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Another Trip Around the Sun
Happy New Year! January marks one year since
the old Sudekum Planetarium closed so we could
begin building our new dome home. It’s amazing
how far we’ve come in that time, but there’s still
plenty of work left to be done. If you haven’t
taken a look lately, visit our gallery of construction images and movies. Relive the
demolition of the old building, marvel at the
erection of the high steel, and see the latest
images of the construction. We can’t wait to see
you in the new dome this summer!
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January Skies
Despite the cold temperatures, this is a great
time of year to get acquainted with the night
sky. With the help of this star chart, look for
mighty Orion the Hunter high in the south in the
early evening. Notice Betelgeuse, the red star
indicating Orion’s shoulder, and Rigel, the blue
star marking his foot. Orion looks surprisingly large
in the real sky.
Under dark skies, away from streetlights and
other light pollution, look just below Orion’s belt
for a faint smudge of light. That’s the Great Orion
Nebula, a vast cloud of gas and dust where stars
are being formed. Try looking at it with binoculars
or a small telescope.
Once you meet Orion, he can help you find
other nearby constellations. Trace an imaginary
line through Orions three belt stars and extend
that line up and to the right to find Aldebaran,
the red star that marks the eye of Taurus the
Bull. Extend the same line down and to the left
to find Sirius, in the constellation of Canis Major,
the big dog.
Directly above Orion’s head is a bright red-
orange point of light. That’s the planet Mars! This
month, Mars is a bit brighter than usual, having
just made a close approach to Earth in December.
Another beautiful planet is rising into view in
the early evening. Saturn rises in the east about
9:15 PM at the beginning of January, and just after
7:00 PM by the end of the month. Unless you
have a perfectly flat, clear horizon to the east,
it helps to wait an hour or two after the planet
rises so you can see it over the trees and buildings
that might be in the way. Saturn is currently
beneath the constellation Leo the Lion.
If you have binoculars, take a look at Saturn.
If it doesn’t look perfectly round, that’s because
you’re seeing Saturn’s rings. Binoculars aren’t
quite powerful enough to clearly resolve the rings,
so they just make Saturn look oval-shaped. A small
telescope can provide a clear view of the rings.
There are many beautiful sights in the winter
night sky. Don’t get overwhelmed! There’s plenty
of time to take it all in. Stargazing takes patience
and practice, so start slowly and keep a close
tab on those stars and planets you can find. Keep
building your knowledge of the sky a little bit at
a time. Soon enough, the planets and
constellations will be familiar friends!
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Star Parties
Important Update: The location of the star party on February 9 has changed! It will now be at the Ridgefield site at Edwin Warner Park.
The next FREE public star party is schduled
for Saturday, February 9, at the Ridgefield site at Edwin Warner Park, from 7:30 - 9:30
pm. The Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society
(BSAS) will be on hand with telescopes to help
visitors enjoy the late winter night sky.
Then, on February 20, 2008, join us in front
of Adventure Science Center for a FREE total lunar
eclipse star party. The event runs from 7:00 -
9:30 pm. The eclipse itself starts at 7:43 pm,
with totality beginning at 9:01. We’re planning
to have a short program before and during the eclipse
to explain what is happening in the sky. Check our web site soon for more details.
During both star parties, we’ll also have great
views of Saturn, Mars, and plenty of other
celestial sights. As always, star parties are
weather permitting. If it’s cloudy or worse, the
star party will be cancelled. If the weather is
iffy, check the Sudekum Planetarium web site
or call Astroline at (615) 401-5092 before travelling.
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How to Use Your New
Astronomy Toys
Spencer L. Buckner, Lonnie Puterbaugh,
Chuck Schlemm, and Keith Burneson
January 17, 7:30pm
Woo hoo! You got the astronomy gift you
wanted for Christmas. Boo hoo.... The skies
didn’t cooperate on Christmas night. You’ve gone
out every clear night since, but you still aren’t
sure how to use that new toy.
Woo hoo! The January meeting of the Barnard Seyfert Astronomical
Society will feature several local
amateur astronomers who can help make the
most of your new astronomy gadget. You do not have to be a member to attend on Thursday, January 17, from 7:30 to 9:15pm. Anyone interested in observing the night sky, buying a telescope, or learning to make the most of their telescope is invited to join.
Topics will include how to set-up your new
telescope, which eyepiece to use when, how to
attach a new camera for astro-imaging, and how
to use your new sky guide device. Presenters will
explain a variety of equipment and gadgets
popular this Christmas.
For more about the Barnard Seyfert
Astronomical Society, visit their web site at
www.bsasnashville.com.
