2016 Observing
Jan 7, 2016 18:16:44 GMT
Post by Carisa Adams on Jan 7, 2016 18:16:44 GMT
Viewing in 2016
It will be a very good year for viewing after the monthly meetings at Indian Hill, weather permitting. With the new moon occurring the first week of the month during the summer, the first week of the month usually will be the best week of the month to view deep sky objects. But trying to do a Messier Marathon in March will be difficult due to a full moon occurring near the Spring Equinox.
One uncommon event that will occur this year is the Transit of Mercury across the face the Sun on Monday, May 9th. This event will be start at 7:12AM go will take about 7 1/2 hours to complete.
The Planets
Mercury – This can be a difficult planet to view since it is never far from the Sun and can usually only be viewed low on the horizon, in the twilight sky. There are three evening and three morning apparitions this year. The best chance to see it in the evening will be in mid April and the best chance in the morning is at the end of September.
Venus – Starts the year higher up in the SE morning sky. During January and February, Venus loses a lot of height so for March through June it will be low on the horizon at sunrise. After it’s conjunction with the Sun on June 6th, Venus will become the “Evening Star”, but for a few months after conjunction, it will be lower in W sky after sunset. Near the end of year it will start to climb higher and will dominate the W sky after sunset.
Mars – The Earth only passes Mars around every 26 months, so basically only every other year we have a chance to see any details on it. This is an opposition year, happening on May 22th. Mars normally has a size of about 3.5”, but during this opposition it size will increase to 18.6” and its magnitude will increase to -2.1. The couple months leading up and following the oppositions will provide the best opportunity to view the planet. Unfortunately, for this apparition for northern observers, Mars will be located lower in the sky, making it more difficult to view details due to it being lower to the horizon and having to view it through more of the atmosphere.
Jupiter – At the beginning of the year it is high up in the southern sky at sunrise. As it nears opposition on March 8th, it will rise earlier and will be the best place planet for viewing for the first half of the year. At opposition, its diameter will increase to 44.3” with a magnitude of -2.5.
Saturn – Starts the year low in the E in the morning sky, but starts to rise up as the year goes on with it being well placed for viewing throughout the summer months with opposition occurring on June 3rd. At opposition its diameter will increase to 18.4” and it’s magnitude to 0.0. The rings will have a diameter of around 41” at opposition with the tilt of rings near 26 degrees all year long. March through September, Saturn is located near Mars, so it too will be located lower in the S at opposition, also causing it to be more difficult to get good views of it.
Uranus - At opposition on October 15th, it will have a diameter of 3.7” with a magnitude of 5.7. This planet will be best viewed in the fall. At a dark site it could be possible to see with the naked eye.
Neptune - At opposition on September 2nd, it will have a diameter of 2.3” with a magnitude of 7.8. This planet will be best to view at the end of summer/beginning of fall.
Eclipses
For the next couple of years, there are no total lunar eclipses visible from North America. The next total lunar eclipse that we can see from here will be on January 21st, 2019. In case you don’t get Sky & Telescope one event that some might want to start making travel plans for is that on August 21st in 2017, there is a total Solar Eclipse that goes across North America. The 62 mile wide path of totality starts in Oregon and ends in South Carolina, from N.E. Ohio a little over 80% of the Sun will be covered.
It will be a very good year for viewing after the monthly meetings at Indian Hill, weather permitting. With the new moon occurring the first week of the month during the summer, the first week of the month usually will be the best week of the month to view deep sky objects. But trying to do a Messier Marathon in March will be difficult due to a full moon occurring near the Spring Equinox.
One uncommon event that will occur this year is the Transit of Mercury across the face the Sun on Monday, May 9th. This event will be start at 7:12AM go will take about 7 1/2 hours to complete.
The Planets
Mercury – This can be a difficult planet to view since it is never far from the Sun and can usually only be viewed low on the horizon, in the twilight sky. There are three evening and three morning apparitions this year. The best chance to see it in the evening will be in mid April and the best chance in the morning is at the end of September.
Venus – Starts the year higher up in the SE morning sky. During January and February, Venus loses a lot of height so for March through June it will be low on the horizon at sunrise. After it’s conjunction with the Sun on June 6th, Venus will become the “Evening Star”, but for a few months after conjunction, it will be lower in W sky after sunset. Near the end of year it will start to climb higher and will dominate the W sky after sunset.
Mars – The Earth only passes Mars around every 26 months, so basically only every other year we have a chance to see any details on it. This is an opposition year, happening on May 22th. Mars normally has a size of about 3.5”, but during this opposition it size will increase to 18.6” and its magnitude will increase to -2.1. The couple months leading up and following the oppositions will provide the best opportunity to view the planet. Unfortunately, for this apparition for northern observers, Mars will be located lower in the sky, making it more difficult to view details due to it being lower to the horizon and having to view it through more of the atmosphere.
Jupiter – At the beginning of the year it is high up in the southern sky at sunrise. As it nears opposition on March 8th, it will rise earlier and will be the best place planet for viewing for the first half of the year. At opposition, its diameter will increase to 44.3” with a magnitude of -2.5.
Saturn – Starts the year low in the E in the morning sky, but starts to rise up as the year goes on with it being well placed for viewing throughout the summer months with opposition occurring on June 3rd. At opposition its diameter will increase to 18.4” and it’s magnitude to 0.0. The rings will have a diameter of around 41” at opposition with the tilt of rings near 26 degrees all year long. March through September, Saturn is located near Mars, so it too will be located lower in the S at opposition, also causing it to be more difficult to get good views of it.
Uranus - At opposition on October 15th, it will have a diameter of 3.7” with a magnitude of 5.7. This planet will be best viewed in the fall. At a dark site it could be possible to see with the naked eye.
Neptune - At opposition on September 2nd, it will have a diameter of 2.3” with a magnitude of 7.8. This planet will be best to view at the end of summer/beginning of fall.
Eclipses
For the next couple of years, there are no total lunar eclipses visible from North America. The next total lunar eclipse that we can see from here will be on January 21st, 2019. In case you don’t get Sky & Telescope one event that some might want to start making travel plans for is that on August 21st in 2017, there is a total Solar Eclipse that goes across North America. The 62 mile wide path of totality starts in Oregon and ends in South Carolina, from N.E. Ohio a little over 80% of the Sun will be covered.