#the worlds largest refracting telescope

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Yerkes Observatory

Yerkes Observatory, astronomical observatory located at Williams Bay on Lake Geneva in southeastern Wisconsin, U.S. The Yerkes Observatory of the University of Chicago was named for its benefactor, transportation magnate Charles T. Yerkes, and was opened in 1897. It contains the largest refracting telescope (40 inches [1 metre]) in the world. The refractor has been used for solar and stellar spectroscopy, photographic parallaxes, and double-star observations, while other more modern telescopes at the site have been equipped for photoelectric, polarimetric, and spectroscopic applications.

[skinmechanix]

Robert Sterling Newall and his 25" telescope, Gateshead, circa 1900. Once the largest refracting telescope in the world, it's now in Athens.

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Global Telescope Market Size, Share, Growth Analysis, By Type(Refracting telescope, Reflecting telescope)

Global Telescope Market Insights

Global Telescope Market size was valued at USD 1198.3 million in 2021 and is poised to grow from USD 1215.08 million in 2022 to USD 1358.02 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 1.4% in the forecast period (2023-2030).

The global telescope market is driven by increasing demand from amateur astronomy to see and record astronomical phenomena due to rising interest in science fiction films. The demand for telescopes is mainly due to the development of astronomical research and the increase in the scope of the hobby. An increase in financial investment in astronomical research and national consumption capacity as well as national policies on astronomical education is the main growth factors for the telescope market.

Global telescope market is expected to grow due to the growing trend of amateur astronomy. Various science fiction games and television series are increasing interest in space and astronomy among the young generation around the world. Major market players are focusing on developing binoculars that are portable and enable users to easily connect and access features through their handsets. This is one of the major factors driving the demand for telescopes. Major industry players are concentrating on creating portable binoculars that let users quickly connect to the internet and access features through their smartphones. This is one of the main factors influencing telescope demand. Telescopes have become widely available in homes thanks to quick technological developments in the astronomy field, particularly in the fields of electronics and optics. Also, Internet of Things (IoT) enabled devices such as smartphones, and personal computers have also helped in the rapid adoption of astronomical telescopes. Films and television have greatly influenced children and adults regarding space technology and astronomical gadgets. High equipment prices and their associated components such as tripods, additional lenses, and other gears have a major challenge to market expansion.

Global Telescope Market Segmental Analysis

Global telescope market is segmented on the basis of type, application, distribution channel, and region. On the basis of type, global telescope market is segmented into, refracting telescope, reflecting telescope and catadioptric telescope. On the basis of application, global telescope market is segmented into personal, educational services and scientist research institute. By distribution channel, the Telescope Market is segmented into Offline and Online. On the basis of region, global telescope market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and MEA.

Telescope Market Analysis by Type

On the basis of type, global telescope market is segmented into, refracting telescope, reflecting telescope and catadioptric telescope. Refracting telescope segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022. Rising demand for telescopes capable of producing high-resolution images of distant objects is a major factor expected to drive growth of the segment. A refracting telescope uses a high-quality lens to bend light to a specific focal point so that the object is clearly visible to the viewer. It is generally preferred because of its straightforward and user-friendly design and operation.

Telescope Market Analysis by Application

On the basis of application, global telescope market is segmented into personal, amateur astronomy educational services and scientist research institute. The amateur astronomy segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2022. Major drivers of this segment's growth include the escalating demand for portable telescopes and rapid technological advancements. Young people engage in the fascinating hobby of amateur astronomy to enrich their daily lives with knowledge. Additionally, youth can stay engaged in amateur astronomy, which enhances and increases their knowledge of various celestial bodies.

[ocdhuacheng]

this part of my stupid cringe ass application essay is sooooo fucking funny because here i am lamenting that i never really got much in person observing/technical experience in school because of covid, BUT the experience i DID have is a fucking hydrogen bomb. Like i feel like casually dropping that ive personally used the largest refracting telescope in the world sounds so pretentious and braggy to anyone whos familiar with the history of astronomy but like in such a lowkey way like idk if its just because ive been looking at this for too long but id totally push myself into a locker for this like. ok nerd. you think youre better than us? you think your dick is bigger than ours? nerd

[yhwhrulz]

Today's selected anniversaries: 3rd January 2023

1888:

The 36-inch (91 cm) refracting telescope at the Lick Observatory near San Jose, California, the largest in the world until 1897, was used for the first time. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_Observatory

1911:

A gun battle in the East End of London left two dead and sparked a political row over the operational involvement of Winston Churchill, then Home Secretary. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sidney_Street

1973:

CBS announced the sale of the New York Yankees professional baseball team to a group of investors headed by American businessman George Steinbrenner. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Yankees

1976:

The multilateral International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, part of the International Bill of Human Rights, came into effect. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Covenant_on_Economic,_Social_and_Cultural_Rights

[sensationaltech]

How Do Telescopes Work?

