NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 22, 2019 (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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** Bob Grant in Cape Spear near Cape Tormentine
spotted an owl atop a post near his wood pile at 11:30 pm Wednesday
evening. It was in bright moonlight, but
he was not able to identify it with certainty.
To his surprise, when he looked out at 7:00 am the next morning
(Thursday), the owl had either remained or returned to the same spot for Bob to
get his binoculars on it to confirm it as a BARRED OWL [Chouette
rayée]. At 7:10
am, it flew off. It is possible that the
wood pile was indeed the interest should any small rodents be in that
area. Bob has bird feeders at the other
side of the house, but the owl seemed more intent on the wood pile.
** Brian Coyle had a very special encounter with
several COYOTES
[Coyote] in the fields across from his Lower Mountain Rd.
home. Wildlife can pay you no better
compliment than almost ignoring your presence!
Some of these Coyotes must be beginning to realize that the camera in
Brian’s hand is not a threat. Note in
one photo of one animal walking to show how one paw goes into the same imprint
as the other one on that side to create that trail pattern called “perfect
stepping” where, in softer substrate, one would see a series of imprints
approximately 19 to 21 inches apart in a mature animal. They use this walking pattern to use less
energy. Also note how the tail is held
down whereas in a Red Fox, it would be held straight out. Another photo shows the tail gland, a scent emitting
area that is at the base of the darkened spot at the tail base.
** Sterling and Judy Marsh comment on a lower
number of birds around their Shediac Rd. feeder yard this year, and they’ve
noticed some predation on RING-NECKED PHEASANT [Faisan de
Colchide] and MOURNING DOVE [Tourterelle triste], wondering
what may be around. On Thursday, as they
were looking out the window, a large bird of undetermined identity zoomed
through their yard with a RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] in
pursuit. The assumed raptor also had the
protest of AMERICAN CROWS [Corneille d'Amérique]. The mystery bird awaits identification. Editor’s
note….mystery solved this morning-tune in tomorrow ‘for the rest of the story’
Within a half hour after the ruckus, their feeder birds returned.
Judy and Sterling’s son is working at a job site in
Vancouver, and sends an interesting photo of a MUSCOVY DUCK [Canard musqué] that appears
to have left its home and is being very well fed by the job site workers. It’s flying to a third floor to visit their
son for handouts. And also, notice the
snow. And that’s Vancouver!
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this
edition, courtesy of sky-guru Curt Nason.
And yes, this week’s edition includes early March. It’s going to happen.
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 February 23 – March 2
Winter is open cluster season for stargazers; star clusters that have formed from the same vast cloud of gas and dust and that usually hang around together for half a billion years. They are also called galactic clusters because these vast clouds typically appear in the spiral arms of our galaxy, and in winter we are looking toward a spiral arm opposite the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. Two of these, the Pleaides (M45) and the Hyades, form the shoulder and face of Taurus the Bull and they are bright enough to be seen within urban areas. Other clusters are visible to the naked eye but require a clear sky with minimal light pollution.
One of those objects is the Beehive star cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer the Crab, which lies between Gemini and Leo. The Beehive is a large glowing patch of haze and its many stars fill the view in a telescope, but large clusters like this are appreciated best with binoculars. In times long past the cluster was used as a storm predictor. It would be one of the first objects to disappear when the light clouds that often precede a weather system would move in.
