** Today's the quietest report morning we've had in many
months; however, there are several photographed observations pending
identification that will come out over the next few days.
** Brian Stone got a photo of a HOBOMOK SKIPPER [Hespérie
hobomok] butterfly a few days ago. This is an expected early flying skipper
butterfly.
** Also at the moment the female cones of TAMARACK [Mélèze
laracin] are appearing. They remind me of unfolding roses and can be
appreciated on Tamarack trees with the mint-green needles at the moment beside
the new cones. The male parts are much less showy.
** Also the plant TWISTED STALK [Streptope à feuilles
embrassantes] is coming into bloom in woods at the moment. I'm attaching
a photo that shows how the plant gets its name from the very twisted stock of a
flowering part that appears under the leaves.
** I recently photographed PARTRIDGE BERRIES on a woods
trail. The red berries are looking quite fresh; however, these are berries that
have overwintered. They will be flowering soon with a two-parted joined tubular
double flower that will end up producing one berry per double bloom. Note the
two eyes on the flower berry is a result of this double parted flower. The leaf
also has a strongly marked centre vein to help identify it. It's a ground cover
to prostrate plant. The Partridge Berry referred to in Newfoundland is what we
know as the Mountain Cranberry which we have here in New Brunswick as
well.
** Jim Edsell has looked more closely at the moth species
Susan Richards photographed at Cornhill Nursery last week, and now feels it is
actually a GALLIUM SPHINX [Sphinx de gaillet] moth, not a WHITE-LINED SPHINX
[Sphinx orangé] as originally thought. The Gallium Sphinx moth is not a rare
moth in New Brunswick, but not often seen as the adult moth. However, its
colourful caterpillars in the fall are more commonly seen. This is the third
time this photo has changed identity, but it's an excellent learning scenario.
I'm again including the original of Susan's today and a documentary one Brian
Stone got on Thursday.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, June 20 – June 27 (courtesy
of Curt Nason)
Although the front of Leo the Lion is attracting attention as Jupiter and Venus approach, dedicated stargazers are often more interested in the sky at the other end of the stellar lion. The region bounded by Leo, Virgo, and Coma Berenices is known as “The Realm of the Galaxies.” Our Milky Way Galaxy is a flat spiral disc of stars, gas and dust with a large round bulge of older stars in the middle. Our Sun is more than halfway from the centre of the galaxy. Above the bulge is the north galactic pole, which is located in the direction of Coma Berenices, and the lack of dust out that way allows us to observe other galaxies which are millions of light years distant. Many can be seen as a fuzzy patch of light with a spotting scope, and some even with binoculars.
Coma Berenices, or Berenice’s Hair, is the only constellation with a mythological tale based on a real person. In the fourth century BC, King Ptolemy Soter of Egypt went to war against Assyria. His worried wife Berenice made a vow to the goddess Aphrodite that she would sacrifice her beautiful locks if he returned safely. He did return and she kept her vow against his wishes. When he visited the temple the next day he discovered the hair had been stolen, and he threatened to kill the temple priests. The court astronomer claimed that Zeus had taken the hair and placed it in the sky for all to admire, and that night he showed Ptolemy a cluster of stars. The Coma Star Cluster can be seen with the naked eye in rural areas, and fills the field of view in binoculars. At one time it was considered to be the tuft of Leo’s tail.
Although the front of Leo the Lion is attracting attention as Jupiter and Venus approach, dedicated stargazers are often more interested in the sky at the other end of the stellar lion. The region bounded by Leo, Virgo, and Coma Berenices is known as “The Realm of the Galaxies.” Our Milky Way Galaxy is a flat spiral disc of stars, gas and dust with a large round bulge of older stars in the middle. Our Sun is more than halfway from the centre of the galaxy. Above the bulge is the north galactic pole, which is located in the direction of Coma Berenices, and the lack of dust out that way allows us to observe other galaxies which are millions of light years distant. Many can be seen as a fuzzy patch of light with a spotting scope, and some even with binoculars.
Coma Berenices, or Berenice’s Hair, is the only constellation with a mythological tale based on a real person. In the fourth century BC, King Ptolemy Soter of Egypt went to war against Assyria. His worried wife Berenice made a vow to the goddess Aphrodite that she would sacrifice her beautiful locks if he returned safely. He did return and she kept her vow against his wishes. When he visited the temple the next day he discovered the hair had been stolen, and he threatened to kill the temple priests. The court astronomer claimed that Zeus had taken the hair and placed it in the sky for all to admire, and that night he showed Ptolemy a cluster of stars. The Coma Star Cluster can be seen with the naked eye in rural areas, and fills the field of view in binoculars. At one time it was considered to be the tuft of Leo’s tail.
This Week in the Solar System
Today sunrise in Moncton was at 5:27 am and sunset will occur at 9:12 pm, giving 15 hours, 45 minutes of daylight. Next Saturday the Sun will rise seven minutes earlier and set about the same time as today, giving 15 hours, 38 minutes of daylight. At 1:38 pm on Sunday the Sun reaches its most northern point to begin summer, pleasing fathers everywhere in the northern hemisphere.
The Moon reaches First Quarter on Wednesday, June 24, giving great evening viewing through a spotting scope all week. Those dark patches that make up the Man in the Moon are frozen lava flows which formed more than three billion years ago.
Mercury rises more than an hour before the Sun this week. It is at its greatest elongation from the Sun on June 24 when it also is a few degrees above the equally bright orange star Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull.
Venus closes the gap to Jupiter from six degrees this evening to two degrees next weekend, about a thumb-width at arm’s length. They now set around midnight. The Moon forms a close triangle with them this evening, posing beautifully for photographers in twilight.
Mars is will return to the morning sky next month after rounding the Sun.
Saturn is highest in the sky and best for observing during late evening. Its rings are at their best viewing in a decade so give them a try with your spotting scope, and look for its brightest moon Titan nearby.
Saturday, June 20 at 1 pm, the NB Centre of the RASC meets in Fredericton for astronomy talks at the UNB Forestry/Geology Building (2 Bailey Drive), Room 203. All are welcome; no fee, no fuss.
Questions? nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca
Attachment: Location of some of the brighter galaxies in the Realm.
GALIUM SPHINX MOTH.JUNE 15, 2015.SUSAN RICHARDS
HOBOMOK SKIPPER BUTTERFLY 02. JUNE 17, 2015. BRIAN STONE
HOBOMOK SKIPPER BUTTERFLY 02. JUNE 17, 2015. BRIAN STONE
PARTRIDGE BERRY.JUNE 14, 2015.NELSON POIRIER.JPG.
TAMARACK FEMALE CONES EMERGING.JUNE 17, 2015.NELSON POIRIER (2)
GALIUM SPHINX MOTH. JUNE 18, 2015. BRIAN STONE
