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08/11/2017 – Ephemeris – The Perseid meteors plus a star party wraps up the Port Oneida Fair tomorrow
Ephemeris for Friday, August 11th. The Sun rises at 6:40. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 8:53. The Moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 11:06 this evening.
The most famous meteor shower year in and year out is the Perseid meteor shower of August. There are more active meteor showers, but none in the warm nights of summer. The Perseids will be reaching peak tomorrow afternoon. It’s a bit early for us and the Moon will interfere after rising at 11:36 p.m. There have been some erroneous reports out there that this year’s meteor shower will be super spectacular. It will not. Besides the Moon will be up during the best morning viewing times. The meteors will appear to come from the northeastern part of the sky, but will be visible all over the sky. I like the evening meteor show, with the radiant low in the sky. The meteor trails are long as the meteoroids skim the Earth’s atmosphere.*
It’s a busy weekend for the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society. Members will be on Front Street in Traverse City tonight for Friday Night Live with views of the Sun and later a look at the planet Saturn and its rings, weather permitting. On Saturday, again weather permitting members will be part of Sleeping Bear Dunes Port Oneida Fair with a Sun ‘n Star Party from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 9 to 11 p.m. , though members will still be there informally. The location for that event is the Thoreson Farm on South Thoreson Road off M22, near Port Oneida Road. On tap will be Jupiter, Saturn and some of the Perseid meteors on it’s peak night, and some of the deep sky wonders of the summer Milky Way beyond the solar system.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
* This paragraph is really from the Thursday August 10th program, not what I posted for August 10th (yesterday) as the program transcript. I double checked it and everything. I may be getting too old for this. I think I’ll have a lie down now.
05/12/2017 – Ephemeris – There will be a star party at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Saturday night the 13th
Ephemeris for Friday, May 12th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 42 minutes, setting at 9:00, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:16. The Moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 10:37 this evening.
Tomorrow night May 13th there will be, weather permitting a star party at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, this time the venue is Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Stop number 3, the Dunes Overlook. The event starts at 9 p.m., while it’s still light out and the location can be found. Park at Picnic Mountain, which is after Stop 2, and right before stop 3, and walk over. The planet Jupiter and all four of its bright moons and cloud bands will be featured. Sharp eyed observers will also be able to see the Great Red Spot. As the sky darkens there will be a twilight talk about the wonders of the spring sky. Near the last half hour it will be dark enough to spot some of the galaxies and globular star clusters of spring. The star party is made possible by the rangers of the park and the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, its cloud bands, Great Red Spot and moons as it might be seen around 10 p.m. at the star party. The actual orientation will depend on the telescope used to view them. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
02/24/2017 – Ephemeris – Winter star party at the Sleeping Near Dunes tomorrow night
Ephemeris for Friday, February 24th. The Sun will rise at 7:27. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 6:23. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 6:53 tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow night the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society and the Rangers of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will hold a star party at the Dune Climb parking lot from 7 to 9 p.m. but only if it is clear. Last Saturday night it happened to be clear, so I went out there to do some photography of the heavens, and the sky was spectacular with the brilliant constellation Orion dominating the southern sky. Its great star forming region, the Great Orion Nebula displaying its bright heart and wispy outer tendrils of gas and dust heading away from that nest of bright baby stars that are illuminating it. Venus is a shining beacon in the west until it sets into the dune. We might even be able to spot the faint Zodiacal Light in the west.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Orion in a 30 second exposure taken at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Dune Climb February, 18, 2017 by Bob Moler. Click on image to enlarge a bit.
Area of the sky from the Hyades and Pleiades on the left to the Double Cluster on the right. While processing the image for this post I discovered two possible meteor trails on the left and below center. A 2 minute exposure taken at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Dune Climb February, 18, 2017 by Bob Moler. Click on image to enlarge and see all the deep sky goodies in it..
10/21/2016 – Ephemeris – Last star party of the year at Sleeping Bear Dunes
Ephemeris for Friday, October 21st. The Sun will rise at 8:06. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 40 minutes, setting at 6:47. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:54 this evening.
Tonight if it’s clear the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will join the rangers at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for their 46th anniversary celebration with a star party at Stop number 3, the Dunes Overlook on the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, though park at Picnic Mountain, just before it. The event will run from 8 to 10 p.m. featuring the wonders still visible among the northern summer wonders along with those appearing in the autumn skies, such as the Great Andromeda Galaxy and the famous Double Cluster. To get a heads up on the status of the star party call 231-326-4700, extension. 5005, for a message after 4 p.m. if the weather looks doubtful. Despite being October we’ve had pretty good luck with getting clear skies for this event.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star Party at the Dunes Overlook. Credit: Eileen Carlisle
08/02/2016 – Ephemeris – Two events for the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society this weekend
Ephemeris for Friday, September 2nd. The Sun will rise at 7:06. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 9 minutes, setting at 8:16. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 9:00 this evening.
