Tag: geminids

Upstate New York Stargazing – December, 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.

Upstate NY Stargazing in December: Geminid and Ursid meteor showers close out the year

Updated: Dec. 01, 2017, 12:32 p.m. | Published: Dec. 01, 2017, 11:32 a.m.

Special to nyup.com

A monthly preview of stars you can observe over Upstate NY from Damian Allis, contributing writer

Winter has come again, marking the time when many pack up their equipment and seek indoor lectures over outdoor observing. The situation is even worse for amateur astronomers, as the arrival of the Winter Solstice on the 21st also marks the point at which the days start to get longer – and the observing nights start to get shorter. As for 2017, New York observers saw mixed results in the "with my own eyes" department. The solar eclipse was generally excellent, with random blocks of overcast observing time. Some of the more subtle phenomena, such as lunar occultations and one lunar eclipse, also received mixed reviews for observability. The recent Venus-Jupiter conjunction was a wash for most, and the general consensus for the year was that none of the meteor showers lived up to the attention they received.

Major NASA missions this year did provide focus for many observers and outreach lecturers, with Juno at Jupiter and Cassini at Saturn highlights both in imagery and hard science. The list of major events for 2018 is lengthy, including a number of lunar and solar eclipses. Sadly, New York will only be able to catch a sliver of only one of these – the total lunar eclipse occurring on Jan. 31st. That said, any reason to get outside is a good one – and if you know of any NY astronomy clubs or events that could use some additional promotion, please consider contacting the author with information.

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 December. 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
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadySenior Science DayDec. 43 – 4 p.m.email, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyOctagon Barn Star PartyDec. 157 – 9 p.m.email, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyNight Sky AdventureDec. 197 – 8:30 p.m.email, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyAAAA MeetingDec. 217:30 – 9 p.m.email, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterMember MeetingDec. 17 – 10 p.m.email, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterTelescope Tune-Up DayDec. 911 a.m. – 4 p.m.email, website
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusGeminid Meteor ShowerDec. 13/147 – 10 p.m.email, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalKAS Monthly MeetingDec. 137 – 9 p.m.email, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervillePublic Star GazingDec. 97:30 – 10 p.m.email, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleMVAS MeetingDec. 137:30 – 9 p.m.email, website
Syracuse Astronomical SocietySyracuseMeeting at OCCDec. 87 – 9 p.m.email, website

Lunar Phases

Full MoonThird QuarterNew MoonFirst Quarter
Dec. 3, 4:46 p.m.Dec. 10, 8:51 a.m.Dec. 18, 7:30 a.m.Dec. 26, 10:20 a.m.

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. 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 9:00 p.m. on December 15th, accurate all month except for the changing Moon position.

Evening Skies: The Summer Triangle has finally become a Summer Line, with only Deneb and bright Vega visible in the evenings this month. A new triangle takes up the slack, itself engulfed in a much larger geometric shape. 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.

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 5:00 a.m. on December 15th, accurate all month except for the changing Moon position.

Planetary Viewing

Mercury: Mercury will be difficult to catch at the beginning and end of the month, then impossible to see directly for the rest of it. Mercury will slip below the western horizon soon after sunset on the 1st and 2nd, then rise before the morning sun after the 18th. It will be easiest to see Mercury on the 28th, when it rises at its earliest – close to 6 a.m.

Mercury low on the horizon on Dec. 28, with Jupiter and Mars still easy targets higher above.

Venus: If you want to see Venus before the end of the year, you have the first two mornings in December to do it. Just off of an impressive mid-November conjunction with Jupiter that many in New York couldn't see directly due to cloud cover, Venus is set to rise in the east soon before the morning Sun after Dec. 3. Those with a low horizon will have the 1st and 2nd, but that will end safe and easy Venus observations until 2018, when it becomes an exceptional target in February.

Venus low on the horizon on Dec. 1 and 2, with Jupiter and Mars still easy targets higher above.

Mars: Mars rises around 4 a.m. all month long, making it a quality target for early morning observers. With Jupiter rising earlier each morning, Mars will find itself being out-observed by binocular and telescope users mid-month. This situation will change after the 23rd, when Mars and Jupiter will share the field of view of 10×50 binoculars. Those planning ahead should set an alarm for the mornings of Jan. 6th and 7th, when the two planets will be exceptionally close to one another.

