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.)