lumpy darkness

Observation notes (with equipment details), photos, sketches, reviews, random thoughts, from my amateur astronomy sessions.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

what's up for the year

If you're like me, I need to see "the big picture." Usually over the winter months, I start sketching out my plans for the whole year. For example, I try to tie camping trips to good night skies.

Below I outline notable astronomical events for the current calendar year. As well as some of the ole' regulars!

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

It is written specifically for the south-western Ontario locale.

N.B.: Celestial events described are in the evening, i.e. after sunset, unless otherwise noted.

 

annual 2009

  • This is the International Year of Astronomy. Look up, question what you see, explore your Universe.
  • The Moon will pass in front of Venus in April. But this will happen in the day. A challenge!
  • Jupiter will lose its moons in September!
  • Saturn's rings are almost invisible. In turn, this makes it much easier to spot its fainter moons, such as Mimas.
  • Mars gets larger through the year.

 

December 2008

  1. Moon very near Venus and Jupiter (at sunset).
  2. Moon occults Pleiades.
  3. Geminids meteor shower spans 6-19, peaking tonight and tomorrow. Full moon will interfere.
  4. Moon near Saturn, in the morning.
  5. Solstice.
  6. New Moon.
  7. Mercury very near Jupiter (at sunset).
    Venus near Moon (at sunset).
  • Best month to view Venus.

 

January 2009

  1. Meteor shower. Moon will interfere little. Early morning.
  2. Mercury at greatest elongation in evening sky.
  3. International Year of Astronomy kick-off! Check for local events. A huge (and free) Astronomy Fair is taking place at the Ontario Science Centre.
  4. Venus at greatest elongation in evening sky.
  5. Moon near Saturn.
  6. Venus near Uranus, within 2°.
  7. New Moon.
  8. Moon, Venus, and Uranus close together. Shortly after sunset.
  • Saturn's minimum ring inclination of 0.8° occurred on 26 Dec 08. Look if you get a chance. It rises around midnight.

 

February 2009

  1. First-quarter Moon occults Pleiades.
  2. Moon near Saturn.
  3. Space Shuttle to Station.
  4. Mercury at greatest elongation in morning sky.
  5. Mars near Jupiter, within 1°.
  6. Moon, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter close together. Early morning.
  7. Mercury near Jupiter. Within 1°.
    Comet Lulin near Saturn.
  8. New Moon.
    Comet Lulin closest to Earth.
  9. Ceres opposite Sun.
  10. Moon very near Venus, within 2°. Get out those cameras!
  • Comet Lulin may be at the threshold of naked-eye visibility late this month.
  • February and March are the best months to view Ceres. Unusually close to Earth. Can you spot it without magnification?
  • ESA Herschel space telescope mission to launch.

 

March 2009

  1. Mercury near Mars.
  2. Moon near Pleiades.
  3. Mercury near Neptune.
  4. Saturn opposite Sun.
    Daylight Saving begins.
    Mars near Neptune.
  5. Moon near Saturn.
  6. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  7. Equinox.
  8. Moon near Jupiter.
  9. Moon near Mars.
  10. Moon near Venus.
    New Moon.
  11. Messier Marathon at the CAO begins...
  12. Earth Hour.
    Star party at the Ontario Science Centre.
  13. Moon near Pleiades.
  • March through May are the best months to view Saturn.
  • February and March are the best months to view Ceres. Unusually close to Earth. It will be bright!
  • NASA Kepler space telescope mission to launch.

 

April 2009

  1. 100 Hours of Astronomy begins...
  2. Moon near Saturn.
  3. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  4. NEAF astronomy expo in NY state.
  5. Moon, Jupiter, and Neptune close together. Early morning.
    Use the Moon to help spot Jupiter in day time!
  6. 4-way conjunction of Venus, Mars, Uranus, and Moon! Early morning.
  7. Earth Day.
    Occultation of Venus by Moon. Day time event!
  8. Comet Cardinal near M37.
  9. New Moon.
  10. CAO Work Party.
  11. Mercury at greatest elongation in evening sky. Moon is nearby. So are the Pleiades.
  12. International Astronomy Week begins...
  • March through May are the best months to view Saturn.
  • April and May are best months to view Comet Cardinal.
  • Best month to view Mercury.
  • Mars is moving fast!

 

May 2009

  1. International Astronomy Day.
  2. Moon near Saturn.
  3. Moon, Jupiter, and Neptune close together. Early morning.
    Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  4. Moon near Uranus. Early morning.
  5. Moon, Mars, and Venus close together.
  6. CAO Open House.
  7. New Moon.
  8. Jupiter near Neptune.
  9. Moon near Saturn.
  • March through May are the best months to view Saturn.
  • Saturn's rings will incline more than 4°.
  • April and May are best months to view Comet Cardinal.
  • NASA's Hubble servicing mission.