What is a Telescope? Telescopes are instruments used to observe distant objects by gathering and focusing their light. The word telescope was coined in the early 1600s, based on the Greek word for "far sighted" or "to see at a distance." Telescopes work because they use lenses to collect and focus light from distant objects. The basic design of a telescope consists of a long, narrow tube with one or more large lenses at one end, and an eyepiece at the other end. The size of the lens(es) determines how much light is collected—the larger the lens(es), the more light can be collected. How Do Telescopes Work? Telescopes are one of the most important inventions in the history of science. They were invented by Galileo Galilei in 1609, and they allow scientists to look at objects that are too far away to see with the naked eye. Telescopes work by collecting light from distant objects and focusing it into a sharp image. Telescopes can be categorized according to their design or size, but they all work on the same basic principle: they collect light and bring it into focus. Types of Telescopes and What They Do Telescopes are used for a variety of purposes, including astronomy and navigation. Refracting telescopes use lenses to form an image. They are usually more portable than other types of telescope and can be used for a wider range of applications, but they have a smaller aperture size. Reflecting telescopes use mirrors to form an image and typically have a larger aperture size than refracting telescopes. Telescopes are used in many different fields, including astronomy and navigation. Refracting telescopes use lenses to form an image while reflecting telescopes use mirrors to form the image. The refracting telescope is usually more portable than other types of telescope but has a smaller aperture size while the reflecting telescope has a larger aperture size but is less portable.

The Biggest Telescopes on Earth

What is the Biggest Telescope on Earth? The largest telescope is the Extremely Large Telescope, which is located in Chile. It was built by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The ESO is an international organization of 16 countries that provides research and other scientific services to astronomers. They are responsible for building and operating the world's most advanced ground-based astronomical observatories. The ESO has four main observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal, Chajnantor and La Palma. The largest telescope is the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), which is located in Chile at Cerro Armazones on Cerro Armazones. It was built by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The ELT will be a 39 meter-diameter aperture optical/near-infrared telescope with a segmented primary mirror composed of 798 hexagonal segments with a total weight of 1178 tonnes. How Big is the Largest Optical Telescope in the World? The largest optical telescope in the world is the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). It is located on the island of La Palma in Spain. The GTC has a diameter of 10.4 meters and weighs about 220 metric tons. It was built at a cost of about US$200 million and took about five years to assemble. The telescope is operated by a consortium of European countries, led by Spain. The Largest Radio Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory Jodrell Bank Observatory is a famous radio telescope in the UK. It is the third largest steerable dish radio telescope in the world. The Jodrell Bank Observatory is situated close to the village of Goostrey, Cheshire, England. The observatory was established in 1945 by Sir Bernard Lovell and it has been managed by The University of Manchester since 1957. The observatory’s most notable feature is its 76-meter (250 ft) diameter radio telescope, which at one time was the third largest steerable dish radio telescope in the world. Read the full article

[historichollywoodphotographs]

Outdoors in Hollywood: GRIFFITH PARK and One Man’s Vision for Public Recreation

Hollywood’s largest and most spectacular outdoor space is Griffith Park, a gift to Los Angeles by Colonel Griffith Jenkins Griffith. Griffith, a colorful philanthropist, purchased the Los Feliz Rancho and later donated it to the City in 1896. He intended that the 3000+ acres would be used in perpetuity as “a place of recreation and rest for the masses, a resort for the rank and file, for the plain people” including art and educational activities. He left a trust fund for the construction of a scientific observatory and a “Greek” theater in his will. The classically designed cultural institutions were to take advantage of their natural settings within the park, with a theater tucked away in wooded Vermont Canyon and an Observatory atop Mount Hollywood. Today, additional cultural and recreation facilities within the landmark historic district include the Los Angeles Zoo, Travel Town and related railroad museums, the Autry Museum, a carousel (1937), golf courses, hiking trails, and an equestrian center.  

