NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 10, 2017 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca 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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your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.
** Georges Brun got a photo of
planet JUPITER on Thursday morning at 7:01 AM.
Georges comments that he saw 4 moons, and 3 do show on Georges’
photo. I believe Jupiter actually
supports 67 moons, but 4 large ones called the Galilean moons are often
visible. But that depends upon the
rotation of the earth at any one time as some of the 4 may be obscured from
view and can appear to be at different locations around Jupiter. Galileo was one of the first to recognize the
4 large moons back in 1610 to give them the name Galilean moons.
** The outside world has changed in New
Brunswick today and feeder yards should be very welcome sights to birds. Dave Christie reports the sparrows are
swarming to his Mary’s Point feeders this morning, and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] that had dropped to one or two are
suddenly back in force.
** Brian Stone and I made a stop to the
woods beaver-altered area around Notre Dame on Thursday afternoon as the storm
was looming. It was noted how the BEAVER [Castor] purposely cut trees in the direction
they want them to fall. A male PILEATED WOODPECKER [Grand pic] was very loudly vocalizing announcing
its territory. AN ALTERNATE-LEAVED
DOGWOOD SHRUB was noted that was almost completely covered with the golden
canker fungus (Cryptodiaporthe corni). This shrub can easily be picked out because a
few branches are usually affected by the fungus that produces the golden-yellow
colour. But this specimen seemed
completely consumed. Brian got some
photos of the very ominous clouds in the overhead sky that would whip up a
nor’easter an hour later. A freshly
chewed tree with work approximately 10 to 20 feet up left us wondering what did
the work, seemingly not typical of porcupine, beaver, woodpecker, squirrel,
deer, or moose. Any comments appreciated.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is added
to this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason with a night sky view of some of the
objects to look for on a hopefully clear sky on Valentine’s Day eve.\
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, February 11 – February 18
In springtime they say that love is in the air, but why wait? On Valentine’s Day this Tuesday, step outside with your loved one to seek out love in the night sky. Around 7 pm your eye will no doubt be drawn to a bright object in the west; none other than Venus, the Roman goddess of love. In fact you get a double shot of the goddess, for the planet is “in” the constellation Pisces the Fish. In mythology the constellation depicts Venus and her son Cupid (Aphrodite and Eros in Greek mythology). Frightened by a ferocious monster, they changed into fish as they escaped into the sea but not before tying their ankles together so they would not be separated.
To the upper left of Orion is Gemini the Twins, the stellar personification of brotherly love. Pollux, the brighter of the constellation’s two “head” stars, was fathered by Zeus, and Castor was fathered by King Tyndareus of Sparta. Queen Leda was their mother. The boys were inseparable throughout life, and when Castor was killed immortal Pollux begged Zeus to allow him to die as well. Zeus compromised, allowing them to spend half the year together. Orion himself is smitten with one the Pleiades, but the sisters feared him and asked Zeus to place a bull in the sky to protect them. Had Orion carried flowers instead of a club he would have been less intimidating. The much photographed Rosette Nebula is nearby in the constellation Monoceros the Unicorn. Another much photographed object, the Heart Nebula, lies hidden in Cassiopeia. You won’t see either by stargazing, so Google them.
After stargazing with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day it is almost as delightful to go back inside to warm up together. Have fun.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:28 am and sunset will occur at 5:40 pm, giving 10 hours, 12 minutes of daylight (7:31 am and 5:46 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:17 am and set at 5:50 pm, giving 10 hours, 33 minutes of daylight (7:20 am and 5:56 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is full on Friday, February 10, with the added attraction of a subtle penumbral eclipse. A light gray shadow might be detectable between 8 and 9:30 pm. The Moon is at third quarter on February 18 and Venus is at its greatest brilliance on February 17. Look for orange Mars about 8 degrees to its upper left. Saturn is high enough in the southeast for decent observing by morning twilight, as is Jupiter in the southwest. At 11:26 pm on Sunday, using a scope or steady binoculars you might catch Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system, emerging from Jupiter’s shadow. Starting midweek you have a two-week period to see the ghostly zodiacal light along the western ecliptic an hour after sunset. You will need a clear sky with no light pollution.
The annual Irving Nature Park snowshoe hike and telescope observing occurs at 7 pm on Friday, February 10 at the Sheldon’s Point barn in Saint John. Visit the park Web site for details. The William Brydone Jack Astronomy Club meets on Tuesday at 7 pm in Room 203 of the UNB Forestry / Earth Sciences Building in Fredericton.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
In springtime they say that love is in the air, but why wait? On Valentine’s Day this Tuesday, step outside with your loved one to seek out love in the night sky. Around 7 pm your eye will no doubt be drawn to a bright object in the west; none other than Venus, the Roman goddess of love. In fact you get a double shot of the goddess, for the planet is “in” the constellation Pisces the Fish. In mythology the constellation depicts Venus and her son Cupid (Aphrodite and Eros in Greek mythology). Frightened by a ferocious monster, they changed into fish as they escaped into the sea but not before tying their ankles together so they would not be separated.
To the upper left of Orion is Gemini the Twins, the stellar personification of brotherly love. Pollux, the brighter of the constellation’s two “head” stars, was fathered by Zeus, and Castor was fathered by King Tyndareus of Sparta. Queen Leda was their mother. The boys were inseparable throughout life, and when Castor was killed immortal Pollux begged Zeus to allow him to die as well. Zeus compromised, allowing them to spend half the year together. Orion himself is smitten with one the Pleiades, but the sisters feared him and asked Zeus to place a bull in the sky to protect them. Had Orion carried flowers instead of a club he would have been less intimidating. The much photographed Rosette Nebula is nearby in the constellation Monoceros the Unicorn. Another much photographed object, the Heart Nebula, lies hidden in Cassiopeia. You won’t see either by stargazing, so Google them.
After stargazing with your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day it is almost as delightful to go back inside to warm up together. Have fun.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:28 am and sunset will occur at 5:40 pm, giving 10 hours, 12 minutes of daylight (7:31 am and 5:46 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:17 am and set at 5:50 pm, giving 10 hours, 33 minutes of daylight (7:20 am and 5:56 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is full on Friday, February 10, with the added attraction of a subtle penumbral eclipse. A light gray shadow might be detectable between 8 and 9:30 pm. The Moon is at third quarter on February 18 and Venus is at its greatest brilliance on February 17. Look for orange Mars about 8 degrees to its upper left. Saturn is high enough in the southeast for decent observing by morning twilight, as is Jupiter in the southwest. At 11:26 pm on Sunday, using a scope or steady binoculars you might catch Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system, emerging from Jupiter’s shadow. Starting midweek you have a two-week period to see the ghostly zodiacal light along the western ecliptic an hour after sunset. You will need a clear sky with no light pollution.
The annual Irving Nature Park snowshoe hike and telescope observing occurs at 7 pm on Friday, February 10 at the Sheldon’s Point barn in Saint John. Visit the park Web site for details. The William Brydone Jack Astronomy Club meets on Tuesday at 7 pm in Room 203 of the UNB Forestry / Earth Sciences Building in Fredericton.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
BEAVER CHEWINGS. FEB. 09, 2017. BRIAN STONE
CHEWED TREE . FEB. 09, 2017. BRIAN STONE
CHEWED TREE . FEB. 09, 2017. BRIAN STONE
CLOUDS . FEB. 09, 2017. BRIAN STONE
CLOUDS . FEB. 09, 2017. BRIAN STONE
JUPITER AND MOONS FEB 9 2017 GEORGES BRUN
PILEATED WOODPECKER (MALE). FEB. 09, 2017. BRIAN STONE
Valentine Sky
