12 Monthly Guides to the Stars & Planets

SKYWATCH
A FULL YEAR OF OBSERVING FUN 2019

Backyard
Astronomy
A Deep-Sky Sight
for Every Season

THE
YEAR’S
BEST
EVENTS
PAGE 6

Your First Telescope PAGE 58

Become an Astrophotographer PAGE 74
The Deep-Sky Seasons PAGE 66
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 SKYWATCH
A FULL YEAR OF OBSERVING FUN 2019

38

BACKYARD 66 58

ASTRONOMY
2 Welcome 58 Your First Scope
Ja;62WPV[WV:WMPZ Ja*WJ3QVO
,QIVI0IVVQSIQVMV
66 The Backyard Sky
4 Stargazing Is Through the Seasons
FISHER: OJIBWE GIIZHIG ANUNG MASINAAIGAN — OJIBWE SKY STAR MAP / NATIVE SKYWATCHERS /
LAGOON NEBULA: ESO / VPHAS+ TEAM; M94: ESA / HUBBLE / NASA; PEOPLE AT SCOPE: BOB KING;

for Everyone Ja:WL5WTTQ[M

Ja,QIVI0IVVQSIQVMV
74 Picture Perfect 22
6 Celestial Highlights Ja;MIV?ITSMZ
q Cover Image: This mon-
9 Using Our Sky Maps 80 Parting Shot tage shows the phases, including
Ja\PM-LQ\WZ[WN;Sa?I\KP Ja4]SI[;KPTIOMVPI]N totality, of the lunar eclipse of
October 27, 2015.
ANNETTE LEE / WILLIAM P. WILSON / CARL GAWBOY

SEAN WALKER / SKYWATCH

Sky Maps 2019 )Z\QKTM[Ja;62WPV[WV:WMPZ#;QLMJIZ[Ja,QIVI0IVVQSIQVMV

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SK Y WATCH 2019 1
WELCOME TO SKYWATCH 2019
2019
SKYWATCH
A Year Under
the Stars EDITORS S. N. Johnson-Roehr,
Diana Hannikainen
ART DIRECTOR Terri Dubé

EDITORIAL
Editor in Chief Peter Tyson
Senior Editors J. Kelly Beatty,

? MTKWUM\W\PM!Q[[]MWN;Sa?I\KPIVIVV]ITX]JTQKI\QWVWN;Sa
<MTM[KWXMUIOIbQVM)[_M_ZIX]XXZWL]K\QWVWV;Sa?I\KP_M¼ZMIT[W
_ZIXXQVO]XITWVO[]UUMZWN[\IZOIbQVO.WZOQ^M][QN_M¼ZM[TMMXLMXZQ^ML"
Alan M. MacRobert
Science Editor Camille M. Carlisle
News Editor Monica Young
Associate Editor Sean Walker
Project Coordinator Bud Sadler
)[WJ[MZ^MZ[_M[\Ia]XI[TI\MI[XW[[QJTM]VTM[[_M¼ZMOM\\QVO]XQV\PM Digital Content Strategist Janine Myszka
MIZTaPW]Z[WN\PMUWZVQVO\WKI\KPIKWUM\WZ[MMSW]\\PM\PQVVM[\WNKZM[ Senior Contributing Editors
Robert Naeye, Roger W. Sinnott
KMV\5WWV[5IZ[PI[JMMVJTIbQVOI_IaQV\PM[W]\PMZV[Sa\MUX\QVO][
W]\LWWZ[WVM^MZaKTMIZVQOP\WN\PM_MMS?M¼^M[\IaML]XITTVQOP\\W_I\KP ART & DESIGN
8MZ[MQLUM\MWZ[[\ZMISLW_V\PMXI\PWN\PM5QTSa?IaIVL_M¼^M\ZIKSML Illustration Director Gregg Dinderman
Illustrator Leah Tiscione
\PM1V\MZVI\QWVIT;XIKM;\I\QWV1;;?M¼^MLM\MK\MLIVLQLMV\QÅMLIVIJ]V
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VP, Advertising Sales Kevin D. Smith
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2 SK Y WATCH 2019
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 LOOKING UP

Stargazing
Everyone
Is for

Nobody is immune to the sense of wonder and awe that

the star-filled night sky elicits. What better time than now
to head outdoors and look up?
Ja,QIVI0IVVQSIQVMV

W hen I was about ten years old we lived in Brazil, in the capital, Brasília,
which had been established only relatively recently in the Central
Plateau of the Brazilian Highlands. It was dark at night. Very dark. And darker
still when we drove some 100 miles south of the city to spend weekends at
a fazenda (estate). My father had always been interested in astronomy, and
he was more than happy to take his daughter under the stars and show off
what he knew. (He knew a lot.) He taught me the constellations and told me
all about the different types of stars and pointed out how some look reddish,
some look bluish, others twinkle white. And they really did look all those
colors! I remember seeing satellites zip far overhead — I was fascinated by
their speed and the fact that I could actually see something we had built on
Earth and launched . . . into space! I loved following them as long as I could
until they dissolved in Earth’s shadow. Then I’d feverishly scan the skies until
I spotted another speck hurtling through space. And I positively swooned
when I saw the Magellanic Clouds! Was I really seeing other galaxies? Other
SEAN WALKER / SKYWATCH

systems of hundreds of thousands or even millions of stars?

4 SK Y WATCH 2019
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NZWU\QUM\W\QUM
Observing Editor DIANA HANNIKAINEN worked as a pro-
fessional astronomer observing the skies in the radio and
X-ray. She now observes the skies with her own eyes.
SK Y WATCH 2019 5
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Celestial Highlights of 2019
Events are calculated for North America unless otherwise noted. Most are also accurate for Europe and Asia.
2IV]IZa
3 The Quadrantid meteor
shower peaks this evening.
20–21 A total lunar
eclipse is visible for all of the
Americas and parts of the
Pacific and Atlantic regions.
.MJZ]IZa
18 Venus and Saturn shine
together in the southeast as
morning twilight brightens.
Venus is the brighter of the
two planets.
5IZKP
20 Equinox: Spring begins
today in the Northern
Hemisphere (5:58 p.m. EDT /
2:58 p.m. PDT).
)XZQT
25 The waning gibbous
Moon is close to Saturn in the
south-southeast before dawn.
6 SK Y WATCH 2019
5Ia
11 Spring Astronomy Day;
check your local astronomy
club for events: https://is.gd/
astroclubs.
2]VM
10 Jupiter is at opposition,
when it’s opposite the Sun
and essentially at its closest
to Earth.
21 Mercury and Mars pair
up at dusk, low in the west-
northwest. Mercury is the
brighter of the two.
21 Solstice: Summer begins
in the Northern Hemisphere
(11:54 a.m. EDT / 8:54 a.m. PDT).
2]Ta
9 Saturn is at opposition.
28 The Delta Aquariid
meteor shower peaks early
this morning.
)]O][\ 6W^MUJMZ
12–13 The Perseid meteor 11 Mercury transits the face
shower peaks this night. This of the Sun. The event is visible
is a long-lived shower, so it’s for all of the Americas except
worth observing on the nights Alaska and parts of Canada
preceding and following and Greenland.
the peak.
,MKMUJMZ
;MX\MUJMZ 14 The Geminids peak
23 Equinox: Fall begins on this date, but the waning
today in the Northern gibbous Moon will interfere
Hemisphere (3:50 a.m. EDT / with viewing this reliable
12:50 a.m. PDT). meteor shower.
7K\WJMZ 21 Solstice: Winter begins
5 Fall Astronomy Day; in the Northern Hemisphere
check your local astronomy (11:19 p.m. EST / 8:19 p.m. PST)
club for events: https://is.gd/
astroclubs. 26 An annular solar eclipse
is visible in West and South
21 The Orionid meteor Asia. Partial phases are visible
shower peaks this evening. for most of Asia, parts of the
Best viewing comes early this Pacific, and Australia.
morning, before sunrise.
Night and landscape photographer Hannahbella Nel visited Two Jack
Lake in Banff National Park in late October, as the summer season had
finished and the skies were dark again. While searching for the North-
ern Lights, she noticed the lake’s stillness and seized the opportunity
to capture the reflection of the mountain and stars.
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and special monthly sky scenes
one source. that illustrate the positions of
the Moon and bright planets.
It also highlights important sky
events each month, including

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8 SK Y WATCH 2019
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SK Y WATCH 2019 9
2) 6 =) :A d !

Orion,
the
Eternal
Hunter
Thrown to the sky where he
walks forever, Orion is the
quintessential constellation
of the winter season.

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10 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
M[\TQ\MZIZaIXXMIZIVKMQV0WUMZ¼[ PLANETS IN JANUARY PHASES
MXQKXWMU[1V\PM1TQILPM¼[LMXQK\ML
QVKWV[\MTTI\QWVNWZUWVI[PQMTL Mercury hides in the Sun’s glow in January, though you may New
Moon 5 d " XU
NWZOMLJa0MXPIM[\][IVLKIZZQML pick it up with binoculars in the first few days of the month  -;<
QV\WJI\\TMJa\PMLWWUML)KPQTTM[ shortly before sunrise. If you can find it on January 4th, look
First
7ZQWV[PQVM[I[IKWV[\MTTI\QWVQV for the very thin waning crescent Moon hanging above it. Qtr 14 d"IU
\PM7La[[MaI[_MTTO]QLQVO7La[[M][ The blazing light of Venus graces the southeast sky in  -;<

I_IaNZWU+ITaX[W¼[Q[TIVLI\VQOP\ the early morning. Venus rises near 4 a.m. local time all Full
0W_M^MZPMUISM[I[MKWVLUWZM month and will be at its highest as it disappears from view Moon 21 d"IU
 -;<
VW\IJTMIXXMIZIVKMQV\PMXWMUI[ with the brightening Sun. On January 1st, it rises close to the
PM[\ZQLM[Ja7La[[M][L]ZQVO\PM waning crescent Moon. Last
27 d"XU
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TI\\MZ¼[[WRW]ZVQV\PM=VLMZ_WZTL Jupiter trails Venus into the morning sky, peeping over the  -;<
0MZM7La[[M][U][M[_ITS[7ZQWV¼[ horizon in the east-southeast about 40 minutes after much
[PILMKWVLMUVML\WX]Z[]MPQ[ brighter Venus makes its appearance. The planets appear
Y]IZZa\PZW]OP\PM)[XPWLMT5MIL closer to each other each morning as Venus draws downward
W_[NWZM\MZVQ\a throughout the month.
7La[[M][LWM[V¼\W‫ٺ‬MZ\PMLM\IQT[ The waning crescent Moon hangs between Venus and
WN7ZQWV¼[MV\ZaQV\W\PM=VLMZ_WZTL Jupiter on the morning of January 2nd and is about 3° left of
XMZPIX[JMKI][M\PMZMIZMKWUXM\QVO Jupiter on the 3rd. The red-orange star Antares shines to their
^MZ[QWV[WN\PM[\WZa1V0M[QWL¼[\ITM right. On the 30th, the waning crescent Moon, Jupiter, Venus,
WN\PMP]V\MZ¼[TQNM7ZQWVQ[[MV\MVKML and Antares gather in the southeast. On the last morning of
\WLMI\PJa5W\PMZ-IZ\PJMKI][MPM the month, the Moon and Venus form a close pair.
LMKQLML\WP]V\IVLSQTTM^MZaIVQUIT Saturn joins the early morning tableau in the last week
WV\PMXTIVM\)N\MZM`MK]\QWVJa of January, very low in the southeast. Find it about 19°
[KWZXQWV[\QVO7ZQWV_Q\PPQ[JZWVbM lower left of Venus.
q Orion and Canis Major
KT]JQ[XTIKMLQV\PMVQOP\[SaJa Orange Mars is the only evening planet this month, pose above Cathedral Rock in
BM][0MVW__ITS[NWZM^MZUIZKP already high in the southwest as twilight deepens. Over the Coconino National Forest near
QVONWZ_IZL_Q\P\PM[MI[WV[0Q[ course of 2 or 3 hours the Red Planet drops to set in the the dark-sky community of
ZMTQIJTMZMIXXMIZIVKMMIKP_QV\MZ west before midnight. Sedona, Arizona.
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SK Y WATCH 2019 11
 2) 6 =) :A d !
θ 30 minutes before sunrise
α meteors per hour, but its peak is brief,
γ Venus
ι ρ
ν2
π M41
ο2
ο1
δ Antares
ε
η
p Sirius, the Dog Star, dazzles as the brightest star
in Canis Major. Watch through the month as the
Greater Dog follows Orion’s feet across the night
sky. The globular cluster sparkling at the Dog’s
heart is Messier 41.
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CANIS MAJOR: AKIRA FUJII;
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12 SK Y WATCH 2019
Dawn, Jan 2 – 4
Moon
Jan 2
10°
β Sco
δ Sco
Moon
Jan 3 Jupiter
Moon
Jan 4
Mercury
Looking Southeast
p The waning crescent Moon passes by Scor-
pius at the beginning of the month. It’s close
to Venus on the mornings of January 1st and
2nd, and pairs with Jupiter on January 3rd.
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JANUARY
METEOR SHOWER
The Quadrantid Meteor Shower is
typically active, producing 60–100
lasting just a few hours. In 2019, it
falls on the evening of January 3rd
for North America. The radiant, the
point in the sky from which the mete-
ors appear to emanate, is in Boötes
and rises near the time of peak activity
for northern latitudes. Observe as it
climbs higher throughout the evening.
Meteors are more easily seen when
the Moon is less than one-half lit
(between the last-quarter and first-
quarter phases). The Moon is a waning
crescent on the 3rd, so it won’t inter-
fere with your meteor watching.
TOTAL ECLIPSE
OF THE MOON
Remember last January’s total eclipse of
the Moon? Unless you live in the western
United States (or Asia or Australia) you
probably didn’t get to see much, if any,
of it. Certainly not the total phase. Well,
now’s your chance. The Total Lunar
Eclipse of January 20–21 will enthrall
viewers from coast to coast of the Ameri-
cas and almost everywhere else, apart
from Australia and Asia, provided skies
are clear. The full eclipse, from first to
last contact, begins at 2:36 UT January
21st (9:36 p.m. EST January 20th) and
ends at 7:48 UT (2:48 a.m. EST). The
total phase, when the Moon turns a dark
coppery color, begins at 4:41 UT January
21st (11:41 p.m. EST January 20th) and
lasts for a little more than an hour.
?PI\Q[IV
MKTQX[M'
What types of
eclipses do we see?
 Facing North
WHEN TO 15h
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USE THIS MAP ;3 A+ 0 ) :<
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Late December–9 pm
Early January–8 pm

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Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

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\PZW]OP-IZ\P¼[I\UW[XPMZM WV_PMZM\PM5WWVQ[QVQ\[WZJQ\ \W\IT[WTIZMKTQX[M

SK Y WATCH 2019 13
.-*:=) :A d !