Both the 13th and 14th see the Moon, Mars and Jupiter in close proximity in the morning sky – a pleasant sight to end a long night of Geminid hunting.

Mars, Jupiter, and the Moon on the mornings of the 13th and 14th.

Jupiter: Jupiter is visible in the morning for all of December and will be an observing target at some point in the night until October of next year. Those with even poor-quality binoculars are able to see its four bright satellites – 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: You have only a few days at the beginning of the month to observe Saturn low in the western sky, and those sessions must start very soon after sunset to do so. Saturn ends its time as an evening target well before mid-month even to those with very low and clear horizons. Observing Saturn after the first week will be very difficult due to the amount of sunlight still in the sky. Very close to the new year, Saturn will just begin to clear the horizon before the rising sun, likely still too difficult a target until mid-January, when it rises in the morning with time and dark skies to spare.

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.

December is excellent for ISS observing. From the 1st to the 18th, all flyovers are between 5 and 7:30 p.m., with many of them very bright and some of them occurring twice in an evening. Generally speaking, the first of the double flyovers will be significantly brighter than the second, giving you a 90 minute wait to compare and contrast. The ISS goes off our radar from the 18th to the 24th, after which it becomes a bright morning target into early 2018.

ISS Flyovers

DateBrightnessApprox. StartStart Direct.Approx. EndEnd Direct.
12/1extremely5:24 PMW/SW5:30 PMNE
12/1somewhat7:02 PMW/NW7:03 PMNW
12/2very6:09 PMW6:13 PMN
12/3very5:16 PMW5:22 PMNE
12/3somewhat6:54 PMNW6:55 PMNW
12/4moderately6:01 PMW/NW6:05 PMN
12/5moderately5:09 PMW/NW5:14 PMNE
12/5somewhat6:46 PMNW6:47 PMN/NW
12/6moderately5:54 PMNW5:57 PMN/NE
12/7moderately5:01 PMW/NW5:06 PMNE
12/7moderately6:38 PMNW6:39 PMN/NW
12/8moderately5:45 PMNW5:49 PMN/NE
12/9moderately6:29 PMNW6:31 PMN/NW
12/10very5:37 PMNW5:41 PMNE
12/10somewhat7:13 PMNW7:13 PMNW
12/11very6:21 PMNW6:23 PMN/NW
12/12very5:28 PMNW5:33 PME/NE
12/12somewhat7:05 PMW/NW7:06 PMW/NW
12/13extremely6:12 PMW/NW6:16 PMSE
12/14extremely5:20 PMNW5:26 PME/SE
12/14somewhat6:57 PMW6:59 PMSW
12/15very6:04 PMW/NW6:10 PMS/SE
12/16extremely5:11 PMW/NW5:17 PMSE
12/17somewhat5:56 PMW6:00 PMS
12/18moderately5:02 PMW/NW5:08 PMS/SE

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: Geminids, Peaking On The 13th/14th, and the Ursids, Peaking On The 21st/22nd

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 the same part of the Solar System – this yearly periodicity is what let us identity and name meteor showers well before we ever had evidence of what caused them.

Gemini resides inside the Winter Hexagon, standing on Orion's Club. Once you've found the Little Dipper, you've found the Ursid radiant.

December features two showers active enough to mention. The first and most significant is the Geminids, a shower that originates from asteroid 3200 Phaethon – a rarity among the major showers, which largely originate from comets. The Geminids peak this year on the 13th/14th within a window that spans the 9th to the 16th. The Geminids benefit from a late-arriving waning crescent Moon at the peak, meaning observers should have plenty of dark sky for their searches. Statistically speaking, the shower may produce 120 meteors/hour at its peak. Those who've kept diligent watch of meteor showers from New York this year may take this value with an asteroid-sized grain of salt, as none of the major showers have lived up to their potentials.

The second, and much less prominent, meteor shower this December is the Ursids, originating from Comet 8P/Tuttle. The peak comes just a week after the Geminid peak, has only one-tenth the usual activity, and peaks when most are still frantically trying to get shopping done – all factors which make the Ursids an often overlooked conclusion to the year's meteor shower festivities.

