Upstate New York Stargazing – Aug Week 1, 2017

Author's Note: The "Upstate New York Stargazing" series ran on the newyorkupstate.com and syracuse.com websites (and limited use in-print) from 2016 to 2018. For the full list of articles, see the Upstate New York Stargazing page.

Stargazing in Upstate NY: What to see in the night skies July 28 to Aug. 4

The solar eclipse shadow over southern Turkey, northern Cyprus and the Mediterranean Sea as seen from the ISS on March 29, 2006. Image from NASA.

Updated: Jul. 28, 2017, 4:52 p.m. | Published: Jul. 28, 2017, 3:52 p.m.

Special to nyup.com

By Damian Allis | Contributing writer

This summertime weekly summary for planetary, satellite, constellation, and other observing opportunities covers the last few days of July and first few days of August. Looming high over amateur astronomer plans and social media users alike is the Aug. 21 Solar Eclipse. A number of eclipse articles have already been posted on syracuse.com, including:

* A general eclipse overview of when and where to watch

* Which libraries will be providing free solar-safe glasses in Central New York

* Some general observing information about the eclipse from the May and June UNY Stargazing series

Below is a list of scheduled lecture and observing opportunities around Upstate New York for the eclipse – this list will be reproduced in the following articles and will hopefully be added to as other locations announce events. If you know of an event not listed, please send an email with details. As always around here, we can only hope for clear skies!

Solar Eclipse Calendar

OrganizerLocationEventDateTimeContact Info
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadySolar EclipseAug. 211:22 – 3:56 PMemail, website
Cazenovia Public LibraryCazenoviaSolar Eclipse LectureAug. 167:00 – 8:30 PM315-655-9322 website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalSolar EclipseAug. 2111:30 AM – 4:00 PMemail, website
Liverpool Public LibraryLiverpoolSolar Eclipse PartyAug. 211:00 – 4:00 PM315-457-0310 website
Marcellus Free LibraryMarcellusSolar Eclipse PartyAug. 211:00 – 4:00 PM315-673-3221 website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleEclipse Lecture, ClintonAug. 27:00 – 8:30 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleEclipse Lecture, CanastotaAug. 37:00 – 8:30 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleSolar EclipseAug. 2112:00 – 4:00 PMemail, website
Onondaga County LibrariesNOPL North SyracuseSolar Eclipse LectureAug. 146:30 – 8:00 PM315-458-6184 website
Onondaga County LibrariesJamesvilleLecture & Solar Eclipse @ DeWitt & Jamesville LibraryAug. 2112:00 – 4:00 PM315-446-3578 website
Onondaga County LibrariesSyracuseSolar Eclipse Party @ Hazard BranchAug. 2112:00 – 4:00 PM315-435-5326 website
Onondaga County LibrariesSyracuseSolar Eclipse Party @ Paine BranchAug. 212:00 – 3:00 PM315-435-5442 website
Onondaga County LibrariesSyracuseSolar Eclipse Party @ White BranchAug. 212:00 – 3:00 PM315-435-3519 website

Lectures And Observing Opportunities In Upstate/Central New York

New York has a number of astronomers, astronomy clubs, and observatories that host public sessions throughout the year. Announced sessions from several respondent NY astronomy organizations are provided below for the remainder of July and all of August so you can plan accordingly. As wind and cloud cover are always factors when observing, please check the provided contact information and/or email the groups a day-or-so before an announced session, as some groups will also schedule weather-alternate dates. Also use the contact info for directions and to check on any applicable event or parking fees.

