Open House Previews for Spring 2015
What we look at will depend on weather and interest. Here are a few possible highlights.
Solar System: Both Mars and Venus will be setting in the West as we start our observations. You should certainly see Venus as you are driving out, and can look for Mars just above it and slightly to its left. By the time we set up, both planets are likely to be obscured by trees. If we stay late we may have a chance to see Jupiter rising in the East. We should be able to see belts and zones (the alternating dark and light stripes across the planet reflecting planetary convection patterns) as well as the planet's four brightest ("Galilean") moons. If conditions are particularly good we may have a chance to note the shadow of a smaller moon on the planet's surface. We should also be able to get a glimpse of the New Year's comet Lovejoy C2014 Q2. While perhaps not as bright as it was two weeks ago this should make for fine viewing with our telescopes.
Stars and Clusters: We can take a look at Almach in Andromeda, a pretty binary star very near the comet in the sky. The telescope will allow us to resolve the two partners. We can see some open clusters such as the Dragonfly Cluster (NGC457) or the well-known Double Cluster (NGC 884/869).
Nebulae: The Great Nebula in Orion (M41) will be in fine position for us to enjoy. 1600 light-years from us, this stellar nursery allows us a view of the ingredients of star formation: Hydrogen gas, cold interstellar dust clouds, and the new stars forming there. We may look for a planetary nebula, the remnant of a dead sunlike star. If the night is good, we will look at the Crab nebula (M1) , the glowing remains of a larger star 6500 light-years away, whose death was observed from Earth as the supernova of 1054.
Galaxies:The famous Great Spiral in Andromeda (M31) will be visible. The nearest large galaxy to our own Milky Way, this is an impressive spiral spanning 4-5 times the size of a full Moon in the sky. Through our telescopes, we will only be able to make out the brightest central core of the galaxy; still, observing an object 2.5 million light-years away is exciting. We may look for more distant galaxies as well.
What we get to see for the Statewide Star Party will depend on conditions and interest, but here are some possibilities.
Solar System: Early on, we should have a chance to view Venus before it sets in the West. In a gibbous phase as it approaches its greatest Eastern elongation, Venus is the bright star in the Western sky at sunset. We will also have a chance to see Jupiter high in the sky. We should be able to see belts and zones (the alternating dark and light stripes across the planet reflecting planetary convection patterns) as well as the planet's four brightest ("Galilean") moons. Of course, we will also take time to look at our own waxing Moon, on which we can discern large craters and mountain ranges. This evening the pretty double crater Cyrillus/Theophilus will be near the terminator (the line separating the dark side of the Moon from the illuminated part, where sunlight hits the surface at a glancing angle and the long "twilight" shadows bring surface features into the best relief.
Stars and Clusters: We can take a look at Castor, one of the bright twins Gemini. Appropriately, both Castor and his twin Pollux are binary stars, the telescope will allow us to resolve the two partners. We can see some open clusters such as the King Cobra Cluster (M67) or the well-known Beehive Cluster (M44). But this is a wonderful night for viewing globular clusters, and we will definitely look at some of these, perhaps M3, M53 early or the prettier Hercules Cluster (M13) and M5 later on, and talk about these interesting objects.
Nebulae: Those who stay late may be treated to an early (in the year) view of the Ring Nebula, the spectacular remains of a dead star.
Galaxies: Depending on the humidity and how much moonlight is scattered, this could be a good night for looking at deep sky objects with many galaxies in good position, the pretty Cigar Galaxy (M82), the Leo Triplet (M65-66) and hopefully some of the members of the rich Virgo Cluster.