Dec 3 2016

 

 NATURE MONCTON’S INFORMATION LINE – December 3, 2016 (Saturday)

 

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

 

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

 

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Catherine Clements

Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

 

 

**Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc share some interesting photo action in Bouctouche. They found two BOREAL CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête brune] on the trail adjacent to Chemin Des Roches. They were constantly on the move and hard to capture in a photo. Jean-Paul also photographed a KINGFISHER [Martin-pêcheur] at the Bouctouche lagoon on Friday. One has overwintered there for the past few winters, to make one wonder if it isn’t the same individual. They also noted what appeared to be MOOSE [Orignal] tracks. If you look closely at them, I can see dewclaws registering behind the hoofprint. Dewclaws in the WHITE-TAILED DEER [Chevreuil] are much higher and would seldom register in snow.

 

**Kevin Renton reports their EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] flock coming to their Stilesville feeder has gone from three to thirty now, with a nice selection of expected regulars. They found a BLUE JAY [Geai bleu] perched in a tree outside on Friday morning with tail and wing feathers frozen. They caught it and brought it in the house, with it soon loudly protesting. With feathers thawed, and it was released.

 

**Dave Christie reports that the DICKCISSEL [Dickcissel d'Amérique] remained a content tenant on Friday, to give much better observations. Dave suspects it to be an immature male. On a walk to the beach area at Mary’s Point, Dave was surprised to spot eleven RED-THROATED LOONS [Plongeon catmarin] as he had been noting only one to three there in the past month. A NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] went over his home again; not sure if it was one of the duo he saw a few days ago still around, or another on the move. Dave comments the heavier woods is surprisingly free of snow after the heavy snow melted from the trees, yet the open areas still have heavy snow cover.

 

**Doris Hatt on Main Street in Alma has a female NORTHERN CARDINAL [Cardinal rouge] that tends to show up in early mornings. This may be the one being shared with Doreen Rossiter, who lives nearby. There is also a reliable report of a male Cardinal in Riverview that we may be able to get more on soon.

 

**Brian Stone got a nice shot of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus after dusk on Friday night in the western sky right behind the setting sun. If the sky is clear tonight, we will see the Moon significantly farther above Venus. Brian points out that the Moon moves a lot in one day compared to Venus, compounded by the distance of the two from us. Brian also got a nice photo of BEECH [Hêtre] leaves still clinging to the tree, as they often do for most of the winter. Also a photo of a GROUND aka COMMON JUNIPER [Genévrier commun] with ripe berries. Note the needle-like leaves of Ground Juniper, whereas CREEPING JUNIPER [Savinier] has flat, scale-like, Cedar-like leaves. Also a photo of  WHITE-TAILED DEER [Chevreuil] scat that is often in loose pellets, where this sample is more packed together. And also a cooperative DOWNY WOODPECKER [Pic mineur].

 

**Mac Wilmot’s EVERBEARING STRAWBERRY [Fraisier remontant] patch near a foundation wall is living up to its name, producing berries and flowers, even though banked by snow.

 

**With December here, it’s time to start thinking of Christmas Bird Counts. The Moncton Christmas Bird Count will be on December 17th. The Memramcook area is always an interesting one. Yolande LeBlanc is the coordinator, and the Memramcook count will take place on December 26th, with a snow date of December 27th. Yolande is looking for folks to join in. Contact Yolande at 758-9583. She wants to know as soon as possible ahead of time, to arrange teams, and for a luncheon tally at her 251 Centrale Street home afterwards.

 

**Our BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] continues its visit, but has made a menu change. There are still lots of grapes available (and grape jelly), but it has started to take sunflower chips more frequently now, seeming to get along well with the AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] and HOUSE FINCH [Roselin familier]. The bird-feeding guides say this species does like sunflower chips, but this is the first time I’ve had one at this time of year to see if it’s the case. I was surprised early Friday morning to have a male EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] quickly check out our in-town feeder yard – hope he was a scout and brings his kin.