Astronomy Events Calendar

OrganizerLocationEventDateTimeContact Info
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakeLecture and Public ObservingJuly 28L – 7:00 p.m., O – 1/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic ObservingAug. 41/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic ObservingAug. 181/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic ObservingAug. 211/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyOctagon Barn Star PartyJuly 288:00 – 10:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyNight Sky AdventureAug. 158:00 – 9:30 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyAAAA MeetingAug. 177:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyOctagon Barn Star PartyAug. 188:00 – 10:00 PMemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterRocheSTAR Fest 2017July 28 – 29daytime & nighttimeemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghAug. 58:30 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghAug. 128:30 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusBob Piekiel & Perseid Meteor ShowerAug. 12/138:30 – 11:00 PMemail, website
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusBob Piekiel & Solar ObservingAug. 26/271:00 – 3:00 PMemail, website
Clark Reservation State ParkJamesvilleBob Piekiel & Summer SkiesJuly 28/298:00 – 11:00 PM315-492-1590 website
Green Lakes State ParkFayettevilleBob Piekiel & Summer SkiesAug. 18/198:00 – 10:00 PM315-637-6111 website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingJuly 288:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalKAS Monthly MeetingAug. 27:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 48:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 118:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalPerseid Meteor ShowerAug. 128:00 PM – 12:30 AMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 188:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 258:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleMeetingAug. 97:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervillePublic Stargazing @ Waterville LibraryAug. 26/278:30 – 11:30 PMemail, website

ISS And Other Bright Satellites

Satellite flyovers are commonplace, with several bright passes easily visible per hour in the nighttime sky, yet a thrill to new observers of all ages. Few flyovers compare in brightness or interest to the International Space Station. The flyovers of the football field-sized craft with its massive solar panel arrays can be predicted to within several seconds and take several minutes to complete.

The ISS is out and about several times between 9:00 p.m. and midnight this week, with double flyovers before midnight from the 29th on. You may note that these flyovers are spaced by about 90 minutes – the time it takes for the ISS to go once around the Earth. Properly equipped members of the amateur radio community can even add audio to their visual experiences by listening to transmissions from the ISS – see ariss.org or issfanclub.com for details.

ISS Flyovers

DateBrightnessApprox. StartStart Direct.Approx. EndEnd Direct.
28-Julmoderately12:56 AMNW12:57 AMN/NW
28-Julmoderately10:26 PMW/NW10:31 PMNE
29-Julmoderately12:03 AMNW12:06 AMN/NE
29-Julmoderately9:33 PMW/NW9:39 PMNE
29-Julmoderately11:11 PMNW11:15 PMNE
30-Julsomewhat12:47 AMNW12:48 AMNW
30-Julmoderately10:18 PMNW10:23 PMNE
30-Julmoderately11:55 PMNW11:57 PMN
31-Julmoderately9:26 PMW/NW9:31 PMNE
31-Julmoderately11:03 PMNW11:06 PMNE
1-Augsomewhat12:39 AMNW12:39 AMNW
1-Augmoderately10:10 PMNW10:15 PMNE
1-Augmoderately11:47 PMNW11:48 PMN/NW
2-Augmoderately9:18 PMNW9:22 PMNE
2-Augvery10:54 PMNW10:58 PMNE
3-Augmoderately10:02 PMNW10:07 PME/NE
3-Augmoderately11:38 PMW/NW11:40 PMNW
4-Augmoderately9:10 PMNW9:14 PME/NE
4-Augextremely10:46 PMNW10:49 PMN/NE

Predictions courtesy of heavens-above.com. For updated nightly predictions, visit spotthestation.nasa.gov.

Lunar Phases

First Quarter:Full:Third Quarter:New:
Jul. 30, 11:23 AMAug. 7, 2:10 PMAug. 14, 9:14 PMAug. 21, 2:30 PM

The Moon's increasing brightness as Full Moon approaches washes out fainter stars, random meteors, and other celestial objects – this is bad for most observing, but excellent for new observers, as only the brightest stars (those that mark the major constellations) and planets remain visible for your easy identification. If you've never tried it, the Moon is a wonderful binocular object. The labeled image identifies features easily found with low-power binoculars.

Lunar features prominent in low-power binoculars.

Observing Guides

Items and events listed below assume you're outside and observing most anywhere in New York state. The longer you're outside and away from indoor or bright lights, the better your dark adaption will be. If you have to use your smartphone, find a red light app or piece of red acetate, else set your brightness as low as possible.

