It may be getting cold out, but the winter night sky is a
spectacular site. If you can visit a dark site (such as one of the AMC’s huts
or lodges), take advantage of this time to see the sky when the brightest stars
are out. Mighty Orion is rising at sunset,
with red Betelgeuse in his right shoulder and a stellar nursery – the Orion
Nebula – in his sword. Here new stars are being born, their hot surfaces making
the remaining gas glow. Visible with the naked eye, it’s a marvelous site in
binoculars or telescopes. Later in the night Jupiter rises – easily the
brightest object you’ll see at that hour. Venus shines early in the morning,
and with sunrise so late you’re likely to see it in the east when you
arise.
Full moons on Christmas, January 24th, and February
22nd are great opportunities for a moonlight ski, snowshoe, or hike
(and the moon will be quite bright for a day or two before or after those
dates).
Come join us at the AMC’s Highland Center for periodic
astronomy programs this winter – beginning on Saturday January 16th.
Weather permitting telescopes will be available for you to explore and enjoy
the night sky.
{Figure Caption: The full moon, imaged this past October
after the Total Lunar Eclipse.}
Guest Nature Notes Blogger:
Douglas N. Arion, PhD
Director, Carthage Institute of Astronomy
Professor of Physics and Astronomy
Donald Hedberg Distinguished Professor of
Entrepreneurship
Carthage College
President
Galileoscope LLC
Supplying High Quality, Low Cost Telescopes
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