The
Charioteer
Roll into Auriga to discover the secret
language of stellar science.

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14 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
PLANETS IN FEBRUARY PHASES

Mercury moves into the evening sky this month and will be New
Moon 4 d"XU
visible low in the west after the 12th or so (see page 16). Bring  -;<
binoculars, but be careful when looking in the direction of the
First
setting Sun. Eye damage is irreversible. Qtr 12 d"XU
Venus graces the southeastern sky before dawn, perching  -;<

above the Sagittarius Teapot. The bright planet rises about 3 Full
hours before the Sun at the beginning of February, 2 hours Moon 19 d"IU
 -;<
before the Sun by the end. Watch through the month as Venus
moves away from Jupiter and toward Saturn. Look for the Last
Qtr 26 d" IU
close pairing of Venus and Saturn on the 19th and 20th.  -;<
Jupiter rises ahead of Venus to glow in the south-south-
east until sunrise. The waning crescent Moon pairs with the
giant planet on the morning of the 27th.
Saturn trails brilliant Venus by about an hour into the
morning sky at the beginning of February. The viewing window
for the ringed planet is short at the beginning of the month, as
it rises a little more than an hour before the Sun, but observing
improves by the end of February.
3IVL5 JI[MLWV\PMQZ[XMK\ZI Mars is a burning ember at dusk, standing high in the
_PQKPZM^MITQVNWZUI\QWVIJW]\I southwest. It drops lower during the evening and sets around
[\IZ¼[\MUXMZI\]ZM.WZQV[\IVKM 11 p.m. local time.
7ZQWV¼[*M\MTOM][M[\IZ\MLW]\Q\[
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SK Y WATCH 2019 15
 . - *:=) :A d !
Dawn, Feb 9 Dusk, Feb 22
45 minutes before sunrise 45 minutes after sunset
Great
Square
Jupiter
10°
Venus
PISCES
S A G I T TA R I U S PEGASUS
Saturn
Circlet
Mercury
Looking Southeast Looking West
p Three bright planets form a line in the southeast in the early morning hours this month. Watch as bril-
liant Venus moves away from Jupiter and closer to Saturn with each morning. In the last two weeks of
February, look for Mercury low in the west soon after sunset.
\W[WUM\PQVOLQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\<PM[Q`\P Q[NZQOQLJ]ZVQVOI\¹WVTaº!3
JZQOP\M[\[\IZQV\PMVQOP\[Sa+IXMTTI \W3)T\PW]OPTQSM*M\MTOM][M
Q[I/\aXM[\IZTQSMW]Z;]VJ]\Q\¼[ +IXMTTIQ[QVIVIL^IVKMLM^WT]\QWVIZa
IOQIV\QV[\MILWNIL_IZN+WUXIZML [\I\MQ\¼[WNZMTI\Q^MTaTW_UI[[WVTa
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<PM[M[\IZ[IZMQV\MZM[\QVOJ]\\PM
q Star-hop to M37 from Beta Tauri or Theta Au- ZMIT\ZMI[]ZM[QV)]ZQOIIZM\PM[\IZ
rigae, then move northwest to find M36 and M38. KT][\MZ[5M[[QMZIVL )TTWN
\PM[MIZMWXMVKT][\MZ[¸OZW]X[WN[\IZ[
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\PM[MOI\PMZQVO[WN[XIZSTQVO[\IZ[NZWU
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16 SK Y WATCH 2019
DISCOVERY
OF PLUTO
The first two attempts to locate a trans-
Neptunian object (1905–1909 and
1910–1915, inspired by the targeted
search for and eventual discovery of
Neptune in the previous century) con-
ducted at the new observatory built by
Percival Lowell in Flagstaff, Arizona,
yielded no results. The third search for
“Planet X” eventually bore fruit. Using
state-of-the-art equipment, new hire
Clyde W. Tombaugh discovered — by
comparing several photographic plates
taken a few nights apart — the sus-
pected body lurking in the outer solar
system in February 1930. The object,
named “Pluto” by an 11-year-old British
girl, was swiftly established as the ninth
planet. In 1978, the presence of Pluto’s
satellite, Charon, was unveiled, and
subsequently another four moons were
found. In its infamous 2006 ruling, the
International Astronomical Union desig-
nated Pluto a dwarf planet.
MERCURY IN
FEBRUARY
Mercury orbits the Sun at an average
distance of 57,900,000 km, or
approximately 1/3 the distance between
the Sun and Earth. With such a tight
orbit, it never strays too far from the Sun
from our point of view — the maximum
separation (or elongation) between the
two in the sky is 28°. That’s a tad more
than the distance between the tips of
your thumb and pinky finger with your
hand held at arm’s length and your
fingers stretched as far apart as possible.
Mercury moves between the morning
and evening sky as it travels around the
Sun, spending a good deal of time lost in
solar glow. The tiny planet was in superior
conjunction, opposite the Sun as seen
from Earth, on January 29th. In mid-
February, Mercury eases back into view
at dusk. It stands a little higher in the sky
each evening after, almost 12° by the
AKIRA FUJII
26th, when it reaches greatest elongation
(for this orbit) 18° east of the Sun.
 Facing North
WHEN TO 17h
. - *:=) :A d !
USE THIS MAP ;3 A+ 0 ) :<
Early January – 10 pm +60°
Late January – 9 pm
Early February – 8 pm

h
14 h
DRA

20
CO S
Late February – Nightfall Fa U
N
ci W
Map instructions can n eb n
G
Y
N
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be found on page 9. &

ci
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HY

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a

Feb 12
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n

8h
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IS
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A STAR
–40°
MAGNITUDES
5h
–1 0 1 2 3 4
Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

?PI\Q[ ?PMVXMWXTM[\IZ\ML\ZI^MT I\\PM/ZMMV_QKPUMZQLQIV\PM ZMXTIKMLJa\PM\MZU=VQ^MZ[IT

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/ZMMV_QKP QV\PM=VQ\ML3QVOLWUQV\PM \WJM\PMTMOIT\QUMIKZW[[\PM _QTT[MMY]W\ML_PMVZMNMZZQVO
5MIV<QUM' MIZTa [Q\_I[[WWVWJ^Q KW]V\Za6W_ILIa[_M[\QTT][M \WI[\ZWVWUQKITM^MV\[=<
W][\PI\\QUMSMMXQVOVMMLML /ZMMV_QKP5MIV<QUMWZ/5< \ZIV[TI\M[\WTWKIT\QUMIVa
How does it relate \WJM[\IVLIZLQbMLIKZW[[\PM I[\PM[\IVLIZL\QUMIOIQV[\ _PMZMQV\PM_WZTLJaILLQVO
to Universal Time? KW]V\Za<PQ[_I[LWVMJa _PQKPITT\QUMbWVM[IZW]VL\PM WZ[]J\ZIK\QVOIVIXXZWXZQI\M
LMKTIZQVO\PMUMIV[WTIZ\QUM OTWJMIZMKITQJZI\ML/5<_I[ V]UJMZWNPW]Z[

SK Y WATCH 2019 17
5 ) :+0 d !

<PMWTLM[\KMTM[\QIT
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KWV[\MTTI\QWVWN4MW
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In Like a Lion
The familiar constellations of winter linger, but
the wild animals of spring are fast approaching.

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SCIENCE & SOCIETY PICTURE LIBRARY /

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18 SK Y WATCH 2019

NZWV\XI_:MO]T][IXXMIZ[\WJMI
[QVOTM_PQ\M[\IZ\W\PMVISMLMaMJ]\
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\PMKZIJ[MV\Ja0MZI\WI\\IKS
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M44
α
M67
AKIRA FUJII (2)
MOON
PLANETS IN MARCH PHASES
Mercury slips out of view early this month, moving too close New
Moon 6 d"IU
to the Sun to see after the 6th or so. It’s at its highest and  -;<
brightest on March 1st, shining at magnitude 0.0 some 10°
First
above the western horizon 30 minutes after sunset. Catch this Qtr 14 d"IU
planet while you can, as it won’t be visible again until it reap-  -,<
pears in the dusk sky in June. Binoculars will help. Full
Venus is a brilliant –4.0-magnitude light this month, shin- Moon 20 d!"XU
 -,<
ing in the east in the pre-dawn hours. Unfortunately, it doesn’t
climb very high before sunrise. On March 1st, it stands about Last
28 d"IU
Qtr
11° high 45 minutes before the Sun peeks over the horizon.  -,<
On the 2nd, look for the thin waning crescent Moon about 4°
right of the planet. By mid-month, Venus is only 8° high about
45 minutes before sunrise, and by the end of the month, it’s a
very difficult 5° high at the same time.
Mars is visible throughout the evening this month, setting
near midnight. Look for its fiery light high in the west as eve-
ning twilight deepens. The waxing crescent Moon hangs about
7° upper left of the Red Planet on March 11th.
Jupiter rises in the early morning hours and is highest
at sunrise. Don’t mistake it for the red-orange star Antares,
which twinkles 13°–15° right of Jupiter all month. Yellow- q Left:Standing almost at the
white Jupiter is a little more than 16 times brighter than zenith on March evenings,
Antares. Cancer, the Crab, hosts one
of the best-known open star
Saturn is also a morning object in March, rising roughly
clusters, M44. Right: Regulus,
2 hours after Jupiter. Look for its golden light in Sagittarius,
which means “little king,”
southeast of the Teaspoon asterism. The Moon visits Saturn’s marks the forefoot of Leo, the
neighborhood twice this month. On March 1st, the waning Lion. Use binoculars to split
crescent Moon slices the sky just 3° upper right of Saturn. On this 1st-magnitude star into a
the 29th, find the Moon 3° or 4° lower left of Saturn. widely-spaced double.
γ
SK Y WATCH 2019 19
5 ) :+0 d !
N
p Binoculars
offer an ideal view of M44, the Beehive Cluster. Find it about halfway between Delta and
Gamma Cancri. Recent measurements place M44 at a distance of 577 light-years from Earth.
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I\\WXZQOP\
20 SK Y WATCH 2019
M44 — THE BEEHIVE
CLUSTER
A swarm of some 1,000 stars or more
constitutes M44, or the Beehive Cluster,
a sparkling open cluster in Cancer. This
conglomeration of stars was first noted
in antiquity. Ptolemy wrote about it in his
Almagest, describing it as a “nebulous
mass,” and hence unwittingly ushering in
the term that was subsequently adopted
by Charles Messier and others to
describe non-stellar-like objects. Nestled
in the heart of the Crab, the Beehive is
almost on the ecliptic and thus presents
many opportunities for pretty planetary
conjunctions. The Moon visits frequently,
too, as it will on the nights of March
16th and 17th, when the almost-full orb
swings by. Bright enough to be seen with
the unaided eye under dark skies, the
Beehive positively dazzles in binoculars.
MARCH EQUINOX
Equinox describes exactly what its
q The waxing crescent Moon visits Mars and the Latin origin, aequinoctium, or “equal
Hyades open star cluster on the evenings of the night,” indicates: Day and night are of
11th and 12th. This scene is exact for the middle equal length. This occurs in March and
of North America and close enough for the rest of September, when the Sun is directly
the continent. For clarity, the Moon is shown three overhead at the terrestrial equator. Once
times its actual apparent size. The blue 10° scale referred to as the vernal and autumnal
is about the width of your fist at arm’s length.
equinoxes, this was deemed a bit unfair
to those in the Southern Hemisphere!
Today we call them the “March” and
Dusk, March 11–13
“September” equinoxes. It’s only at the
1 hour after sunset
equinoxes that the Sun rises due east
and sets due west — all over our planet.
The actual equinox doesn't coincide
Moon with the true astronomical equinox (when
Mar 13 the center of the Sun’s disk crosses the
celestial equator) because to us the Sun
Aldebaran
has an apparent radius of 16 arcminutes.
Hyades So the top of the Sun’s disk pops over
Pleiades the horizon several minutes before the
Moon center does. Along with refraction due
Mar 12 to Earth's atmosphere, this contributes
10°
to the illusion that the Sun is higher, and
TA U R U S
the amount of daylight on the equinox
Moon (around March 21st) is longer than 12
JASPAL CHADHA
Mar 11 hours. For mid-northern latitudes, the
Mars true March equinox occurs a few days
prior, a day some call the “equilux.”
Looking West-Southwest, halfway up
 Facing North
WHEN TO 20h
5 ) :+ 0 d !
USE THIS MAP ;3 A+ 0 ) :<
Early February – 11 pm +60°
Late February – 10 pm
Early March – 9 pm _

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Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

?PI\Q[\PM <PMMKTQX\QKQ[\PMIXXIZMV\XI\P IT[WZW]OPTaNWTTW_\PQ[XI\P MKTQX[M\WPIXXMV\PM5WWVPI[

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MKTQX\QK' LZWXWN\PMKMTM[\QIT^I]T\1V MKTQX\QKI[ITQVM\ZIKQVOIKZW[[ aW][MM\PMT]VIZMKTQX[MJIKS
Why do we NIK\\PMMKTQX\QKQ[\PMXZWRMK \PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV[<PQ[TQVM QV2IV]IZa'?MTT\ISMITWWS
\QWVWN-IZ\P¼[WZJQ\ITXTIVM [PW_[\PM;]V¼[XI\P\PZW]OP I\\PM[\IZKPIZ\NWZ2IV]IZa
call it that? WV\W\PMKMTM[\QIT[XPMZM;QVKM \PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV[WN\PMbWLQIK ?PMZM¼[\PMN]TT5WWV[aUJWT'
\PMXTIVM\[IZMUWZMWZTM[[QV <PMMKTQX\QK_I[[WVIUML +MV\MZMLZQOP\WV\PMMKTQX\QK
\PM[IUMWZJQ\ITXTIVM\PMa JMKI][MNWZIT]VIZWZ[WTIZ WV2IV]IZa\P

SK Y WATCH 2019 21
) 8: 14 d !