GREEK THEATER   2700 Vermont Avenue                                                                                            

The dream for the Greek Theater was slow to fruition, but by 1928 the building had been designed by a consortium of architects, including Samuel Tilden Norton, to resemble a Greek Temple, with its seating designed into the curve of the amphitheater. It opened in 1930, showcasing operatic music for its first few seasons, before broadening its programming to include most all musical genres and theatrical arts. With seating for nearly 4,000 patrons, seats in the lower sections were originally $1, others were free. Like its neighbor in the Cahuenga Pass, the Pilgrimage Theater, it was briefly used as a barracks during World War II, before touring Broadway shows such as Showboat and Anything Goesreturned for its summer seasons during the 1950s and 60s. Intimate concerts with Harry Belafonte, Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, and Santana drew Los Angeles residents for picnics and music year after year. The venue was also used for high school graduations, community events, and location filming. It was expanded to 5900 seats during its 75th anniversary season in 2006, with additional structural refurbishments that were completed in 2015.

GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY 2800 E. Observatory Road

Griffith Observatory's unique architecture and setting, compelling programmatic offerings and cinematic exposure have made it one of the most famous and visited landmarks in Southern California. Tens of millions of people come to tour the building, view the live planetarium shows, or simply gaze out towards the coast and the heavens. This cultural and scientific icon owes its existence to the dream of Griffith J. Griffith, as well as the dedicated scientists and public servants who worked to fulfill his vision of making astronomy and observation accessible to all.

Supplementing his earlier gift of parkland, Griffith offered the City of Los Angeles $100,000 on December 12, 1912 to finance an observatory to be built on the top of Mount Hollywood. Griffith's plan included an astronomical telescope open to free viewing; a Hall of Science designed to expose the public to fascinating exhibits about the physical sciences; and a motion picture theater to show films about science and other educational subjects. This last aspect of the plan would eventually evolve into the planetarium, a technology not invented until the 1920s. Griffith understood that his vision of a public observatory would not be realized in his lifetime, thus he drafted a will containing bequests for the Observatory and Greek Theater, along with detailed specifications regarding the nature of the observatory, its location, and programmatic offerings before his death in 1919.

Master architects John C. Austin and Frederick M. Ashley were responsible for the elaborate Art Deco design which also integrated Classical and Beaux Arts elements. Groundbreaking for the Griffith Observatory occurred on June 20, 1933 with scientist Russell W. Porter and Caltech physicist Edward Kurth being instrumental to the process. The Long Beach Earthquake of 1933 led the design team to make changes to strengthen walls and forego the use of terra cotta on the exterior, though the lower construction cost of the Great Depression still allowed for the use of high-quality materials and finishes (colorful tile, sophisticated metal workings, and marble) throughout the interior. Six artists created sculptures for the site funded by a public works initiative including the Astronomers Monument, thought to be one of the most significant pieces created by the program.

The dedication and formal opening of the Griffith Observatory took place amid much fanfare on May 14, 1935. The Griffith Trust transferred ownership of the building to the City of Los Angeles’s Department of Recreation and Parks, which has operated the facility ever since. Intended mainly for nighttime viewing of the Moon and solar system, it’s been a continuously popular destination since its opening, with more than 10 million people putting an eye to the Observatory's original 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope. More people viewed Halley's Comet, and the Hale-Bopp and Hyakutake comets, through the Observatory's Zeiss telescope than any other telescope on the planet. The Griffith Observatory has also been a location site in many Hollywood movies, including most famously, Rebel Without A Cause starring James Dean and Natalie Wood. For years, the observatory has been flooded with searchlights at night, and from its perch high atop Mount Hollywood, one can see the Hollywood Sign, The Ennis House and Barnsdall Art Park designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and numerous other landmarks throughout Hollywood’s basin.

~ Christy McAvoy, Historic Hollywood Photographs

Sources: Bruce Torrence; EO Palmer; Discover Hollywood magazine; lagreektheater.com; laparks.org/griffith; A History of the Griffith Observatory, Hansen, Wang and Cook.

[er-cryptid]

The largest refracting telescope in the world is located at Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin.

[rebell-k]

The Black Family Names – Real Facts

Sirius

All stars shine but none do it like Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Aptly named, Sirius comes from the Greek word Seirius, meaning, "searing" or "scorching." Blazing at magnitude -1.42, it's twice as bright as any star in our sky besides the Sun.