How to observe: To optimize your experience, lie flat on the ground 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: Auriga

Auriga and its Messiers, with nearest neighbors shown in the inset.

Auriga is one of the surviving 48 constellations from antiquity that fits right into modern times. Specifically, it is one of the few constellations to undergo a significant change in its professional career – not quite fast enough for the modern gig economy, but certainly changing with the times. Auriga, or its brightest star Capella, goes back in the written record to Mesopotamia, where the arrangement of stars was seen as a shepherd's stick, or crook. Other groups of the time associated Auriga with goats and herding, a theme that made its way to ancient Greek times before Auriga took on a second career as a charioteer. Many of the representations of Auriga beyond the Roman Empire and into modern times even show Auriga with chariot reins in one hand and two small goats in another – a reminder to perspective hires to always have one's resume in hand.

The stars of Capella, with the Sun (Sol) for size comparison. Image from wikipedia.

While Auriga itself may be diminished in significance by its proximity to Orion and Taurus, its bright Capella is prominent enough to explain the shepherd association. This shepherd star is not working alone, however – this bright pinpoint is the combined light of four stars in total. Two of the stars, Aa and aB, are both massive and in close proximity – their separation is only 75% that of the Sun-Earth distance – while a more distant pair of dimmer stars orbit these two much farther out.

Generally speaking, Auriga is represented as a lopsided hexagon. If your star chart differs from that, it is likely due to the inclusion of stars in the small triangle next to Capella in the overall shape. The triangle of Almaaz, Haedus, and Saclateni is prominent by itself, but is made more so by being so close to Capella. Some of the flock refuse to stray.

Binocular observers are treated to three identifiable open star clusters that resolve reasonably well in telescopes at low magnification. M36, M37, and M38 all sit about 4,000 light years away and contain fewer than 150 stars. They are made easy to find because the region of the Milky Way in the direction of the Winter skies is away from the galactic center. There's enough material to make finding galaxies more difficult, but not enough to obstruct the views of close objects in our neighborhood – a perfect vantage point for keeping track of such a distinguished herd.

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 – December, 2016

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 December: Geminid meteor shower, another Supermoon

The author, adequately layered for an exceptionally cold observing session earlier this year.

Updated: Jan. 02, 2019, 4:15 p.m. | Published: Dec. 01, 2016, 11:15 a.m.

(Special to Syracuse.com)

By Damian Allis | Contributing writer

It is not common knowledge, but the late-autumn and winter holidays were strategically placed to allow amateur astronomers in New York to bulk up on high calorie foods for the many long nights of observing to be had before pre-dawn snow turns back into light drizzles. While advocates for some outdoor avocations go into hibernation mode near the first snow, celestial observers prepare for crisp and clear nighttime skies by stocking up on batteries and hand-warmers.

New and unprepared observers come face-to-frozen-face with the harsh reality of cold temperatures the first time they strike out for nighttime viewing in winter. Observing through binoculars or telescopes is a very stationery activity, where the goal is to move as little as possible to not disturb your view through the eyepiece. Your lack of motion has a tendency of making you feel very cold very quickly. Furthermore, when the temperature outside drops below that of your skin or your last good layer of clothing, you become the heat source for your surroundings and not vice versa – this can make for some very short observing sessions.

If you're thinking about attending any observing session in New York this winter, stop thinking and start planning. The winter skies are beautiful and filled with some amazing objects at any magnification provided you're dressed for the occasion. You need only be adequately prepared for the session, which means having on hand at least one more layer than you *think* you will need. Back in the day, many an observer would even have a telephone book ready to stand on to provide an additional layer of insulation between toes and ground. You may have trouble finding an adequately thick stack of cheap paper nowadays, but that first encounter with numb toes can coax you into some quality recycling bin search time.

Your First Steps Outside:

The view looking south at 8 p.m. on Dec. 15 (except for the changing Moon position, this mid-month view is accurate for all of December). Click for a larger view.

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.

Mars: Mars continues its slow migration along the horizon from southwest to west this month, setting at around 9:00 p.m. each night in the process. Those keeping track of zodiacal constellations will note that Mars begins near the eastern-most corner of Capricorn before sliding into Aquarius on December 15th, trailed closely by bright Venus, which spends nearly the entire month in Capricorn. While Mars will not have close encounters with any deep sky objects this month, scope owners will be treated to very close pairing of Mars and Neptune on Dec. 31, as well as a close pairing to ring in the New Year on Jan. 1.

