Owl Cluster), NGC 869 and NGC 884 (Double Cluster in Perseus), both Almach and Albireo binary star systems, and the bright stars of the Summer Triangle; Vega, Altair, and Deneb. I attempted several other objects, but they were obstructed or too dim to see from my location. I also attempted to view Comet A3, which was too close to the Sun to view on the attempted nights. I also traveled out to Area 62, one of my favorite locations in the West Desert of Utah. From here, I imaged the Moon, M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), M13 (Hercules Cluster), and M27 (Dumbbell Nebula). Unfortunately, each image of the DSOs contains satellite trails.

    For the remainder of October, I hope to do more imaging and more telescope views. Most importantly, I hope to be able to see Comet A3! As October progresses, Comet A3 will rise higher in the sky while also becoming less bright. but will still be visible with the unaided eye, especially from a dark sky location. Observers can also still enjoy the Orionid Meteor Shower, which peaks on the 21st.    

Olbers' Paradox

   Think of this: Imagine being one of the pesky grasshoppers in my small garden, and you might be able to see past all of the plants to see the lawn. Now imagine you are the same pesky grasshopper but instead are on my more expansive lawn. From here, the grasshopper would only see grass everywhere it looked. Now imagine you are human again, looking up at the night sky. The universe is full of stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulae, yet the night sky is dark and not bright; why? Several scholars have asked this same question, but it was Heinrich Olbers, a German astronomer, who, in 1823, tried to answer this question. 

      For most of history, it has been believed that we live in a Steady-State Universe. This theory is based on three assumptions: first, the universe is uniform; second, it is not expanding; and third, it is infinite in size. A uniform universe is made up of the same stuff everywhere we look. In every direction, there are galaxies, stars, and nebulae. This is like my grasshopper analogy on my lawn. All the grasshopper can see is grass in every direction. Sure, there may be different types of grass or different lengths, but overall, it's uniform.

    The Steady-State Theory of the Universe says that the universe is not expanding. In other words, it's static. It has always been the same size and will always be the same size. Back to the pesky grasshopper analogy, my yard has a fixed size. It is static. An expanding universe would have looked very different billions of years ago and different still billions of years into the future. 

    The Steady-State Universe also says that it is infinite in size. There is no beginning and no end. The universe has always been this way and always will be. This also means that it is infinitely old. Again, it always has been and always will be.

    In a Steady-State Universe, the night sky would appear bright and hot, much like the daytime sky with the Sun overhead. Any astronomer, or any individual for that matter, knows that this is not the case. The sky is obviously black at night, with a splattering of stars across the black canvas of the night sky.

    At least one of the three assumptions that make up the Steady-State Universe theory must be incorrect. Unfortunately, Heinrich Olbers died in 1840 before his paradox could be answered. It wasn't until 1848 that the poet Edgar Allen Poe, in his essay Eureka, suggested that the universe was not yet old enough for the light from all of the stars to have reached us on planet Earth. This contradicted the Steady-State Universe theory, which assumes that the universe is infinitely old. If this were the case, light from every star would have had time to reach us. 

    While Poe's insight may be part of the answer, it wouldn't be until the mid-1920s that an astronomer could help unravel this mystery and answer more questions about our universe. This astronomer's name was Edwin Hubble. I will discuss him more and the solution to Olbers' Paradox next month! 

 

    Check back soon for my next post!

    

Now get outside and look up!

   

Monthly Night Sky Report: October 2024

   Introduction

    September turned out to be a decent month for stargazers. The cooler temperatures were a huge plus, and northern Utah's skies remained relatively cloud-free. I wasn't able to see Comet Olbers or the Zodiacal Light, but I was able to enjoy views of the planets and constellations. 

    October will likely bring cooler weather and more clouds over Utah. Comet A3, mentioned last month, will continue to brighten as it approaches the Sun. As of this writing, the Blaze Star in Corona Borealis has yet to brighten in its nova event. The Orionid Meteor Shower returns during October's Full Moon, and for observers in the southern tip of South America or who can travel, there will be an annular solar eclipse.  

                      

Mercury

   During September, Mercury could be found in the morning sky before its conjunction with the Sun. After its conjunction with the Sun, Mercury will transition from a morning sky object to an evening object. Shortly after sunset, this tiny world can be seen above the western horizon if an observer has an elevated and clear view. Mercury will brighten throughout October but will not gain much, if any, altitude, making this a truly challenging object to spot. 

  

Venus

   Venus will continue to dominate the evening sky throughout the month. Gleaming brightly at -3.9 magnitude, I can easily spot Earth's evil twin, even from my obstructed view of the western sky. Venus can be used as a guide to find Mercury by forming a line between it and where the Sun had set. Mercury should be visible along this line, but I doubt this tiny world will be detectable due to its elevation. Lying just 5° away, a thin crescent Moon will join Venus on the 5th. By the middle of the month, Comet A3 will move to the evening sky and be visible to the upper right of Venus. A pair of binoculars or a telescope will likely be required, but as comet brightness is so unpredictable, an observer may be able to see the comet without visual aid. 

    

Mars

    Mars will continue to brighten throughout October as it nears opposition in early 2025. The Red Planet can be seen rising above the Rocky Mountains close to 1:00 AM as the month starts and about two hours earlier by the end of the month. It will continue to be found in good company with the redness of Aldebaran in Taurus and Betelgeuse in Orion. A fainter part of the Milky Way band can be seen between Mars and Betelgeuse if an observer is away from heavy light pollution. Near the end of October, observers can see some notable surface features of Mars. On the 26th, Olympus Mons, the largest known volcano in the solar system, can be seen. On the 31st, Valles Marineris, the largest known canyon in the solar system, and Tharsis Ridge may be seen. Of course, a telescope (the larger, the better) or camera attached to a telescope will be required. The Moon will pass close by on the 23rd.   