Fisher,
Savior of
Spring
The soft weather of
spring opens up new
perspectives on
familiar sights.

-\I=Z[IM5IRWZQ[
UIZS[\PM[XW\XQMZKML
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WN.Q[PMZIVL[VW]\WN
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SKY STAR MAP / NATIVE SKYWATCHERS / ANNETTE

OJIBWE GIIZHIG ANUNG MASINAAIGAN — OJIBWE

7
V)XZQTM^MVQVO[aW]¼TTÅVL <ISM\PMUIXWVXIOMW]\[QLMIVL 1V[\MIL\]ZV ˆ\WNIKMVWZ\PI\
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LEE / WILLIAM P. WILSON / CARL GAWBOY

IVL4MW\PM4QWVXMZKPMLWV Q\[aMTTW_¹.IKQVO;W]\PºTIJMTQ[I\\PM ¹.IKQVO6WZ\PºQ[I\\PMJW\\WUWN\PM

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aW]TWWSNWZ=Z[I5IRWZ_PQTM[\QTTNIKQVO
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[\IZ[WN=Z[I5IRWZ_Q\P\PMVISML

22 SK Y WATCH 2019

MaMAW]KIVXZWJIJTa[MM¸IVLIZM
ITZMILaNIUQTQIZ_Q\P¸\PMJZQOP\MZ
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MOON
PLANETS IN APRIL PHASES
Mercury is lost in the Sun’s glow all month. Look for it to New
Moon 5 d"IU
return to evening dusk on the last day of May.  -,<
Venus shines low in the east at dawn this month, its
First
–3.9-magnitude light climbing no higher than 9° before the Qtr 12 d"XU
end of morning twilight. Try to spot the waning crescent Moon  -,<
about 9° right of Venus about an hour before sunrise on the Full
1st. A very slender crescent Moon hangs 4° below Venus the Moon 19 d"IU
 -,<
next morning — can you find it with your binoculars?
Mars appears in the west as evening twilight deepens. Last
26 d"
Qtr XU
The observing window grows perceptibly shorter through the  -,<
month, as the Sun sets later and Mars sets earlier. On the
night of April 8th, look for the quadrilateral formed by Mars,
fiery Aldebaran, the waxing crescent Moon, and the soft
glow of the Pleiades.
Jupiter is an early morning object this month, standing
highest before dawn. On April 1st, it rises more than hour after
midnight, but it rises earlier each night, so that on the 30th,
q The Big Dipper, Fisher, and
it’s up about 40 minutes before midnight. On the morning of
Three Leaps of the Gazelle
April 23rd, the waning gibbous Moon, less than 3° away from
are a few asterisms that can
Jupiter, floods our view of the planet with reflected sunlight.
be figured with the stars of
Saturn, too, is a morning sight in April, rising at 3:00 a.m. Ursa Major. For observers at
local time at the beginning of the month and 1:00 a.m. at the mid-northern latitudes, Ursa
end. Look about 26° “behind” (lower left) of Jupiter to find Major is circumpolar, never
Saturn’s golden light. dropping below the horizon.
ζ 23 ο
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SK Y WATCH 2019 23
 ) 8: 1 4 d !

)[\]LaWNBM\I=Z[IM5IRWZQ[
5QbIZI\\PMJMVLWN.Q[PMZ¼[\IQT\PM
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IJTMZMLL_IZNKWUXIVQWV
April 22
About 10 p.m.
DRACO
HERC ULES
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\PMMVLWN\PM,QXXMZ¼[JW_TIZM)TXPI
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CORONA
BOREALIS
10°
THREE LEAPS OF
THE GAZELLE
The stories we tell about the stars draw
on cultures from around the globe. For
example, the stars of the Great Bear’s
feet are also described in an Arabic
legend. Leo, the Lion, was stalking a
gazelle at a watering hole (the constella-
tion Coma Berenices). Hearing the lion’s
tail thump the ground, the gazelle fled in
three great bounds, leaving stellar div-
ots in the sky. Nu and Xi Ursae Majoris
(Alula Australis and Alula Borealis) mark
the first touch-down. “Alula” derives
from the Arabic word meaning “first
leap,” while “Australis” and “Borea-
lis” are Latin for “south” and “north.”
Lambda and Mu Ursae Majoris (Tania
Australis and Tania Borealis) mark the
gazelle’s second landing, and Iota and
Kappa Ursae Majoris mark the third.

LYRID METEOR
Lyrid
radiant SHOWER
Vega
The first meteor shower of spring is
LYRA expected to peak during the night of
April 21–22. The Lyrids are not gener-
ally known for high meteor counts (some
eneb
10–20 per hour) but fireballs have
been reported. And there have been
Facing Northeast episodes in the past (in 1922 in Poland
and 1982 in North America) when the
shower produced hundreds of meteors.
April 7– 9 Dawn, April 22 – 23 In the Northern Hemisphere, the radi-
Around 9 pm 45 minutes before sunrise
Moon ant — in Lyra near Hercules — is low
Apr 9 on the northeastern horizon at dusk, but
continues to rise throughout the night.
Aldebaran Mars Moon Moon
Jupiter Apr 23 Apr 22 This year’s shower peaks right after the
full Moon on April 19th, but it’s always
worth scanning the skies for meteors.
Moon Pleiades
10° Apr 8 Antares

TAURUS C a t ’s
Eyes
SCORPIUS ?PI\Q[\PM
Moon
bWLQIK'
ZODIAC SKETCH: LEAH TISCIONE

Apr 7 Where does the

word come from?

Looking West Looking South-Southwest

24 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Facing North
WHEN TO ) 8 : 1 4 d !
USE THIS MAP ;3 A+ 0 ) :<
Early March – 11 pm
Late March – 11 pm* _
Early April – 10 pm* A
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SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

-^MZaWVMPI[PMIZL\PM_WZL _PQKP\PM;]V5WWVIVLXTIV _I[LZWXXMLJa\PMIVKQMV\*IJa

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[IUMZWW\\PI\OQ^M[][bWWTWOa1\ <I]Z][/MUQVQ+IVKMZ4MW ;Sa<MTM[KWXMNWZQV[\IVKMaW]
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WVMQ\PMZ[QLMWN\PMMKTQX\QKITWVO )Y]IZQ][IVL8Q[KM[7XPQ]KP][ KQÅKKWV[\MTTI\QWV[

SK Y WATCH 2019 25
5 )A d !

Arc to Arcturus,
Straight Denebola

On to Spica
Learn how to find the season’s
hallmark star patterns.

Arcturus

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PM[Q\I\M\WKWQVaW]ZW_VVIUM[
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6
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;\IZ\QVOI\=Z[I5IRWZ_MKIV][M\PM
NIUQTQIZ*QO,QXXMZI[\MZQ[U\WÅVL\_W
/WW]\[QLMIVLTWWSNWZ\PMK]Z^MWN
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\]Z][º".WTTW_\PMK]Z^QVOTQVMXI[\-\I
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PIVLTM\W)TXPI*W\Q[IZMLWZIVOM[\IZ
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QVONWZU
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KWVVMK\[PQU\W\PM*QO,QXXMZQV\MZ
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BOB KING

WN\PM[MI[WV¼[PITTUIZSKWV[\MTTI\QWV[ ÆIUMIVKPWZ[*W\M[\PM8TW]OPUIVI WZXTW]OP*W\M[Q[WKKI[QWVITTaKZML

>QZOWIVL*W\M[ SQ\M[PIXMLÅO]ZM_PWJWTLTaZIQ[M[IV Q\ML_Q\PQV^MV\QVO\PMXTW]OP*]\

26 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
PQ[VIUMQ[IT[WI[[WKQI\ML_Q\P\PM PLANETS IN MAY PHASES
TMOMVLWNI¹*MIZ/]IZLºWZ¹*MIZ
3MMXMZº[]OOM[\QVO\PI\\PM0MZL[ Mercury hides from view this month, traveling too close to New
Moon 4 d"XU
UIVI[*W\M[Q[IT[W\ZIV[TI\MLQ[QV the Sun for observation. With patience and optical aid, you  -,<
NIK\XWQ[ML\WM\MZVITTa[PILW_=Z[I may be able to find it as it reappears in the evening sky around
First
5IRWZZI\PMZ\PIVXMZNWZUIOZQK]T the 29th or 30th. Use binoculars to hunt for it very low in the Qtr 11 d!"XU
\]ZITTIJWZ<PMNIUQTQIZVIUMWN\PM northwest about 30 minutes after sunset.  -,<

KWV[\MTTI\QWV¼[T]UQVIZa)ZK\]Z][
UMIV[¹/]IZLQIVWN\PM*MIZºQV
/ZMMSTMVLQVOKZMLMVKM\W\PQ[^MZ
[QWVWN\PM[\WZa
)ZK\]Z][IbMZWUIOVQ\]LM
3OQIV\Q[\PMJZQOP\M[\[\IZQV\PM
VWZ\PMZVKMTM[\QITPMUQ[XPMZMIVL
\PMNW]Z\PJZQOP\M[\QV\PMVQOP\[Sa
1\TQM[TQOP\aMIZ[LQ[\IV\IVLQ[
M[\QUI\ML\WJMJM\_MMV!IVL 
JQTTQWVaMIZ[WTL<PM[\IZNWTTW_[I
[\ZIVOMXI\PQV\PM5QTSa?IaLQ^QVO
\PZW]OP\PMLQ[SQV[\MILWNWZJQ\QVOQV
\PMXTIVMI[\PM;]VLWM[;KQMV\Q[\[
[]OOM[\\PI\Q\IVLW\PMZUMUJMZ[\IZ[
WN\PM[WKITTML)ZK\]Z][UW^QVO
OZW]XIZMZMUVIV\[WNIVIVKQMV\KWT
TQ[QWV_PMV\PM5QTSa?IaIJ[WZJML
IL_IZN[I\MTTQ\MOITI`a
*W\M[Q[IT[WPWUM\W[M^MZIT
LW]JTM[\IZ[<PMJM[\SVW_VQ[-X[Q
TWV*W\Q[1bIZ\PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV¼[
[MKWVLJZQOP\M[\[\IZ,M[KZQJMLJa
/MZUIV:][[QIVI[\ZWVWUMZ.ZQML
ZQKP/MWZO?QTPMTU^WV;\Z]^MI[
¹X]TKPMZZQUIºWZ¹\PMUW[\JMI]\Q
N]Tº1bIZ[XTQ\[QV\WIKWTWZN]TXIQZ
]VLMZUIOVQÅKI\QWV<PM3\aXM
UIOVQ\]LMXZQUIZaOTW_[IUJMZ
aMTTW__PQTM\PM)\aXM UIOVQ
\]LM[MKWVLIZa[PQVM[ILMMXJT]M
OZMMV1W\IIVL3IXXIJW\PWN_PQKP
UIZS*W\M[¼[PIVLIZMIT[WMI[a
LW]JTM[\IZ[NWZ[UITT[KWXMIVLJQV
WK]TIZWJ[MZ^MZ[
<PMKWV[\MTTI\QWVUW[\MUJTMUI\QK
WN[XZQVOQ[>QZOW\PM5IQLMVI[[WKQ
I\MLJaIVKQMV\/ZMMS[_Q\P,MUM\MZ
OWLLM[[WNIOZQK]T\]ZMIVLOZIQV
>QZOW¼[KWUXWVMV\[\IZ[IZMZMTI\Q^MTa
NIQV\J]\Q\[JZQOP\M[\[\IZQ[MI[a\W
ÅVL")N\MZaW]¹IZK\W)ZK\]Z][ºR][\
\ZI^MT¹[\ZIQOP\WV\W;XQKIº)TXPI
>QZOQVQ[KWUUWVTaKITTML;XQKIQ[
ˆJMaWVL)ZK\]Z][IJW]\\PM[IUM
LQ[\IVKM\PI\)ZK\]Z][Q[NZWU-\I
=Z[IM5IRWZQ[;XQKIQ[UWZM\PIVI
Venus rises about an hour before the Sun all month. It Full
remains close to the horizon, climbing to about 5° high 30 Moon 18 d"XU
 -,<
minutes before sunrise. Still, the planet gleams at magnitude
–3.8, making it a brilliant, if low, target. On the morning of Last
26 d"XU
Qtr
May 2nd, try to find the incredibly thin waning crescent Moon  -,<
about 4° lower right of Venus.
The 1.7-magnitude light of Mars appears out of the dusk
on May evenings. The orange-red planet sets in the late eve-
ning, about 3¼ hours after the Sun at the beginning of the
month, 2¼ hours after at the end. The waxing crescent Moon
cozies up to the Red Planet on the evening of May 7th.
Jupiter rises earlier each evening, peeping over the
horizon in the east-southeast around 11 p.m. daylight saving
time on the 1st and 9 p.m. on the 31st. The waning gibbous
Moon poses on either side of Jupiter on the nights of May
19–20 and 20–21.
q The Eta Aquariid meteor
The golden glow of Saturn rises about two hours after
shower provides the best
Jupiter and stands highest before sunrise. On the night of May
show for observers in the
21–22, the waning gibbous Moon rises about 30 minutes Southern Hemisphere, but
before Saturn; a gap of about 8° separates them. The next northern skywatchers may
night, Saturn rises first, with the Moon trailing about 20 min- still see a few fast fireballs in
utes and 5° behind. the pre-dawn sky.
Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower
90 minutes before dawn
Water Jug
of
AQUARIUS
Great Square Radiant
of
PEGASUS
Circlet
of PISCES
Looking East

SK Y WATCH 2019 27
5 )A d !

