Archive
05/22/2015 – Ephemeris – View the Sun and the Planets from the Sleeping Bear Dunes this Saturday
Ephemeris for Friday, May 22nd. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 9:11. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 1:00 tomorrow morning, and tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:06.
Tomorrow the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for a Sun and Star Party at the Dune Climb. From 4 to 6 p.m. the Sun will be the attraction. Besides sunspots, visible in most well filtered telescopes, the society’s solar telescope will show the Sun in the light of hydrogen, showing a much more active part of the Sun. Starting about 9:30 Venus, and then Jupiter will appear, followed a bit later by the ringed planet Saturn. The event will take place only if the weather cooperates and it’s clear or partly cloudy. The society has scheduled monthly star parties at the Dunes through October plus a special meteor shower watch in August.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star Party at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Thoreson Farm August 2013. Credit Eileen Carlisle.
Star Party at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Thoreson Farm August 2013. Credit Eileen Carlisle.
Sorry we don’t have good pictures of a Dune Climb star party. The event shown above is near the maximum of the Perseid meteor shower, which is why some folks are carrying blankets. The Thoreson Farm event is part of the Port Oneida Fair at the Port Oneida Rural Historic District a small farming community on the eastern shore of Sleeping Bear Bay, and within the boundaries of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
05/15/2015 – Ephemeris – The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be at the NMC Barbecue Sunday
Ephemeris for Friday, May 15th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 9:04. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:27 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:13.
The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will participate in the Northwestern Michigan College Barbecue. The society will be in front of and inside the Health and Science Building, viewing the Sun outside and inside with displays and a program about meteorites. In the evening sky, Venus is getting to be an interesting sight in telescopes. It is still way too bright, so the earlier it can be spotted the better. Magnification helps with the brightness, but as Venus sinks in the sky its image will deteriorate, undulate with the upper air currents and develop color fringes due to the prismatic effects of the thick atmosphere down low. Venus will continue to grow larger, and its phase gets thinner until it’s too close to the Sun to spot.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Observing the sun through GTAS members telescopes at the NMC Barbecue in 2012. Credit; Eileen Carlisle.
Astronomical photographs line the walls and tables of a classroom plus a series of astronomy videos are displayed at the NMC Barbecue. Credit: Eileen Carlisle.
05/01/2015 – Ephemeris – A talk about the Virgo Cluster of galaxies tonight and a star party
Ephemeris for Friday, May 1st. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 14 minutes, setting at 8:47. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 5:55 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:31.
Tonight yours truly will be presenting the program: The Galaxy Cluster Next Door, at this evening’s meeting of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society at 8 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory. Following at 9 p.m. will be a star party featuring the Moon and planets Venus, Jupiter and later, Saturn. As to the program: There is a patch of the spring sky in the constellation of Virgo the virgin, where we are looking out the thin side of our Milky Way galaxy where there is a huge group of over a thousand galaxies astronomers have dubbed the Virgo Cluster. Galaxy clusters are held together by the gravity of mysterious dark matter, but the clusters are expanding from all the other clusters.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Messier objects in the central part of the Virgo Cluster. Created with Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Some of the galaxies in the heart of the Virgo Cluster. Created with Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
04/17/2015 – Ephemeris – First Sleeping Bear Dunes star party of the year
Ephemeris for Friday, April 17th. The Sun rises at 6:55. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 8:30. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 6:55 tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow, that’s Saturday night the 18th, the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will host the first of nine viewing opportunities at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore this year. This one will be held at Platte River Point north parking lot, at the end of Lake Michigan Road, off M22, weather permitting. Viewing begins around 9 p.m. with Brilliant Venus and then Jupiter. Later on as it gets dark, other wonders among the stars will be visible. For a complete schedule of viewing opportunities check the park’s website or gtastro.org. They will include viewing the sun on the afternoons of the May through August star parties. Plus there will be an all night Perseid Meteor watch at the Dune Climb the night of August 12th and 13th, and a lunar eclipse watch the evening of September 27th.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Star Parties and other Events