The sky at 10 p.m. from July 28 to August 4, accurate all week except for the changing Moon position.

Evening Skies: The two most prominent shapes in the sky are the Big Dipper and the Summer Triangle, with the Sagittarius Teapot highlighted in several previous articles. Whether or not you can see the Teapot, another very distinctive shape is as high as it will get in the southern sky right now just to the west. The body of Scorpius, easily identified by the bright red-orange star Antares and now residing below Saturn in the nighttime sky, hooks down and back up around the southern tree line at our latitude in a shape that nearly every civilization has recorded as being a celestial scorpion. Like the Teapot, the Scorpion tail is between us and the galactic center – a scan with binoculars will reveal a number of objects that do not come into focus like their surrounding stars.

The Big Dipper is a bright and easy guide for finding Polaris, the north star. From its handle, you can "arc" down to Arcturus. Jupiter, which stands out soon after sunset, is close to the bright star Spica in Virgo and to the southwest of bright Arcturus in Bootes. Saturn is also visible as dusk approaches, rising soon after the bright orange star Antares in Scorpius.

The sky at 4 a.m. from July 28 to Aug. 4, accurate all week except for the changing Moon position.

Morning Skies: Venus is unmistakable in the early morning sky, second only to the Moon in brightness before sunrise. The torso of Orion is increasingly peaking above the pre-dawn skies behind Taurus the Bull. As dawn approaches, Venus and the bright stars Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, and Capella may be the last few celestial objects you see.

Planetary Viewing

Mercury: While technically visible after sunset this week, Mercury is very low on the horizon and awash in scattered sunlight. Observers with binoculars might consider scanning the western horizon before 9:15 p.m. to find it, but DO NOT risk doing so until after the sun has set, as even a moment of magnified sunlight will permanently damage your vision. For the patient, Mercury becomes a good early morning target with Mars in late August/early September.

Venus: Venus remains unmistakable in the early morning and even into sunrise, rising before 4:00 a.m. all week. With good, steady binoculars, you should be able to see that Venus is currently more than half-lit – and you can follow the changing phases of Venus as it and the Earth make our way around the Sun. Venus is currently flying over the club of the great winter constellation Orion along a line away from Aldebaran in Taurus and towards the foot of Pollux's twin Castor in the constellation Gemini. Over the course of the week, you'll see the Venus-Betelgeuse-Aldebaran geometry change from a right triangle to a slightly obtuse one.

The Venus-Betelgeuse-Aldebaran Triangle this week.

Mars: Mars will not return to our pre-midnight skies until this time next year, but will become a morning target in late August/early September.

Jupiter: If you look south soon after sunset, Jupiter will be the brightest object you'll see this summer (or second-brightest if the Moon is out). Low power binoculars are excellent for spying the four bright Galilean moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto – and several online guides will even map their orbits for you. Jupiter is to the west of the bright star Spica in Virgo, roughly a full fist-width if you measure with your arm fully-extended. As reported in last week's article as well, the Moon will nearly graze the top of Jupiter in the late-evening sky on July 28th. This will make for an excellent pairing this week – one that will look even better in binoculars.

Jupiter and the Moon on July 28th in Virgo.

Saturn: Still on the western edge of the brightest part of the Milky Way, Saturn is going to spend the next 17 months making its way to the eastern edge, all the while giving us an excellent observing target from late Spring to mid-Autumn. On the evening of August 2nd, the Moon will make its closest approach to Saturn before spending the 3rd and 4th flying over the "Teapot" that makes up the body of Sagittarius.

The Moon and Saturn on Aug. 2, with tea time happening the next two nights.

As a refresher from the June 30th to July 7th article, those looking in the direction of Saturn with binoculars are treated to a host of Messier ("M") Objects – all residing between ourselves and the center of the Milky Way galaxy above the spout of the Sagittarius teapot. A good star chart and some guide stars will help you determine just which object you're looking at.