UIOVQ\]LMLQUUMZ\PIV)ZK\]Z][J]\Q\[ MI[QTa[XTQ\\IJTM_Q\PI[UITT[KWXM
JT]M_PQ\MTQOP\W]\[PQVM[M^MZaW\PMZ[\IZ <PMZM¼[WVMUWZMUIRWZI[\MZQ[UI[[W
SPRING
QVQ\[KMTM[\QITVMQOPJWZPWWL KQI\ML_Q\P\PM[MI[WV"\PM;XZQVO<ZQ ASTRONOMY DAY
7VKMaW]¼^MTWKI\ML;XQKIXQMKMW]\ IVOTM<PMVW_NIUQTQIZ[\IZ[)ZK\]Z][ Astronomy Day, a day of outreach and
\PMZM[\WN>QZOW/IUUI>QZOQVQ[IT[W ;XQKIIVL:MO]T][XQV\PMKWZVMZ[WN\PQ[ education for amateur astronomers,
KITTML8WZZQUIQ[IXQK\]ZM[Y]MLW]JTM TIZOMQ[W[KMTM[\ZQIVOTM1NaW]XZMNMZaW]Z comes twice a year — once in the
[\IZ<PM[MXIZI\QWVJM\_MMV\PM\_W \ZQIVOTM[\WJMMY]QTI\MZITPW_M^MZNMMT spring and once in the autumn. This
UMUJMZ[WN\PMJQVIZa[a[\MUKPIVOM[ NZMM\W[_IXQV*M\I4MWVQ[,MVMJWTI year, it falls on May 11, 2019, coincid-
W^MZ\PMaMIZ[J]\I\XZM[MV\/IUUIQ[ NWZ:MO]T][\WNWZUI[UITTMZI[\MZQ[U ing perfectly with the new Moon — and
thus dark skies. Astronomy Day dates
back to 1973, when Doug Berger, then
q The waxing crescent Moon pairs with orange Aldebaran on the evening of May 6th and with Mars the
president of the Astronomical Associa-
next evening. On the evening of May 11th, find the first-quarter Moon near Regulus. The waxing gibbous
Moon poses on either side of Saturn on the mornings of May 22nd and 23rd. These scenes are drawn for tion of Northern California, decided to
near the middle of North America (latitude 40° north, longitude 90° west); European observers should take advantage of local resources to
move each Moon symbol a quarter of the way toward the one for the previous date. In the Far East, move “bring astronomy to the people” through
the Moon halfway. The blue 10° scale bar is about the width of your fist at arm’s length. For clarity, the coordinated outreach activities. Astron-
Moon is shown three times its actual apparent size. omy Day is now celebrated worldwide.
On or near May 11th, observatories and
Dusk, May 6 – 8 May 22 – 23 local astronomy clubs often host public
Moon 45 minutes after sunset Around 4 am observing sessions, science museums
May 8 offer special programming, and plan-
etariums schedule astronomy shows
aimed at a general audience. You don’t
10° Moon have to be an expert to participate, and
Saturn May 22 most programs are aimed at all ages.
Moon
Moon Mars
May 23
See https://is.gd/AstronomyDay.
May 7

TA U R U S
ETA AQUARIID
S A G I T TA R I U S METEOR SHOWER
Moon Probably the most famous comet of
May 6 all is responsible for the Eta Aquariid
meteor shower. Everybody, surely, has
Aldebaran
heard of Halley’s Comet, named after
the second Astronomer Royal. Edmond
Halley (1656–1742) theorized that his-
toric sightings of bright comets were all
apparitions of the same comet at 76-year
Looking West-Northwest Looking South
intervals. He predicted the next passage
to occur in 1758, but sadly did not live to
see it. Comet 1P/Halley might not visit
Dusk, May 11–13 for another 40-odd years, but we are
45 minutes after sunset reminded of its prior visits to the inner
solar system every year when Earth bar-
rels through the path of debris discarded
Sickle
by the comet. The shower is expected to
LEO
Moon peak in the early morning hours of May
Denebola May 11 6th. The new Moon on May 4th augurs
Moon
May 12
for dark skies, so be on the lookout the
Moon Regulus
week before and after this date. Observ-
May 13 ing at mid-northern latitudes will be
confined to a few hours after the radiant
rises and before dawn brightens the sky.
Looking South, high in the sky

28 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Facing North
WHEN TO 5 )A d !
USE THIS MAP ;3 A+ 0 ) :<
Early April – 1 am*
Late April – Midnight* CASSIOPEIA S
EU
Early May – 11 pm* M52
RS
PE
Late May – Nightfall Fa
ci W
*Daylight-saving time n N
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n
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Map instructions can
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la

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be found on page 9.

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–1 0 1 2 3 4
Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

0W_KIVaW] +MTM[\QITWJRMK\[IZMWN\MV][ML ][QVOWVTaaW]ZW]\[\ZM\KPML MY]Q^ITMV\WNˆ;XZMILaW]Z

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apparent separation QV\PM[MKWT]UV[¸\PI\[WUM ¸\ZIV[TI\M[\WIXXZW`QUI\MTa OW\ˆ6MMLUWZMLQ[\IVKM'
WJRMK\Q[\PQ[WZ\PI\UIVa ˆWN[Sa1VKZMI[M\PI\\W\PZMM ;]J[\Q\]\MaW]Z\P]UJNWZ\PM
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UI\M\PM[MIXXIZMV\LQ[\IVKM[ QV\WIÅ[\IVLaW][XIV\PM KMTM[\QIT^I]T\

SK Y WATCH 2019 29
2 = 6- d !

The
Summer
Sky
Arrives
The beasts of spring flee
toward the west as the
summer constellations
climb in the south.

<PMOTWJ]TIZKT][\MZ5_I[
LQ[KW^MZMLJa-VOTQ[PI[\ZWVW
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,
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ESA / NASA / HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

NITT[Q\ZM^MIT[\PMZQKP[]UUMZ QVO;-ºTIJMTQ[I\\PMJW\\WU)JW]\PITN \QWVIT[aUJWTWNPMITQVOIOZMI\;VISM

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[QOVXW[\QV\PQ[XIZ\WN\PM[Sa*W\P

30 SK Y WATCH 2019

[\IZ[IZMKWUUWVTaKITTMLAMLI
_WZLLMZQ^MLNZWU\PM)ZIJQKNWZ
¹PIVLº,MT\I\PM_M[\MZVUW[\WN\PM
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MOON
PLANETS IN JUNE PHASES
Look for Mercury low in the west-northwest about 30 minutes New
Moon 3 d"IU
after sunset at the beginning of June. It’s highest mid-month,  -,<
about 12° above the horizon at the same relative time.
First
Venus blazes as the “Morning Star” this month. It rises only Qtr 10 d"!IU
50–60 minutes before the Sun, and isn’t very high by the time  -,<
the sky brightens. If you can safely block the Sun — say, using Full
a corner of a building to hide it — you can observe Venus well Moon 17 d"IU
 -,<
into daylight. Eye damage from the Sun is irreversible, however,
so be cautious. Use binoculars to search for the thin waning Last
25 d"IU
Qtr
crescent Moon 6° right of Venus on the 1st.  -,<
Mars sets soon after nightfall. On the evening of June 4th,
use binoculars to tease out the thin waxing crescent Moon 8°
below Mars (about 6° left or upper left of Mercury). You’ll need
a wide-open horizon for this. Watch as Mercury climbs and
Mars sinks during the first two weeks of June. By the 16th,
they’re next-door neighbors. On the 17th and 18th, they’re less
than ½° apart. After that, the size of the gap between them
increases. By the 30th, Mars is too close to the Sun to observe.
Jupiter rises about 30 minutes after the Sun sets on the
1st but is already well up by sunset on the 30th. The planet
reaches opposition — opposite the Sun in the sky as viewed
from Earth — on June 10th. This positioning means Jupiter is q Ophiuchus and Serpens
up essentially all night, sundown to sunup. On the 15th, Jupiter, sprawl across the southeast-
the waxing gibbous Moon, and Antares form an equilateral tri- ern sky on June evenings.
Look for the attractive
angle. The next night, the Moon is about 5° from Jupiter.
naked-eye double formed by
Saturn rises late all month, about two hours after Jupiter.
Delta and Epsilon Ophiuchi.
It’s highest in the early morning hours, but by the end of June, Good binoculars or a tele-
the dark hour before midnight will offer good viewing. The sky scope are a must for tracking
will be flooded with moonlight mid-month; the waxing gibbous down the globular clusters
Moon pairs with Saturn on the night of June 18-19. M10, M12, and M5.
α
κ
β
γ
M12
λ
M10 M5
ν δ
ε
ζ
ξ
η
SK Y WATCH 2019 31
2 = 6 - d !

aW]¼TT_IV\\W[MMUWZM[WLWV¼\PM[Q\I\M \PMaWZJQ\QV\PMOITIK\QKPITW¸QV\PM
\WLZWXJIKS\W7XPQ]KP][IVL;MZXMV[ []UUMZ_M¼ZMTWWSQVO\W_IZL\PMOITIK
THE SUMMER
+IX]\\W[MMS55IVL5 \QKKMV\MZ\PZW]OPIVLIKZW[[\PMUWZM SOLSTICE
AW]KIVÅVLOTWJ]TIZ[IVa\QUMWN\PM KZW_LMLXIZ\[WN\PM5QTSa?Ia1V\PM Twice a year — in June and in Decem-
aMIZJ]\[XZQVOIVL[]UUMZ[SQM[IZM _QV\MZ_M¼ZMTWWSQVOW]\_IZLIVLI_Ia ber — the Sun reaches maximum
ZQKPMZ_Q\P\PM[M[\IZJITT[<PI\¼[JMKI][M \WIUWZM[XIZ[MTaXWX]TI\ML[XIKM declination, marking the northern and
southern limits of its path along the
ecliptic. This date, the solstice, is usually
around the 21st of the month and ushers
in summer for the Northern Hemisphere
M92 in June and for the Southern Hemisphere
in December. In June, the Sun is highest
in the sky and directly overhead along
η
the Tropic of Cancer (at latitude 23.5°
π north), and equivalently in December it
M13
is highest and directly overhead at the
Tropic of Capricorn (latitude 23.5° south).
ζ In the Northern Hemisphere, the number
ε
of daylight hours increases as the Sun
heads north, and on or around June 21st
it experiences the longest day of the year.
β Thereafter, the Sun reverses its course
and heads south, and days shorten until
the December solstice, when the North-
ern Hemisphere has its shortest day. The
M13 lies about 1/3 of the way
opposite is true for the Southern Hemi-
along the imaginary line
running from Eta to Zeta
sphere. In fact, the word solstice derives
α from the Latin solstitium and literally
Herculis. M92 lies farther
afield, glowing between translates to “sun stands still,” referring
Hercules’s bent knees. to the apparent non-movement of the
Sun on those dates.
Many prehistoric cultures studied the
Dusk, June 14 –16 movement of the Sun (and other celestial
June 17–18
1 hour after sunset Late, toward midnight bodies) over the course of generations,
Moon
June 14 and built — at times elaborate — mon-
Moon uments in line with the solstices or equi-
June 17 noxes. On certain days of the year the
10° structure would be aligned with either
Moon Saturn
the rising or setting Sun. In Europe, pri-
June 15
marily the British Isles and France, these
Moon
Antares monuments were either stone circles
June 18
Jupiter consisting of standing stones known
SCO RPIUS S A G I T TA R I U S as menhirs, or they were mound-like,
Moon
June 16 oftentimes with a long, narrow tunnel.
The latter may also have housed burial
chambers or sites. The most famous of
the standing stone circles is the Neolithic
monument Stonehenge, which has an
Looking Southeast Looking South-Southeast axis pointing to the summer solstice
sunrise. Other cultures, most notably the
p The Moon, Jupiter, and Antares form a triangle on the night of June 15th. On the 18th, the Moon
Maya in Central America and the Ancient
pairs with Saturn. This scene is exact for the middle of North America and close enough for the rest of Egyptians, also built solstice monu-
AKIRA FUJII

the continent. In Europe, move each Moon symbol ¼ of the way to the one for the previous date. For ments, but the standing stones design is
clarity, the Moon is shown three times its actual apparent size. The blue 10º scale is about the width of predominantly European.
your fist at arm’s length.

32 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Facing North
WHEN TO 2 = 6 - d !
USE THIS MAP ;3 A+ 0 ) :<
Early May – 1 am* CAS
Late May – Midnight* PEI
SIO
Early June – 11 pm*
A A
RDAL
IS IG
Late June – Nightfall Fa ELOP
A
CAM
R
AU W
*Daylight-saving time
ci N
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g

ci
Map instructions can
N

Fa
E

A
be found on page 9. C
E

I or
R

t
I N Cas
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A N
CE Y
PH L

M
EU

G x
S Polaris

E
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_

Po
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ER
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MINOR 82
9

6
J une n
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C
81

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CA
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4
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M92

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Facing East

VENATICI
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Albir

LEO
SAGITTA

Regulus
CANES
M57
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US

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Zenith
M13
Altair

CO RE
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Denebola
RO ALI

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UL
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(C
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( C AR P E N
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C E Q U A T O R
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Sat
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Jun C _ VU

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LIBRA
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17

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T
June 16 C
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n

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LUPUS STAR
MAGNITUDES

–1 0 1 2 3 4
Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

?PW_I[ +PIZTM[2W[MXP5M[[QMZ_I[ ITQ[\WNN]bbaWJRMK\[\PI\KW]TL <WLIa¼[5M[[QMZ+I\ITWOPI[

I.ZMVKPI[\ZWVWUMZJWZVQV JMUQ[\ISMVNWZKWUM\[[WI[ MV\ZQM[ITTXZMNIKML_Q\P
5M[[QMZ' 0M_I[PQZML\W_WZSI\ VW\\W_I[\M\QUMWV\PMU \PMTM\\MZ¹5ºNWTTW_MLJaI
Why is there a \PM7J[MZ^I\WZaWN\PM6I^a <PMaQVKT]LMLVMJ]TIMOITI` V]UJMZQVLQKI\QVO\PMWZLMZ
QVQ\QITTa\WZMKW^MZ0ITTMa¼[ QM[IVL[\IZKT][\MZ[<PMÅZ[\ QV_PQKP\PMa_MZMMV\MZML)
catalog named +WUM\_PQKPPMLQLQV! KI\ITWOX]JTQ[PMLQVTQ[\ML 5M[[QMZUIZI\PWVQ[IVI\\MUX\
after him? 5M[[QMZ\PMV[M\W]\\W[MIZKP WJRMK\[WN_PQKP_MZM \WWJ[MZ^MI[UIVa5WJRMK\[
NWZUWZMKWUM\[0MKWUXQTML WJ[MZ^MLJa5M[[QMZPQU[MTN L]ZQVO\PMKW]Z[MWNWVMVQOP\

SK Y WATCH 2019 33
2 = 4A d !

