FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Solar System Challenge for New Moon weekend (long)

["Steve Coe" <stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hello all;
 

This challenge to find a variety of solar system objects is created in
memory of Curt Taylor, a long time SAC member and a dedicated observer of
the Moon and planets.  

 

The prize for completing this set of observations is a certificate of
achievement for finding and observing any 10 of the objects given in the
following text.  There are 15 objects listed, so I have given you some room
to choose the objects that you are interested in observing.

 

Give the date, location and telescope for each object.  Then make a sketch
and/or a written observation of what you saw for each object.  If you are an
astrophotographer and wish to make an image of all of these objects, go for
it.

 

The first weekend of December 2005 will allow the observer to view a wide
variety of "shallow sky" objects and will qualify that person to receive the
certificate.  The observations must be completed during the Friday, Saturday
or Sunday of the first weekend of December 2005.  The observer does not need
to be present at the Sentinel-Schwaar Star Gaze to qualify.  You can mail me
your pamphlet at the address below or give it to me at the SAC Holiday
Party.

 

Thank you for your participation;

 

Steve Coe

SAC Novice Group Chairman

1011 E. Rowlands Lane

Phoenix, Az  85022

 

stevecoe@xxxxxxxxx

 

Sunset  5:20 PM  Friday,   Dec. 2, 2005

        5:21 PM  Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005

 

Moonset  6:15 PM Friday,  7:22 PM Saturday

 

 

Luna is a thin crescent above the sunset.  On the Friday evening (Dec. 2,
2005) it will only be illuminated 1% and may be impossible to observe.  It
will certainly be difficult.  By the Saturday evening the Moon will be 6%
illuminated and should be easy in a cloudless sky.

 

 

Mercury is in the morning sky, between Jupiter and the Sun.  Look for it in
twilight before sunrise.  In your telescope Mercury is 29% illuminated and
about 8 arc seconds in size.  It is 17 degrees from the Sun, rising before
the Sun.

 

 

Venus is the very bright point of light in the western sky after sunset.  It
is 30% illuminated and 37 arc seconds in size.

 

 

Earth, make a sketch of the facial features of all your past and present
observing buddies;-).

 

 

Mars is well above the eastern horizon as the sky darkens after sunset.  It
will demand some magnification (+100X) to see much detail.  If you have
color filters, give them a try.  Red or orange is best to bring out the dark
markings, blue or yellow to show the clouds and polar caps. 

 

 

Jupiter is above the morning sunrise in the eastern horizon.  Note the
position of the satellites of Jupiter and watch them move from night to
night or even hour to hour.

 

 

Saturn is "underneath" the stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini.  Spend some
time drawing the rings and look for the dark opening, Cassini's division.
There may some very subtle markings on the ball of the planet, use high
power and wait for a moment of good seeing.

 

 

Uranus is a small and distant planet, located in the constellation of
Aquarius.  It is 5.8 magnitude and 3.5 arc seconds in size.  Uranus is
located at 22h 35m 59s  -09 39 42.

 

 

Neptune is another tiny dot, this time in the constellation of Capricorn.
It is 7.9 magnitude and only 2.2 arc seconds in size.  Neptune is at 

21h 10m 56s  -16 25 06.

 

Pluto cannot be observed, it is too near the Sun in the constellation of
Ophiuchus.

 

 

Meteors

 

There are four meteor showers that might provide a few "shooting stars" from
an out-of-town site.  But there is no well-known shower during this weekend.
If you see a meteor while using the telescope, then note its direction and
brightness.  Did you observe any fireballs?  

 

Nov. 5  Taurids: Radiant--near Pleaides. 10 per hour with many fireballs.
Debris from comet Encke.  Duration--45 days.

 

Nov 17  Leonids: Radiant--near Sickle. Most spectacular of modern showers.
1966 saw 500,000 per hour-- 140 per second. Comet Temple--Tuttle is parent.
20 per hour between 33 year shows,

   fastest known at 71 kps. Duration--4 days.

 

Dec. 10  Monocerids: Radiant-- near Gemini. 12 per hour.

 

Dec. 14  Geminids: Radiant--near Castor. 60 per hour, many bright, white but
few trails. Icarus, the Earth-crossing asteroid seems to be the parent.
Duration--6 days.

 

 

Comets

There are no bright comets in the sky at the time of this writing.  But
Comet McNaught is calculated to be at magnitude 10, so I included it.
Here's hoping a brighter candidate pops up before the first week of
December.

Did you see a nucleus, coma or tail?

 

 

Asteroids

Vesta is at mag. 7.1, it is located near NGC 2392, the Eskimo Nebula in
Gemini.  Juno is at mag. 7.5 and it is "above" (east) of the Belt of Orion.
See if you can see them move in one or two night's time.

 

Glows

Observe the zodiacal light and/or the gegenschein?

This will demand a transparent sky.  The zodiacal light follows the path of
the zodiac and is most easily seen about an hour after sunset or before
sunrise.  The Gegenschein is always at the anti-solar point, this is the
location that is 180 degrees away from the location of the Sun.

 

 

Sunspots or Prominences

Hint:  Be Careful!  Learn of the dangers of solar observing and don't damage
your precious eyesight.  Use your telescope to project the image of the Sun
or use a solar filter.  

Can you see the umbra and penumbra?  If you are lucky someone with a special
telescope for viewing the solar prominences will show up and we can all get
a point.

 

OK, that ought to be enough.  Make good plans for next New Moon and you will
be rewarded.

 

Clear Skies to us all;

Steve Coe

 

 

 

 


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