Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Friday 14 February 2020

Feb 14 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 14, 2020 (Friday)

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

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Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

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

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
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 nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com.

** Last heads-up on tomorrow’s Nature Moncton feeder tour as described in yesterday’s edition.  Go to www.naturemoncton.com under “Upcoming Events” to get the last word.  A contact number during the day is 866-2752.

** Brian Stone visited Mapleton Park on Thursday, commenting that there’s nothing new, but lots of MALLARD DUCKS [Canard colvert] which Nature Moncton will visit tomorrow on the feeder tour.  Brian got a video of them following him about, but there does not seem to be any evidence of them getting a treat!  They will be much better accommodated tomorrow.  Take a look at the action at the attached video site.


** Daryl Doucet’s feeder yard is on a street that backs on Mapleton Park.  Brian used all of the 83X power on his camera to zoom in on the yard action.  One photo shows one HOUSE FINCH [Roselin familier] that appears to be the lone orange variant visiting Daryl’s.  Have binoculars ready tomorrow to zoom in on Daryl’s backyard which may result in more surprises than the birds!

** It’s Friday, and this week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this edition courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.  It will be worth getting up a tad early in later week to see the falling moon pose with three planets.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2020 February 15 – February 22
Binoculars are great instruments for observing the brighter star clusters and nebulae in the night sky, and Orion is a great place for binocular treasures. Its most prominent naked eye feature is the angled line of three stars that make Orion’s Belt. This trio will fit easily within almost any binocular view. They are hot giant stars, with the one on the right, Mintaka, being a little dimmer than Alnitak on the left and Alnilam in between. Although they appear to be near each other, at a distance of 2000 light years Alnilam is nearly three times farther than the other two. Between Alnilam and Mintaka binoculars will show an S-shaped asterism, Orion’s S, which peaks above his belt.

Below the belt is a string of a few dimmer stars that makes Orion’s sword, one of which looks fuzzy to the eye. Binoculars reveal this to be the Orion Nebula or M42, a vast cloud of gas and dust where stars are forming. Just above the nebula is an asterism that resembles a person running or perhaps the figure in a WALK sign. Several double or multiple stars can be seen in this general area. Binoculars will also enhance star colours so check out Orion’s two brightest stars, blue-white Rigel and orange Betelgeuse. Defocussing your binoculars slightly will enhance the colours even more. Keep an eye on Betelgeuse over the next couple of months. It has dimmed considerably lately, dropping from the top ten in stellar brightness to about 25th. Will it continue to dim or will it regain its gleam?

This Week in the Solar System    

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:22 am and sunset will occur at 5:44 pm, giving 10 hours, 22 minutes of daylight (7:26 am and 5:51 pm in Saint John).  Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:11 am and set at 5:54 pm, giving 10 hours, 43 minutes of daylight (7:15 am and 6:01 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is at third quarter this Saturday and poses with three morning planets this week. On Tuesday, telescope users might catch it occulting, or passing in front of, Mars just before 9 am. It is then near Jupiter on Wednesday and Saturn Thursday. Mercury begins a ten-day evening plunge toward the Sun this weekend, while Venus continues to catch the eye moving in the opposite direction. If you are far from urban light pollution on a clear evening, look for the ghostly pyramid of zodiacal light along the western ecliptic starting an hour after sunset.

The provincial astronomy club, RASC NB, meets in the UNB Fredericton Forestry-Earth Sciences building this Saturday at 1 pm. On Monday, at the Brundage Point River Centre in Grand Bay-Westfield, there will be an astronomy presentation at 6 pm followed by public observing.

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


nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton


FEEDER YARD (DARYL DOUCET). FEB. 13, 2020,. BRIAN STONE

FEEDER YARD (DARYL DOUCET). FEB. 13, 2020,. BRIAN STONE

FEEDER YARD (DARYL DOUCET). FEB. 13, 2020,. BRIAN STONE

FEEDER YARD (DARYL DOUCET). FEB. 13, 2020,. BRIAN STONE

Orions Belt 2020