Sirius resides in the constellation Canis Major, the Big Dog, and is commonly called the Dog Star. In ancient Greece the dawn rising of Sirius marked the hottest part of summer—the season's "dog days."

Sirius no longer marks the hottest part of summer, because it now rises later in the year. This happens because the Earth has been wobbling slowly around its axis in a 25,800-year cycle. This wobble—called precession—is caused by the gravitational attraction of the Moon on Earth's equatorial bulge, and it gradually changes the locations of stars on the celestial sphere.

The best time to see Sirius is probably in winter (for northern-hemisphere observers), because it rises fairly early in the evening. To find the Dog Star, use the constellation Orion as a guide. Follow the three belt stars 20 degrees southeast to the brightest star in the sky. Your fist at arm's length covers about 10 degrees of sky, so it's about two fist-widths down.

Sirius, the red giant star Betelgeuse, and Procyon in Canis Minor form a popular asterism known as the Winter Triangle. Sirius is 23 times as luminous as the Sun, and about twice the mass and diameter. At a mere 8.5 light-years away from Earth, Sirius seems so bright in part because it's the fifth-closest star to the Sun. The brilliance of Sirius illuminates not only our night skies, but also our understanding. While observing it in 1718, Edmond Halley (of comet fame) discovered that stars move in relation to one another—a principle now known as proper motion.

In 1844, the German astronomer Friedrich Bessel observed that Sirius had a wobble, as if it were being tugged by a companion star. And in 1862, Alvan Clark solved this mystery (while testing his new 18.5-inch lens, the largest refracting telescope in the world at that time). Clark discovered that Sirius was not one star but two. This proved to be the first discovery in what became a whole class of stars: the compact stellar remnant or white dwarf. These are stars that, once depleting all their hydrogen, collapse to a very dense core. Astronomers have calculated that Sirius's companion—dubbed Sirius B—contains the mass of the Sun in a package as small as the Earth.

Sixteen milliliters of matter from Sirius B (that is, about one cubic inch of the stuff) would weigh 2000 kilograms on Earth. At magnitude 8.5, it is one four-hundredth as luminous as the Sun. The brighter and larger companion is now known as Sirius A.

[businessconsultingarticle]

Astronomical Telescope Market Opportunities, Trends, Products, Revenue Analysis, For 2028

The Global Astronomical Telescope Market is forecasted to grow from 245.2 Thousand Units in 2020 to 496.4 Thousand Units in 2028 with a CAGR of 9.2% over the forecast period. The market is forecasted to reach USD 345.1 Million by 2028, according to a new report by Reports and Data. This can be mainly associated with the increase in economic investment on astronomical research, the national consumption capacity, and the national policies on astronomical education.

Astronomical education is the methods adopted globally to create interest among the generations about Earth, astronomy and space science. Astronomical education and research compile the full range of studies—from the physics of invisible elementary particles to the nature of space and time to biology regarding the natural phenomena. These qualities make astronomical studies a valuable way of raising awareness among people about science, by introducing scientific concepts and encourage scientific thinking to students at all levels.

To get a FREE sample PDF copy of the report @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/1216

For instance, there are approximately 1,100 planetariums in North America, out of which 30 percent of them are available to school groups only, and 70 percent serve both school and public shows.

The shift in interest preferences of amateur astronomy may hinder the growth of the market. Amateur astronomy participants may not necessarily have advanced academic training or degree in astrophysics. Amateur astronomy is an expensive hobby with requirement of modern and precise telescope and lenses etc.

Key participants include Synta, Astro-Physics, Celestron, Meade, Vixen Optics, TAKAHASHI, Bushnell, Bresser, ORION, Barska, Bosma, Visionking and Sky-Watcher, among others.

For the purpose of this report, Reports and Data have segmented global Astronomical Telescope Market on the basis of equipment, product, application and region:

Product Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; 2020-2028, Revenue, USD Million; 2020-2028)

Refracting Telescope

Reflector Telescope

Catadioptric Telescope

Equipment Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; 2020-2028, Revenue, USD Million; 2020-2028)

Eyepieces

Tripods

Cameras

Mount

Lenses

Focal Reducers

Others

Application Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; 2020-2028, Revenue, USD Million; 2020-2028)

Amateur astronomy (Entry-level telescope)

Professional Research (Advanced astronomical     telescope)

Others (Intermediate level)

Regional Outlook (Volume, Thousand Units; 2020-2028, Revenue, USD Million; 2020-2028)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Rest of the World

To know more about the report @ https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/astronomical-telescope-market

Further key findings from the report suggest

The market is segmented on the basis of product     into refracting telescope, reflector telescope, and catadioptric     telescope. The Reflectors Telescope held the largest volume of the market     in 2020 and is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast     period.

