Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 18 2015

** David Miller captured photos of a very well-dressed SPRUCE GROUSE [Tétras du Canada] on the Taylor Rd. on Thursday -- always a great Grouse species to spot and at times, they can be surprisingly bold and co-operate for a nice photo like Dave got.

** There are still colourful butterflies to be seen in September. Aldo Dorio got a photo of an AMERICAN LADY [Vanesse de Virginie] in Hay Island Park on Thursday.

** Dale Gaskin announced at the Tuesday Nature Moncton meeting that he has been in contact with New Brunswick farmer Mike Dickinson, and he will again be able to bring a load of fresh sunflower seeds to Nature Moncton meeting night, expecting it to be October 20th. To reserve bags -- as many as you wish -- leave a message with name and number of bags wanted with Dale Gaskin at 734-2197. The price will again be $15, the same as it has been for several years now. All appreciation to Dale for making the arrangements

** To add an item about the visit to Kent Island off Grand Manan last Sunday, this island is home to a breeding colony of 22,000 LEACH'S STORM-PETRELS [Océanite cul-blanc]. We have two Petrel species that can be seen in New Brunswick: Wilson's Storm Petrel and the Leach's Storm Petrel. We sometimes get to see these species near shorelines after a storm. Only the Leach's Storm Petrel breeds in New Brunswick. It was amazing to see where they nest. They dig burrows in wooded areas near the shoreline and raise one chick. The burrows look like something a mammal would use; however, there are no small land mammals on the island which prevents predation. The parents go and come only under the cover of darkness. One of the research folk on the island reached into the burrow to bring out a chick to show us -- a face only a mother could love. An awesome experience to see and learn the life and times of this bird species. There is so much unique biology about their daily lives, behaviour and adaptation to make them a successful non-threatened species. A few photos are attached as well as a few more of the Great Egret action on Wednesday at Waterside..

** This week's Sky-at-a-Glance is added to today's transcription courtesy of Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, September 19 – September 26

The Summer Triangle is at its highest in early evening. Vega pokes through the twilight overhead, followed by Altair to the south and Deneb to the east. All three are the brightest stars of their respective constellations of Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus. Although it is the dimmest of the trio, Deneb is actually much brighter but it is about 60 times more distant. If it were as close as the other two it would be more than ten times brighter than Venus.

I like to sit out on the deck shortly after sunset and just look up at the blue sky, waiting for Vega to appear. Easily amused, the blue background gives me a three dimensional view of my eye floaters. Then, with a little concentration, I look for a Maltese cross of pale yellow and blue light. Haidinger’s Brush isn’t in the sky; it is a phenomenon of the eye caused by the polarized light overhead.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haidinger%27s_brush

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:02 am and sunset will occur at 7:23 pm, giving 12 hours, 21 minutes of daylight (7:07 am and 7:28 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:11 am and set at 7:09 pm, giving 11 hours, 58 minutes of daylight (7:16 am and 7:15 pm in Saint John). Autumnal equinox occurs at 5:21 am on Wednesday, September 23. Although the term equinox means “equal night” the day of approximately equal light and darkness occurs a few days later (earlier in spring). Sunrise and sunset times are based on when the top of the Sun meets the horizon, not the middle, so there is the added two minutes for the Earth to rotate an extra half degree in total. Also, the atmosphere acts as a prism and refracts or bends the sunlight, much like a spoon in a glass of water appears to be bent, and appears to lift the Sun by its own diameter. When we see the bottom of the Sun touching the horizon, in reality the top of the Sun is on the horizon. This phenomenon adds about another four minutes of sunlight to the day.

The Moon is at first quarter Monday, September 21, and on the next day after 8:30 pm you can watch it approach and occult, or pass in front of, a fairly bright star in Sagittarius. The star reappears on the sunlit side around 10 pm. On September 27 we get a Harvest Moon total eclipse with the closest full Moon of the year.

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be visible. Venus is at its brightest in the morning sky on Monday, while Mars slides past the bright star Regulus late in the week. Jupiter climbs higher each morning, heading toward a showdown with the other two planets in October. Saturn sets around 10 pm early in the week, so its best observing will be near the end of twilight.

Members of RASC NB will be offering public solar and night observing at the Kouchibouguac Fall Festival this weekend. All are welcome to attend a meeting on Saturday from 2 - 4:30 pm at the Visitors’ Centre for presentations on what to look for in the sky over the next several weeks, “Songs of Jupiter,” and a pictorial recap of the star parties in NB this year.
See http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pnnp/nb/kouchibouguac/activ/special.aspx

Questions? Contact me at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

Attachment: The Summer Triangle (Stellarium)

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton