NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 28, 2019 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or
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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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** Georges Brun comments that he never fails to be
surprised over what can appear in the Petitcodiac River after the bore
arrives. He recently saw an object
floating up that was possibly a MOOSE [Orignal] carcass. I suspect some Turkey Vultures or Bald Eagles
are anxiously awaiting it to come to shore.
Recently, he spotted a HARBOUR SEAL [Phoque commun] there to get a
documentary photo. The Gaspereau are
moving up the river at the moment, so that could have been its interest. A breeding-plumaged COMMON LOON [Plongeon
huard] was also motoring up, possibly with the same prey
in mind.
**Georges attended the book launch of Great Trees of New Brunswick on
Wednesday night at the Moncton Public Library, and comments this is a
fascinating book and suggests David Palmer would be an excellent person to
invite for a Nature Moncton meeting presentation.
** Dale Gaskin came across a small nest suitable
for a sparrow-sized bird made totally of horse hair. It was near an area where horses are
pastured. CHIPPING SPARROWS [Bruant
familier] are reported to seek out horse hair for their
nests. The nest looks fresh, but was
empty, so it may have been a used nest from this year or a well-preserved one
from last year.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this
edition, courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 June 29 – July 6
Five millennia ago, Persian and perhaps Egyptian astrologers designated four of the first magnitude stars (the 20 brightest) as Watchers of the Sky, with each guarding one of the four cardinal directions. With their proximity to the Sun at the equinoxes and solstices they were also used to mark seasonal changes. Collectively, they were known as the Royal Stars.
Regulus in Leo and Antares in Scorpius were two of the Royal Stars, and we see them now appearing through evening twilight. Regulus guarded the north and marked the summer solstice, while Antares guarded the west and marked the beginning of autumn. Fomalhaut, in Piscis Austrinus below Aquarius, guarded the south and marked the winter solstice. Aldebaran, currently rising in Taurus less than an hour before sunrise, guarded the east and marked the spring equinox. These stars no longer mark the seasons as they did 5000 years ago due to precession of Earth’s polar axis, which makes one complete wobble every 25,800 years. On the summer solstice, the Sun is now located near the border of Gemini and Taurus.
None of the Royal Stars make the top ten in brightness. The brightest star in the sky for this time of year, Arcturus, is at its highest at sunset. It precedes almost equally bright Vega, which anchors the Summer Triangle with Deneb and Altair. Vega reaches its highest point about half an hour before Fomalhaut rises around 2:30 am. These two stars are the same distance from us, at 25 light years.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:30 am and sunset will occur at 9:14 pm, giving 15 hours, 44 minutes of daylight (5:39 am and 9:16 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:35 am and set at 9:12 pm, giving 15 hours, 37 minutes of daylight (5:43 am and 9:14 pm in Saint John). Earth is at aphelion on Thursday, its farthest distance from the Sun for the year at 152.1 million kilometres.
The Moon is new on Tuesday, with a very slim crescent forming a triangle with Mercury and Mars on Wednesday after sunset. Jupiter is at its highest and best for observing around midnight, and telescope users might see its Red Spot around 11 pm this Saturday. Saturn is high enough around midnight to give decent views of its magnificent icy rings. Venus can be seen with difficulty in morning twilight, rising 45 minutes before sunrise.
The next RASC NB star party will be at Mactaquac Provincial Park on July 5 - 6. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets at the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre at 7 pm on July 6. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Five millennia ago, Persian and perhaps Egyptian astrologers designated four of the first magnitude stars (the 20 brightest) as Watchers of the Sky, with each guarding one of the four cardinal directions. With their proximity to the Sun at the equinoxes and solstices they were also used to mark seasonal changes. Collectively, they were known as the Royal Stars.
Regulus in Leo and Antares in Scorpius were two of the Royal Stars, and we see them now appearing through evening twilight. Regulus guarded the north and marked the summer solstice, while Antares guarded the west and marked the beginning of autumn. Fomalhaut, in Piscis Austrinus below Aquarius, guarded the south and marked the winter solstice. Aldebaran, currently rising in Taurus less than an hour before sunrise, guarded the east and marked the spring equinox. These stars no longer mark the seasons as they did 5000 years ago due to precession of Earth’s polar axis, which makes one complete wobble every 25,800 years. On the summer solstice, the Sun is now located near the border of Gemini and Taurus.
None of the Royal Stars make the top ten in brightness. The brightest star in the sky for this time of year, Arcturus, is at its highest at sunset. It precedes almost equally bright Vega, which anchors the Summer Triangle with Deneb and Altair. Vega reaches its highest point about half an hour before Fomalhaut rises around 2:30 am. These two stars are the same distance from us, at 25 light years.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:30 am and sunset will occur at 9:14 pm, giving 15 hours, 44 minutes of daylight (5:39 am and 9:16 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:35 am and set at 9:12 pm, giving 15 hours, 37 minutes of daylight (5:43 am and 9:14 pm in Saint John). Earth is at aphelion on Thursday, its farthest distance from the Sun for the year at 152.1 million kilometres.
The Moon is new on Tuesday, with a very slim crescent forming a triangle with Mercury and Mars on Wednesday after sunset. Jupiter is at its highest and best for observing around midnight, and telescope users might see its Red Spot around 11 pm this Saturday. Saturn is high enough around midnight to give decent views of its magnificent icy rings. Venus can be seen with difficulty in morning twilight, rising 45 minutes before sunrise.
The next RASC NB star party will be at Mactaquac Provincial Park on July 5 - 6. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets at the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre at 7 pm on July 6. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
BIRD'S NEST CONSTRUCTED WITH HORSE HAIR. JUNE 27, 2019. NELSON POIRIER
COMMON LOON. JUNE 20, 2019. GEORGES BRUN
HARBOR SEAL JUNE 25 2019 GEORGES BRUN
Royal Stars
