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345 SE 5th
Madras, OR 97741 Phone:
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| June Night Sky |
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| Madras sky viewing program June 5, 7 p.m., Rodriguez Annex |
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By Larry Mahon
Agate Ridge Observatory
Binoculars are an important optical instrument for viewing the night sky. They are inexpensive, portable and convenient to use.
They have a very important limit however. They must be mounted on a tripod to stabilize the image if the magnification is more than 10 to 12 power.
Large lens, or mirrors, of course will brighten the view. The largest pair of binoculars in the world is nearing completion on Mt. Graham in Arizona. After some final detail work it will begin its regular scientific studies.
The first photograph using both 8.4-meter (330.7 inches in diameter) mirrors was taken on January 11-12. The light from the two mirrors is brought to one focus, by computer, to form the image.
This photo is first light for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). The LBT has over 4 1/2 times the light gathering ability of the Palomar 200 inch telescope.
Do you remember when the Palomar 200 inch diameter telescope, the worlds largest at that time, had its first light?
During May, we were treated to the sight of Mars as it approached and passed through the Beehive star cluster. The continued rapid eastward motion of the planet, this month, carries it to the star Regulus the bottom star of the sickle forming the head of LEO the lion.
The waxing crescent moon will be just below Regulus on June 8th. Mars will not get there until June 30, however when it passes only 0.7 degrees above Regulus.
Mars and Saturn will be separated by only 5 degrees on that date. Both planets are traveling east in relation to the stars but Mars is moving much faster and will appear to float past Saturn next month.
The Sun arrives at the June solstice at 4:59 PDT (23:59 UT) on June 20, the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
This is the first time since 1896 that the June solstice has fallen as early as June 20, Universal Time. UT is based on the speed of rotation of the earth. Ephemeris Time (ET) is the older system of time calculation and is based on the orbits of the planets around the Sun.
It is now 65 seconds slower and still has the solstice on June 21, this year.
To learn more about the night sky, some of the terms used and see an Earth/Moon model come to the free "Sky Viewing for Everyone" program.
It will be held at the library's Rodriguez Annex on Thursday, June 5, at 7 p.m. This will be an interesting and fun evening before vacation camping and warmer viewing nights.
Larry
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