Meteor Showers And Other Phenomena

The last few days have been very busy in the amateur astronomy community, with a newly reported comet, nova, and supernova all discovered after July 19th. These are very dim objects at present, but they may all be targets for large telescopes and seasoned amateurs at upcoming observing sessions in your area – consider seeking them out! Those without any observing equipment also have some great observing opportunities in the few weeks before the solar eclipse, with an Aquariid Meteor Shower peaking on July 30 and the usually-excellent Perseid Meteor Shower peaking on Aug. 12.

Southern delta Aquariid Meteor Shower: The constellation Aquarius hosts several meteor showers each year, although none of them reach the activity of the Perseids or Geminids. The Southern delta Aquariids are generally the second-busiest of these showers during the year, peaking in the very early morning of July 30th from the southwest. It will be easy to orient yourself towards the radiant if the skies are clear – look for the Summer Triangle, find the bright corner star Altair, and slide south to the bright star Fomalhaut. Expect up-to 15 shooting stars per hour. For your best chance at seeing the most meteors, lie down with your feet facing southwest.

The radiant of the Southern delta Aquariids near the bright star Fomalhaut.

Perseid Meteor Shower: The Perseids are arguably the best, and best-timed, meteor shower of the year. For a preview of where and when to look before next week's article, see the Perseid section of the UNY Stargazing from August 2016 article.

Dr. Damian Allis is the director of CNY Observers and a NASA Solar System Ambassador. If you know of any other NY astronomy events or clubs to promote, please contact the author.

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Upstate New York Stargazing – January, 2018

Author's Note: The "Upstate New York Stargazing" series ran on the newyorkupstate.com and syracuse.com websites (and limited use in-print) from 2016 to 2018. For the full list of articles, see the Upstate New York Stargazing page.

Upstate NY Stargazing in January: Supermoon, Quadrantids by moonlight, Uranus by binoculars

Light pillars over New Berlin, NY on Dec. 14. Photo courtesy of Nihal Dhanoa.

Published: Jan. 02, 2018, 4:12 p.m.

By Special to nyup.com

By Damian Allis | Contributing writer

The interest within the space science community about Martian habitability may leave you with the question, "Just how inhospitable is Mars?" A small part of the answer comes from Canada this past week, reporting that parts of North America were colder than Mars that same day. On Dec. 28, Gale Crater on Mars peaked at -23 C, while Montreal never cleared -24 C. While the Martian night will slip much lower in temperature, it is remarkable to consider that, despite the differences in mass, atmosphere, and distance from the Sun, there are at least two places in our Solar System where a person could be easily kept warm enough to complain about the cold.

New York winters afford us opportunities for both crystal-clear astronomy and interesting physics. Light pillars, what at first blush might look like the northern lights, occur when light from the ground reflects off of ice crystals in the atmosphere. The stunning image of the phenomenon shown above is likely powered by the Chobani Plant in New Berlin. Given the positions of the most prominent stars and the knowledge that the photo is from Dec. 14, one can even pull out a star chart and deduce that the shot was taken at around 9 p.m. from a point just south of the plant.

Lectures And Observing Opportunities In Upstate/Central New York

New York has a number of astronomers, astronomy clubs, and observatories that host public sessions throughout the year. Announced sessions from respondent NY astronomy organizations are provided below for January. As wind and cloud cover are always factors when observing, please check the provided contact information and/or email the groups a day-or-so before an announced session, as some groups will also schedule weather-alternate dates. Also use the contact info for directions and to check on any applicable event or parking fees. And bring one more layer of clothing than you think you are going to need!

