Aldo Dorio photographed a group of several COMMON LOONS [Plongeon huard]
together at Hay Island Nature Park on Friday. Included was one in immature
plumage. Also, he got a photo of a RED FOX [Renard roux] in different pelage,
appearing to have an odd blend of red and black, that I assume would be a cross
with a ranched silver fox escapee.
** Kathy Golding reports a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER [Pic maculé] and a
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER [Paruline à croupion jaune] have arrived in her Painsec
yard, off Shediac Road.
** The adult male ORCHARD ORIOLE [Oriole des vergers] was still coming
frequently to feed on oranges at John Inman’s 225 Mary's Point Road yard on
Friday, and the less regular male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux]
also put in an appearance at the oranges.
I had to put the
‘This Week’s Sky at a Glance’ weekly effort on hold for the summer. Curt Nason
who reviewed it each week before it went out has kindly offered to do this each
week. Attached is Curt’s sky report for this week.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, May 23 – 30 prepared by Curt Nason
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, May 23 – 30 prepared by Curt Nason
We are now two-thirds through spring,
yet winter may linger with snow in the woods and some winter constellations
still visible after twilight fades. One of those is Gemini, the Spartan twin
sons of Queen Leda in Greek mythology. The boys, immortal Pollux and mortal
Castor, had different fathers thanks to a sneak attack by Zeus in the form of a
swan as Leda was bathing in a pond. As Gemini sets the constellation Cygnus the
Swan rises in the northeast.
Look above Venus an hour after sunset for a pair of bright stars. The head of Pollux is the brighter, somewhat orange star to the left of Castor. Their bodies stretch about a hand span at arm’s length toward the horizon. Just above Castor’s foot is the position of the summer solstice, where the Sun will be situated in a month. Over the next two weeks Venus will slide upper left to form a line with Pollux and Castor.
To the lower right of Gemini is Auriga the Charioteer. Its brightest star, Capella the Goat Star, is the sixth brightest in the sky. Although Auriga is prominent throughout winter, Capella is far enough north to be circumpolar from New Brunswick, meaning it never sets. Arcturus and Vega, the fourth and fifth brightest stars, are seen in the east and lower northeast, respectively, during twilight.
This Week in the Solar System
Today sunrise in Moncton was at 5:38 am and sunset will occur at 8:52 pm, giving 15 hours, 14 minutes of daylight. Next Saturday the Sun will rise about five minutes earlier and set seven minutes later, giving 15 hours, 26 minutes of daylight. Lots of time to get that yard work done if you are an early riser.
The Moon is about a fist-width below Jupiter in twilight this evening. On Monday, May 25, it is at its First Quarter phase. The best time for observing the Moon with a telescope is a few days either side of First Quarter, as the shadow line (called the terminator long before Arnold was a cyborg) provides depth contrast as it crosses prominent craters and mountain ranges.
Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun next Saturday. Although it sets 45 minutes after sunset this evening it is too dim to be seen in twilight.
Venus will continue to increase its distance from the Sun for the next two weeks, gradually moving toward Jupiter in the sky. They are currently more than a hand span apart but watch the drama unfold each clear evening as they move toward a spectacular rendezvous at the end of June. Venus sets tonight a half hour after midnight.
Mars is too low to be seen in the evening, and it passes behind the Sun in mid-June.
Jupiter outshines all but the Moon and Venus as it wends its way toward Leo over the next month. Its four moons can be spotted with binoculars or, better, in a spotting scope as dim stars in a line on either side of the planet. See if you can catch its moon Io emerging from an eclipse by Jupiter’s shadow on Thursday, May 28 at 10:39 pm.
Saturn rises just before sunset this evening, having reached opposition yesterday. Whenever we pass between Saturn and the Sun its rings reflect sunlight directly back toward us, making them appear even brighter. Saturn lies near the claws of Scorpius the Scorpion and shines as brightly as Arcturus and Vega.
Look above Venus an hour after sunset for a pair of bright stars. The head of Pollux is the brighter, somewhat orange star to the left of Castor. Their bodies stretch about a hand span at arm’s length toward the horizon. Just above Castor’s foot is the position of the summer solstice, where the Sun will be situated in a month. Over the next two weeks Venus will slide upper left to form a line with Pollux and Castor.
To the lower right of Gemini is Auriga the Charioteer. Its brightest star, Capella the Goat Star, is the sixth brightest in the sky. Although Auriga is prominent throughout winter, Capella is far enough north to be circumpolar from New Brunswick, meaning it never sets. Arcturus and Vega, the fourth and fifth brightest stars, are seen in the east and lower northeast, respectively, during twilight.
This Week in the Solar System
Today sunrise in Moncton was at 5:38 am and sunset will occur at 8:52 pm, giving 15 hours, 14 minutes of daylight. Next Saturday the Sun will rise about five minutes earlier and set seven minutes later, giving 15 hours, 26 minutes of daylight. Lots of time to get that yard work done if you are an early riser.
The Moon is about a fist-width below Jupiter in twilight this evening. On Monday, May 25, it is at its First Quarter phase. The best time for observing the Moon with a telescope is a few days either side of First Quarter, as the shadow line (called the terminator long before Arnold was a cyborg) provides depth contrast as it crosses prominent craters and mountain ranges.
Mercury passes between Earth and the Sun next Saturday. Although it sets 45 minutes after sunset this evening it is too dim to be seen in twilight.
Venus will continue to increase its distance from the Sun for the next two weeks, gradually moving toward Jupiter in the sky. They are currently more than a hand span apart but watch the drama unfold each clear evening as they move toward a spectacular rendezvous at the end of June. Venus sets tonight a half hour after midnight.
Mars is too low to be seen in the evening, and it passes behind the Sun in mid-June.
Jupiter outshines all but the Moon and Venus as it wends its way toward Leo over the next month. Its four moons can be spotted with binoculars or, better, in a spotting scope as dim stars in a line on either side of the planet. See if you can catch its moon Io emerging from an eclipse by Jupiter’s shadow on Thursday, May 28 at 10:39 pm.
Saturn rises just before sunset this evening, having reached opposition yesterday. Whenever we pass between Saturn and the Sun its rings reflect sunlight directly back toward us, making them appear even brighter. Saturn lies near the claws of Scorpius the Scorpion and shines as brightly as Arcturus and Vega.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
ASTRONOMY PHOTO FROM STELLARIUM VIA CURT NASON
COMMON LOONS.MAY 22, 2015.ALDO DORIO
RED FOX WITH DIFFERENT PELAGE.MAY 22, 2015.ALDO DORIO