An ideal opportunity to find a distant planet using a nearby one. On Dec. 31, Mars and Neptune will be at their closest. To get a feel for how much the planets move each night, try observing on Jan. 1 to see Mars' new location. Click for a larger view.

Venus: We gain about two additional minutes of Venus viewing each night this month, setting close to 7:05 p.m. on the 1st and 8:20 p.m. on the 31st. After the Moon, Venus is the brightest object in the sky after sunset and should jump right out at you to the southwest. You'll have plenty of time to work on training your eyes to see first sight of Venus in the sky, as it remains with us near sunset until well into March 2017. Mars will hand off its close approach duties to Venus in January, when Venus and Neptune appear very close in the sky on Jan. 12.

Mercury, Venus, and Mars just after sunset on Dec. 15. Click for a larger view.

Mercury: Mercury will be a tough catch this month, as it is not particularly bright and is very close to the horizon at sunset. Your best chance to see it will be on Dec. 15, when it will be nearly perfectly southwest after sunset and all but gone before 6 p.m. That said, Mercury will be in roughly the same position and early-setting until around the 20th. If you can find Mercury, Venus and Mars will be much easier catches as you swing your sights higher and to the south.

Lunar occultation of Aldebaran on Dec. 12/13

If you go outside at, say, 9 p.m. over several consecutive nights and compare the position of the Moon to the stars and constellations in the sky, it will be obvious to you that the Moon makes a significant leap east each night. This is, of course, the motion of the Moon around the Earth that you are noticing. The Moon is, in fact, constantly in motion around the Earth, just as the Earth-Moon pair moves in our orbit around the Sun. The clearest indicator of this constant lunar motion comes from watching a star disappear behind the eastern side of the Moon, only to reappear on the western side up to 80 minutes later (depending on if the star is gazing the Moon's edge or if you have to wait a full Moon diameter's worth to see the star pop back out). Such an event, referred to as an occultation, is going to occur this month when the Moon occults the bright star Aldebaran, bright red-orange eye of the constellation Taurus the Bull.

Observers should see the occultation begin close to 11:09 p.m. on December 12th, lasting about 75 minutes when Aldebaran reappears on the western edge of the Moon at 12:23 a.m. on the 13th. These lunar occultations are common events – the Moon is always blocking some piece of the sky each night. This particular occultation is special because a very bright star is involved, making the whole disappearing-reappearing act all the more pronounced with or without magnification.

When an occultation involving a distant star and, for instance, a gas giant like Jupiter or Saturn occurs, we get more than a disappearing act. As the star begins to slip behind the planet, it does not disappear all at once, instead trailing off quickly behind the planet's upper atmosphere. By measuring the light of the star without the planet and then measuring the change in the star's light because of the planet, scientists and amateur astronomers alike are able to identify the gases in these planetary atmospheres from the comfort of their own telescopes and spectrometers. Keen observers this night will learn what the Apollo astronauts experienced firsthand – Aldebaran will fizzle out immediately due to the lack of any measurable lunar atmosphere.

Just before and after the lunar occultation of Aldebaran. Click for a larger view.

Early Riser Alert

Jupiter: Jupiter rises above the eastern horizon near 3:00 a.m. on December 1st and by 1:30 a.m. at month's end. Its four Galilean Moons – Callisto, Io, Europa, and Ganymede – are all visible in low-power binoculars when Jupiter rises, but are washed out early by sunlight even before sunrise approaches. Jupiter and the very waning crescent moon will make a very nice pairing after 2:00 a.m. on Dec. 22.

Saturn: Those who want one last easy view of Saturn in 2016 will have to wait until just before sunrise at the very end of December, when it rises just after Antares, the heart of the summer constellation Scorpius.