 

 

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

 

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

BALTIMORE ORIOLE.DEC 3, 2016.NELSON POIRIER

BEECH LEAVES. DEC. 01, 2016. BRIAN STONE

BOREAL CHICKADEE.DEC.2,2016. JPLEBLANC

DOWNY WOODPECKER. DEC. 01, 2016. BRIAN STONE

GROUND (aka COMMON)JUNIPER. DEC. 01, 2016. BRIAN STONE

BELTED KINGFISHER. DEC. 2, 2016, JP LEBLANC

MOON AND VENUS 04. DEC. 02, 2016. BRIAN STONE

MOON. DEC. 02, 2016. BRIAN STONE

MOOSE TRACK . DEC 2, 2016. JPLEBLANC

STRAWBERRY (EVERBEARING) DEC 2 2016. MAC WILMOT

WHITE-TAILED DEER SCAT. DEC. 01, 2016. BRIAN STONE

Dec 2 2016

NATURE MONCTON'S NATURE LINE, December 2, 2016 (Friday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca. if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

** Marlene Hickman reports that she has had a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] coming to her Dorchester suet feeder for the past two weeks. Just before the recent snowfall, there was a flock of about 50 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] traveling about her neighbourhood, cleaning up the many fruit trees and filling the air with their distinct chatter and frenzied activity. They enjoyed Hawthorne, Mountain Ash and Flowering Crab fruit very much.

** Anna Tucker enjoyed the BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à tête noire] and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] coming for hand-fed seeds at Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary on Tuesday. Anna also came along High Marsh Rd. to enjoy the many raptors there.

** The New Brunswick Winter Bird list can be viewed at www.nbwinter.gbnature.com, including a tally from other years as well.

** Bob Blake has compiled his weather stats to compare November of 2016 to November of 2015 and these are attached below.

** Bob Blake maintains a record of daily morning low temperatures, daily highs, and monthly precipitation from his Second North River home.  He compares November 2015 and November 2016 .

2015.....                                2016.....         

+6-2days                              +9-1

+5-1                                      +8-1

+4-3                                      +7-2

+2-2                                      +6-2

+1-4                                      +5-4

0-4                                        +3-1

-1-1                                      +2-2

-2-5                                      +1-2

-3-1                                       0-4

-4-2                                      -1-5

-5-1                                      -2-3

-8-1                                      -4-1

-9-1                                    Hi.....

-10-1                                  +16-1

-12-1                                  +15-1

                                            +13-1     

Hi.....                                  +12-1

+17-1                                  +11-1

+16-1                                  +10-1

+15-2                                  +9-3

+12-2

+11-2                                53mms. rain

+10-1                                37cms. snow.

+9-2

187 mms. rain

3cms. snow

** This week's Sky-at-a-Glance is added to this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, December 3 – December 10

 With the Great Square of Pegasus at its peak in the early evening it is a good time to visit the autumn constellations with binoculars. The flying horse soars upside down, and if you regard the two lines of stars in Andromeda as its hind legs it looks like a rocking horse. Well, to me it does. The horse’s neck stretches off the southwest corner of the square, then angles of to its snout. Extending a line from the head to the snout about half that distance is the globular cluster M15, looking like a fat star in binoculars.

The opposite star of the square is Alpheratz at the head of Andromeda. The second star from there, along the brighter line of her body, is Mirach, which looks orange in binoculars. Moving to the star above it in the second line of Andromeda, and beyond to another star, puts you near M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. In a dark sky you can see it as a faint smudge with the naked eye and it is spectacular in binoculars. Going the opposite direction from Mirach, about halfway to the tip of Triangulum and a tad to the right, is M33. This face-on spiral galaxy is much tougher to see; you will need a transparent sky.

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:44 am and sunset will occur at 4:34 pm, giving 8 hours, 50 minutes of daylight (7:46 am and 4:42 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:51 am and set at 4:33 pm, giving 8 hours, 42 minutes of daylight (7:53 am and 4:42 pm in Saint John).  We are at that time of year when sunset occurs around the same time for a few weeks.