These telescopes are best for exploring dimly     lit deep-sky objects, like low magnitude stars, clusters, and nebulas.     Moreover, unlike refracting telescopes, reflector telescopes do not suffer     from chromatic aberration.

The market is segmented on the basis of     equipment into eyepieces, tripods, cameras, mount, lenses, focal reducers,     and others. Others segment held the second largest share in 2020, in terms     of volume.

Tripods and mounts held the second largest     share in 2020, and are forecasted to grow, in terms of shipment volume,     with CAGR of 11.6% and 9.9% during the forecast period, respectively.

Tripods are supports for telescopes. The tube     needs to be place on something so people can see through it. Tripods are     generally used as the height of it can be adjusted depending on the one’s     preference.

Mounts are easily categorized as the most     useful part of the telescope setup. A mount is generally used for     supporting a telescope to avoid vibrations and also used to point and     guide the instrument. Mount is responsible for how a person moves, aligns     and track celestial objects.

The market is segmented on the basis of     application into amateur astronomy (Enter-level telescope), Professional     Research (Advanced astronomical telescope) and Others (Intermediate     level). Amateur astronomy (Entry-level telescope) is the fastest growing     segment in terms of revenue, and is expected to have a CAGR of 7.2% during     the forecast period.

Amateur astronomers engage in many imaging     techniques including film, DSLR, LRGB, and CCD astrophotography. Since CCD     imagers are linear in nature, image processing can be used to reduce the     effects of light pollution, thus increasing the popularity of     astrophotography in urban areas.

The market is segmented on the basis of     geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and

North America holds the largest market share of     in 2020 by volume, due to the presence of the largest space organization     NASA and other astronomical research institutions. The region will witness     a growth of 7.8%, in terms of volume, during the forecast period.

The companies have adopted various strategies     including mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships to hold ongoing trails     and come up with new developments in the market.

Key Highlights in the Report:

Provides a detailed overview of market growth and patterns for the     years 2021-2026, including key market parameters.

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Technical advances, regulatory environment, recent innovations, and     existing and emerging trends in the Athleisure market are all covered in     this report.

Comprehensive industry analysis, including key statistical data and     market knowledge gleaned from primary and secondary research.

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[yhwhrulz]

Today's selected anniversaries: 3rd January 2022

1888:

The 36-inch (91 cm) refracting telescope at the Lick Observatory near San Jose, California, the largest in the world until 1897, was used for the first time. <ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lick_Observatory

1919:

Emir Faisal of Iraq signed an agreement with Zionist leader Chaim Weizmann on the development of a Jewish homeland in Palestine and an Arab nation in a large part of the Middle East. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faisal%E2%80%93Weizmann_Agreement

1976:

The multilateral International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, part of the International Bill of Human Rights, came into effect. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Covenant_on_Economic,_Social_and_Cultural_Rights

2002:

Israeli forces seized MV Karine A, which was carrying 50 tonnes of smuggled weapons on behalf of the Palestinian National Authority. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karine_A_affair

[geekytrainer8]

China builds the world's largest refracting telescope | Digital Trends Spanish

China builds the world’s largest refracting telescope | Digital Trends Spanish

Scientists from China are working to install what could be the world’s largest refracting telescope in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Local media affirm that this construction seeks to encourage the observation of stars and planets from a privileged geographical location. According to Wang Junjie, deputy director of the regional department of science and technology, the construction of the…

[entertainmentnerdly]

Historic Yerkes Observatory will reopen after indefinitely closing its doors last year. In the past 122 years, Yerkes hosted 3 Nobel laureates, the world's largest refracting telescope, and countless discoveries. Ownership will transfer from the University of Chicago to the Yerkes Future Foundation. via /r/space https://ift.tt/32sw2c2

[carlidigcoll-blog]

[Exterior view of the Yerkes Observatory of the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.] | University of Illinois at Chicago | CARLI Digital Collections

The Yerkes Observatory’s 100 cm (40 in) refracting telescope was exhibited at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago before it was installed at the observatory in Williams Bay, Wisconsin. It’s the largest refracting telescope ever successfully used for astronomical research, financed by Chicago tycoon Charles Tyson Yerkes. (More about this collection.)

