NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January 5, 2018 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or
photo labeling.
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
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your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.
Nor’easters don’t tend to have many folks
leaving reports but Brian Stone leaves a few from his living room window.
** Daryl Doucette on Briardale Ave.
near Gorge Rd. in Moncton has been having some interesting patrons to his yard
feeders: a female NORTHERN CARDINAL
[Cardinal rouge] that
circulates the neighbourhood feeders drops by briefly usually at least a few
times a day; and a very interesting sparrow that has been coming the past weeks is
a FOX
SPARROW [Bruant fauve]. This is a sparrow we expect to see spring and
fall as they head to the north of us to nest and migrate back in the fall, but
very few overwinter in New Brunswick.
Daryl got some nice close-up side and rear views to show the colourful
rusty plumage of this sparrow that often seems to have to “work out” as it
feeds among the seeds.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is added
to this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason.
Hopefully, there will be some clear skies this week to look at the
brightest star in the sky Sirius, the dog star, which is also the star closest
to us and as Curt explains, watch it sparkle and where and when to look for it.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, January
6 – January 13
Around midnight in the first week of January the brightest star in the
night sky is due south, at its highest above the horizon. Astronomers
would say it is transiting the meridian when it crosses the north-south
line. Many 19th century observatories, including the one now called the
William Brydone Jack Observatory at UNB Fredericton, would collaborate
in timing the transits of stars to determine the longitude of the
observatory.
Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major the Great Dog, one of
Orion’s hunting companions. If you are unsure which star is Sirius just
follow Orion’s belt down to the left. The star is about twice the size
of the Sun and 25 times more luminous, but that is not why it is the
brightest. It is only 8.6 light years away, a mere 82 trillion
kilometres, and the nearest naked eye star for us in New Brunswick. The
name means “scorcher” or “scintillating one” and it often twinkles
wildly and colourfully, especially when it is lower in the sky. On more
than one occasion I have been contacted by someone who has seen Sirius
flashing colours and wondered if it was a UFO. I like to observe it with
binoculars or a telescope just to enjoy the light show.
Canis Major is one of those constellations that actually resembles what
it represents. Look for the star cluster M41 below the body of the dog,
about a binocular field from Sirius. You might pick out a few fainter
clusters near the dog’s tail. The big dog appears to be chasing Lepus
the Hare, which sits below Orion.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 8:01 am and sunset will occur at
4:49 pm, giving 8 hours, 48 minutes of daylight (8:03 am and 4:57 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:58 am and set at 4:57
pm, giving 8 hours, 59 minutes of daylight (8:00 am and 5:05 pm in Saint
John).
The Moon is at third quarter on Monday and makes a scenic grouping with
Jupiter and Mars on Thursday morning. Mars is less than a Moon-width
below Jupiter on Sunday morning. Mercury is just to the right of Saturn
on Friday, January 12 and below it the next morning. Venus passes behind
the Sun on Tuesday and it will be seen low in the west after sunset in
March.
The Saint John Astronomy Club meets on Saturday, January 6 at 7 pm in
the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre. The William Brydone Jack
Astronomy Club meets on Tuesday, January 9 at 7 pm in the UNB
Fredericton Forestry / Earth Sciences Building. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Around midnight in the first week of January the brightest star in the
night sky is due south, at its highest above the horizon. Astronomers
would say it is transiting the meridian when it crosses the north-south
line. Many 19th century observatories, including the one now called the
William Brydone Jack Observatory at UNB Fredericton, would collaborate
in timing the transits of stars to determine the longitude of the
observatory.
Sirius is part of the constellation Canis Major the Great Dog, one of
Orion’s hunting companions. If you are unsure which star is Sirius just
follow Orion’s belt down to the left. The star is about twice the size
of the Sun and 25 times more luminous, but that is not why it is the
brightest. It is only 8.6 light years away, a mere 82 trillion
kilometres, and the nearest naked eye star for us in New Brunswick. The
name means “scorcher” or “scintillating one” and it often twinkles
wildly and colourfully, especially when it is lower in the sky. On more
than one occasion I have been contacted by someone who has seen Sirius
flashing colours and wondered if it was a UFO. I like to observe it with
binoculars or a telescope just to enjoy the light show.
Canis Major is one of those constellations that actually resembles what
it represents. Look for the star cluster M41 below the body of the dog,
about a binocular field from Sirius. You might pick out a few fainter
clusters near the dog’s tail. The big dog appears to be chasing Lepus
the Hare, which sits below Orion.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 8:01 am and sunset will occur at
4:49 pm, giving 8 hours, 48 minutes of daylight (8:03 am and 4:57 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:58 am and set at 4:57
pm, giving 8 hours, 59 minutes of daylight (8:00 am and 5:05 pm in Saint
John).
The Moon is at third quarter on Monday and makes a scenic grouping with
Jupiter and Mars on Thursday morning. Mars is less than a Moon-width
below Jupiter on Sunday morning. Mercury is just to the right of Saturn
on Friday, January 12 and below it the next morning. Venus passes behind
the Sun on Tuesday and it will be seen low in the west after sunset in
March.
The Saint John Astronomy Club meets on Saturday, January 6 at 7 pm in
the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre. The William Brydone Jack
Astronomy Club meets on Tuesday, January 9 at 7 pm in the UNB
Fredericton Forestry / Earth Sciences Building. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
Canis Major 2018
FOX SPARROW. JAN 3, 2018. DARYL DOUCETTE.
FOX SPARROW. JAN 3, 2018. DARYL DOUCETTE.
FOX SPARROW. JAN 3, 2018. DARYL DOUCETTE.
NORTHERN CARDINAL (FEMALE). JAN 3, 2018. DARYL DOUCETTE
NORTHERN CARDINAL (FEMALE). JAN 3, 2018. DARYL DOUCETTE
STORM. JAN. 04, 2018. BRIAN STONE
STORM. JAN. 04, 2018. BRIAN STONE
