Astral Projections Online January 2024
Check our Website for updated content at www.astra-nj.com
Club Presentations Wanted:
Does anyone have any astronomy items of interest to share with the membership?
Please let us know at Club Contacts.
Club dues and membership. If you renew after March 31 you will be renewed as a new member.
ASTRAL PROJECTIONS ONLINE (APO for short) is an email-linked publication for members only. If you exit APO to the club website or other resources you will need to use the emailed link again to get back to it. If you wish to retain a copy please bookmark or refer back to the email. We will make all efforts to post by the first week of the month.
Submissions Welcome: Members are invited to submit articles, photos, news, or stories for inclusion with Astral Projections Online. Please contact the ASTRA Webmaster.
Event Calendar
EVENT Cancellations: Members will receive email notifications of an event cancellation.
Upcoming December ASTRA Meeting
ASTRA's next meeting will be Friday, January 12, 2024, at 7 PM EST. This will be an in-person meeting at Novins Planetarium - Building 13. … January will be movie night.
Upcoming Star Parties
Being planned now for 2024
Jakes Branch - March 16 - 6 PM to 8 PM
Jakes Branch - April 13 - 8 PM to 10 PM
Upcoming County & State Park Presentations 2024
Public Outreach Presentations, if any member wishes to support ASTRA outreach efforts with the public, please let Vinny, Ro, or Jim know of any interest.
County and State Park presentations require a registration fee, call the hosting park to reserve.
Cloverdale - February 3 - 1 PM - Beginner Astronomy: What to See in the Night Sky
Jakes Branch - March 16 - 6 PM - Beginner Astronomy: Your First Telescope, followed by Star Party
Jakes Branch - April 13 - 7 PM - Saving Dark Skies, followed by Star Party
Cattus Island Nature Festival - April 27 - All-day event, volunteers needed.
Ocean County Library - March 12 - 6 PM - Beginner Astronomy: Solar Astronomy
Stafford Library - April 29 - Pending
Website Updates …
Please visit our club website. We continue to have additional updates, if some content would be useful to members please let us know.
Wishing all ASTRA Members, your families, and everyone a Happy and Safe New Year.
Looking forward to some clear skies.
“The most remarkable discovery in all of astronomy is that the stars are made of atoms of the same kind as those on Earth.”
― Richard P. Feynman, Physicist
Renewing your ASTRA membership for 2024.
Forms can be found on the website or here.
ASTRA Elections
ASTRA Board for 2024 will remain the same.
President - Jim Webster
Vice-President - Vinny Illuzzi
Treasurer - Rosemarie Spedaliere
Event Reports
December observing was canceled due to weather.
December ASTRA Meeting Summary
For the December ASTRA meeting, we had a member’s Show-and-Tell night. While we did have a low turnout being holiday time we had several members present items of interest.
County Park Presentations
None for December
Our Nearest Neighbor
Let’s explore some interesting features, facts, or myths about our nearest neighbor, the Moon. Without it, life on Earth would be totally different, if not at all.
Montes Apenninus
Yes, there are mountains on the moon. The most well-known lunar mountain range is the Montes Apenninus or the Apennine Mountain Range, which is located near the lunar equator. It begins just to the west of the prominent crater Eratosthenes, which abuts the southern face of the range and northeast of the Archimedes Crater. This range forms the southeastern border of the large Mare Imbrium lunar mare and the northwestern border of the Terra Nivium highland region.
These mountains were formed by ancient volcanic activity and impact events. A rugged mountain range formed 3.9 billion years ago and has an elevation of 17,700 ft. Its namesake on Earth is 9,554 ft. Samples of lunar rock and soil brought back by Apollo astronauts proved that the maria are composed of basalt formed from surface lava flows that later congealed.
https://www.britannica.com/science/mare-lunar-feature — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montes_Apenninus
The Lunar Apennines (Montes Apenninus) may not be the very highest mountains on the Moon, but they are certainly the most spectacular. The range was named by Johannes Hevelius after the Apennines in Italy.
Easily visible with binoculars, this lunar mountain range is home to many mountain peaks including Mons Huygens, the tallest mountain on the moon. The best time to view this area is right after the first quarter when the shadows highlight this mountain range.
https://cs.astronomy.com/asy/m/sunandmoon/491690.aspx
Outreach material below is distributed free for public outreach.