The Moon is near Mars on Sunday and at first quarter on Wednesday, but Tuesday is its day of importance. Around 5:30 pm it will pass in front of, or occult, planet Neptune for about 75 minutes. Unfortunately, the disappearance of Neptune occurs in nautical twilight so it could be difficult to see in a backyard telescope. It will be darker when Neptune reappears but that occurs on the sunlit limb of the Moon, again making observations more difficult. Neptune will look like a star in a spotting scope; a larger telescope at high power is needed to see it as a disc.

Mercury is getting easier to see, setting more than an hour after the Sun during the week. I watched it setting with binoculars on November 28, and for a second it was perched atop a distant evergreen like a star on a Christmas tree. Brilliant Venus continues its march toward Mars, setting about two hours after Mercury and two hours before Mars. Jupiter dominates the morning sky in the southeast, standing above the bright star Spica and to the right of Arcturus. Saturn passes behind the Sun on December 10, if you are wondering why you can’t see it.

The Saint John Astronomy Club meets at the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on December 3 at 7 pm. All are welcome and it is free.

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

 Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE HAND FEEDING.NOV 29 2016. ANNA TUCKER

BOHEMIAN WAXWING.NOV 28, 2016 2016 MARLENE HICKMAN

BOHEMIAN WAXWING. NOV 28, 2016 MARLENE HICKMAN

Pegasus square

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH HAND FEEDING.NOV 29 2016. ANNA TUCKER.

RED-TAILED HAWK (IMMATURE).NOV 29 2016. ANNA TUCKER

Dec 1 2016

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - December 1, 2016 (Thursday)

 

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

 

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

 

Edited by : Nelson Poirier  nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by : Louise Richard richlou@nbnet.nb.ca

Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** It is December 1st and the start of the winter of bird lists that will be kept tally-up by Gilles Belliveau;  he’ll be monitoring bird sightings until February 28, 2017 and will keep a running list of all new species sighted in that period.  Always interesting to keep an eye on, and all appreciation to Gilles for doing that this year again and we’ll be reporting on it periodically.

** Brian Stone shares a photo of a very well preserved bird’s nest from summer.  Brian described it as small orange to clementine size.  It is suspected to be a VIREO NEST as the vireos like to build their nests suspended in the crotch of branches and often ornament the exterior with birch bark bits and/or lichens.  Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

** John Filliter’s RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de Colchide] troop were not particularly impressed with the deep sudden snow of Wednesday.  He had 7 birds, all female, arrive to his Cap-Brulé yard looking for tidbits.  Last winter must have been a very good winter for Ring-Necked Pheasants.  A group of 7 females could give that local population a lot of recruits if this winter is not unduly severe.

 

** Dave Christie reports, that with the sudden snow, some birds appeared in his Mary’s Point yard to appreciate a food supply.  Especially seed spread under a picnic table that became one of the few bare ground areas available.  The DICKCISSEL [Dickcissel d’Amérique] that he had seen and heard in a nearby tree on November 24th came to the feeder area spending lots of time ground feeding.   Five DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] and a few WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche] that he had seen and heard in the bushes before also quickly came in as did a few AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien]. Surprisingly the number of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES [Chardonneret jaune] dropped, but suspect that could change soon.  On a visit to the beach area, Dave noted 2 young-of-the-year NORTHERN HARRIERS [Busard Saint-Martin] flying high overhead and to the west.  On a run to Riverside-Albert, he noted a flock of 15 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] and a flock of 8-10 AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] at the corner of the Midway Rd and Route 915, an area that seems to always be a sweet spot for American Tree Sparrows.

 

 

Carmela Melanson reports

the Yellow-throated Warbler

is still visiting her Grand Barachois yard today

, December 1,

 to make the winter list.It continues to

enjoy peanut butter-suet mixture but is also enjoying grape jelly as some warblers seem to appreciate. As Carmela comments, how can one not adore a bird who loves peanut butter and jelly!
Carmela got nice photos of it, one enjoying the the grape jelly.