December observing opportunities In Upstate/Central New York:

New York has a number of evenly-spaced astronomers, astronomy clubs, and observatories that host sessions throughout the year. Many of these sessions are free and open to the public, often close to the New Moon when skies are darkest and the chance for seeing deep, distant objects is greatest. These observers and facilities are the very best places to see the month's best objects using some of the best equipment, all while having very knowledgable observers at your side to answer questions and guide discussion. Many of these organizations also hold monthly meetings, where seasoned amateurs can learn about recent news and discoveries from guest lecturers, and brand new observers are encouraged to join and begin the path towards seasoned amateur status.

Announced public sessions from several respondent NY astronomy organizations are provided below for December. As wind and cloud cover are always factors when observing, please check the website links or email the groups for directions and to find out about an event a day-or-so before the announced session. Also note that some groups will include weather-alternate dates for scheduled sessions.

Astronomy Events Calendar

OrganizerLocationEventDateTimeContact Info
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic Star GazingDec. 26:00 PMemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic Star GazingDec. 166:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyPublic LectureDec. 157:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyNight Sky AdventureDec. 207:00 – 8:30 PMemail, website
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusGeminids With Bob PiekielDec. 137:00 – 10:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalNanomaterials Lecture And Public ViewingDec. 27:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestal"Star Of Bethlehem" Movie And Public ViewingDec. 97:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestal"Star Of Bethlehem" Movie And Public ViewingDec. 167:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervillePublic Star GazingDec. 37:30 PM – 10:00 AMemail, website

ISS And Other Bright Flyovers:

Satellite flyovers are commonplace, with several bright passes per hour, 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-sized craft with its massive solar panel arrays can be predicted to within several seconds and take several minutes to complete.

December is full of early-evening ISS flyovers, including nine days when observers will be treated to two passes separated by about 90 minutes – the time it takes for the ISS to go once around the Earth. Early birds will have three chances to see flyovers during the last three days of the month. Simply go out a few minutes before the start time, orient yourself, and look for what will at first seem like a distant plane.

ISS fly-bys

DateBrightnessApprox. StartStart DirectionApprox. EndEnd Direction
12/1extremely5:51 PMS/SW5:55 PME
12/1somewhat7:28 PMW7:28 PMW
12/2very5:00 PMS5:05 PME
12/2very6:36 PMW/SW6:38 PMW/NW
12/3extremely5:44 PMSW5:49 PME/NE
12/3somewhat7:21 PMW/NW7:21 PMW/NW
12/4very6:29 PMW6:31 PMN/NW
12/5extremely5:36 PMW5:42 PMNE
12/5somewhat7:14 PMNW7:14 PMNW
12/6moderately6:22 PMW/NW6:24 PMN/NW
12/7very5:29 PMW5:34 PMNE
12/8moderately6:15 PMNW6:17 PMN
12/9very5:22 PMW/NW5:27 PMNE
12/9somewhat7:00 PMNW7:00 PMNW
12/10moderately6:08 PMNW6:10 PMN
12/11moderately5:15 PMNW5:20 PMNE
12/11somewhat6:52 PMNW6:53 PMNW
12/12very6:00 PMNW6:03 PMN/NE
12/13very5:08 PMNW5:13 PMNE
12/13moderately6:44 PMNW6:45 PMNW
12/14very5:52 PMNW5:56 PMNE
12/15very5:00 PMNW5:06 PME/NE
12/15very6:36 PMW/NW6:39 PMNW
12/16extremely5:44 PMNW5:49 PME
12/16somewhat7:21 PMW7:22 PMW
12/17very6:29 PMW/NW6:33 PMS
12/18extremely5:37 PMW/NW5:43 PMSE
12/19somewhat6:22 PMW6:26 PMS
12/20moderately5:29 PMW/NW5:35 PMS/SE
12/22somewhat5:22 PMW5:26 PMS/SW
      
12/29moderately6:25 AMS6:30 AME
12/30somewhat5:34 AMS/SE5:36 AME/SE
12/31very6:16 AMSW6:22 AME/NE

Predictions courtesy of heavens-above.com.

Moon: Lunar Phases

New:First Quarter:Full:Third Quarter:New:
Nov. 29, 7:18 AMDec. 7, 4:03 AMDec. 13, 7:05 PMDec. 20, 8:55 PMDec. 29, 1:53 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.