The
Summer
Triangle
Vivid Vega leads the way to the
season’s hallmark asterism.

<PQ[JZMI\P\ISQVO^QM_
WN\PM5QTSa?IaW^MZ\PM
/WJTQV>ITTMa;\I\M8IZS
[\IZXIZ\a_I[KIX\]ZML
_Q\PI[MKWVLM`XW[]ZM
\PZW]OPIUUNTMV[
,M[QOVI\MLI,IZS;Sa
8IZSJa\PM1V\MZVI\QWVIT
,IZS;Sa)[[WKQI\QWVQV
/WJTQV>ITTMaW‫ٺ‬MZ[
XZQ[\QVM\ZIV[XIZMV\[SQM[
NWZWJ[MZ^QVO<PMXIZS
_PQKP[\IVL[WV\PM+WTW
ZILW8TI\MI]QV[W]\PMI[\
MZV=\IP[XWV[WZ[IX]JTQK
[\IZXIZ\aM^MZa[]UUMZ

2 ]TaQ[\PMXMZNMK\UWV\P\W\M[\aW]Z
^Q[QWV0MILW]\[QLMUQV]\M[
IN\MZ[]V[M\IVL[KIV\PM[SaIJW]\
WVM\PQZLWN\PM_IaJM\_MMV\PMMI[\
MZVPWZQbWVIVL\PMbMVQ\P+IVaW][MM
)TXPI4aZIMJM\\MZSVW_VI[>MOI'2W\
\QUMWN[]V[M\LQLaW]XQKSQ\W]\MIZTQMZ
WZTI\MZ\PIV\PMÅZ[\\QUM')N\MZaW]ÅVL
>MOI[MIZKPPQOPQV\PM[W]\P[W]\P_M[\
NWZWZIVOM)ZK\]Z][
,Q[KMZVQVOI[\IZ¼[\_QVSTMQVLMMX
MVQVO\_QTQOP\KIVJMIN]VKPITTMVOM
)VLJW\P>MOIIVL)ZK\]Z][IZM
JZQOP\)\UIOVQ\]LMbMZW
>MOI¼[\PMJZQOP\M[\[\IZQV\PM[UITT
KWV[\MTTI\QWV4aZI\PM4aZMIVL
\PMÅN\PJZQOP\M[\[\IZQV\PMVQOP\
[Sa1\¼[\PM[MKWVLJZQOP\M[\[\IZQV
BETTYMAYA FOOTT

LW_V\PM\QUMQ\ÅZ[\JMKWUM[^Q[QJTM -^MV_PMVaW]SVW__PMZMQ\[PW]TL \PMVWZ\PMZVKMTM[\QITPMUQ[XPMZM

\WaW]<PMVOWW]\[QLM\PMVM`\KTMIZ JMQ\¼[MI[a\W[SQUZQOP\XI[\M^MV\PM )ZK\]Z][I\UIOVQ\]LM·Q[
M^MVQVOIVL\ZaIOIQV:MTI\Q^M\W\PM JZQOP\M[\[\IZ \PMJZQOP\M[\>MOI¼[JZQTTQIV\_PQ\M

34 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
IXXMIZIVKMUISM[Q\MI[QMZ\W[MM PLANETS IN JULY PHASES
Q\_PQTMIT[W\MTTQVO][\PI\Q\¼[IV
)\aXM[\IZ Determined viewers might be able to detect Mercury at dusk New
Moon 2 d"XU
)[aW]TWWSIZW]VL\PM[SaaW]¼TT during the first week of July, but the tiny planet is too dim and  -,<
VW\QKM\PI\UW[\VISMLMaM[\IZ[IZM too low for good observations. Look for it to reappear in the
First
)\aXM[<PMa[PIZM>MOI¼[_PQ\M dawn sky around the last day of the month. Qtr 9 d"IU
KWTWZ5IVaWN\PMUIZMY]Q\MNIQV\ Venus blazes at a brilliant –3.9, but is rapidly becoming too  -,<

J]\\_WWN\PMJZQOP\MZ)[\IZ[ low in the dawn sky to view. Catch it during the first week of Full
)T\IQZIVL,MVMJIZMMI[a\WÅVL July; it won’t be visible again until late September when it rises Moon 16 d" XU
 -,<
QV\PMLIZSMVQVO[Sa<WOM\PMZ_Q\P as the Evening Star.
>MOI\PMaNWZU\PMTIZOM;]UUMZ Mars, too, disappears from view in July. Optimistically, Last
24 d!"
Qtr XU
<ZQIVOTMI[\MZQ[U you may see it low in the west-northwest at dusk on the first  -,<
<_QVSTQVOI\UIOVQ\]LM  few evenings of the month. Mars will be roughly 3° upper left
New
)T\IQZQ[\PMJZQOP\M[\[\IZQV)Y]QTI of a very thin waxing crescent Moon just after sunset on July Moon 31 d"XU
 -,<
\PM-IOTM)XXZWXZQI\MTa\PM[\IZ¼[ 3rd. After this, the Red Planet is too close to the Sun to view; it
VIUMQ[I[PWZ\MVMLNWZUWNIV)ZI won’t be visible again until mid-October.
JQKXPZI[M\PI\UMIV[¹\PMÆaQVO Jupiter is just three weeks past opposition on July 1st, so
MIOTMº7N\PM\PZMM[\IZ[\PI\KWU it’s still visible throughout the night. Look for it in the south-
XZQ[M\PM;]UUMZ<ZQIVOTM)T\IQZ southeast at nightfall at the beginning of the month, in the
Q[\PMKWWTM[\_Q\PI\MUXMZI\]ZM south at the end. Red-orange Antares will be shining nearby,
q The Summer Triangle, with
IZW]VL3)\!3>MOIQ[ below and right of the white-yellow light of Jupiter. The waxing
corners marked by Vega,
\PMPW\\M[\,MVMJPWTL[\PMUQLLTM crescent Moon shines left of Jupiter on July 13th.
Altair, and Deneb, stretches
OZW]VLVMIZ 3 Saturn reaches opposition on July 9th, which means it will
across the Milky Way’s
<PMI[\MZQ[USVW_VI[\PM be visible all night long, provided you have a clear view of the Great Rift. This dark lane,
6WZ\PMZV+ZW[[_Q\P,MVMJI\Q\[ southern horizon. The golden planet shines in Sagittarius near formed by opaque molecular
PMILNWZU[\PMKWZMWN\PMKWV[\MT the Teaspoon asterism, standing about 28° above the horizon dust clouds, stretches from
TI\QWV+aOV][\PM;_IV)LLQVOI at its highest. The waxing gibbous Moon is close on July 15th. Cygnus to Sagittarius.
NM_UWZMTQVM[\W\PMKZW[[ZM^MIT[
IJQZLQVÆQOP\_Q\P)TJQZMWI\\PM
PMILWNQ\[TWVOVMKSIVL,MVMJI\
Q\[\IQT1VLMML\PMVIUM,MVMJ
KWUM[NZWUITLPIVIJ\PM)ZIJQK
_WZLNWZ\IQT\PW]OP\PMWZQOQVIT
XPZI[MZMNMZZML\W\PM\IQTWNIPMV Vega
VW\I[_IV 
AW]¼TTÅVL\PMVIUM,MVMJQVWVM
NWZUWZIVW\PMZ[KI\\MZMLIKZW[[\PM
VQOP\[Sa.WZQV[\IVKMTI[\UWV\P
_MLQ[K][[ML,MVMJWTI\PM\IQT[\IZWN
4MW,MT\I+IXZQKWZVQ\PMJZQOP\M[\
[\IZQV+IXZQKWZV][Q[UWZMKWU
UWVTaKITTML,MVMJ)TOMLQ\PM\IQT
WN\PMOWI\*M\I+M\QQ[VW_SVW_V
Deneb
I[,QXPLIIN\MZ\PM)ZIJQK_WZL
NWZNZWOJ]\\ZILQ\QWVITTa_I[KITTML
,MVMJ3IQ\W[\PM\IQTWN+M\][\PM
;MI5WV[\MZ/IUUI/Z]Q[Q[KITTML Altair
)TLPIVIJI\IQT\PI\WZQOQVITTa
JMTWVOML\W8Q[KQ[)][\ZQV][\PM
;W]\PMZV.Q[P/Z][\PM+ZIVMQ[I
ZMTI\Q^MTaVM_KWV[\MTTI\QWVKZMI\MLQV
\PM\PKMV\]Za
AKIRA FUJII

7VMWN\PMOZMI\[QOP\[WN\PM
[]UUMZ[SaQ[SVW_VI[\PM,W]JTM

SK Y WATCH 2019 35
 2 = 4A d !

,W]JTMQV4aZI7VW]ZITT[SaUIX LW]JTM[\IZ[\PMU[MT^M[<PMZM¼[aW]Z
aW]KIVR][\[MM\PI\-X[QTWV4aZIQ[I ,W]JTM,W]JTM
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF
LW]JTM[\IZ¸Q\[[aUJWTPI[I[UITT ;XMISQVOWNLW]JTM[\IZ[LWV¼\NWZOM\ THE SUN
TQVMXZW\Z]LQVONZWUQ\\WUIZSQ\I[ \WPWXNZWU>MOIW^MZ\W,MVMJ\PMV On July 2nd, there will be a total solar
[]KP<ZIQVaW]ZJQVWK]TIZ[WV>MOI LW_V\PM6WZ\PMZV+ZW[[\W)TJQZMW#Q\¼[ eclipse — but as with all these events,
-X[QTWV[PW]TLJMQV\PM[IUMÅMTLWN WVMWN\PMUW[\I\\ZIK\Q^MLW]JTM[\IZ[ you have to be lucky enough to be in
^QM_ZM^MITQVOQ\[MTNI[IJQVIZa[a[\MU QV\PM[Sa*QVWK]TIZ[WZI[UITT[KWXM the right geographic spot to witness it,
]VLMZUIOVQÅKI\QWV;W\PI\¼[\PMÅZ[\ _QTT[XTQ\Q\QV\W\_WKWTWZN]TKWUXWVMV\[ either because you live there or can travel
,W]JTMJ]\_PI\¼[\PM[MKWVL'1NaW] \aXQKITTaLM[KZQJMLI[JT]MIVLOWTL*]\ to that location. The path of totality will
XWQV\IQVKP[KWXMIVLILLR][\IJQ\ KWTWZXMZKMX\QWVQ[[]JRMK\Q^M[WLWV¼\JM cover a narrow band some 200 km wide
WNUIOVQÅKI\QWVaW]¼TT[MM\PI\JW\P []ZXZQ[MLQNaW][MM[WUM\PQVOKTW[MZ\W mainly over the Pacific Ocean, but it will
KWUXWVMV\[WN\PM-X[QTWV[\IZIZM WZIVOMOZMMVWZaMTTW_ also cross over northern Chile and central
Argentina. First contact, or the moment
the eclipse begins, will be at 16h 55m UT
The two components and it will end at 21h 51m UT (12:55 p.m.
of the wide double star and 5:51 p.m. Chile Standard Time), with
Epsilon Lyrae are just the instant of greatest eclipse at 19h 22m
discernible in this im- ε UT. This will be quite a long event, lasting
age. If we could “zoom for 4 hours and 33 minutes.
in” on this pair, as we
do when we look at a α
magnified view through
a telescope’s eyepiece,
we could see that each
DELTA AQUARIID
of these stars is also a METEOR SHOWER
binary system.
The Delta Aquariids are predicted to
peak on July 30th this year. With
β the New Moon on August 1st, viewing
conditions should be close to ideal for
spotting these faint but fairly numerous
meteors. Don’t limit your viewing to the
peak date, though — the shower is a
long, drawn-out affair stretching from
July 12th to August 23rd, offering
Dusk, July 12 –16 plenty of meteor-spotting possibilities.
Moon Moon
1 hour after sunset
July 13 July 12 The radiant — as the name implies —
Jupiter
is in Aquarius and this shower is best
seen from the Southern Hemisphere,
Moon Antares but observers at northern latitudes have
July 14
10° good chances of seeing meteors in the
early dawn hours.
Moon SCORPIUS
July 15
Saturn C a t ’s
Eyes

Moon
July 16 S A G I T TA R I U S
0W_LW
cometsOM\
COMET SKETCH: LEAH TISCIONE

\PMQZVIUM['
EPSILON LYRAE: AKIRA FUJII;

Looking Southeast Looking South-Southeast

p The waxing gibbous Moon floats through Scorpius and Sagittarius near the middle of July, posing with
first Jupiter and then Saturn. This scene is exact for the middle of North America and close enough for
the rest of the continent. For clarity, the Moon is shown three times its actual apparent size. The blue 10º
scale is about the width of your fist at arm’s length.

