*** Peggy Bohus has been noting salamanders like
to hide under their outside doormat. She got a documentary photo of a BLUE-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre à
points bleus] as well as a YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre maculée] there at the same time on
Thursday.
** Brian Stone’s photos from Wednesday were late
in arriving for Thursday’s edition, so are attached today that include a very
sharply featured SAVANNAH SPARROW [Bruant
d’Ipswich], YELLOW-LEGGED groups, male GADWALL [Canard chipeau], KILLDEER [Pluvier kildir] , CLOUDED
SULPHUR BUTTERFLY [Coliade du trèfle] butterfly, MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY, and
more.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is attached to
this transcription, courtesy of Curt Nason, with more details on the upcoming
total LUNAR ECLIPSE, an astronomical event of the year !
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, September 26 – October 3
The Moon takes centre stage this week with perhaps the most significant stargazing event of the year, a total eclipse on Sunday evening. This is the fourth lunar eclipse in less than two years but the last one until January 2019. Unlike the previous ones, we get to see the entire event and at a reasonable time.
Although the Moon starts slipping into Earth’s dark shadow at 10:07 pm, look for subtle grey shading on the lunar surface beginning 20 minutes sooner. This is the penumbra, a lesser shadow created when Earth partly covers the Sun as seen from the Moon. From 10:07 to 11:11 the dark umbra will creep across the lunar surface toward totality. Note that the umbra appears on the left side, which indicates the Moon is moving eastward in its orbit rather than the westward motion we see as our planet rotates. Also, note the curvature of the shadow. The Greeks noticed this more than two millennia ago and correctly assumed it was because the Earth is spherical. Watch for more stars to appear as totality approaches and the sky darkens.
Totality lasts for 72 minutes, ending at 12:23 am. The Moon could take on a red or orange hue during totality, caused by our atmosphere acting like a lens and bending the red part of the sunlight moonward. Blue light is scattered more, right across our sky, which is why we see that colour on a clear day. You might also note that the bottom of the Moon is brighter than the top. The Moon passes just below the centre of Earth’s shadow during this eclipse, so the lower portion is farther from the deepest and darkest part of the umbra. From 12:23 to 1:27 am you get to watch the partial phase play out in reverse, followed by fading of the penumbra.
About 15 minutes before totality begins the Moon is at perigee, its closest distance to the Earth for the month and also for the year. In addition, this being the full Moon nearest the autumnal equinox, we have a Harvest Moon. When a new or full Moon occurs at perigee near an equinox we get our most extreme tides in an 18.6 year lunar period. With the Sun and Moon nearly aligned with the equator around the equinox, Earth’s rotation adds extra oomph to the tides. Watch for our highest high and lowest low tides early in the week, and again with the new Moon early next April.
Public observing for the eclipse is planned at Mount Allison University in Sackville, at the UNB Science Library in Fredericton, and at the Irving Nature Park in Saint John.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:11 am and sunset will occur at 7:09 pm, giving 11 hours, 58 minutes of daylight (7:16 am and 7:15 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:20 am and set at 6:56 pm, giving 11 hours, 36 minutes of daylight (7:24 am and 7:01 pm in Saint John).
Mercury passes between us and the Sun on Wednesday and will not be visible. Venus dominates the morning sky throughout autumn. To its lower left you will see the bright star Regulus, slightly dimmer and orange-hued Mars, and stunning Jupiter. Over the week the separation between Venus and Jupiter decreases from 20 degrees to about 15 degrees. Saturn sets by 9:20 pm midweek, so the best observing will be near the end of twilight when it is still reasonably high.
Questions? Contact me at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
The Moon takes centre stage this week with perhaps the most significant stargazing event of the year, a total eclipse on Sunday evening. This is the fourth lunar eclipse in less than two years but the last one until January 2019. Unlike the previous ones, we get to see the entire event and at a reasonable time.
Although the Moon starts slipping into Earth’s dark shadow at 10:07 pm, look for subtle grey shading on the lunar surface beginning 20 minutes sooner. This is the penumbra, a lesser shadow created when Earth partly covers the Sun as seen from the Moon. From 10:07 to 11:11 the dark umbra will creep across the lunar surface toward totality. Note that the umbra appears on the left side, which indicates the Moon is moving eastward in its orbit rather than the westward motion we see as our planet rotates. Also, note the curvature of the shadow. The Greeks noticed this more than two millennia ago and correctly assumed it was because the Earth is spherical. Watch for more stars to appear as totality approaches and the sky darkens.
Totality lasts for 72 minutes, ending at 12:23 am. The Moon could take on a red or orange hue during totality, caused by our atmosphere acting like a lens and bending the red part of the sunlight moonward. Blue light is scattered more, right across our sky, which is why we see that colour on a clear day. You might also note that the bottom of the Moon is brighter than the top. The Moon passes just below the centre of Earth’s shadow during this eclipse, so the lower portion is farther from the deepest and darkest part of the umbra. From 12:23 to 1:27 am you get to watch the partial phase play out in reverse, followed by fading of the penumbra.
About 15 minutes before totality begins the Moon is at perigee, its closest distance to the Earth for the month and also for the year. In addition, this being the full Moon nearest the autumnal equinox, we have a Harvest Moon. When a new or full Moon occurs at perigee near an equinox we get our most extreme tides in an 18.6 year lunar period. With the Sun and Moon nearly aligned with the equator around the equinox, Earth’s rotation adds extra oomph to the tides. Watch for our highest high and lowest low tides early in the week, and again with the new Moon early next April.
Public observing for the eclipse is planned at Mount Allison University in Sackville, at the UNB Science Library in Fredericton, and at the Irving Nature Park in Saint John.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:11 am and sunset will occur at 7:09 pm, giving 11 hours, 58 minutes of daylight (7:16 am and 7:15 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:20 am and set at 6:56 pm, giving 11 hours, 36 minutes of daylight (7:24 am and 7:01 pm in Saint John).
Mercury passes between us and the Sun on Wednesday and will not be visible. Venus dominates the morning sky throughout autumn. To its lower left you will see the bright star Regulus, slightly dimmer and orange-hued Mars, and stunning Jupiter. Over the week the separation between Venus and Jupiter decreases from 20 degrees to about 15 degrees. Saturn sets by 9:20 pm midweek, so the best observing will be near the end of twilight when it is still reasonably high.
Questions? Contact me at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
BLUE-SPOTTED AND YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER.SEPT 24, 2015.PEGGY BOHUS 3
GADWALL AND AMERICAN WIGEON. SEPT. 23, 2015. BRIAN STONE
GADWALL DUCK.SEPT 23, 2015.NELSON POIRIER (3)
GREATER AND LESSER YELLOWLEGS GROUP.SEPT. 23, 2015. BRIAN STONE
KILLDEER 02. SEPT. 23, 2015. BRIAN STONE
LESSER YELLOWLEGS. SEPT. 23, 2015. BRIAN STONE
MALLARD DUCKS DABBLING. SEPT. 23, 2015. BRIAN STONE
MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY. SEPT. 23, 2015. BRIAN STONE
SAVANNAH SPARROW 01. SEPT. 23, 2015. BRIAN STONE