Astronomy Events Calendar

OrganizerLocationEventDateTimeContact Info
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper Lake1st Friday ObservingJan. 57:00 PMemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper Lake3rd Friday ObservingJan. 197:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyAAAA MeetingJan. 187:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterMember MeetingJan. 57:30 – 9:30 PMemail, website
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusFinest Winter SkiesJan. 197:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalKAS Monthly MeetingJan. 37:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night ObservingJan. 57:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night ObservingJan. 127:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalWinter Skies TourJan. 197:00 – 11:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night ObservingJan. 267:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleMeetingJan. 107:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervillePublic Star GazingJan. 207:30 – 10:00 PMemail, website
Syracuse Astronomical SocietySyracuseLecture @ OCC & ObservingJan. 127:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website

Lunar Phases

Full MoonThird QuarterNew MoonFirst QuarterFull Moon
Jan. 1, 9:24 pmJan. 8, 5:25 pmJan. 16, 9:17 pmJan. 24, 5:20 pmJan. 31, 8:26 am

The Moon's increasing brightness as Full Moon approaches washes out fainter stars, random meteors, and other celestial objects – this is bad for most observing, but excellent for new observers, as only the brightest stars (those that mark the major constellations) and planets remain visible for your easy identification. If you've never tried it, the Moon is a wonderful binocular object. The labeled image identifies features easily found with low-power binoculars.

Lunar features prominent in low-power binoculars.

January begins and ends with a Full Moon. The first will likely ruin the Quadrantid meteor shower, but will also be the largest of the "supermoons" this year. The second Full Moon to occur in a given month is known as a "Blue Moon." The January Blue Moon will also qualify as a 2018 supermoon. While the descriptor "supermoon" meets with varying degrees of annoyance within the astronomical community, the closer-than-usual proximity of the Moon to the Earth on these occasions is interesting – and anyone with a camera and tripod can capture each Full Moon of the year and see these small differences in apparent size for themselves. You will also see reports of the first lunar eclipse of the year occurring on Jan. 31. For NY observers, this will begin near 6 a.m. Sadly, the eclipse for us ends too soon – Hawaii and much of Asia will see the total lunar eclipse, while those of us on the other side of the planet are instead treated to sunrise and a 7 a.m. moonset.

Observing Guides

Items and events listed below assume you're outside and observing most anywhere in New York. The longer you're outside and away from indoor or bright lights, the better your dark adaption will be. If you have to use your smartphone, find a red light app or piece of red acetate, else set your brightness as low as possible.

The sky at 9 p.m. on Jan. 15, accurate all month except for the changing Moon position.

Evening Skies: It took until December, but the Summer Triangle is finally no more in our pre-midnight sky. Early morning observers now see Vega and Deneb rising after 3 a.m. this month. The Winter Triangle – Sirius in Canis Major, Procyon in Canis Minor, and Betelgeuse in Orion – shares an edge with the much larger Winter Hexagon – Sirius, Procyon, Pollux in Gemini, Capella in Auriga, Aldebaran in Taurus, and Rigel in Orion.

With Orion and its cohort all above the horizon before midnight, learning eight constellations at once is as easy as following some lines within Orion's bowtie asterism.

Orion can guide you around its neighborhood. Red = belt stars to Sirius and Canis Major; Orange = Rigel and belt center to Castor and Pollux in Gemini; Yellow = Bellatrix and Betelgeuse to Canis Major; Green = Belt stars to Aldebaran and Taurus; Blue = Saiph and Orion's head to Capella in Auriga. Click for a larger view.

Morning Skies: There are no massive asterisms on the scale of the Winter Hexagon in the morning skies right now, but prominent and familiar shapes do abound. Moving from the Little Dipper to the Big Dipper, continue nearly the same distance to reach the hind end of Leo the Lion – look to the west for the backwards question mark that is its mane. In the same neck of the woods as the two Dippers is the Keystone asterism, marking the torso of the constellation Hercules.

The sky at 5 a.m. on Jan. 15, accurate all month except for the changing Moon position.

Planetary Viewing

Mercury: Mercury was easiest to see on Dec. 28th and is now rising a few minutes later each morning. Your best chances to see it are close to 6:30 a.m., very low on the southeast horizon, during the first two weeks of January. It will next be visible after sunset in early March, when it makes for an excellent pairing with Venus.

Venus: Venus is not easily, nor safely, observable until February, when it returns as an observing target soon after sunset.

Mars and Jupiter: Mars and Jupiter come as an unmissable pair in the early morning skies this month. Mars rises before Jupiter in Libra the Scales from the 1st to the 6th around 3:30 a.m., after which it slides past Jupiter and becomes the later arrival. Mars will move swiftly through Libra this month, just grazing the Libra/Scorpius border on Jan. 31. Jupiter and Mars will make for an excellent close pairing on the 6th and 7th, followed by a close grouping with the Moon on the 11th.

Mars and Jupiter this month, with the Moon position shown on the 11th.

Those with even poor-quality binoculars are able to see the four bright satellites of Jupiter – known as the "Galilean Moons" for their first observer – and the appearance of Jupiter as a disc of light instead of a simple pinpoint like all stars. Many websites, including the Jupiter's Moons webapp at Sky & Telescope, can provide you with the real-time and future positions of the fast-moving moons for any viewing opportunity you get this and every month.

When the weather doesn't cooperate, the NASA Juno mission (tw,fb) continues to impress with hard science and beautiful images.

Saturn: Saturn rises earlier each morning this month, making for an excellent observing target for morning observers with Mars and Jupiter after 6 a.m. after the 20th. Saturn will continue to rise earlier each morning and be visible at some point in the nighttime sky until October.

ISS And Other Bright Satellites

Satellite flyovers are commonplace, with several bright passes easily visible per hour in the nighttime sky, yet a thrill to new observers of all ages. Few flyovers compare in brightness or interest to the International Space Station. The flyovers of the football field-sized craft with its massive solar panel arrays and six current occupants can be predicted to within several seconds and take several minutes to complete.

The ISS is up in the morning before many of us until the 17th, when it disappears for a week before becoming an evening target on the 24th through the end of the month. There are six chances to see the ISS twice before starting your day, although you will have to start extra early all six times to catch these morning pairings.

ISS Flyovers

DateBrightnessApprox. StartStart Direct.Approx. EndEnd Direct.
1/1somewhat4:59 AME/NE5:00 AME/NE
1/1very6:32 AMW/NW6:36 AMNE
1/2very5:42 AMN/NE5:44 AMNE
1/3very6:24 AMNW6:28 AMNE
1/4moderately5:34 AMN/NE5:35 AMNE
1/5moderately6:16 AMN/NW6:19 AMNE
1/6moderately5:26 AMN/NE5:27 AMNE
1/6very6:59 AMNW7:04 AME/NE
1/7moderately6:08 AMNNW6:11 AMNE
1/8moderately5:18 AMN/NE5:19 AMNE
1/8very6:51 AMNW6:57 AME
1/9very6:00 AMN6:04 AME/NE
1/10moderately5:10 AMNE5:11 AME/NE
1/10exceptionally6:42 AMNW6:48 AME/SE
1/11very5:52 AMN5:56 AME
1/12moderately5:02 AME/NE5:03 AME/NE
1/12exceptionally6:34 AMW/NW6:40 AMSE
1/13exceptionally5:44 AMN5:47 AME/SE
1/14somewhat4:54 AME4:55 AME
1/14very6:26 AMW6:31 AMS/SE
1/15exceptionally5:36 AMS5:39 AMSE

Predictions courtesy of heavens-above.com. Times later in the month are subject to shifts – for accurate daily predictions, visit spotthestation.nasa.gov.

Meteor Showers: Quadrantids, From Dec. 28 to Jan. 12, Peaking Jan. 3

Meteor showers are the result of the Earth passing through the debris field of a comet or asteroid. As these objects approach the warming sun in their orbits, they leave tiny bits behind, usually no larger than grains of sand. The Earth plows through the swarm of these tiny particles at up-to 12 miles-per-second. High in the upper atmosphere, these particles burn up due to friction and ionize the air around them, producing the long light trails we see. We can predict the peak observing nights for a meteor shower because we know when and where in Earth's orbit we'll pass through these debris fields – this yearly periodicity is what let us identify and name meteor showers well before we ever had evidence of what caused them.