Jupiter

Saturn

    As in September, Jupiter will remain between Mars and Aldebaran throughout October. This gas giant should be easy to spot as it will be the brightest natural object in the sky next to the Sun, Moon, and Venus. Several Galilean Moon transits can be viewed throughout the month, so be sure to check out the Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or JupiterMoons for Apple devices. The Great Red Spot may also be seen at specific times depending on the observers' location, which the resources mentioned above can also be helpful. An observer will need a four-inch (100 mm) telescope or larger to view the transits and the Great Red Spot. A nearly Full Moon will join Jupiter on the 21st.      

    Saturn reached opposition in early September, bringing the best time of the year to view this planet. Of course, that should not deter observers from seeking out the ringed planet in October! Views of Saturn's ring system will still be worth checking out this month.  A small telescope can easily show this sought-after feature, as can Titan, the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest in the solar system. The Earth's own moon will join Saturn on the 14th. The Moons of Jupiter & Saturn app for Android or Saturn's Satellites web app can be used to find the locations of several of Saturn's moons. For those with Apple devices,  JupiterMoons and SaturnMoons should offer similar results.   

       

Neptune

Uranus

    

    Uranus will continue to be found close to the Pleiades throughout October. This ice giant can be found to the lower right of the Seven Sisters if viewed shortly after sunset and nearly directly below if viewed in the early morning hours. A pair of binoculars, which provide the best views of the Pleiades, or a telescope will be required to see Uranus. A nearly Full Moon can be found nearby on the 19th. Uranus will reach opposition in November.

    Neptune will continue to trail behind Saturn throughout October. A nearly Full Moon will pass by this most distant ice giant on the 15th. Gazing at this planet through a telescope will reveal a bluish color, distinct from the background stars.      

Blaze Star, Orionids, Comet A3

    As of this writing, astronomers are still waiting for a star known as T Coronae Borealis, or the Blaze Star, to go nova. As mentioned in my September post, the Blaze Star is actually two stars, a white dwarf and a red giant. The white dwarf, a star that has used up all of its own material, is siphoning material from its companion. When the white dwarf has gathered enough material, which increases its pressure and heat, a thermonuclear explosion known as a nova will happen. This event occurs, on average, every 80 years. Before the nova event, this binary star system, glowing dimly at magnitude 10.13, is undetectable by the unaided human eye. When the nova event does occur, the Blaze Star will brighten to about 2.0 magnitude, roughly the same brightness as Polaris. The North Star is bright enough to be seen from my light-polluted skies near Salt Lake City. The Blaze Star belongs to Corona Borealis, the constellation between Boötes and Hercules in the night sky. These constellations are currently found in the west after sunset. An observer's best bet for finding the Blaze Star is to first locate Arcturus, a bright red giant star close to the western horizon, and Vega, a bright blue-white star located nearly overhead as the Sun sinks below the horizon. Arcturus is the brightest star in the northern hemisphere, followed by Vega during summer and early fall, so they should be easy to find. The Blaze Star is located about halfway between these stars. 

    This year, the Orionid Meteor Shower will peak on the 21st, closely coinciding with the Full Moon. The brightness from the Moon will undoubtedly obscure all but the brightest meteors on the peak date. Fortunately, this shower is active between the 2nd of October and the 7th of November, so interested observers should try to spot an Orionid Meteor in the week before or after the Full Moon. If the Moon did not interfere with these meteors, the observer could expect to see about 20 meteors per hour on its peak date. As the name suggests, the Orionid Meteor Shower appears to radiate from the constellation of Orion, which rises above the Rocky Mountains shortly after midnight on the 21st.

    Comet A3 (C/2023 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is currently visible in the morning twilight before sunrise. Glowing between magnitude 2.72 and 2.55 during the first week of October, Comet A3 would be visible with the unaided eye if not for the rising Sun's glow. By the 9th, A3 will have transitioned from the morning sky to the evening sky. As the month progresses, A3 will pull away from the Sun from our vantage point, moving higher above the western horizon, making it easier to spot. Comet A3 will be visible with the unaided eye if an observer is at a dark sky location and if it survives its close approach to the Sun. Either way, a pair of binoculars or a telescope will help an observer get more detail from its coma while a camera (any camera!) will help get an image of its long tail extending away from the Sun. As mentioned, a dark sky and a clear view of the eastern horizon during the first week of October or the western horizon for the rest of the month will significantly enhance the views and chances of spotting this visitor.       

Monthly Breakdown

October 02: New Moon 🌑
October 05: Moon passes within 3° of Venus
October 10: First Quarter Moon 🌓

October 14: Moon passes within 0.1° of Saturn

October 15: Moon passes within 0.6° of Neptune 

October 17: Full Moon 🌕
October 19: Moon passes within 4° of Uranus
October 21: Orionid Meteor Shower peaks

October 21: Moon passes within 6° of Jupiter

October 23: Moon passes within 4° of Mars 

October 24: Last Quarter Moon🌗

 

         

Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos image was taken by Jeff Greenland.

The Milky Way and Trees image was taken by Andrew Greenland.

Orion, Taurus, and Pleiades image was taken by Andrew Greenland.