 

My getting even brighter Northern Oriole also arrived today to get on the winter bird list pronto as well. It is getting so bright now, I think it's going to light up. Do we dare dream of getting these two birds on the Christmas bird count

if weather stays mild.

 

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

 Nature Moncton

RING-NECKED PHEASANT (FEMALES).NOV 30 2016 JOHN FILLITER.

RING-NECKED PHEASANT (FEMALE).NOV 30 2016 JOHN FILLITER.

VIREO NEST (SUSPECTED). NOV. 30, 2016. BRIAN STONE

VIREO NEST (SUSPECTED). NOV. 30, 2016. BRIAN STONE

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER Dec 1 2016 CARMELLA MELANSON

YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER Dec 1 2016 CARMELLA MELANSON

Nov 30 2016

NATURE MONCTON'S NATURE LINE, November 30, 2016 (Wednesday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

The eider flocks are still moving up the Petitcodiac River. Georges Brun spotted a flock of approximately 250 birds doing a fly pass at the bend of the river near Château Moncton on Tuesday.

Jamie Burris had his Merlin return to take up sentry duty in his Riverview yard on Tuesday. It acted very much at home as Jamie photographed it comfortably preening itself and it stayed in the same spot as they moved about the yard and even as they drove away in their vehicle. They have not seen their pigeon troop return since the Merlin has arrived however Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, and Black-capped Chickadees seem to be around as usual.

Another great photo of an immature Red-tailed Hawk landing to beautifully show the spread banded tail of the immature Red-tailed Hawk before it posed for a few still photos.

 nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

COMMON EIDER FLOCK NOV 29 2016 GEORGES BRUN

MERLIN NOV 29 2016 JAMIE BURRIS

MERLIN NOV 29 2016 JAMIE BURRIS

RED TAILED HAWK NOV 28 2016 JAMIE BURRIS

RED TAILED HAWK NOV 28 2016 JAMIE BURRIS

RED TAILED HAWK NOV 28 2016 JAMIE BURRIS

Nov 29 2016

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - November 29, 2016 (Tuesday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition of the Information Line, go to  http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca/

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

 

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

 

Edited by : Nelson Poirier  nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by : Louise Richard richlou@nbnet.nb.ca

Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** Stella LeBlanc spotted a female BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD [Vacher à tête brune] travelling with approximately 50 EUROPEAN STARLINGS [Étourneau sansonnet] at their Bouctouche home on Monday.  A late sighting for Cowbirds.  Jean-Paul and Stella also saw a BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] at feeders at Civic number 695 Route 475 in Bouctouche Bay area in front of the house, easily seen from the road.  It was going to a suet feeder and sometimes going to berries in bushes nearby.  The residents of the home said it had been present for approximately a week.

** The OAK [chêne] tree seems overly blessed with insect GALLS of different types — these galls usually do little damage to the tree.  The galls are usually on the leaves.  John Massey recently noted some on an oak leaf that we are labelling as the WOOLY OAK LEAF GALL.  Stephen Heard with UNB Biology comments this one is made by a Gull Wasp in the family Cynipidae.  A photo is attached.

 

** It’s that time of year to enjoy the LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi] that have come from the north for their winter vacation in NB.  Until freeze up; we can see them right offshore, and later on in the harbour areas that stay open.   Aldo Dorio is enjoying the few off the Hay Island coast and shares a photo of one that would appear to be a winter plumage male.

 

** Brian Stone is visiting relatives in Perth, ON, and as expected is still taking photos.  He was positioning to take a photo of a handsome Pileated Woodpecker on a tree when the subject took off to leave a nice look at the aftermath of a foraging session; also a RUFFED GROUSE [Gélinotte huppée], quite suspicious of the photographer, and a nice photo of an AMERICAN TREE SPARROW [Bruant hudsonien] to show several of its identification features.  Brian also got some nice FROST formations, photos as the air cools to reach its dew point, not able to hold more moisture, to condense out as those striking frost formations. 