In the interest of completeness, we note that the last supermoon of 2016 will occur on December 14th. The term "supermoon" is not an astronomical description of any significant event, but instead owes its origin to modern astrologer Richard Nolle (and don't get an astronomer started with that debate). For those interested in technical jargon, astronomers refer to these closest approaches of the Moon to the Earth as perigee-syzygy. Perigee describes when the Moon is closest to the Earth in its orbit; Syzygy occurs when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned, which happens at either New Moon (Sun-Moon-Earth) or Full Moon (Sun-Earth-Moon). For those counting double-letter/double-word scores, syzygy also only occurs when someone combines the tiles from two or more Scrabble boxes.

Sadly, the December supermoon has only one superpower – it will wash out the shooting stars from the Geminids, greatly diminishing this otherwise decent meteor shower.

Meteor Showers: Geminids, Peaking Dec. 12-14

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 long orbits, they leave tiny bits behind – imagine pebbles popping out the back of a large gravel truck on an increasingly bumpy road. In the case of meteor showers, the brilliant streaks you see are due to particles 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 the same part of the Solar System – this yearly periodicity in meteor activity is what let us identity and name meteor showers well before we ever had evidence of what caused them.

Gemini rises soon after Orion, with Orion's three belt stars being a very easy find for most people. 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. In the case of the Geminids, the meteor shower radiant appears to be next to Castor, both the name of one of the twins and the name of his head star. Unlike most of the meteor showers, the Geminids are not produced by a comet – asteroid 3200 Phaethon, an unassuming object not discovered until 1983, has an eccentric 1.4 year orbit that places it near the path of Earth's orbit. Because of its proximity and quick orbit, 3200 Phaethon has great opportunity to repopulate its orbit with small particulates, meaning the Geminids are often a stand-out meteor shower for the year.

The eccentric orbit of 3200 Phaethon in the inner solar system.

How to observe: The Geminids can be impressive and impressively bright, with up-to 120 meteors per hour possible. Sadly, the Moon will be prominent in the late-night/early-morning sky during the days around the Geminid peak, making for a far less impressive display. Those observing the Aldebaran occultation on the night of December 12th might even be able to catch a few of the brightest meteors that night.

To optimize your experience, lie flat on the ground with your feet pointed towards Gemini and your head elevated – meteors will then appear to fly right over and around you. Counts and brightness tend to increase the later you stay out, with peak observing times usually between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. The swarm of tiny particles is distributed broadly in orbit, meaning some people may see shooting stars associated with the Geminids throughout the middle of the month.

Learn A Constellation: Taurus The Bull

Taurus the Bull and nearest neighbors. Click for a larger view.

Once upon a time in our distant ancestral past, someone broke an excellent spear tip trying to take down a jagged rock that just happened to look like dinner under the fading light of sunset. More recently, it's a fair bet that everyone has looked up at the clouds or into just the right thicket of bushes to see some kind of animal-like feature jump out. This phenomenon, known as pareidolia, is the result of some kind of stimulus, be it a sound or a sight, that you then interpret as something very different.

Many of the oldest constellations are textbook pareidolia. The stars of Orion the Hunter are perfectly placed now to look like a human being, just as the constellation Scorpius has been recorded as a scorpion in every civilization that knew what a real scorpion looked like. These and other characters have been with Western cultures for thousands of years.

This all leads to a great question in astronomy and human history – just how old is the oldest recognized constellation? At what point in our history could we travel back to and have a distant ancestor and ourselves agree on what a shape in the sky looks like?

One answer was uncovered in the Lascaux caves in France, when an archeologist with some astronomical inkling noticed that one image of a bull had black spots at strategic points along the horns and around the head, including one notably larger black spot for one of the two eyes. To the right of this cluster of marks lay a tightly-packed cluster of black dots, while to the left lay a line of three (actually, four) stars. If we take this arrangement at rock-face value, the placement of the three-dot line to the left and tight cluster to the right line up very well with the placement of Orion's Belt (to the left) and the Pleiades star cluster (to the right) on either side of the head of what we today call Taurus the Bull. If this arrangement and overlaid image of a bull are what the original artist intended, and we take the carbon dating at face value, then we've compelling evidence that Taurus the Bull, in some form, might date back over 17,500 years.

No bull – a Lascaux painting marking the location of an ancient Taurus, c.a. 15,500 B.C. Click for a larger view.