|
Day |
Date |
Venue |
Time |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Saturday |
April 18 |
SBDNL – Platte River Point |
9 – 11 p.m. |
Venus, Jupiter |
|
Saturday |
May 23 |
SBDNL – Dune Climb |
4 – 6 p.m ☼ & 9 – 11 p.m. |
Venus, Jupiter, Moon |
|
Saturday |
June 20 |
SBDNL – Pierce Stocking Drive Stop #3 |
4 – 6 p.m ☼ & 9 – 11 p.m. |
Park at Picnic Mountain. Venus, Jupiter, Moon, Saturn |
|
Saturday |
July 25 |
SBDNL – Platte River Point |
4 – 6 p.m ☼ & 9 – 11 p.m. |
Venus, Jupiter, Moon, Saturn |
|
Saturday |
August 8 |
SBDNL – Thoreson Farm |
4 – 6 p.m ☼ & 9 – 11 p.m. |
Port Oneida Fair. Mercury, Jupiter early, Saturn, Dark, Summer Milky Way |
|
Wednesday |
August 12 |
SBDNL – Dune Climb |
9 p.m. – 5 a.m. |
All night Perseid meteor watch |
|
Saturday |
September 12 |
SBDNL – Dune Climb |
9 – 11 p.m. |
Saturn, Dark skies, Summer Milky Way |
|
Sunday |
September 27 |
SBDNL – Platte River Point |
9 p.m. – 12 m |
Total Lunar Eclipse |
|
Wednesday |
October 21 |
SBDNL – Pierce Stocking Drive Stop #3 |
8 – 10 p.m. |
SBDNL 45th anniversary star party, Moon, bright star clusters and nebulae |
Explanation Key
☼ – Sun viewing
Conditions:
Dark – Dark skies. Deep Sky Objects (DSOs: star clusters, nebulae and galaxies) visible depending on the season.
Twilight – Twilight lasts through out the viewing period. Some Deep Sky Objects may be visible near the end of the viewing period.
Objects other than planets:
Summer Milky Way – Many Deep Sky Objects are visible in our galaxy. The Milky Way is best seen on August and September evenings with the moon out of the sky. This also means dark skies.
Cancellation
The monthly star party events will be cancelled if the sky is not visible due to weather conditions. An official decision will be made by the Lakeshore, usually, one hour before the event. To find out whether an event has been cancelled please check our Facebook page, or Twitter feed, or call park rangers at 231-326-4700, ext. 5005, for a voice mail message with the decision.
04/03/2015 – Ephemeris – Learn about meteorites tonight
Ephemeris for Good Friday, Friday, April 3rd. The Sun will rise at 7:20. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 8:12. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 7:24 tomorrow morning.
Meteorites will be the topic given by Joe Brooks local meteorite expert and collector at this evening’s meeting of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society at 8 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory. He even has a meteorite that’s pretty much been proven to be from the asteroid Vesta. Today we are all too aware that stones and even bigger asteroids can collide with the earth. Everyone is welcome. Also at 9 p.m. there will be a star party at the observatory. The observatory is located south of Traverse City on Birmley Road between Garfield and Keystone roads. Remember also the partial lunar eclipse tomorrow morning starting at 6:15 a.m. The society and the observatory will not hold an event for it.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
If you missed yesterday’s post about tomorrow morning’s lunar eclipse, click here.
02/06/2015 – Ephemeris – The GTAS will entertain the NMC Students in a Star Bowl Quiz tonight
Ephemeris for Friday, February 6th. The sun will rise at 7:56. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 2 minutes, setting at 5:58. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 8:55 this evening.
Tonight the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will have for its meeting at 8 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory its nearly annual Star Bowl contest with The Northwestern Michigan College astronomy students, and NMC Astronomy Club members facing the returning champions, the GTAS. This Jeopardy style game will be hosted by NMC Professor Jerry Dobek. Come and watch or even take part if you’d like. At 9 p.m. the society will host a star party at the observatory with the Moon and Jupiter as featured objects. Folks can still bring in their telescopes for help during this time. The observatory is located south of Traverse City on Birmley Road between Garfield and Keystone roads.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter through a telescope at 9 p.m. (EST), on February 6, 2015. The four Galilean moon will be stretched out on one side of Jupiter in order of their actual distances from the planet. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The Moon tonight (February 6, 2015). The Moon will rise shortly before the start of the Star Party. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.
