THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
207-780-4249       www.usm.maine.edu/planet
70 Falmouth Street  Portland, Maine 04103
43.6667° N,                    70.2667° W
Founded January 1970
      "Did you ever notice that in the winter  a forest tends to be
redolent of pine?   In the summer, that distinctive aroma is not
pervasive.   Many years ago, that predominant pine fragrance was
perceived as a song.    In the summer, when all live trees are
luxuriant with foliage, their voices blend together.  In so doing,
they all contribute their harmonies to a subtle symphony diffused
gently on Sun-warmed winds.   In the winter, when the pines alone
retain their foliage,  they sing alone:  conveying through their
lonely tones an assurance to the dormant forest that life persists and
in time will thrive once more.
      "The arborist, a forest worshipper of a modern sort, explains
that the pine scent, like all aromas, are conveyed through particles.
 In the summer, these particles are carried by the air and eventually
settle into absorbing soil.     In the winter, these particles settle
instead on snow and ice, which keeps them close to the shroud's
surface.  Instead of being absorbed, they are preserved so that a
wintry forest will exude the pine fragrance."



THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Monday, January 4, 2016
January 2016 Night Sky Calendar   Part II


PART II

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7:  MOON 3.1 DEGREES NORTH OF VENUS
The night sky's two brightest objects together in the morning sky.
The moon will be a waning crescent, so its light will hardly obscure
the brilliant Venus.     Phospherine and Luna coupled above twilight
remains one of the firmament's most beautiful sights.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7:   MOON 3.3 DEGREES NORTH OF SATURN
While you're observing the moon and Venus, anyway, look also for the
much dimmer planet, Saturn.  Tonight, one can see the two planets and
moon within a 3.6 degree diameter circle.      Well worth the sleep
deprivation.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 9:  VENUS 0.08 DEGREES NORTH OF SATURN  (GOLD EVENT!!!)
What is a "gold event?"   Simply, it is the event we consider to be
the most captivating.     This morning, one will see Venus and Saturn
close together in the sky.   Granted, this closeness is illusory, as
the planets are hundreds of millions of miles apart.    One should
have no difficulty distinguishing between them, as Venus will be
nearly 70 times brighter!      This Venus-Saturn approach is the
year's second closest major planetary appulse of 2016.  Only the
Venus-Jupiter appulse on August 27th will be closer.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 10:  NEW MOON
Beginning of lunation cycle  1151

THURSDAY, JANUARY 14:  MERCURY AT INFERIOR SOLAR CONJUNCTION
And, what does this mean?
When a planet moves into "inferior solar conjunction" it is between
Earth and the Sun.   Only the two inferior planets, Mercury and Venus,
can ever be in inferior conjunction.         During the next inferior
solar conjunction on May 8th, Mercury will pass directly across the
Sun's face.   This spectacular event is known as a "transit."

SATURDAY, JANUARY 16:  FIRST QUARTER MOON

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20:  SUN ENTERS CAPRICORNUS
The strange, zoologically impossible "seagoat."  Even by mythological
standards, a particularly chimerical hybrid.    This faint
constellation is poised to the northeast of the much brighter
Sagittarius the Archer.  The Sun occupies Sagittarius when winter
begins.   We're trudging through the deepest part of winter when the
Sun passes through Capricornus.  Each year the Sun appears to migrate
through thirteen constellations comprising the "zodiac."   These
constellations are  CAPRICORNUS THE SEAGOAT, Aquarius the Water
Bearer, Pisces the Fish, Aries the Ram, Taurus the Bull, Gemini the
Twins, Cancer the Crab, Leo the Lion, Virgo the Maiden,  Libra the
Scales and Scorpius the Scorpion, Ophiuchus the Serpent Charmer and
Sagittarius the Archer. The Sun enters Aquarius on February 17.


SUNDAY, JANUARY 24:  FULL MOON
For some strange reason, January's full moon is called the "snow
moon."  It is known as the 'wolf moon" in  many Native American
traditions.  It is also known as the "long night moon," as the full
moon that is closest to the winter solstice will occupy a high
position along the ecliptic.    The technical term for "full moon" is
"opposition," the point at which the moon is in the opposite part of
the sky from the Sun.   Earth is positioned between the Sun and moon
at this time.   We therefore see all of the moon's illuminated area.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 28:  MOON 1.3 DEGREES SSW OF JUPITER  (SILVER EVENT!!)
Jupiter rises before midnight and therefore has become an evening
planet.   Tonight, we'll see the giant planet and waning gibbous moon
traveling together through the late evening and morning skies.


PLANET WATCH


MERCURY:   We're preparing for May's Mercurian transit, when Mercury
passes directly in front of the Sun.    Now, however, Mercury is sinks
low in the evening sky at month's beginning.  It then vanishes by the
second week and then re-emerges in the morning sky.  VERDICT;
January 2016 is not a particularly favorable month for Mercury.  It
will become easier this winter and early spring, so don't go out of
your way to find Mercury.

VENUS  (PICK PLANET!):   We're choosing Venus as this month's pick
planet, because we will be conferring this distinction onto Jupiter in
February and March.   By early April, Venus will disappear until the
first of August!    VERDICT:  As Venus will be absent for almost four
months this year, one should try to observe it when one has the
opportunity.  It is a bright beacon in the eastern morning sky.
Remember, also, that Venus will veer close to Saturn on the 8th.

MARS:  Throughout the next few months, Mars will brighten dramatically
as it approaches its May 22nd opposition.   Mars rises earlier each
day and grows brighter as its distance from Earth diminishes.
VERDICT:   Mars is always a delight to the eyes simply because of its
reddish hue.    However, if you miss it this month, you'll still have
many opportunities to see it throughout the winter and spring.

JUPITER:  This behemoth world was once a morning star, but now has
migrated into the evening sky.       Jupiter brightens, as well, for
it is rapidly approaching its March 8th opposition.    VERDICT:    A
brilliant evening sky planet adorning the winter sky.   Over the
course of the next few months, Jupiter will remain a prominent evening
planet.   If you're outside, anyway, enjoying these sublimely sub-zero
temperatures, why not look for Jupiter!

SATURN:   The last planet on the scene, as it were.    The last planet
to rise, Saturn rises about four minutes earlier each day and will
reach opposition on June 3rd.   VERDICT:   A moderately bright planet
that only the early risers will see poised against the brightening
morning twilight.      We'll be able to see Saturn to a better
advantage throughout the spring.


PLANETS (IN ORDER OF DECREASING BRIGHTNESS)

VENUS -  JUPITER - MERCURY -  MARS - SATURN
(Mercury is brighter than Mars at month's beginning; and, then, on its
return to the morning sky, will be dimmer than Mars and Saturn before
surpassing them in brightness by late January.)