 

** Normally we have lots of AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS [Bruant hudsonien] at our feeders by this date, however, the first one of the year put in an appearance on Monday.  The NORTHERN/BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] continues to be a regular although erratic in visiting times. This bird is getting brighter as its stay continues, which makes we wonder if it isn’t a young of the year male that is taking on more plumage colour.

 

** A late addition:  the American Tree Sparrow drought in our yard is over, they arrived with a vengeance early Tuesday morning!

 

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca 

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 04. NOV. 28, 2016. BRIAN STONE

BALTIMORE ORIOLE NOV 28 2016 NELSON POIRIER 

BALTIMORE ORIOLE NOV 28 2016 NELSON POIRIER 

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (FEMALE). NOV. 28., 2016. STELLA LEBLANC

FROST. NOV. 28, 2016. BRIAN STONE

FROST. NOV. 28, 2016. BRIAN STONE

LONG-TAILED DUCK.NOV 28, 2016.ALDO DORIO

PILEATED WOODPECKER TREE. NOV. 28, 2016. BRIAN STONE

RUFFED GROUSE. NOV. 28, 2016. BRIAN STONE

WOOLLY OAK LEAF GALL.NOV 25, 2016.JOHN MASSEY

Nov 28 2016

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE - November 28, 2016 (Monday)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor, nelson@nb.sympatico.ca  Please advise if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at  http://www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by : Nelson Poirier  nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

  Transcript by : David Christie  maryspt@mac.com

  Info Line # : 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

  **  Rosaire Richard in Cocagne recently commented that he had a lone WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle a poitrine blanche] coming to his feeder yard for some time, so it was a pleasant surprise when a second one showed up on Sunday, hopefully now a pair.

**  A big thank-you to the enthusiastic group of folks who joined in Nature Moncton’s annual bird-feeding workshop on Sunday, in spite of the weather conditions. Lots of great bird-feeding ideas were exchanged and we’ll look forward to putting some of those ideas into practice, pronto. Many participants promised to send photos of their interesting setups to attract our feathered friends; hopefully we’ll be able to share them in coming days. A reminder to folks to send in photos.  Hopefully, today we’ll get some bird feeder reports of what suddenly may be arriving in our yards after the present weather system.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

  Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

Nov 25 2016

NATURE MONCTON'S NATURE LINE, November 25, 2016 (Friday)

 

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca. if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

 

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

 

Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

 

 

 

** Dave Christie reports he heard the vocalization of a DICKCISSEL [Dickcissel d'Amérique] when tending his bird feeders on Thursday morning to spot one in an apple tree surveying the feeder area. It had very little yellow on it, so Dave suspected it to be an immature bird. Dave had to leave for other commitments, so he did not see whether the bird actually came to the feeders. But for sure one was attracted by the bird activity and is in the area.

 

 

** Bob Surette got a few quick photos of a SHORT-TAILED WEASEL [Belette à courte queue] that paid a visit to their Scoudouc yard this week. It is very ready for snow with its white pelage. The photos don't show it, but the tip of the tail would be black. Always a treat to see this fast-moving little mammal.

 

 

** Kathy and Harold Popma had a GREAT HORNED OWL [Grand-duc d'Amérique] perch itself in a Spruce tree in their Sackville yard garden area on Thursday, staying for the day, seemingly concealed enough as evidenced by a photo Kathy got of it, to attract little attention from harassing Crows and so had a restful day.

 

 

** Aldo Dorio continues to see COMMON REDPOLLS [Sizerin flammé] on Hay Island, noting a flock of 8 on Thursday, foraging on White Birch catkins.