Around The Web
2024 Astronomy Calendar - Astronomical & Celestial Events
The listed events have been compiled for North American observers. Go to High Point Scientific to view this year’s events and get a PDF copy for yourself, at the end of the article.
January Comet
62P/Tsuchinshan
In 2024, multiple comets will reach perihelion and gain maximum brightness. Some of them might become observable through binoculars or even with the naked eye! Below is one comet expected for January.
62P/Tsuchinshan
Perihelion: December 25, 2023 (mag 9.0)
Closest approach to Earth: January 29, 2024 (mag 9.5)
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
Visibility forecast: At its closest approach to the Earth in January, the comet will be fainter than at the perihelion, but it could still be visible through medium-size binoculars.
Description: 62P/Tsuchinshan is a short-period comet discovered on January 1, 1965, at Purple Mountain Observatory (Zijinshan Astronomical Observatory) in Nanking, China. Its orbital period (6.4 years) is relatively short compared to other comets.
Halley’s Comet
As reported in Space.com, in early December 2023, Halley’s Comet started its 38-year return trip. Halley's Comet will again arrive at perihelion on July 28, 2061.
While we can provide a pretty good assessment of what Halley's Comet will do on its next appointed visit, to predict what the state of our night skies will be by then, is anybody's guess.
image: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
December 25, 1758, was the anniversary of German farmer and amateur astronomer Johann Georg Palitzsch, pictured above, becoming the first to view Halley's Comet on its return to the inner solar system. The image of Halley's Comet seen here is from the archives of Museum Boerhaave in Leiden, Netherlands. The comet's return had been predicted by the English astronomer Edmond Halley, after whom it was subsequently named.
Palitzsch has an impact crater and the lunar valley Vallis Palitzsch on the moon is named after him.
Citizen Science and Dark Skies
Dark Sky Advocacy Getting Noticed
ASTRA Member Jim Webster was recently featured in an article from SciStarter blog post, a citizen science project hub that has ties to Dark Sky International in efforts to try to protect dark skies, along with other SciStarter projects.
This article appeared in The Sciences section of Discover Magazine, posted on December 15, 2023.
On the lighter side of astronomy …
Members Submitted Articles & Items
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Nothing for December
What’s Up:
Sky Watching Tips from NASA
Provided by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Is usually updated anywhere from the first day of the month to the fifth day of the month. Check back to this linked image if it hasn’t been updated yet.
For more go to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory webpage: What’s Up: Skywatching Tips From NASA
This article and images are distributed by NASA Night Sky Network
The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach.
Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov to find local clubs, events, and more!
Connecting the ‘Dots’ with Asterisms
By Kat Troche
In our December Night Sky Notes, we mentioned that the Orion constellation has a distinct hourglass shape that makes it easy to spot in the night sky. But what if we told you that this is not the complete constellation, but rather, an asterism?
An asterism is a pattern of stars in the night sky, forming shapes that make picking out constellations easy. Cultures throughout history have created these patterns as part of storytelling, honoring ancestors, and timekeeping. Orion’s hourglass is just one of many examples of this, but did you know Orion’s brightest knee is part of another asterism that spans six constellations, weaving together the Winter night sky? Many asterisms feature bright stars that are easily visible to the naked eye. Identify these key stars, and then connect the dots to reveal the shape.
Asterisms Through the Seasons
Stars that make up the Winter Circle, as seen on January 1, 2024 — Sky Safari
Try looking for these asterisms this season and beyond:
· Winter Circle – this asterism, also known as the Winter Hexagon, makes up a large portion of the Winter sky using stars Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella, Pollux, Procyon, and Sirius as its points. Similarly, the Winter Triangle can be found using Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse as points. Orion’s Belt is also considered an asterism.
· Diamond of Virgo – this springtime asterism consists of the following stars: Arcturus, in the constellation Boötes; Cor Caroli, in Canes Venatici; Denebola in Leo, and Spica in Virgo. Sparkling at the center of this diamond is the bright cluster Coma Berenices, or Bernice's Hair – an ancient asterism turned constellation!
· Summer Triangle – as the nights warm up, the Summer Triangle dominates the heavens. Comprising the bright stars Vega in Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, and Altair in Aquila, this prominent asterism is the inspiration behind the cultural festival Tanabata. Also found is Cygnus the Swan, which makes up the Northern Cross asterism.
