NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 31, 2020 (Friday)
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
For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
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** Jane Leblanc spotted her first MONARCH
BUTTERFLY [Monarque] caterpillar in her St. Martins yard on Thursday, and it
was looking very ready to continue its mission.
** Veronica Leblanc comments that the
butterflies seem to be having a challenge with the wind in her Nelson,
Miramichi yard. On Wednesday, in spite of
the wind, she had a very fresh VICEROY BUTTERFLY [Vice-roi] visit to get a
great photo. This is very likely a
second brood. At the end of July, she
had a GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY [Argynne Cybèle] visit, and two days later, an ATLANTIS
FRITILLARY [Argynne de l’Atlantique], again to get nice photos. Note the solid black border and gray eye of
the Atlantis Fritillary, and the dark forewing border of the Great-spangled
Fritillary to suggest a female. Also,
the eye is brown.
** More and more folks are getting into
natural gardening. Chris and Mike Antle
have become very serious about it, and are now able to grow enough fruit and
vegetables to last the year. Chris
comments that she would like to see other posts of other gardens for the birds
and kitchen like theirs is. Lots of
fledglings are appearing in their garden with a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à
poitrine rousse
and a BLACK-AND-WHITE
WARBLER [Paruline noir et blanc] photographed enjoying the bird
bath. Chris sends along some photos of
the fruits of their labours with lots of rewards. Louise and Glen Nichols are another couple
that are able to achieve this end, with Glen’s very green thumb and Louise’s
passion for birds.
** It’s Friday already and time to review what’s
happening in this week’s Sky-at-a-Glance, courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason, with
the Perseid Meteor showers as a main event.
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2020 August 8 – August 15
The main event in the sky this week is the Perseid meteor shower. You can see a few meteors per hour any night in a clear, dark sky, but the number increases greatly when Earth passes through a trail of pebbles and dust left by a comet that makes frequent orbits around the Sun. The pebbles left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle in its 133 year orbit are quite large at a few centimetres, and they enter our atmosphere at a high relative velocity of 60 km/s (Earth travels at 30 km/s). Therefore, they can be very bright. The Perseids will seem to be coming from a point between the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia, which are at their highest in early morning. You will see fewer in the evening but they tend to be long and bright.
Meteors, also called shooting stars or falling stars, are the streaks of light created when pebbles enter the atmosphere at an altitude of about 100 kilometres, and those particles from comets disintegrate before they reach an altitude of 50 kilometres. Many meteors are faint and easily made invisible by moonlight and light pollution. This year the Perseid shower occurs near the third quarter Moon phase, which rises after midnight and will interfere somewhat with the morning viewing.
Although a dark sky is preferred for watching meteors, many can still be enjoyed from an urban or suburban area. Get comfortable in a chair, have extra clothes or blankets if you plan to stay long as it can get very chilly, and select a patch of sky that is free of clouds and light. It is better to keep Perseus to your side rather than look in that direction because the meteors will look more spectacular, covering a longer distance. Under ideal conditions one might see 60-100 Perseids, but be very happy if you see about 20-30 per hour on the peak night or fewer a day before or after.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:10 am and sunset will occur at 8:38 pm, giving 14 hours, 28 minutes of daylight (6:17 am and 8:41 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:19 am and set at 8:27 pm, giving 14 hours, 8 minutes of daylight (6:25 am and 8:30 pm in Saint John).
The Moon passes below Mars this Sunday morning and it is at third quarter on Tuesday. Jupiter and Saturn are at their best for observing in late evening. Telescope users might see Jupiter’s Red Spot around 10 pm Monday and 11:30 pm on Wednesday, while Saturn’s rings are a memorable sight. Mars rises around 11 pm and offers telescopic views of its south polar ice cap. Venus is at its greatest elongation from the Sun on Wednesday, and Mercury has moved too close to the Sun to be observed. The Perseid meteor shower is at its best on the night of August 11/12 but the nights before and after will also be rewarding if the weather cooperates.
With astronomy meetings and outreach activities on hold, you can watch the local Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm, and view archived shows, on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEHfOWyL-kNH7dBVHK8spg
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
The main event in the sky this week is the Perseid meteor shower. You can see a few meteors per hour any night in a clear, dark sky, but the number increases greatly when Earth passes through a trail of pebbles and dust left by a comet that makes frequent orbits around the Sun. The pebbles left by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle in its 133 year orbit are quite large at a few centimetres, and they enter our atmosphere at a high relative velocity of 60 km/s (Earth travels at 30 km/s). Therefore, they can be very bright. The Perseids will seem to be coming from a point between the constellations Perseus and Cassiopeia, which are at their highest in early morning. You will see fewer in the evening but they tend to be long and bright.
Meteors, also called shooting stars or falling stars, are the streaks of light created when pebbles enter the atmosphere at an altitude of about 100 kilometres, and those particles from comets disintegrate before they reach an altitude of 50 kilometres. Many meteors are faint and easily made invisible by moonlight and light pollution. This year the Perseid shower occurs near the third quarter Moon phase, which rises after midnight and will interfere somewhat with the morning viewing.
Although a dark sky is preferred for watching meteors, many can still be enjoyed from an urban or suburban area. Get comfortable in a chair, have extra clothes or blankets if you plan to stay long as it can get very chilly, and select a patch of sky that is free of clouds and light. It is better to keep Perseus to your side rather than look in that direction because the meteors will look more spectacular, covering a longer distance. Under ideal conditions one might see 60-100 Perseids, but be very happy if you see about 20-30 per hour on the peak night or fewer a day before or after.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:10 am and sunset will occur at 8:38 pm, giving 14 hours, 28 minutes of daylight (6:17 am and 8:41 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:19 am and set at 8:27 pm, giving 14 hours, 8 minutes of daylight (6:25 am and 8:30 pm in Saint John).
The Moon passes below Mars this Sunday morning and it is at third quarter on Tuesday. Jupiter and Saturn are at their best for observing in late evening. Telescope users might see Jupiter’s Red Spot around 10 pm Monday and 11:30 pm on Wednesday, while Saturn’s rings are a memorable sight. Mars rises around 11 pm and offers telescopic views of its south polar ice cap. Venus is at its greatest elongation from the Sun on Wednesday, and Mercury has moved too close to the Sun to be observed. The Perseid meteor shower is at its best on the night of August 11/12 but the nights before and after will also be rewarding if the weather cooperates.
With astronomy meetings and outreach activities on hold, you can watch the local Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm, and view archived shows, on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEHfOWyL-kNH7dBVHK8spg
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
VICEROY BUTTERFLY. AUG 5, 2020. VERICA LeBLANC
VICEROY BUTTERFLY. AUG 5, 2020. VERICA LeBLANC
ATLANTIS FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY. JULY, 2020. VERICA LeBLANC
GREAT SPANGLED FRITILLARY BUTTERFLY. JULY, 2020. VERICA LeBLANC
MONARCH BUTTERFLY CATERPILLAR. AUG. 6, 2020. JANE LEBLANC
NATURAL GARDENING. AUG 5, 2020. .CHRIS ANTLE
NATURAL GARDENING. AUG 5, 2020. .CHRIS ANTLE
NATURAL GARDENING. AUG 5, 2020. .CHRIS ANTLE
NATURAL GARDENING. AUG 5, 2020. .CHRIS ANTLE
NATURAL GARDENING. AUG 5, 2020. .CHRIS ANTLE
NATURAL GARDENING. AUG 5, 2020. .CHRIS ANTLE
Perseids_evening
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