The Coma Star Cluster, or Melotte 111, lies in the constellation Coma Berenices, between the tail of Leo and Canes Venatici the Hunting Dogs. It is a large, somewhat sparse cluster that spills beyond the view of most binoculars, and centuries ago it was regarded as the tuft of Leo’s tail. The other one, or two, is the Double Cluster between Perseus and Cassiopeia. This pair fits within the view of a low power telescope eyepiece, but binoculars give a better perspective. Following a nearby string of stars with binos will bring you to the Stock 2 star cluster, less spectacular but delightful to observe.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:09 am and sunset will occur at 5:56 pm, giving 10 hours, 47 minutes of daylight (7:11 am and 6:04 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:56 am and set at 6:06 pm, giving 11 hours, 10 minutes of daylight (7:01 am and 6:12 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is at third quarter on Tuesday and it is near Jupiter the following day. Venus pulls away from Saturn in the morning sky, while Jupiter rules over the wee hours until Venus gets out of bed. Mercury is at greatest elongation east of the Sun on Tuesday, sitting high to the left of the sunset point and an easy naked-eye target. Look for a subtle cone of light stretching from the horizon toward Mars, about 45-90 minutes after sunset. Caused by sunlight reflecting off dust within the ecliptic, seeing the zodiacal light requires a clear sky untainted by light pollution.
The provincial astronomy club, RASC NB, meets on February 23 at 1 pm in UNB Fredericton Forestry - Earth Sciences building. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on March 2 at 7 pm. Also, RASC NB members will be holding a public observing event at the Kouchibouguac Park Visitor Centre on March 2 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca
Winter is open cluster season for stargazers; star clusters that have formed from the same vast cloud of gas and dust and that usually hang around together for half a billion years. They are also called galactic clusters because these vast clouds typically appear in the spiral arms of our galaxy, and in winter we are looking toward a spiral arm opposite the centre of our Milky Way galaxy. Two of these, the Pleaides (M45) and the Hyades, form the shoulder and face of Taurus the Bull and they are bright enough to be seen within urban areas. Other clusters are visible to the naked eye but require a clear sky with minimal light pollution.
One of those objects is the Beehive star cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer the Crab, which lies between Gemini and Leo. The Beehive is a large glowing patch of haze and its many stars fill the view in a telescope, but large clusters like this are appreciated best with binoculars. In times long past the cluster was used as a storm predictor. It would be one of the first objects to disappear when the light clouds that often precede a weather system would move in.
The Coma Star Cluster, or Melotte 111, lies in the constellation Coma Berenices, between the tail of Leo and Canes Venatici the Hunting Dogs. It is a large, somewhat sparse cluster that spills beyond the view of most binoculars, and centuries ago it was regarded as the tuft of Leo’s tail. The other one, or two, is the Double Cluster between Perseus and Cassiopeia. This pair fits within the view of a low power telescope eyepiece, but binoculars give a better perspective. Following a nearby string of stars with binos will bring you to the Stock 2 star cluster, less spectacular but delightful to observe.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:09 am and sunset will occur at 5:56 pm, giving 10 hours, 47 minutes of daylight (7:11 am and 6:04 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:56 am and set at 6:06 pm, giving 11 hours, 10 minutes of daylight (7:01 am and 6:12 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is at third quarter on Tuesday and it is near Jupiter the following day. Venus pulls away from Saturn in the morning sky, while Jupiter rules over the wee hours until Venus gets out of bed. Mercury is at greatest elongation east of the Sun on Tuesday, sitting high to the left of the sunset point and an easy naked-eye target. Look for a subtle cone of light stretching from the horizon toward Mars, about 45-90 minutes after sunset. Caused by sunlight reflecting off dust within the ecliptic, seeing the zodiacal light requires a clear sky untainted by light pollution.
The provincial astronomy club, RASC NB, meets on February 23 at 1 pm in UNB Fredericton Forestry - Earth Sciences building. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on March 2 at 7 pm. Also, RASC NB members will be holding a public observing event at the Kouchibouguac Park Visitor Centre on March 2 from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
COYOTE FEBRUARY 21, 2019. BRIAN COYLE
COYOTE FEBRUARY 21, 2019. BRIAN COYLE
COYOTE FEBRUARY 21, 2019. BRIAN COYLE
COYOTE FEBRUARY 21, 2019. BRIAN COYLE
M44_Mel111
MUSCOVY DUCK AT JOB SITE. FEB 2019. VIA JUDY MARSH