While it is wondrous to think that this celestial meme was passed down by ancestral astronomers throughout southern Europe into the Middle East and North Africa, it is likely that the meaning of the representation at Lascaux died with its painter, and our modern Taurus is instead a result of someone else seeing the same shape on a winter night long ago.

Taurus is featured several times in this month's article, including its close proximity to Gemini and, of course, the Aldebaran occultation on December 12th. In last month's article, we described how Taurus contains the two closest prominent open star clusters in our neighborhood – the Pleiades and the Hyades. The head of Taurus the Bull is the closest star cluster to Earth – the Hyades. While the bright Aldebaran is perfectly placed to make the whole object look like a prominent "V," this is only because we see the sky as flat. Aldebaran, at 65 light years away, is not a member of the Hyades cluster, which lies roughly 150 light years from us.

The Pleiades are the most famous of these open clusters due to their proximity – in binoculars, the famed Seven Sisters increase in number to the mid-30's. The actual count of stars in this collective is measured as being close to 1000. On cloudy nights, observers need only find their nearest parking lot to see a rough map of the Pleiades in the form of a logo – in Japanese, the Pleiades are known as "Subaru," meaning "united."

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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"November Stargazing In Upstate" And "Upstate NY Stargazing In December" Articles Posted To newyorkupstate.com And syracuse.com

They're still settling on the title.

2016 has been a looooong year in many respects (and I'm not even taking about Bowie, Prince, Cohen, Hutcherson, Bley, Glass, Schulten, Minksy, and now Glenn, to name but a few), made all the more difficult by many of the most significant events happening without warning and/or adequate statistical analysis.

Amateur astronomers, on the other hand, have had thousands and tens of thousands and maybe millions of years of advanced notice that 2016 was going to stink – at least for meteor showers. The timing of Full Moons this year has meant that the Perseids, Leonids, and Geminids were all going to occur in the presence of considerable lunar glow, wiping out the quality of all but the brightest shooting stars.

So, how doe one remain optimistic in the face of physics?

One possible way is to thank the gods for astrology. I've struck an ambivalent tone of sorts this year with the new Upstate NY Stargazing series concerning this thing we call the "Supermoon."

Does a supermoon mean anything scientific? Meh, minus an inch or so difference in tides during the best of them. Do supermoon articles in the local papers receive attention? The Supermoon "likes + shares" kick the dark side of the Moon out of the monthly overview articles – which means people are reading and out-and-about taking pictures of our nearest and most important satellite. And so, there it is.

The November article, which I completely forgot to post about last month, included a new section announcing UNY/CNY observing opportunities with local clubs and organizations (Bob Piekiel reports that his November attendance was excellent!) and some subtle observing opportunities for those with decent binoculars. This was also the last good month for any observing of objects in the Summer Triangle, (meaning I have to think of a different shape for next year to keep the articles fresh).

* syracuse.com/outdoors/2016/10/november_star…

* newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2016/10/november_star…

The featured constellation in the December article gave me an opportunity to write about something I've lectured about since 2009 (when I started the Liverpool Public Library and Beaver Lake circuit). Of all of the delights in the nighttime sky, none stop me cold like the view of Orion and Taurus comfortably above the horizon. The December article gave a perfect opportunity to highlight the near-recent history of this part of the sky in light of discoveries in the Lascaux Caves in France.

Half of the image at top (you can find the original and many others at baerchen3.wordpress.com/2012/06/20/la-grotte-de-lascaux/. And, I ain't gonna lie, someone spent an awful lot of time on the following: 19thpsalm.org/Ch01/LascauxSkyChart.html) has made up one desktop background on my MBP for quite some time – the figure of a Bull, complete with a number of dark spots strategically placed as if the artist – or someone soon after the artist – meant to overlay the most prominent, eye-catching stars in the Orion-Taurus grouping on top. Pareidolia and our common genetics being what they are, it would not be surprising that many cultures would see a bull's head out of the Hyades and Aldebaran, just as they'd see Orion as a human figure. What would be a surprise was a discovery that our modern Taurus and this ancient cave painting were directly related through time, migration, and story telling around open fires – a 17,500 year long game of celestial telephone.

* syracuse.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/12/upstate_ny_star…

* newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/2016/12/upstate_ny_star…