Category: 2016 Workshop Dates and Themes

Evening Highlights: Jupiter is the brightest object in the night sky at magnitude -2.0 (smaller number means brighter), find it in the south-western sky. Mars is the second brightest object in the southern sky at magnitude -1.86, and is almost directly south. Ringed Saturn is the dimmest of the planets at magnitude 0.03, and can be seen just left and above Antares (the heart of Scorpius the scorpion) in the south-east. Finally, the setting moon to the west, is a waxing crescent (meaning  expanding in illumination) and will be 32% illuminated.  See the moon first because it sets early!

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Evening Highlights: Jupiter is still the brightest object in the night sky at magnitude -1.9 (smaller number means brighter), find it in the western sky. Mars is the second brightest object in the southern sky at magnitude -1.54, and is almost directly south. Ringed Saturn is the dimmest of the planets at magnitude 0.12, and can be seen almost directly above Antares (the heart of Scorpius the scorpion) to the south. Learn the major constellations of the night sky, such as the Big Dipper/Ursa Major, Little Dipper/Ursa Minor, Scorpius, Sagittarius and Cassiopeia, and and how to find them. Video: TBD.  Starts at 8:45PM. Presentation: Following the video, Jim will present how to find the common summer constellations using a planisphere, using markers to hop between constellations, and software that can help locate constellations throughout the year.

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UPDATE: DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER FORECASTS, THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO SATURDAY, AUGUST 27 Evening Highlights: The Ring Nebula (M57) , a planetary nebula nearly 2300 light years from Earth. The Veil Nebula (NGC6960), a supernova remnant, approximately 1470 light years from Earth. The Dumbbell Nebula (M27), a planetary nebula, approximately 1360 light years from Earth. The North America Nebula (NGC7000), a very large emission nebula, approximately 1600 light years from Earth. Four planets are visible in the sky tonight.  Don’t know which ones or how to find them?  You will after tonight. One iridium flare will be visible at 21:17:23 (9:17:23 PM). Diane Knutsen will give a short talk at 8:00 PM about forming a local chapter of the International Dark Sky Association. Video: A video on nebulae will be shown at 8:15 PM (bring a chair!).

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Evening Highlights: M13 – First discovered by Edmond Halley (of Halley’s Comet fame) in 1714, and one of the oldest and most densely populated globular clusters with nearly one million stars. M15 – 32000 light years distant, may have a 4000 solar mass black hole at its core. M3 – First discovered by Charles Messier in May 1764.  Thought to contain over 500,000 stars, and is 190 light years across. M80 – Several hundred thousand stars, 32000 light years distant, and one of the densest clusters. Four planets are visible in the sky tonight- Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn (Venus and Jupiter set very early, shortly after dusk). One iridium flare will be visible at 20:17:17 (8:17:17 PM). Video: A video will be shown at 7:30 PM (bring a chair!) with observing starting by 8:15PM. Unlike most deep sky objects, all of the globular clusters listed above are visible through both telescopes and  binoculars.  Please feel free to bring a personal pair of binoculars to tonight’s workshop.

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