 

June 2009

  1. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  2. Venus at greatest elongation in morning sky.
  3. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  4. Moon, Jupiter, and Neptune close together.
    Mercury at greatest elongation in morning sky.
  5. Moon near Juno.
  6. Moon near Uranus. Early morning.
    Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  7. Moon, Mars, and Venus close together. Will you be able to see the Pleiades as well? Early morning.
    EfstonScience star party on Manitoulin, Gordon's Park. Till the 21st.
  8. Solstice.
    Venus near Mars.
    Moon near Mercury.
  9. New Moon.
  10. Moon near Saturn.
  • June through September will be the best months to view Jupiter.

 

July 2009

  1. Jupiter near Neptune.
  2. Moon near Jupiter.
  3. Moon near Uranus. Neptune?
  4. Star party on Manitoulin, Gordon's Park. Till the 21st.
  5. Moon near Mars.
    Blake's talk at Farmer's Pantry (primary date).
  6. Moon near Venus. Mars is nearby too. Early morning.
  7. 40th anniversary of Apollo 11 lunar mission.
  8. New Moon.
  9. Moon near Saturn.
    Summer star party at the OSC.
  10. Blake's talk at Farmer's Pantry (rain date).
  • June through September will be the best months to view Jupiter.
  • Saturn will be very faint.

 

August 2009

  1. Neptune, Jupiter, and the Moon...
  2. Meteor shower. Moon will interfere somewhat.
  3. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  4. RASC General Assembly in Saskatchewan begins...
  5. Jupiter opposite Sun. That said, it will not be high in the sky...
    Moon occults Pleiades in the early morning.
  6. Star party on Manitoulin, Gordon's Park. Till the 18th.
  7. Moon near Mars.
  8. Neptune opposite Sun.
    Moon near Venus.
    Moon near Vesta.
    Mercury near Saturn.
  9. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  10. New Moon.
    Starfest by NYAA begins...
  11. Mercury at greatest elongation in evening sky. Moon is nearby.
  12. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  • June through September will be the best months to view Jupiter.
  • Best month to view Neptune. See plot charts to help locate it.

 

September 2009

  1. Moon near Jupiter.
    Jupiter will appear without moons!
    Later, double shadows will transit.
  2. Moon near Mars. Early morning.
  3. Moon near Venus. Early morning.
  4. Uranus opposite Sun.
    Annual Algonquin Adventure begins. Continues to Sunday the 20th.
    Huronia Star Party, near Duntroon, runs during the same time. Organised by South Simcoe.
  5. New Moon.
  6. Equinox.
    Juno opposite Sun.
  7. Moon near Jupiter. Try spotting Jupiter in day light!
  • Best month to view Uranus. See plot charts to help locate it.
  • June through September will be the best months to view Jupiter.
  • Fall'n'Star party, near Belleivlle, is usually in September...

 

October 2009

  1. CAO Work Party.
  2. Mercury at greatest elongation in morning sky.
  3. Mercury, Venus, and Saturn close together. Early morning. Continues for 1 week.
  4. Moon near Mars.
  5. Venus near Saturn. Early morning.
  6. Moon, Venus, and Saturn close together.
  7. New Moon.
  8. Moon near Jupiter.
  9. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  10. Fall star party at the Ontario Science Centre.
  • Another good month to view Mercury, in the morning.

 

November 2009

  1. Daylight Saving ends.
    Mars in the Beehive!
  2. Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  3. Moon near Mars.
  4. Moon near Saturn. Early morning.
  5. Moon near Venus.
  6. New Moon.
  7. Meteor shower.
  8. Moon, Jupiter, and Neptune close together.
    Try spotting Jupiter in the day time...

 

December 2009

  1. Moon near Mars.
  2. Moon near Saturn. Early morning.
  3. Meteor shower.
  4. New Moon.
  5. Moon near Mercury.
  6. Mercury at greatest elongation in evening sky.
  7. Neptune and Jupiter! Visible over 2 to 3 nights.
  8. Solstice.
    Moon near Jupiter.
    Try to spot it in the day time.
    Double shadow transits on Jupiter.
  9. Mercury near Jupiter.
  • Mars will be at opposition in a month but it is not terribly close so it won't appear very large.

 

 

 

Monday, December 29, 2008

sources

I gather information about upcoming astronomical events from a variety of sources.

  • RASC Observer's Handbook (annual)
  • RASC calendar (annual)
  • Stan Shadick's Skywatchers calendar (annual)
  • The Evening Sky Map from SkyMaps.com (monthly)
  • SkyNews magazine (bi-monthly)
  • Eric Briggs of the RASC Toronto Centre
  • Gary Boyle of the RASC
  • etc.

 

 

 

 

  

links

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