The Quadrantids radiant near the Big and Little Dippers, with the location of Quadrans Muralis marked out as well. Click for a larger view.

The name of each meteor shower is based on the constellation from which the shooting stars appear to radiate – a position in the sky we call the radiant. The Quadrantids are one of the few meteor showers named after a constellation that is no longer recognized by the professional astronomical community. Quadrans Muralis, the quadrant, was an addition to the nighttime sky by French astronomer Jerome Lalande back in 1795. While the quadrant, a wall-mounted instrument for measuring the angles of celestial objects, was a vital tool to astronomers of the day, the constellation never made it past the final vote at the 1922 Convention of the International Astronomical Union. For those who have never explored the history and politics of the constellations, let the quadrantids serve as a yearly reminder.

How to observe: Sadly, the Quadrantid peak this year will be washed out by the near-full Moon, making this otherwise reasonably active meteor shower a difficult one to enjoy. If you insist on braving the cold, lie as flat as possible with your feet pointed towards the radiant and your head elevated – meteors will then appear to fly right over and around you.

Those interested in seeing a full list should check out the American Meteor Society meteor shower calendar.

Learn A Constellation: Pisces

Pisces, with the Great Square of Pegasus marked to its side, and Uranus within a binocular field of view.

Those keeping track of the planetary descriptions in this series will note that, with the very rarest of exceptions, the planets you can see without any equipment are always within one of the twelve Zodiacal Constellations. This is not a coincidence!

If the Solar System were a dinner plate on a table, the eight planets would all be variously-sized morsels – peas, olives, meatballs – orbiting around a massive grapefruit at the center. As we moved once around the plate and scan the rest of the dining room, we might see a chair directly opposite the grapefruit, then a picture hanging on the wall, then an archway into the kitchen, then another chair, then other prominent objects in the distance until we'd made one complete revolution around the grapefruit – after which we'd see the same objects in the same positions during our second and future trips around the plate. Because we're all on the same plate, all of the other planetary morsels will appear between ourselves and the prominent objects we identified in our trip around the grapefruit, changing which prominent object they appear to be in front of based on how fast they – and we – are moving around the plate.

In keeping with the festive season and the foodie theme, we begin a survey of the Zodiacal Constellations at the western horizon this month with one of several Zodiac signs easily paired with wine. The prominent stars of Pisces the Fishes have been parts of constellations since Babylonian days, but were not solidly recorded in the Western astronomy tradition as fish until about 1,000 B.C.E. Its shape is roughly that of two fish tied together by a rope. Piscis Boreus, the Northern Fish, is the triangle close to the nearby Aries. Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, is a pentagon of stars that share a border with Aquarius. Depending on your light pollution, neither shape may be very prominent in your sky – the Great Square of Pegasus, close to the horizon in the early evening this month, may serve as a brighter guide.

We start with Pisces this month for a very good reason. If Pisces were a clam instead of a fish, binocular observers with steady hands and good optics are treated to a greenish-blue pearl close to the hinge of the clamshell. The distant planet Uranus, the fourth largest, seventh farthest from the Sun, and bitterly cold gas giant planet, was discovered in 1781 by William Herschel. This discovery is important for two reasons. First, Uranus can only been seen without binoculars or telescope under the absolute best of observing conditions – and some amateur astronomers would even say "that's nuts." For all of human history, only Mercury-to-Saturn were known as planets to astronomers, astrologers, and anyone else until Herschel's discovery. Second, Herschel knew where to limit his observations thanks to Isaac Newton, whose revolutionary physics of the time explained why the Solar System is a flat disc of planets – and why one would only reasonably expect to find planets in the same region of the sky as the known planets – that region defined by the stars of the Zodiac.

Uranus may serve to be a difficult catch even under good conditions, but seeing this planet with your own eyes is a great way to start your observing for 2018.

Dr. Damian Allis is the director of CNY Observers and a NASA Solar System Ambassador. If you know of any NY astronomy clubs or events to promote, please contact the author.

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