Posted by Matthew Short, Digital Collections and Metadata Librarian, Northern Illinois University

[astrogeoguy]

Stunning Stars, Venus Kisses Saturn, Maximum Mercury, a Full Snow Supermoon, and Zodiacal Light!

(Above: Turn your binoculars on the upper right quadrant of the moon this week and look for this spray of rays arranged asymmetrically around the fresh, young crater named Proclus. The object that formed the crater arrived at a shallow angle from the lower left, tossing the ejecta out in front of it.)

Hello, Stargazers!

Here are your Astronomy Skylights for the week of February 17th, 2019 by Chris Vaughan. Feel free to pass this along to your friends and send me your comments, questions, and suggested topics. I repost these emails with photos at http://astrogeoguy.tumblr.com/ where all the old editions are archived. You can also follow me on Twitter as @astrogeoguy! Unless otherwise noted, all times are Eastern Time. Please click this MailChimp link to subscribe to these emails. If you are a teacher or group leader interested joining me on a guided field trip to York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory or the David Dunlap Observatory, visit www.astrogeo.ca.

I can bring my Digital Starlab inflatable planetarium to your school or other daytime or evening event, visit DiscoveryPlanitarium.com and request me. We’ll tour the Universe together!

Public Astro-Events

Every Monday evening, York University’s Allan I. Carswell Observatory runs an online star party - broadcasting views from four telescopes/cameras, answering viewer questions, and taking requests! Details are here. On Wednesday nights they offer free public viewing through their rooftop telescopes. If it’s cloudy, the astronomers give tours and presentations. Details are here. 

On Thursday, February 21 at 7 pm, the Brentwood Library will present a free public lecture by U of T astronomer Max King, entitled Mission to Pluto: From Napkins to New Horizons. Details are here. 

On Friday, February 22, starting at 7 pm, U of T’s AstroTour will present their free planetarium show entitled Grand Tour of the Cosmos. Details are here. 

From 7 to 9 pm on Saturday, February 23, at Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas St East, the Dunlap Institute will host SpaceTime! This free, all-ages event is a celebration of astronomy featuring 10-minute talks by dynamic speakers, games, giveaways, and informal chatting while sampling space-themed refreshments. Details are here. 

On Sunday afternoon, February 24 at 2 pm in the JRR Macleod Auditorium at U of T, RASC and the Royal Canadian Institute (RCI) will co-present a free public panel discussion entitled Should Humans Go to Mars? The event is waitlisted already, but you can get more details here. 

The Bright Stars of February

Even with the moon near full, the cold clear nights of February feature many bright stars you can pick out with your unaided eyes in the evening sky. Keep this list handy. They’ll be there for the next month or so. I’ve put their brightness rankings (3rd brightest in the night sky, 7th, etc.) in brackets.

(Above: The southern sky in mid-February at 7 pm local time features the bright winter constellations, plus circumpolar Perseus with its medium-bright star Mirfak shown here near the zenith.) 

Let’s start in the western half of the sky because those stars set first. Look directly northwest after dusk for Deneb (19th), the top star of the Summer Triangle. Deneb is a hot, bluish white star that marks the tail of Cygnus (the Swan). It sets at about 10:30 pm local time. 

Next, turn fully around and look very high up the eastern sky. Bright yellowish Capella (6th) will be positioned near the zenith and orange-tinted Aldebaran (14th) will be positioned about three fist widths to the right of it. Capella is the brightest star in the large circular constellation of Auriga (“Oar-EYE-gah”) (the Charioteer), while Aldebaran is the baleful red eye of Taurus (the Bull), whose triangular face is tilted down to the left. Two fist diameters above Capella, you will find the white star Mirfak (35th) in Perseus (the Hero). The sky around Mirfak is a spectacular in binoculars. 

When you face south, the well-known constellation of Orion (the Hunter) sits below, and a little bit to the left of, Aldebaran. Orion’s eastern (left-hand) shoulder is the old and bright, reddish star Betelgeuse (11th). His opposite foot is a bluish star of similar brightness named Rigel (7th). Rigel’s 862 light-year distance from Earth is actually almost twice as far as Betelgeuse’s 498 light-years – but it emits much more visible light. 

