Category: 2017 Workshop Dates and Themes

Evening Highlights: Jupiter is the brightest object in the night sky at magnitude -2.23 (smaller number means brighter), find it in the south-western sky. Ringed Saturn will be magnitude 0.06, and can be seen left and below Antares (the heart of Scorpius the scorpion) in the south-east, and is low on the horizon in the early evening. Mars is the dimmest of the planets tonight at magnitude 1.68, and is directly west and visible only briefly as it sets shortly after the sun. Finally, the setting moon to the west, is a waxing crescent (meaning  expanding in illumination) and will be 66% illuminated. HVO opens at 8PM.

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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. The observatory will be open at 7:30PM, a video on nebulae will be shown at 8PM.

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Evening Highlights: Albireo: Appearing as a single star in the constellation Cygnus, through a telescope it resolves to a beautiful double system of gold and blue. Alcor and Mizar: Found in the handle of the Big Dipper/Ursa Major, it’s one of the few naked eye double stars.  Even more interesting – it’s actually a sextuple system! Epsilon Lyrae: Found in Lyra, if looking through binoculars you’ll see two widely separated stars.  Look through a telescope, and you’ll find that each ‘star’ is actually a double! Saturn: With its rings tilted to over 27 degrees this year, it will be tonight’s focus for planetary viewing.  Jupiter and Mars will also be visible.

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