01/15/2015 – Ephemeris – Family STEM Night at Greenspire School
Ephemeris for Thursday, January 15th. The sun will rise at 8:16. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 5:28. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 4:07 tomorrow morning.
Tonight the Greenspire School is sponsoring its annual Family STEM Night from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the school on Red Drive at the Grand Traverse Commons. Red Drive is a block west of Silver Drive that connects to Silver Lake Road at Franke Road. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. One of the demonstrations will be a 3D printer. The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be there also making dry ice comets, showing the sky and Comet Lovejoy through telescopes if it’s clear, and giving away two Galileoscope telescope kits and a some Race to the Planets trivia games courtesy of Professor Jerry Dobek and Project Astro. There are lots of hands on activities for the whole family.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
01/09/2015 – Ephemeris – Tomorrow Mercury almost makes a conjunction with Venus but falls back
Ephemeris for Friday, January 9th. The sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 1 minute, setting at 5:20. The Moon, 4 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:06 this evening.
Low in the southwest just after sunset, say around 6 to 6:15 in the evening Venus and Mercury can be seen seeming to flirt with one another. Venus has been moving away from the Sun in the evening sky for a couple of month’s not, but hasn’t been all that visible. Mercury, named after the messenger of the gods is fleet of orbit and is almost about to catch up with Venus. Except it can’t, not this time. Tomorrow evening Mercury will appear closest to Venus about 0.6 angular degrees away, a bit more than the width of the Moon. So for another day the two planets will appear close. But after tomorrow night they will separate with Mercury not able to keep up. Next Tuesday it will reach its greatest elongation or separation from the sun and fall back.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, the straight track, and Mercury are shown for every evening from yesterday 1/08/15 to 01/23/15. The planets are marked for every night at 6 p.m. and tagged every other day. with month-day and magnitude. The higher the magnitude value the dimmer it is. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
01/02/2015 – Ephemeris – Telescope Clinic tonight in Traverse City
Ephemeris for Friday, January 2nd. The sun will rise at 8:20, the latest sunrise of the year. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:13. The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:38 tomorrow morning.
Did you or someone in your family get a telescope for Christmas, or have one in a closet or attic because you don’t know how to put it together or operate? Or maybe you are trying to figure out which one to buy. Well, tonight’s your night. The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will host a telescope clinic at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory on Birmley Road, south of Traverse City starting at 8 p.m. Telescope experts from the society will help you set up your telescope and give you observing tips. So bring ’em if you’ve got ’em. If it’s clear, at 9 p.m., there will be a star party to try out your telescope, or try them out on the lights of Traverse City. Can’t make it? We can help you after any meeting.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addenda
Remember the Quadrantid meteor shower tomorrow evening and into Sunday morning:
The moon will interfere with the meteor shower, so only the brightest will be visible. The radiant will rise from the northeast. The radiant will be nearly overhead at the start of twilight. On a dark night up to 120 meteors per hour may be seen according to the International Meteor Organization.
12/05/2014 – Ephemeris – Search for the Star of Bethlehem will be presented tonight
Ephemeris for Friday, December 5th. The sun will rise at 8:03. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 1 day before full, will set at 7:51 tomorrow morning.
The program In Search for the Star of Bethlehem, will be presented by yours truly at this evening’s meeting of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory starting at 8 p.m. This is a scientific rather than a religious quest, however the only clues to the star’s existence are found in Gospels of Matthew and Luke. 400 years ago Johannes Kepler’s discovery of a special conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn that would have occurred about that time started the search. Ancient Chinese records and ancient writers all contribute to the evidence. The program will be followed at 9 p.m. by the last star party of the year. The observatory’s located south of Traverse City on Birmley Road.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 