36 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Facing North
WHEN TO 5h
2 = 4A d !
USE THIS MAP
S
SEU
PER
;3 A+ 0 ) :<
Early June – 1 am*
Late June – Midnight*
Early July – 11 pm* C
Doluster
Late July – Nightfall Fa ubl
e W
*Daylight-saving time
ci N
n g

n
g
C

ci
Map instructions can
AS
N

Fa
SI
E

be found on page 9. PE
O
M IA
31

_
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D
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2 1
` M8 M8
O

C R
M

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E

P Polaris J A
D

H A S
A

E M R
U
Great S

MINOR _ U
of Peg

S `
b URSA er p
ip g
D Bi
` a

O
asus
quare

+ b

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AC

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Little co
Al r
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DRACO & iza
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Deneb _

C A AT I
c

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b

Facing West
CYG
Facing East

Nort

BERENICES
R
Cros n
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Vega _

M92

COMA
M3
¡

BOÖTES
NUS
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Zenith
r

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LYRA

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M13

BO RON
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ULP

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CO

G irgo
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LA
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7 July _
Jul oon rn M2
5 i ` R
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SW
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MAGNITUDES

–1 0 1 2 3 4
Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

5W[\KWUM\[IZMVIUMLIN\MZ 4M\¼[]VXIKS+WUM\0ITM*WXX¼[ bMZWM[QVWVQV_PQKPPITNUWV\P

\PMQZLQ[KW^MZMZ[¸\PQVS0IT W‫ٻ‬ KQITVIUM+!!7<PM Q\_I[LQ[KW^MZML[MY]MV\QIT
TMa¼[+WUM\WZ+WUM\0ITM*WXX ÅZ[\TM\\MZ+LMVW\M[\PI\\PM TM\\MZ[M`KMX\NWZ1IVLBIZM
Q\PIL\_WLQ[KW^MZMZ[ *]\_PI\ KWUM\Q[MQ\PMZVWVXMZQWLQKWZ I[[QOVML\WMIKPPITNUWV\P
QN[WUMWVMÅVL[\WV[WNKWUM\[' Q\¼[XMZQWLQK_Q\PIVWZJQ\TWVOMZ \PZW]OPW]\\PMaMIZ¸IV7\MTT[
<WI^WQLKWVN][QWVINWZUIT \PIVaMIZ[[PWZ\MZ\PIV ][Q\¼[\PM[MKWVLPITNWN2]Ta)VL
VIUQVOKWV^MV\QWVMUXTWa[TM\ \PI\_W]TLMIZVQ\I8!!Q[ \PMQVLQKI\M[Q\¼[\PMÅZ[\KWUM\
\MZ[IVLV]UJMZ[TQSMIKWLM \PMLQ[KW^MZaaMIZ<PMTM\\MZ7 NW]VLL]ZQVO\PI\XMZQWL

SK Y WATCH 2019 37
)=/=;< d !

The
Clawed
Creature
The Scorpion reigns in the south
as the Milky Way stretches
overhead.

<PM4IOWWV6MJ]TIQ[
I[\MTTIZV]Z[MZa¸I
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.
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TW]VOQVOTW_QV\PM[W]\P[W]\P_M[\
VWZ\PaW]UIa[MM\PM;KWZXQWV¼[XQV
KMZMLKTI_[J]\VM^MZ\PMN]TTTMVO\PWNQ\[
JWLaIVL\IQT
1V\MZXZM\I\QWV[WN\PQ[[\IZXI\\MZVI[I
[KWZXQWVXZMLI\MM^MV\PMIVKQMV\/ZMMS
KITTML\PMXI\\MZV/1:<)*_PQKP
IT[WUMIV[¹[KWZXQWVºVW\KWQVKQLMV
\ITTa/QZ\IJQ[VW_\PMKWUUWVVIUM
WN<PM\I;KWZXQQ
*]\_MÅVL\PM;KWZXQWVQV/ZMMS
ESO / VPHAS+ TEAM

IN\MZVQOP\NITT<PM;KWZXQWVVM^MZOM\[ I[\ZWVWUMZ[1V)SSILQIV\PMÅO]ZM Ua\PWTWOaI[_MTT,WaW]ZMUMUJMZ

^MZaPQOPNWZWJ[MZ^MZ[I\\PM[\IVLIZL _I[SVW_VI[b]YIYʅX]I_WZLZMTI\ML\W JWI[\N]T7ZQWV_PWXZWUQ[MLPM_W]TL
TI\Q\]LMNWZ_PQKPW]ZKPIZ\[IZMLZI_V ¹QUXITMWZZQ[M]XºXW[[QJTaIZMNMZMVKM P]V\IVLSQTTITT\PMIVQUIT[WV-IZ\P'
ˆ6WZ\P)VLQNaW]TQ^MM^MVNIZ\PMZ \W\PM[KWZXQWV¼[[\QVOMZ<PM;]UMZQIV[ 1\_I[\PM;KWZXQWV[MV\Ja)Z\MUQ[

38 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
IVLPMZUW\PMZ4M\W_PW\P_IZ\ML PLANETS IN AUGUST PHASES
PQ[XTIV[IVL[MV\PQU\WPQ[LMI\P
)ZMLWZIVOM[]XMZOQIV\UIZS[ Mercury makes an appearance at dawn around August First
Qtr 7 d"XU
\PM;KWZXQWV¼[PMIZ\3VW_VI[/)* 3rd. By the 11th, it stands its highest for the month, more  -,<
/1:<)*¹JZMI[\WN\PM[KWZXQWVº than 10° above the east-northeast horizon 30 minutes
Full
\W\PM;]UMZQIV[\PQ[[\IZQ[VW_ before sunrise. Mercury brightens as the month deepens Moon 15 d "!IU
KITTML)V\IZM[IVIUM\PI\LMZQ^M[ but also moves closer to the Sun, so is lost from view  -,<

NZWU\PM/ZMMS¹IV\Q)ZM[ºWZ¹ZQ^IT around the 26th. Last

WN5IZ[º\PM:WUIVMY]Q^ITMV\WN Venus is too close to the Sun to view this month. Look for Qtr 23 d"IU
 -,<
\PM/ZMMS)ZM[0W_M^MZ\PQ[[]U it to reappear at dusk in the latter part of September.
UMZ)V\IZM[Q[V¼\[WU]KPIZQ^ITWN Mars, too, is snugged up to the Sun this month. The Red New
30 d"IU
Moon
5IZ[I[WN2]XQ\MZ_PQKPJTIbM[I\ Planet won’t be visible until late October, when it appears in  -,<
UIOVQ\]LM·QVVMIZJa7XPQ]KP][ the morning sky.
<PM[MPQOP[]UUMZUWV\P[IT[W Jupiter is high at dusk and remains visible all evening. It
W‫ٺ‬MZ\PMaMIZ¼[JM[\^QM_[WN;IOQ\ sets about 2 a.m. daylight-saving time on August 1st and at
\IZQ][\PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV\PI\\ZIQT[ midnight on August 31st. The waxing gibbous Moon pairs with
JMPQVL;KWZXQ][I[\PMVQOP\[TW_Ta the planet on the evening of August 9th.
q In late summer, the Milky
XI[[M[;IOQ\\IZQ][Q[UMIV\\WZMX Saturn is a bit lower than Jupiter as evening twilight
Way rises from the southern
ZM[MV\IKMV\I]ZLZI_QVOIJW_J]\ deepens, but remains visible longer. It sets about two hours
horizon at a sharp angle. Red
Q\[JZQOP\MZ[\IZ[NWZUIXI\\MZVUWZM after Jupiter all month. On the evening of August 11th, the
Antares shines at the heart
ZMUQVQ[KMV\WNI<MIXW\\PIVIPITN waxing gibbous Moon hangs about 4° right of Saturn. The of Scorpius. The Teapot and
P]UIVPWZ[M;IOQ\\IZQ][IT[WPI[ next night, it’s about twice as far away from the Ringed Teaspoon asterisms of Sagit-
[WUMXTIVM\IZaKWUXIVa\PQ[[]U Planet to the left or lower left. tarius trail the Scorpion.
UMZ_Q\P;I\]ZV[PQVQVOVMIZ\PM
<MIXW\¼[PIVLTM
<PMOITIK\QKKMV\MZQ[R][\W‫\ٺ‬PM
<MIXW\¼[[XW]\[W_PMV_M¼ZMTWWS
QVOI\\PM[W]\PMZV[]UUMZ5QTSa
?Ia_M¼ZMXMMZQVOIKZW[[ILMV[MTa
XWX]TI\MLZMOQWVWN[XIKM<PQ[
UMIV[\PI\\PMZM¼[VW[PWZ\IOMWN
LMMX[SaWJRMK\[PMZM[WUMWN_PQKP
IZM^Q[QJTM\W\PMVISMLMaM4WWS
IJW^M\PM\MIXW\¼[[XW]\<PM4IZOM
;IOQ\\IZQ][;\IZ+TW]LNWZU[IJQTTW_
WN¹[\MIUºZQ[QVOIVLK]ZTQVO\W_IZL
5 \PM4IOWWV6MJ]TIIVL5
\PM<ZQÅL6MJ]TI
AW]¼TTPI^MVWLQ‫ٻ‬ K]T\a[XW\\QVO
\PM4IOWWV6MJ]TI_Q\PaW]ZVISML
MaM]VLMZLIZS[SQM[*]\JM[]ZM
\WTWWSI\Q\_Q\PaW]ZJQVWK]TIZ[I[
_MTT)JQ\WNUIOVQÅKI\QWVZM^MIT[I
JZQOP\TQVMWNNW]Z[\IZ[\PMUQLLTM
\_WWN_PQKPIZMMV^MTWXMLQVI
OTW_QVOKTW]L<PMVMIZJa<ZQÅL
6MJ]TITWWS[TQSMIVQZZMO]TIZKTW]L
\WXXMLJaI[KITMVM\ZQIVOTMWN[\IZ[
<PM[MIZMIT[WOWWLWJRMK\[NWZ\M[\
QVOaW]Z\MTM[KWXM[SQTT[1VI[KWXM
\PM4IOWWV¼[NW]ZJZQOP\[\IZ[\]ZV
QV\WIKZW_LIVL\PM<ZQÅL6MJ]TI
AKIRA FUJII

JMKWUM[KWVRWQVMLXI\KPM[WNNWO
_Q\PINM_[\IZ[\PZW_VQVNWZT]KS

SK Y WATCH 2019 39
)=/=;< d !

AW]KIVSMMXJ][a_Q\PJQVWK]TIZ[ [XTQ\Ja\PM/ZMI\:QN\\PI\IZKPM[VWZ\P
IVLI\MTM[KWXMITTUWV\PQV\PQ[XIZ\WN _IZLNZWU;IOQ\\IZQ][IVL7XPQ]KP][
PERSEID METEOR
\PM[Sa)VLLWV¼\NWZOM\\W[\IVLJIKS ]X\PZW]OP+aOV][<PQ[LIZSKPIVVMT SHOWER
\WTWWSI\\PMJQOOM[\LMMX[SaWJRMK\ Q[NWZUMLJaUI[[Q^MWXIY]MKTW]L[WN Every August, we’re treated to the
\PMZMQ[¸\PM5QTSa?IaQ\[MTN<PM QV\MZ[\MTTIZL][\\PI\TQMJM\_MMVW]Z meteor shower par excellence —
5QTSa?IaZ]V[NZWUPWZQbWV\WPWZQ [WTIZ[a[\MUQV\PM7ZQWV)ZUIVL\PM provided conditions are favorable, of
bWV[W]\P\WVWZ\PVWZ\PMI[\IVLQ[ ;IOQ\\IZQ][+IZQVI)ZUWN\PMOITI`a course. The Perseids are expected to
peak on the evening of August 12th
q The planets Saturn and Jupiter keep company with the hallmark constellations of summer in August. this year, but as always with this pro-
This scene is exact for the middle of North America and close enough for the rest of the continent. For lific shower, look for meteors starting
clarity, the Moon is shown three times its actual apparent size. The blue 10º scale is about the width of around mid-July and keep looking
your fist at arm’s length. through the latter half of August.
During the early dawn hours on the
Aug 2 date of the maximum, the number of
Around 9 pm Jupiter meteors is expected to be around 60,
or perhaps even more. The source
Antares
of the Perseids is 109P/Swift-Tuttle,
a comet that was discovered inde-
Saturn pendently by Lewis Swift and Horace
Parnell Tuttle in the summer of 1862.
SCORPIUS The Moon will be full on August
Cat’s 15th, and therefore will hamper
Eyes
10° viewing somewhat, but don’t let this
SAGITTARIUS discourage you: Head outside, find a
dark spot, bring a sleeping bag or a
blanket (and bug spray), and lie back
to enjoy the show.

Looking South-Southeast Looking South BINO HIGHLIGHT:

STAR CLUSTERS
While you’re out counting meteors, why
don’t you take your binoculars and look
for some star clusters? Start by head-
ing over to the Teapot in Sagittarius (did
you see Saturn?). M7, an open cluster
about three fingers below the spout of
the Teapot, was observed in antiquity by
Ptolemy himself. Now move some three
fingers to the upper right to find another
open cluster, M6, also known as the
Butterfly Cluster. Can you make out the
pattern responsible for its nickname?
Continuing in a counterclockwise direc-
tion from M6, see if you can spot the
open cluster M25 a little more than three
NATIONAL PARK NPS / NEAL HERBERT

fingers above the top star of the Teapot.

PUBLIC DOMAIN / YELLOWSTONE

In excellent dark conditions, you might

even glimpse it with the naked eye. Let’s
The Milky Way Galaxy dominates the summer sky, running finish with the globular cluster, M22:
from horizon to horizon. It’s bright enough to cast shadows About two fingers and a smidgen to the
on a clear night. The Dark Rift, a massive conglomerate of lower left of M25, you should spot this
dust and gas, appears to cleave the Milky Way in two. swarm of some 70,000 stars.