Orion’s three-starred belt is a highlight of the winter sky. From east to west (lower left to upper right) the stars are Alnitak (30th), Alnilam (29th), and Mintaka (67th). The three stars are evenly spaced - almost exactly 1.3° (or about three moon diameters) apart. Orion’s other shoulder is marked by bluish white Bellatrix (26th), and his opposite foot is called Saiph (53rd). 

To the upper left of Orion sits the zodiac constellation of Gemini (the Twins). Its brightest stars are yellowish Pollux (17th) and pale white Castor (23rd). Like many twins, it’s a challenge to remember which is which. Castor, the higher star, rises first, just as “C” precedes “P” in the alphabet. 

The world’s brightest night-time star sits below Orion. Sirius (1st), also called the Dog Star because it resides in the constellation of Canis Major (the Large Dog), is a very hot, bluish-white star. It’s so bright because it is our neighbour - positioned “just up the street” at only 8.6 light-years away. Sirius has a reputation for twinkling vigorously with flashes of pure colour. This is because it sits fairly low in the sky for mid-latitude residents, and we see it shining through a thicker blanket of refracting air. 

While Sirius marks the dog’s head (or his collar, depending on how you connect the dots), his rear foot is marked by a star named Adhara (22nd), which sits 1.2 fist diameters below Sirius. Adhara is a distant and incredibly luminous star located 405 light-years away. Sirius’ bright little sibling Procyon (8th) sits 25° (or 2.5 fist widths) to Sirius’ upper left, under Gemini, in the constellation of Canis Minor (the Little Dog). At 11 light-years, it’s another close neighbour.

(Above: The southeastern sky in late evening in mid-February lets us preview the bright stars of the spring constellations Leo, Virgo, and Bootes. Arcturus follows the Big Bear and its medium-bright Big Dipper.)  

Turning our attention to the east, the bright, white star Regulus (21st), which marks the heart of Leo (the Lion), will be obvious in the lower third of the sky in early evening, and higher later on. After 9 pm local time, the very bright, orange-tinted star Arcturus (4th) will rise in the eastern sky in Boötes (the Herdsman). Arcturus’ name means “guardian of the bear”, because it follows Ursa Major (the Big Bear) around the heavens. 

Speaking of Ursa Major, its famous asterism, the Big Dipper, is composed of seven medium-bright stars, three of which are ranked in the top 40 brightest stars (Alioth, Dubhe, and Alkaid). Contrary to popular belief, modest Polaris the North Star, which marks the long tail of Ursa Minor (the Little Bear) and the top of the Little Dipper’s handle, ranks only 48th in brightness. 

I’ll post sky charts here showing where these stars are. In February, most of them will reach their highest points, in the southern sky, before midnight - perfect to catch your eye through a south-facing window before bedtime. Good hunting! 

The Moon and Planets

Tonight (Sunday) the moon will buzz the southern edge of the large open star cluster known as The Beehive (or Messier 44) in the constellation of Cancer (the Crab). The moon and the cluster will both fit within the field of view of binoculars or a low magnification telescope, but the moon’s brilliance will mostly overwhelm the clusters’ stars. The moon sweeps past or through that cluster frequently because the Beehive’s position is only a finger’s width north of the ecliptic, the great circle around the sky that most solar system objects’ orbits are parallel with. 

(Above: On Sunday evening, February 17, the nearly full moon will skate past the southern edge of the large open star cluster known as the Beehive. Put the moon just outside of your binoculars’ field of view and see if you can spot the clusters’ stars.) 

The moon’s disk will continue to fill with light until Tuesday morning. At that time, the February full moon, known as the Snow Moon or Hunger Moon will occur among the stars of Leo (the Lion). Since the moon will reach its full phase about midway between Monday and Tuesday evening, to the casual eye it will appear full on both nights. But if you look closely at the moon on Monday night, you’ll be able to see that the craters in a narrow strip along the moon’s left (or western) edge will have shadows. On the following night, that textured strip will migrate to the moon’s opposite (eastern) edge because the moon has crossed the line connecting the sun and Earth. 

