NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, January 4, 2019 (Friday)
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Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
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** Kevin Renton reports their
Stilesville feeder yard is remaining active with a nice showing of a regular
flock of 50+ EVENING
GROSBEAKS [Gros-bec errant] that
continue to be accompanied by approximately 15 PINE GROSBEAKS [Durbec des sapins]
– a nice winter blend of
Grosbeaks. The expected usuals are in
good numbers with lots of woodpeckers and includes 6 cock RING-NECKED PHEASANTS
[Faisan de Colchide] and
one hen. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK [Autour
des palombes] has
dropped by to check out the patrons as well.
The usual lively yard at the Rentons.
** Jamie Burris reports that he had a
record number of woodpeckers to his Riverview feeder yard on Thursday, with a
pair of DOWNY
WOODPECKERS [Pic mineur] and
3 HAIRY
WOODPECKERS [Pic chevelu],
two females and one male. They were all
happily going about their affairs very peacefully until a RED SQUIRREL [Écureuil
roux] became
very aggressive and not amused with sharing the yard with this number of
woodpeckers. Jamie took some nice photos
of a Hairy Woodpecker that nicely show the tufted feathers at the bill base as
another line of defence to protect eyes from saw dust and splinters. Jamie also shares a photo of a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET
[Roitelet à couronne dorée] he
got at Mill Creek, as well as an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret
jaune],
showing nice yellow around its head.
** Shawn Cormier shares a few more of
his artistic photo work of frost formations, fresh and melting, that can let
imagination go to work. The one of fresh
frost reminds him of a Chinese dragon figure, while the one of melting frost
takes the appearance of a fleet of Viking sailing ships sailing off into the
distance.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this
edition, courtesy of sky-guru Curt Nason. Note that Curt comments we will again gain
more daylight with a 10-minute addition this week.
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 January 5 – 12
This time of year the brilliant winter constellations really catch the eye, but this is also a good time to revisit some favourites of the past season. If you have a good view to the north, go out around 8 pm to observe two of the best known asterisms in the sky. To the northwest the Northern Cross stands upright, with its base star Albireo about ready to set. The cross forms most of Cygnus the Swan, now making its signature dive into what I hope is an unfrozen lake. To the northeast, the Big Dipper stands on its handle. In a rural area you can probably see the rest of the stars that make up the Great Bear, Ursa Major. Does the bear appear to be dancing across the horizon on its hind legs? That brings back fond memories of watching Captain Kangaroo.
Stretching overhead are the autumn constellations of Cassiopeia, Andromeda and Perseus. With binoculars, look for a miniature version of Draco around the brightest star in Perseus; the galaxy M31 in Andromeda; and if you draw a line right to left across the tips of the W of Cassiopeia and extend by about the same distance, you might chance upon a string of about 20 stars called Kemble’s Cascade. From a dark area, try to pick out the Milky Way running from Cygnus through Perseus and the feet of Gemini to Canis Major in the southeast.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 8:01 am and sunset will occur at 4:48 pm, giving 8 hours, 47 minutes of daylight (8:03 am and 4:56 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:59 am and set at 4:56 pm, giving 8 hours, 57 minutes of daylight (8:01 am and 5:03 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is new on Saturday and a very slim 20-hour-old crescent might be detected with binoculars after sunset Sunday. Early Thursday evening the Moon will pass within a binocular view below Neptune. Venus is at its greatest elongation from the Sun on Sunday. Watch the morning sky over the next few weeks as Venus and Jupiter approach each other. Mercury meets up with Saturn in the morning sky next weekend but they are rising just half an hour before the Sun. Mars sets before midnight but reveals little detail in a telescope now.
The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on January 5 at 7 pm, and the William Brydone Jack Astronomy Club meets at the UNB Fredericton Forestry - Earth Sciences building on Tuesday at 7 pm. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
This time of year the brilliant winter constellations really catch the eye, but this is also a good time to revisit some favourites of the past season. If you have a good view to the north, go out around 8 pm to observe two of the best known asterisms in the sky. To the northwest the Northern Cross stands upright, with its base star Albireo about ready to set. The cross forms most of Cygnus the Swan, now making its signature dive into what I hope is an unfrozen lake. To the northeast, the Big Dipper stands on its handle. In a rural area you can probably see the rest of the stars that make up the Great Bear, Ursa Major. Does the bear appear to be dancing across the horizon on its hind legs? That brings back fond memories of watching Captain Kangaroo.
Stretching overhead are the autumn constellations of Cassiopeia, Andromeda and Perseus. With binoculars, look for a miniature version of Draco around the brightest star in Perseus; the galaxy M31 in Andromeda; and if you draw a line right to left across the tips of the W of Cassiopeia and extend by about the same distance, you might chance upon a string of about 20 stars called Kemble’s Cascade. From a dark area, try to pick out the Milky Way running from Cygnus through Perseus and the feet of Gemini to Canis Major in the southeast.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 8:01 am and sunset will occur at 4:48 pm, giving 8 hours, 47 minutes of daylight (8:03 am and 4:56 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:59 am and set at 4:56 pm, giving 8 hours, 57 minutes of daylight (8:01 am and 5:03 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is new on Saturday and a very slim 20-hour-old crescent might be detected with binoculars after sunset Sunday. Early Thursday evening the Moon will pass within a binocular view below Neptune. Venus is at its greatest elongation from the Sun on Sunday. Watch the morning sky over the next few weeks as Venus and Jupiter approach each other. Mercury meets up with Saturn in the morning sky next weekend but they are rising just half an hour before the Sun. Mars sets before midnight but reveals little detail in a telescope now.
The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on January 5 at 7 pm, and the William Brydone Jack Astronomy Club meets at the UNB Fredericton Forestry - Earth Sciences building on Tuesday at 7 pm. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH JAN 2 2019 JAMIE BURRIS
Dancing Bear
FROST. DEC 31, 2018.SHAWN CORMIER
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET JAN 2 2019 JAMIE BURRIS
HAIRY WOODPECKER JAN 3 2019 JAMIE BURRIS
HAIRY WOODPECKER JAN 3 2019 JAMIE BURRIS
MELTING FROST. JAN 2, 2018. SHAWN CORMIER
