From Fall to Winter

With early sunsets at this time of year, the sky is plenty dark by 6 pm. This means you have plenty of time for stargazing and can still catch a glimpse of summer’s Cygnus the swan low in the west before dinner.

Our December chart shows the sky a bit later in the evening. Spectacular Jupiter joins the Great Square of Pegasus in the western sky. Jupiter seems even brighter because it is currently located among the faint stars of Pisces the fish.

Look for Jupiter’s Galilean satellites through binoculars, and then try observing the Andromeda Galaxy (M-31) nearby. Choose a night when there is little or no moonlight to hunt for any of the faint binocular objects listed on the front of this star chart.

Rising in the east are winter constellations Taurus the bull and Orion the hunter. The Pleiades star cluster is an especially pretty sight through binoculars on a clear, dark winter night.

For those up before the Sun, a crescent Moon will stand near Saturn before dawn on December 28. Before dawn on December 2 and 31, the slim crescent Moon will pair with brilliant Venus just above the eastern horizon.

Going, Going, . . . Gone: Total Lunar Eclipse: December 21

In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, December 21, 2010, observers in the western hemisphere will be treated to a total lunar eclipse. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. As time passes, the Moon will gradually move out of Earth’s shadow and return to full brightness.

We had previously said there would not be a star party because of the early hour. We changed our minds! Join us midnight to 2:30 am Tuesday morning, December 21 for a Lunar Eclipse Star Party! While you're waiting for totality, visit the Sudekum Planetarium for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon laser show at 12:45am. Tickets for the laser show are $8, or $6 for Adventure Science Center members. The star party itself is free.

As usual, this star party is weather dependent. In this case, so is the laser show! If it's cloudy or worse, both events will be cancelled. Check our home page for the status of the star party before travelling.

Lunar eclipses are perfectly safe to view, and you don’t need any special equipment. However, telescopes and binoculars can add to the fun. All you really need to enjoy a lunar eclipse are your eyes and clear weather. You don’t even have to watch the whole thing. Just go out and take a look, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

Step outside for “first contact” as the curved shadow of the Earth takes its first bite out of the Full Moon’s brilliant disk. An hour later, the Moon will be almost completely blackened by the Earth’s shadow. Then, as totality begins, the Moon will appear to change color to a coppery orange or deep blood red. The color is caused by sunlight refracted by Earth’s atmosphere onto the lunar surface. The exact color is affected by Earth’s atmospheric conditions such as volcanic eruptions, like Mount Merapi in Indonesia that recently cast huge amounts of dust into the air. After this, your next opportunity to see a lunar eclipse from this part of the world will be a total eclipse early on the morning of April 15, 2014.

Shooting Star Stocking Stuffers

They may look like stars shooting across the sky, but meteors are actually tiny bits of space debris incinerated as they slam into Earth’s atmosphere. The average meteor burns up between 60 and 100 miles above the ground.

This year’s Geminid Meteor Shower peaks before sunrise on December 14. Under a clear, very dark sky, you could see as many as 50 meteors per hour. Light pollution will decrease the number of meteors you see. Our usual recommendation is to watch for meteors between midnight and dawn. Fortunately, the Moon will set just after midnight. Find a dark location, face east for the best view, be patient and enjoy the stars as you watch for meteors.

Upcoming Star Parties

The next FREE public star party is set for Saturday, December 11 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the Special Events Field at Edwin Warner Park. Members of the Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society (BSAS) will set up their telescopes so visitors can get up close and personal with Moon, Jupiter, the Andromeda Galaxy, and more.

Star parties may be cancelled due to cloudy weather. If the weather is questionable, call AstroLine at (615) 401-5092 or check our web site before traveling. Twitter fans can also follow @adventuresci for star party status. Visit our web site for driving directions and a list of useful star party tips.

How to Use a Telescope - and More

So you got an astronomy gift for Christmas. Now what? 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. Get some one on one or small group instruction on how to make the most of that new telescope or other cool toy.

The public is invited to attend and bring their new astronomy toy to the meeting at Adventure Science Center Thursday, January 20, from 7:30 to 9:15pm. Topics will include how to set-up your new telescope and which eyepiece to use when. Find out more about BSAS at www.bsasnashville.com.