40 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Facing North
WHEN TO )=/=;< d !
;3 A+ 0 ) :<
6h
USE THIS MAP
Early July – Midnight* PE +60°
Late July – 11 pm* EU
RS

Early August – 10 pm*

9h
3h
S CAMEL
OPARD
Late August – Nightfall
ALIS
Fa
ci W
*Daylight-saving time n N
g

n
g

ci
a
Map instructions can
N

Fa
C
E

be found on page 9. Dolus

ub ter CA
le SS R
IO +80° M82 M81 O
J
PE A SA
IA M R
`

a _ U `
_
_ s
Polaris
`
AN

July
C MINOR er
M3

a
EP pp
Di ig
D

URSA
1

H
R

EU B b
O

S +80° `
M

NE ICI
r
ED

b lco
& Aizar
_

S
C A AT
Dipper
A

LA

N
Little

VE
_
CE

+
Great Square
of Pegasus

51
RT

_
d

M
M39
A

+60°

COM ES
Deneb

DRACO
`

N IC
h

A
TES
12
_

M3

BERE
a
0

Northern
h

Facing West
Facing East

PEGASUS

BOÖ
Cross

M9
Vega

BOREALIS
CORONA
CYGNUS
_

E S 13
¡

Zenith

Au oon
g4
_

M
LYRA
Albireo

GO
M57

rus
UL

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7 SAG

RC

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T S
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)
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+20°
EQU

IT

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TA

Alt

A P
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NUS

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UA _ R
_

T O

o
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5
US

M
_
U A
US AQ
S
SER
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U P
IL (CA ENS
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a
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Spic
M10
US `
CH on
_ M11 IU Moug 7
H A
b S C OP _
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U M
M `
Au oon E Moon M17 A
M

g1 C L Aug 11
er i
30

4 ` R
I P Jupit
T I + –20° IB
C b L
C

Satur M20
A

n _ m
P

Mar m M22 M8 /
R

SW
M4
Fa

res
IC

Anta o
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ci

g 15h
g
R

21h U S n
n

ci
N

SE S A G IT P I
U

M6 O R
Fa
TA R IU
S

S C
S ¡
¡ M7 h
p
CORO
N
AUST A STAR
RALIS –40°
MAGNITUDES
18h
–1 0 1 2 3 4
Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

0W_\W6IUM ?PMV\PM-IZ\PQVQ\[WZJQ\ I\UW[XPMZM?MKITT\PQ[ <PI\XWQV\Q[KITTML\PMZILQ

IZW]VL\PM;]V\ZI^MZ[M[ XPMVWUMVWVIUM\MWZ[PW_MZ IV\5M\MWZ[PW_MZ[OM\\PMQZ
a Meteor Shower \PZW]OP\PM\ZIQTWNLMJZQ[ ?PMVaW]¼ZM_I\KPQVOI VIUM[NZWU\PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV
LQ[KIZLMLJaIKWUM\\PI\ UM\MWZ[PW_MZ\Za\W\ZIKM IVL[WUM\QUM[M^MVIXIZ\QK]
PI[XZM^QW][Ta_PQbbML \PM\ZIQT[JIKS\W_PMZMaW] TIZ[\IZQV\PI\KWV[\MTTI\QWV
\PZW]OP\PM[WTIZ[a[\MU_M \PQVS\PMaWZQOQVI\MLAW]¼TT _PMZM\PMZILQIV\IXXMIZ[
UQOP\[MM\PM\QVaXIZ\QKTM[ VW\QKM\PI\UW[\WN\PM\ZIQT[ \WTQM8MZ[MQL[NZWU8MZ[M][
WNL][\¹J]ZVºQV\PM]XXMZ IXXMIZ\WKWV^MZOMWVIXWQV\ 4aZQL[NZWU4aZIIVL[WWV

SK Y WATCH 2019 41
;-8 <-5 *-: d !

A Stellar
Death
The Summer Triangle acts as a
guidepost along the path to the
planetary nebula M27.

<PQ[QUIOMWN5\PM,]UJJMTT
6MJ]TIKWUJQVM[LI\IOI\PMZML
I\\PZMMLQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\_I^MTMVO\P["
PaLZWOMVITXPIZMLLW]JTa
QWVQbMLW`aOMVOZMMVIVLVM]
\ZITW`aOMVJT]M0QOPMVMZOa
]T\ZI^QWTM\ZILQI\QWVNZWU\PM
[\MTTIZKWZMKMV\MZQ[QWVQbQVO
\PMW`aOMVIVLPaLZWOMVUIS
QVO\PMKTW]LWNOI[UWZM^Q[QJTM
\WWJ[MZ^MZ[

;
KWZXQ][Q[[SQ\\MZQVOW]\WN^QM_\PQ[
UWV\PQ\[KPQVLZWXXQVO\WZM[\WV
\PM[W]\PMZVPWZQbWV,MXMVLQVO
<PM;]UUMZ<ZQIVOTMQ[PQOPM[\\PQ[ 5_I[\PMÅZ[\XTIVM\IZaVMJ]TI
UWV\PLM[XQ\M\PMIL^MV\WNI]\]UV>MOI \WJMLQ[KW^MZML+PIZTM[5M[[QMZI
JTIbM[_PQ\MI\\PMbMVQ\P_Q\P,MVMJ\W .ZMVKPI[\ZWVWUMZLM\MZUQVML\WNMZ
G. JACOBY / WIYN / NOAO / NSF

WVaW]ZTWKI\QWVaW]UIa[\QTTJMIJTM Q\[VWZ\PMI[\IVL)T\IQZ\WQ\[[W]\PMI[\1N ZM\W]\ITT\PMKWUM\[QV\PM[SaILLML

\W[MM4IUJLIIVL=X[QTWV;KWZXQQ
\PM[\IZ[\PI\NWZUQ\[]XZIQ[ML[\QVOMZ
<PQ[[\MTTIZXIQZQ[IT[WSVW_VI[¹\PM
+I\¼[-aM[ºIUWVQSMZ\PI\UISM[NWZI
NZQMVLTQMZM^MVQVOKWUXIVQWV
aW]PI^MV¼\\ZIQVMLI\MTM[KWXMWVQ\aM\
VW_Q[IOWWL\QUM\W\ZIKSLW_V5
\PMXTIVM\IZaVMJ]TI\PI\TQM[WV\PMQUIO
QVIZaTQVMKWVVMK\QVO,MVMJIVL)T\IQZ
)T[WSVW_VI[\PM,]UJJMTT6MJ]TI
5\WPQ[TQ[\WNV]Q[IVKMWJRMK\[
¹VW\IKWUM\ºQV
8TIVM\IZaVMJ]TIMIZMOI[MW][
[PMTT[MRMK\MLJaTW_\WQV\MZUMLQI\M
UI[[ZMLOQIV\[L]ZQVO\PM]V[\IJTM

42 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
MVL[\IOM[WN\PMQZTQ^M[<PMQWV PLANETS IN SEPTEMBER PHASES
QbMLOI[Q[JTW_VIVL[PIXMLJa
[\MTTIZ_QVL[MUIVI\QVONZWU\PM Mercury is hidden in the Sun’s glow all month. The little planet First
Qtr 5 d"XU
[\IZ¼[ZMUVIV\KWZM)[UWZMIVL is on its way to a September 20th solar conjunction, when it  -,<
UWZMOI[Q[MRMK\ML\PM[PMTTJMOQV[ passes behind the Sun, at least from our point of view on Earth.
Full
\WOTW_<PM[\IZ¼[KWZMM^MV\]ITTa Look for Mercury to reappear in the dawn sky as the Morning Moon 14 d"IU
JMKWUM[I_PQ\ML_IZN[\IZTQSM Star in late November.  -,<

\PMWVMVW_I\\PMKMV\MZWN5
5W[\XTIVM\IZaVMJ]TIMLWV¼\TWWS
TQSMU]KPQV\PM[KWXMJ]\\PM[PMTT
WN\PM,]UJJMTT6MJ]TIPI[JMMV
[XZMILQVONWZIJW]\aMIZ[
IVLQ[ZMTI\Q^MTaKTW[MJa
TQOP\aMIZ[1\¼[IT[WJZQOP\¸UIO
VQ\]LM¸IVL\PQ[KWUJQVI\QWV
WNNIK\WZ[PMTX[Q\XZM[MV\_MTTQV\PM
MaMXQMKM
Venus moves into the sky at dusk to become the Evening Last
Star around September 18th. At magnitude –3.9, it’s blazing Qtr 21 d"XU
 -,<
bright, but it remains low, only a couple of degrees above the
horizon 30 minutes after sunset. New
28 d"XU
Moon
Like Mercury, Mars is too close to the Sun to view this  -,<
month, reaching solar conjunction on September 2nd. The Red
Planet spends the balance of the month passing behind our star
and will be visible again at dawn in mid-October.
Jupiter continues to hang on in the evenings, appearing at
its highest in the southwest at dusk. Each night, it hits its high- q Based on estimated rates of

)JQ\UWZMKPITTMVOQVOQ[\PM est point four minutes earlier, and by the end of the month, it expansion, scientists have de-
termined that the cataclysmic
XTIVM\IZaVMJ]TI5QV4aZI sets well before midnight. The first-quarter Moon shines near
events that birthed M57, the
1\¼[MI[aMVW]OP\WÅVLJM\_MMV Jupiter on the 5th.
Ring Nebula, occurred some
/IUUIIVL*M\I4aZIMJ]\Q\¼[ Saturn appears at dusk with Jupiter, shining in the south- 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.
JW\PLQUUMZIVL[UITTMZ\PIV5 southwest. The Ringed Planet sets about two hours later than The nebula’s 15th-magnitude
AW]¼TTVMMLIQVKP[KWXMWZJQOOMZ Jupiter. The waxing gibbous Moon poses on either side of Sat- central star is on its way to
\WZMITTa[MM\PMZQVO_Q\PQ\[PWT urn on the evenings of the 7th and 8th. becoming a white dwarf.
TW_MLKMV\MZ)QVKP[KWXM[PW]TL
ZM^MIT\PMKMV\ZIT[\IZJ]\Q\¼[IV
MT][Q^M\IZOM\I\JM[\
.WTTW_\PM[XQVMWN+aOV][I_Ia
NZWU)T\IQZ\W\PMVWZ\PMI[\IVLaW]
IZZQ^MI\\PMPW][MTQSMKWV[\MTTI
\QWVWN+MXPM][<PMJZQOP\M[\[\IZ
QV+MXPM][Q[UIOVQ\]LM)TXPI
J]\\PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV¼[UW[\QV\MZM[\
QVO[\IZ[IZM\PM^IZQIJTM[,MT\IIVL
5]+MXPMQ,MT\IQ[\PMXZW\W\aXM
WN\PM+MXPMQLKTI[[WN^IZQIJTM
[\IZ[<PQ[OZW]XWN[\IZ[M`PQJQ\[
IXZMLQK\IJTMZMTI\QWV[PQXJM\_MMV
\PMQZJZQOP\VM[[IVL\PMXMZQWLWN
\PMQZ^IZQIJQTQ\a"<PMJZQOP\MZ\PM
+MXPMQL\PMTWVOMZQ\[XMZQWL=[QVO
\PQ[LI\I\WKITK]TI\M\PM[\IZ¼[IJ[W
T]\MUIOVQ\]LMQV\ZQV[QKJZQOP\VM[[
PMTXMLI[\ZWVWUMZ[LM\MZUQVMQ\[
LQ[\IVKMNZWU-IZ\P
HUBBLE HERITAGE TEAM (AURA / STSCI / NASA)

,MT\IQ[IOWWLOI\M_Ia[\IZNWZ
WJ[MZ^QVO^IZQIJTM[I[Q\LQU[NZWU
UIOVQ\]LM\WW^MZIXMZQWLWN
LIa[IT_Ia[ZMUIQVQVO_Q\PQV
\PMTQOP\OZI[XWN\PMVISMLMaM
5]Q[IT[WI^IZQIJTM[\IZ\PW]OPQ\
JMTWVO[\WILQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\KTI[[\PIV,MT\I
5WZMKWUUWVTaSVW_VI[0MZ[KPMT¼[
/IZVM\;\IZ5]\aXQKITTa[PW_[W‫ٺ‬I