 

 

** Several of us were in the Albert County area on Thursday, and when in deeper Albert County, a stop at John Inman's lively feeder yard at 221 Mary's Pt. Rd. is always indicated. It was mostly expected regulars coming and going while we were there, but John shares some excellent photos of some of the recent action in his yard. His yard is frequently monitored by NORTHERN GOSHAWKS [Autour des palombes] that are very interested in his large number of MOURNING DOVES [Tourterelle triste] and the RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide] in the area. He had some printed photos he loaned to us which Carmella Melanson scanned that are attached, including an immature NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour des palombes], a mature NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour des palombes] and one of the three PINE WARBLERS [Paruline des pins] he's had recently. John had many other great photos which he's happy to share and an effort is in progress to get them transferred and shared as John works on his internet connection.

 

 

** Nature Moncton members get a 10% discount off bird-feeding related products at J & P Farm Services near the corner of Edinburgh and Berry Mills Rd. in Moncton. John's Garden Centre at 890 Hillsborough Rd. carries bird-feeding supplies as well and now Nature Moncton members can get a 10% discount off any bird-feeding related products there. An up-to-date membership card is required to get the discount. A new type of membership card is being drawn up which will have the date changed yearly that can be used at these outlets to get these discounts. In the meantime, the older updated cards can be used.

 

 

** This weeks's Sky-at-Glance is added to this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason.

 

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, November 26 – December 3

This is a good time to do some mid-evening whale watching. Around 9 pm the large constellation of Cetus the Whale is well placed for viewing in the southern sky. Many of its stars are not particularly bright so it can be elusive, but you can piece it together in a fairly dark sky. The eastern side of the square of Pegasus is a handy arrow that points down toward Diphda, the brightest star in Cetus. Also called Deneb Kaitos, “the tail of the whale,” it anchors a pentagram of stars forming the rear half of Cetus below dim Pisces. A circlet of stars to the upper left is the whale’s head, and you can pick out the rest of the body between the pentagram and the circlet.

In mythology Cetus represents the fierce sea monster created by Poseidon to ravage the coastal area of Ethiopia as punishment for Queen Cassiopeia’s bragging. Her daughter Andromeda, the object of Cassiopeia’s pride, was chained to a rock at the seashore as a sacrifice to make the monster go away. Perseus, a son of Zeus and a mortal woman, was homeward bound on the back of Pegasus after slaying the Gorgon Medusa when he chanced upon Andromeda’s plight. He rescued the princess by using Medusa’s head to turn the monster to stone. And there was much rejoicing.

A star of note to the left of Diphda is Tau Ceti ( τ Cet); notable not for its brightness but as a Sun-like star known to be surrounded by a dense debris disc and at least five planets. It is one of the closest stars to us at a distance of 12 light years, and one targeted by the SETI program to search for signs of extraterrestrial life. Tau Ceti has figured prominently in science fiction stories by Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Larry Niven and many others.  Star Trek TV shows and movies also made use of Tau Ceti, and a young Jane Fonda visited there on a diplomatic mission in the movie Barbarella, which was enjoyed by many young lads.
This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:36 am and sunset will occur at 4:38 pm, giving 9 hours, 2 minutes of daylight (7:38 am and 4:45 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:44 am and set at 4:34 pm, giving 8 hours, 50 minutes of daylight (7:46 am and 4:42 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is new on Tuesday so look for a slender crescent about 12 degrees above the southwestern horizon a half hour after sunset on Thursday. Mercury will be about 8 degrees below it. Two days later the Moon will be the same distance above Venus, providing a good opportunity to spot Venus before sunset. Mars resembles a solitary orange star within Capricornus and sets around 9:45 pm, while Jupiter dominates the morning sky in the southeast. Saturn is on solar hiatus for a while.

The Saint John Astronomy Club meets at the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on December 3 at 7 pm. All are welcome and it is free.

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

 

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton

Cetus

GREAT HORNED OWL. KATHY POPMA. NOV. 24, 2016

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (ADULT) NOV 2016.JOHN INMAN.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK (ADULT) NOV 2016.JOHN INMAN.

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