This is another busy weekend for the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society. Tonight there will be a general meeting of the society at 8 p.m. followed by a star party at 9 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory, located on Birmley Road south of Traverse City, to which all are welcome. The featured speaker for the meeting will be Dr. David Penney who will talk about Late Pleistocene Fauna and Extinction and its possible astronomical cause. Saturday there will be a star party at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Dune Climb starting at 9 p.m. Both star parties will feature the star clusters and nebulae found in the Milky Way, and views of Saturn and Mars. The dunes are the darkest spot around.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
08/12/2016 – Ephemeris – Two events this weekend
Ephemeris for Friday, August 12th. The Sun rises at 6:42. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 10 minutes, setting at 8:52. The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 2:12 tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will close out the Port Oneida Fair which is held by and at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. It will be held at the Thoreson Farm on South Thoreson Road off M22, just west of Port Oneida road. From 4 to 6 p.m. there will be observation of the Sun through white-light filtered telescopes and a hydrogen-alpha filtered solar telescope. Then from 9 to 11 p.m. there will be viewing of the Moon and the bright planets including Mars and Saturn, and depending on sky condition, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. There may be a few bright stragglers of the Perseid Meteor Shower to be seen. All this requires clear skies, so if in doubt check with the park at 231-326-4700, ext. 5005 for a voicemail message.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Also tonight if weather permits the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will participate in Friday Night Live on Front Street in downtown Traverse City. The society will be in its usual spot, in front of Orvis Streamside, a few stores west of the State Theater. The event will be from 5:30 to 9 p.m. where we will have exhibits and solar viewing if it’s clear. Telescopes will be available for viewing the Moon and Saturn after 9 p.m. if skies permit.
Star Party at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Thoreson Farm August 2013. Credit Eileen Carlisle.
Looking at the Moon. Friday Night Live after hours.
07/22/2016 – Ephemeris – Tomorrow is Astronomy Fest at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
Ephemeris for Friday, July 22nd. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours even, setting at 9:19, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:19. The Moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 10:55 this evening.
Tomorrow the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will hold its first, possibly annual, Astronomy Fest. There will be events all afternoon and evening at several locations in the park. From one to three p.m. at the Platte River Campground Amphitheater, there will be talks by Dr. Jerry Dobek, director of the Northwestern College’s Rogers Observatory and NPS Science Intern Caprice Phillips concerning dark skies and how you can help. Park Ranger Marie Scott will give her Starry night program. And yours truly will give a talk about the astronomical discoveries of the last 100 years. From 4 to 6 p.m. telescopes will be set up at the Dune Climb to view the Sun, and from 9 to 11 p.m. Telescopes will be set up at Platte River Point. to view the planets and wonders of the summer skies.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
06/17/2016 – Ephemeris – Sun & Star Party Saturday at the Sleeping Bear Dunes
Ephemeris for Friday, June 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 4:58 tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow afternoon and evening will be what we call a Sun & Star Party at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This event will be at the Dune Climb. From 4 to 6 p.m., the Sun will be featured using two types of telescopes, one showing the sun’s photosphere in what we call white light, and another showing the chromosphere above it in the light of hydrogen giving a completely different view. Starting at 9 p.m. will be a star party, actually really a planet party, viewing the planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn, plus the nearly full Moon. A twilight talk will be given at 9 p.m. on how astronomy has been changed in the last 100 years by Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity, for the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Two of the telescopes that will be used at the Sleeping Bear Dunes star party Saturday night. Taken at the transit of Mercury by Emmett Holmes, whose telescope is in the foreground.
Kids viewing the transit through the society’s Lunt hydrogen alpha solar telescope.
05/20/2016 – Ephemeris – Astronomical outreach events this weekend
Ephemeris for Friday, May 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 1 minute, setting at 9:10. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 6:22 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:08.
The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be part of two events this weekend. Saturday evening society members will be at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Dune Climb parking lot closest to the dune starting at 9 p.m. for a star party viewing the planets Jupiter, Mars and Saturn and the full moon. There will be some actual star observing too. Folks are urged to park in the last two rows. On Sunday the society will be part of the Northwestern Michigan College’s Barbecue, with telescopes to observer the Sun safely and exhibits of photographs and actual meteorites, and videos in the Health and Science Building. For those who missed it we’ll have photographs of last week’s transit of Mercury, and maybe a video or two.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Two of the telescopes that will be used at the Sleeping Bear Dunes star party Saturday night. Taken at the transit of Mercury by Emmett Holmes, whose telescope is in the foreground.
09/11/2015 – Ephemeris – Astronomy from the dark skies of the Sleeping Bear Dunes this Saturday
Ephemeris for Friday, September 11th. The Sun will rise at 7:16. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 44 minutes, setting at 8:01. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 6:39 tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow night will be the next to the last Star Party at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore of the year. It will be at the Dune Climb in the Parking lot nearest to the dunes. Featured will be the wonders of the Milky Way including globular and galactic star clusters and planetary and emission nebulae. The event starts at 9 p.m. We are entering the second eclipse season of the year.
On Sunday there will be a partial solar eclipse visible from South Africa, the Southern Ocean and part of Antarctica. Eclipses occur in no less a grouping than pairs, solar and lunar, the next eclipse is 16 days away. It will be total lunar eclipse visible from here on Sunday evening the 27th. In the week after next I’ll tell you all about it.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star Party at the Dunes Overlook. Credit: Eileen Carlisle. I still don’t have a good picture of a star party at the Dune Climb where the dune rises up and blocks the lower 20º of the western sky.
Partial Solar Eclipse of September 13, 2-15. Credit: NASA/GSFC/Fred Espenak.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 