· Great Square of Pegasus – By autumn, the Great Square of Pegasus can be seen. This square-shaped asterism takes up a large portion of the sky and consists of the stars: Scheat, Alpheratz, Markab, and Algenib.
This image shows the region around the Hyades star cluster, the nearest open cluster to us. The Hyades cluster is very well-studied due to its location, but previous searches for planets have produced only one. A new study led by Jay Farihi of the University of Cambridge, UK, has now found the atmospheres of two burnt-out stars in this cluster — known as white dwarfs — to be “polluted” by rocky debris circling the star. Inset, the locations of these white dwarf stars are indicated — stars known as WD 0421+162, and WD 0431+126.
NASA, ESA, STScI, and Z. Levay (STScI)
Tracing these outlines can guide you to objects like galaxies and star clusters. The Hyades, for example, is an open star cluster in the Taurus constellation with evidence of rocky planetary debris. In 2013, Hubble Space Telescope’s Cosmic Origins Spectrograph was responsible for breaking down light into individual components. This observation detected low levels of carbon and silicon – a major chemical for planetary bodies. The Hyades can be found just outside the Winter Circle and is a favorite of both amateur and professional astronomers alike.
How to Spot Asterisms
· Use Star Maps and Star Apps – Using star maps or stargazing apps can help familiarize yourself with the constellations and asterisms of the night sky.
· Get Familiar with Constellations – Learning the major constellations and their broader shapes visible each season will make spotting asterisms easier.
· Use Celestial Landmarks – Orient yourself by using bright stars, or recognizable constellations. This will help you navigate the night sky and pinpoint specific asterisms. Vega in the Lyra constellation is a great example of this.
Learn more about how to stay warm while observing this Winter with our upcoming mid-month article on the Night Sky Network page through NASA's website!
More On Asterisms
Asterisms can be large and bright, like the Big Dipper, the Summer Triangle, or the Winter Circle, or visible only in binoculars and small telescopes, like the 37 Cluster in Orion or the Engagement Ring around Polaris. Many bright asterisms such as the Teapot, the Northern Cross, and Cassiopeia’s W are the most recognizable parts of their host constellations. Unlike constellation boundaries and sky coordinates, these asterisms are visible and make it easy for observers to navigate the night sky.
The Winter Triangle - Slide from Beginner Astronomy: Seasonal Constellations - Jim Webster
Constellations and asterisms were once the same thing: groups of stars that formed recognizable patterns. However, since the early 20th century, when the constellation boundaries were formally set, the word constellation has come to refer to a specific area of the sky, as clearly defined as a country on a map, whereas the word asterism has retained its old meaning.
Constellation-guide.com lists twenty-one asterisms.
Let’s Explore Space - What’s in the Sky January 2024
Crab Nebula - M1
A supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula in the constellation of Taurus. The common name comes from a drawing that somewhat resembled a crab with arms produced by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, in 1842 or 1843 using a 36-inch telescope. Wikipedia
Radius: 5.5 light-years
Magnitude: 8.4
Distance to Earth: 6,523 light-years
Age: 1,001 years
Coordinates: RA 5h 34m 32s | Dec +22° 0′ 52″
Constellation: Taurus
Date: 1054 AD hubblesite.org
The Crab Nebula (M1) the first of the Messier objects, is best seen from the Northern Hemisphere during November, December, and January. When viewed through 10x50 binoculars, M1 appears as a reasonably sized oblong patch of light that's more pronounced using averted vision. Larger 20x80mm binoculars or small 80mm (3.1-inch) telescopes show some variations in brightness around the edges, especially on nights of good seeing. A 150mm (6-inch) or 200mm (8-inch) telescope displays the Crab Nebula as a large oval diffuse patch of light with fine streaks visible.
Tonight’s Sky: January
In January, the northern hemisphere features beautiful views of Capella, a pair of giant yellow stars; Aldebaran, a red giant star; and two star clusters—the Hyades and the Pleiades. Keep watching for the awe-inspiring space-based views of the Crab Nebula, the remains of a star that exploded as a supernova.
Visit the STScI which produces Hubblesite.org video overviews for Tonight’s Sky.
They can be found both on Facebook and stsci.edu.
Submissions Welcome
Members are invited to submit articles, photos, news, or stories for inclusion with Astral Projections Online. Please contact the ASTRA Webmaster.