Full moons always rise around sunset and set around sunrise, and the position of the ecliptic on winter nights causes February moons to climb very high in the night sky. In fact, the shadows generated in your backyard by the bright moonlight will match the shadows cast by the sun in early August. This full moon will occur only 7 hours after perigee, the point in the moon’s orbit when it is closest to Earth, making it the largest and brightest full moon, or supermoon, of 2019 and will generate high tides globally. 

(Above: The February 19 Full Wolf Moon will occur hours after perigee, making it the largest and brightest supermoon of 2019. That said, a supermoon does not appear look much different from an average moon, or even its counterpart - the apogee moon shown at left.)

From Wednesday onward, the moon will wane and rise later as it crosses through the constellations of Leo and then Virgo (the Maiden). In the pre-dawn southeastern sky next Sunday, the moon will appear a palm’s width above the medium-bright star Zubelelgenubi in Libra (the Scales). 

(Above: This week is the best chance for 2019 for Northern Hemisphere observers to see elusive Mercury. Look for the planet low in the western sky after sunset, as shown here at 6:40 pm local time on February 23.)

This week offers your best and easiest opportunity to see Mercury during 2019, if you live in the Northern Hemisphere. The elusive inner planet will speedily climb higher and away from the sun all week, allowing it to set while the sky is darker. Find a viewing spot where the western horizon is low and free of foreground obstructions. Once the sun has fully set, sweep the sky with binoculars - or your own sharp eyeballs – looking for a medium bright, unmoving point of light. Early this week, the best time to look will be between 6 and 6:30 pm local time. By next Sunday, the viewing window will close half an hour later, under a much darker sky.

Once you’ve found Mercury, try looking at it through a small telescope. It will show a waning gibbous (more than half illuminated) phase, and that phase will rapidly wane all week!

(Above: As shown here at 8 pm local time, Mars is the only bright planet in the evening sky nowadays. The red planet has been slowly pulling away from much dimmer, green-blue Uranus.)  

The other easy evening planet to see this week is reddish Mars. After dusk, Mars will appear as a medium-bright, reddish pinpoint of light in the lower third of the western sky among the dim stars of Aries (the Ram). The Red Planet will set at about 11:20 pm local time. Mars is slowly shrinking in size and brightness as we increase our distance from it little-by-little. 

Last week, Mars passed near Uranus, and it is still positioned only a few finger widths above that far dimmer, blue-green planet. During this week, Mars will move farther away from Uranus. In the meantime, the distant ice giant planet will remain positioned about 1.6 finger widths above the modestly bright star named Torcular (or Omega Piscium). This week, Uranus will set at around 10:45 pm local time.

(Above: The southeastern pre-dawn sky features the three bright planets Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn. On Monday morning, Venus will descend to pass only a finger’s width above much dimmer Saturn, as shown here at 6 am local time.)  

The sight of three bright planets this week, two of them kissing, might entice you to rise early and peek outside at dawn. All week long, bright Jupiter will be visible in the southeastern sky between 3:30 am local time and dawn. A pretty celestial sight occurs on the pre-dawn mornings surrounding Monday, February 18, when observers will see rapidly descending Venus pass very close to distant Saturn. At closest approach on Monday morning, extremely bright, white Venus will be located 1 finger’s width above dimmer, yellowish Saturn – placing both planets within the field of view of a backyard telescope. At that time, Venus will exhibit a partially illuminated disk. For best results, look for the duo low in the southeastern sky between 6 and 7 am local time.

Evening Zodiacal Light

For about half an hour after dusk during the two week period preceding the new moon on March 6, look west-southwest for a broad wedge of faint light rising from the horizon and centered on the ecliptic. This is the zodiacal light - reflected sunlight from interplanetary particles of matter concentrated in the plane of the solar system. The glow will be centred on the horizon directly below Mars. Try to observe from a location without light pollution, and don't confuse the zodiacal light with the brighter Milky Way to the northwest.

(Above: The Zodiacal Light is sunlight scattered off of interplanetary dust in the plane of the solar system. In moonless periods when the spring ecliptic is near vertical, the light can be seen from dark sky sites for a short time after dusk, as shown here at 7:30 pm local time.)  

Keep looking up, and enjoy the sky when you do. I love questions and requests - so, send me some!

[thatsnakeman]

Yerkes Observatory. Largest refracting telescope in the world! In my hometown of Williams Bay, Wisconsin. [OC] [4032x3024] via /r/EarthPorn http://bit.ly/2Ap702i