SK Y WATCH 2019 43
;-8 <- 5 *- : d !
Z]LLaP]M]VLMZWJ[MZ^I\QWV*]\KWTWZ
XMZKMX\QWVQ[PQOPTa[]JRMK\Q^M[WM^MV
QN\PM[\IZ¼[LQ[KW^MZMZ-VOTQ[P/MZUIV
I[\ZWVWUMZ?QTTQIU0MZ[KPMTKWUXIZML
Q\\WIOIZVM\Q\¼[R][\I[KWUUWV\WXMZ
KMQ^MQ\I[WZIVOM4QOP\XWTT]\QWVIT[W
I‫ٺ‬MK\[KWTWZXMZKMX\QWV
5]Q[IKWWTZML[]XMZOQIV\1\^IZQM[
QVJZQOP\VM[[JM\_MMVUIOVQ\]LM
IVLJ]\\PMXMZQWLWN^IZQIJQTQ\a
Q[[WTWVOM[\QUI\M[^IZaJM\_MMV 
IVLLIa[\PI\aW]_WV¼\VW\QKM
\PMKPIVOMQVJZQOP\VM[[NZWUVQOP\\W
VQOP\)VLIT\PW]OP5]LWM[V¼\TWWS
TQSMU]KPQ\¼[WVMWN\PMTIZOM[\[\IZ[
SVW_V_Q\PIZILQ][UWZM\PIV
\QUM[\PM;]V¼[5]¼[UI[[Q[IJW]\!
\QUM[\PMUI[[WN\PM;]V¼[J]\Q\[\W\IT
UI[[Q[LQUQVQ[PQVO[QVKMQ\¼[MRMK\QVO
UI\MZQITI[Q\VMIZ[\PMMVLWNQ\[TQNM
u The waning crescent Moon shines close to Regu-
lus on the morning of September 26th. This scene
is exact for the middle of North America and close
enough for the rest of the continent. For clarity, the
Moon is shown three times its actual apparent size.
The blue 10º scale is about the width of your fist at
arm’s length.
Cepheus is high in the
northeast at nightfall γ to drift westward, and to correct for
this month. Novice
skywatchers can
hone their observing
skills on the variable
star Mu Cephei, also
known as Herschel’s
Garnet Star.
δ
44 SK Y WATCH 2019
*MKI][M5]Q[[WTIZOMQ\¼[M`XMK\ML
\WXZWL]KMI[]XMZVW^II[Q\[KWZMKWT
THE SEPTEMBER
TIX[M[<PMZMUVIV\IN\MZ\PQ[\ZMUMV EQUINOX
LW][[\MTTIZM`XTW[QWVKW]TL^MZa_MTT Just as there was an equinox in March
JMIJTIKSPWTM marking the moment the Sun was
directly overhead in its passage from
south to north, so too is there one in
Dawn, Sept 25 –27
September marking the moment the
1 hour before sunrise
Sun, again directly overhead, moves
from north to south. In the Northern
Moon Hemisphere, the September equinox
Sept 25 marks the end of the halcyon days of
summer and the beginning of the darker
10° Sickle
months of fall and winter, while in the
Southern Hemisphere the equinox her-
alds spring and summer.
Regulus
The September equinox always falls
Moon on or around the 23rd of the month; this
Sept 26
LEO year it occurs at 3:50 a.m. EDT on that
date. This is when the celestial equa-
tor — the boundary that divides the
Moon
northern and southern hemispheres of
Sept 27 the sky, akin to the terrestrial equator
— and the ecliptic intersect (an occur-
Denebola
rence that also happens at the March
equinox). The points of intersection are
Looking East called the First Point of Libra and the
First Point of Aries for the September
and March equinoxes, respectively.
Earth’s precession causes these points
that, leap days are inserted into the
calendar every four years. Also due to
precession, these imaginary points are
no longer in the constellations for which
they are named; the First Point of Libra
is, in fact, by now in Virgo, while the
First Point of Aries is in Pisces. But the
original names have been retained to
avoid any further confusion.
Although fewer in number than sol-
stice monuments, equinox structures
were also built by ancient civilizations.
For example, at Chichen Itza in Mexico's
Yucatán Peninsula, the Kukulcán pyra-
mid is aligned so that on the equinoxes
a combination of stones and geometry
α project dramatic shadows on the stairs
of the northern face. And there is cur-
rently some debate on whether the
positioning of the Great Pyramid of Giza
was calculated based solely on the Sep-
AKIRA FUJII
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SK Y WATCH 2019 45
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46 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
8MZ[MQ[PQVQVOI\WVMKWZVMZQ[KIXXML PLANETS IN OCTOBER PHASES
JaIK]\M\ZQIVOTM0Q[\PQVIZU[
[\ZM\KP_QLMIVLPQ[[XQVLTaTMO[SQKS Mercury is too close to the Sun for observation this month. First
Qtr 5 d"XU
JMVMI\PPQ[KTWISML\WZ[W,MXMVLQVO Look for it to reappear in the dawn sky next month, on or  -,<
WV_PQKP^MZ[QWVWNPQ[JQWOZIXPaaW] around the 18th.
Full
_IV\\WZMILQV\PM[\IZ[\PQ[N]VVa Venus shines very, very low in the west in evening twilight. Moon 13 d" XU
ÅO]ZMQ[UWZMWZTM[[[]Q\IJTM It stands a bit higher each day, but reaches no higher than 5°  -,<

)KKWZLQVO\W0M[QWL¼[<PMWOWVa for observers at mid-northern latitudes this month. Still, its Last
5ML][I_I[\PMWVTaUWZ\ITWN\PZMM –3.8-magnitude dazzle should be obvious after sunset if you Qtr 21 d "!IU
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/WZOWV[Q[\MZ[IVL[W_I[LWWUML\W have an open horizon to the west.
IOMIVLM^MV\]ITTaLQMAM\M^MVIN\MZ Mars, shining at magnitude 1.8, appears in the morning New
27 d"
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PMZ^QWTMV\LMI\PPMZPMILZM^MITML twilight after the 14th or so. It will be quite low mid-month, a  -,<
PMZ[\ZMVO\PIVLXW_MZ0I^QVO not-too-bright light about 4° or 5° above the eastern horizon.
KPWXXMLQ\NZMM8MZ[M][SMX\\PM After this, it climbs a bit higher and rises four minutes earlier
PMIL[VISM[IVLITTQVPQ[_ITTM\ each morning. Use binoculars to find the thin waning crescent
q Floating between Perseus
1V\QUM[WNXMZQTPMLZM_\PMPMIL Moon upper left of Mars on October 26th. and Cassiopeia is the famed
W]\\W_QMTLI[I_MIXWVQ\[ÅMZKM Jupiter appears out of the evening dusk, its creamy Double Cluster. Visible to the
OIbM[\QTTKIXIJTMWN\]ZVQVOMVMUQM[ –2.0-magnitude light gleaming in the southwest. As the sky naked eye, the open clusters
\W[\WVM<PM[MKWVLJZQOP\M[\[\IZ darkens, look for Antares, below and right of Jupiter, before NGC 869 and NGC 884 form
QV8MZ[M][*M\I8MZ[MQ)TOWTVW_ the star sets. On the evening of October 3rd, the waxing cres- this easy binocular target.
ZMXZM[MV\[\PMJTIbMWN5ML][I¼[X]V cent Moon poses upper left of Jupiter. The Moon returns on The two clusters lie about the
Q[PQVO[\IZMXMZPIX[\]KSMLI_IaQV October 31st to recreate the tableau. same distance from Earth
— 7,000 light-years — and
8MZ[M][¼[JIO1V\PQ[_MNWTTW_8\WT The golden globe of Saturn stands relatively high at sunset
are approximately the same
MUa_PWZMNMZZML\W)TOWTI[¹<PM at the beginning of the month, about 27° above the southern
age —about 13 million years
/WZOWVWN8MZ[M][º horizon. At the same time the next evening, it will be a bit old — which suggests that
)TOWTQ[I\ZQXTM[\IZ[a[\MUQV lower, and then even lower the next evening. On the night of they were birthed around the
_PQKP\_W[\IZ[NWZUIVMKTQX[QVO October 5th, the first-quarter Moon beams left or lower left of same time in the same star-
JQVIZa-^MZa LIa[ILQUUMZ the Ringed Planet. forming region.
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SK Y WATCH 2019 47
 7+<7*- : d !
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/ZMMSSɔ\W[\WLM[\ZWa\PM)M\PQWXQIV [\MZ+MXPM][WZLMZML\PMXZQVKM[[\WJM
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MI[\QV\PMMIZTaM^MVQVO1V\PM[SaI\ UMV\MLKMTM[\QITI\TI[M[W^MZ\PMaMIZ[
TMI[\+M\][_Q\PPQ[[XZI_TQVOJWLaIVL J]\ITUW[\ITT][M\PM*\aXM[\IZ)TXPI
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tq The Moon travels through Scorpius and Sagit-
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Eyes
SCORPIUS the cup-like waning crescent in Virgo November
25–27. These scenes are drawn for near the
middle of North America (latitude 40° north, longi-
tude 90° west); European observers should move
each Moon symbol a quarter of the way toward the
one for the previous date. The blue 10° scale bar is
Looking Southwest
about the width of your fist at arm’s length.
Dusk, Oct 4 – 5 Dawn, Oct 25 – 27
45 minutes after sunset 30 minutes before sunrise Moon
Oct 25
Saturn
Moon Moon VIRGO
Oct 5 Oct 4
Moon
Oct 26
S A G I T TA R I U S
Mars
MOON SKETCHES: LEAH TISCIONE
Moon
Oct 27
Looking South-Southwest Looking East
48 SK Y WATCH 2019
THE ORIONID
METEOR SHOWER
Earlier this year we witnessed (if skies
were clear) evidence of a previous pas-
sage of Halley’s Comet through the
solar system as the Eta Aquariid meteor
shower. Now we get the opportunity to
see remnants of the comet again as the
Orionids. Interestingly, these events are
from two separate flybys of the comet.
The shower is expected to peak early on
the morning of October 22nd, with an
expected rate of 25 meteors per hour,
but this will vary depending on sky con-
ditions and how dark your location is. A
mere hour separates the rise of the radi-
ant and that of the last-quarter Moon on
the evening of the 21st, but try to take
advantage of those darker hours.
FALL ASTRONOMY
DAY
The second Astronomy Day of the
year will be held on October 5, 2019.
The date is scheduled for a Saturday
between mid-September and mid-Octo-
ber that is on or closest to a first-quarter
Moon. In contrast to Spring Astronomy
Day (that offered darker skies due to the
new Moon), participants at the fall event
will be able to observe neat features on
the crescent Moon, in addition to a slew
of other fun and interesting celestial
objects. Observatories and local clubs
will be coordinating a variety of viewing
sessions and other fun opportunities to
learn more about the night sky. Check
https://is.gd/AstronomyDay for infor-
mation on happenings near you.
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SK Y WATCH 2019 49
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JIKSWN\PM_QVOMLPWZ[M8MOI[][ PWZ[M¼[JTWKSaJWLa<PMKWV[\MTTI\QWVQ[ .ZMVKP1\ITQIVI[\ZWVWUMZ/QW^IVVQ

50 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
PLANETS IN NOVEMBER PHASES

Mercury begins its best morning apparition of the year, reap- First
Qtr 4 d"IU
pearing in the dawn sky around the 18th. It climbs higher and  -;<
grows brighter each morning. By the last day of the month, the
Full
diminutive planet stands 12° high and gleams a brilliant mag- Moon 12 d "IU
nitude –0.6 before sunrise.  -;<

Venus shines as the Evening Star in November. It appears Last

low in the southwest at dusk at the beginning of the month, Qtr 19 d"XU
 -;<
but gains altitude each day. Watch as the distance between
Venus and Jupiter decreases. On the 24th, the two planets are New
Moon 26 d"IU
about 1½° apart.  -;<
Mars graces the morning sky, rising a couple of hours
before the Sun in November. During the first half of the month
see the tiny orange planet pass near the blue-white star Spica.
Jupiter is visible for about an hour after sunset before
it drops below the horizon in the west-southwest. It remains
q The Great Square of
bright — shining at magnitude –1.8 — through the end of the
Pegasus borrows a corner
month, but appears lower each evening. It will soon be unob-
star from the neighboring
servable as it moves toward a late-December solar conjunction.
constellation Andromeda.
Saturn continues to crawl across the southern sky, offer- Follow the line that connects
ing about 3½ hours of visibility after dark. The waxing cres- Theta Pegasi and Enif to
cent Moon shines on either side of Saturn on November 1st locate the very faint globular
,WUMVQKW5IZITLQLQ[KW^MZML\PQ[ and 2nd, and makes a return visit on November 29th. cluster M15.
UWLM[\OTWJ]TIZKT][\MZQV
?Q\PIVIOMWN[WUMJQTTQWVaMIZ[
5Q[WVMWN\PMWTLM[\SVW_V
OTWJ]TIZ[1\KWV\IQV[IJW]\
[\IZ[J]\IXXMIZ[[UITTIVLNIQV\
JMKI][MQ\TQM[IJW]\TQOP\
aMIZ[NZWU][
1NaW]TWWSKTW[MTaI\\PM/ZMI\
;Y]IZMWN8MOI[][QV\PMQUIOMI\
α Andromedae
ZQOP\WZ\PMKPIZ\WVXIOMaW] β
KIV[MM\PI\Q\[JZQOP\M[\KWZVMZ[\IZQ[
IK\]ITTa)TXPI)VLZWUMLIM_PQKP
KWVVMK\[\PMXZQVKM[[¼[PMIL\W\PM
PWZ[M¼[JMTTa<PMKWUUWVVIUMNWZ Great
\PQ[[\IZ_PQKPaW]¼TTÅVLUIZSMLI[ Square
,MT\I8MOI[QQVMIZTa[\IZI\TI[M[Q[
)TXPMZI\bIVIUM\PI\KWUM[NZWU
\PM)ZIJQKXPZI[M[]ZI\ITNIZI[UMIV α Pegasi M15
γ
QVO¹\PMUIZM¼[VI^MTº7‫ٻ‬ KQITTaXIZ\ PEGASUS
WN)VLZWUMLIVW_\PM[\IZVM^MZ ε
\PMTM[[LZI_[\PM_QVOMLPWZ[MQV\W Enif
\PMNIUQTaLZIUIXTIaQVOW]\QV\PQ[
XQMKMWN\PM[Sa
?PQTM+I[[QWXMQIQ[[IQL\WPI^M θ
JMMV\PZW_V\W\PMPMI^MV[Ja\PM
OWL[I[INWZUWNM\MZVITX]VQ[P
UMV\NWZPMZ^IVQ\a)VLZWUMLI_I[
XTIKMLIJQ\UWZM[aUXI\PM\QKITTaJa
AKIRA FUJII

)\PMVI8MZPIX[\PQ[Q[_PaPMZKWV
[\MTTI\QWVKWV\IQV[WVMWN\PMUW[\

SK Y WATCH 2019 51
 MOON
PLANETS IN NOVEMBER PHASES

Mercury begins its best morning apparition of the year, reap- First
Qtr 4 d"IU
pearing in the dawn sky around the 18th. It climbs higher and  -,<
grows brighter each morning. By the last day of the month, the
Full
diminutive planet stands 12° high and gleams a brilliant mag- Moon 12 d "IU
nitude –0.6 before sunrise.  -;<

Venus shines as the Evening Star in November. It appears Last

low in the southwest at dusk at the beginning of the month, Qtr 19 d"XU
 -;<
but gains altitude each day. Watch as the distance between
Venus and Jupiter decreases. On the 24th, the two planets are New
Moon 26 d"IU
about 1½° apart.  -;<
Mars graces the morning sky, rising a couple of hours
before the Sun in November. During the first half of the month
see the tiny orange planet pass near the blue-white star Spica.
Jupiter is visible for about an hour after sunset before
it drops below the horizon in the west-southwest. It remains
q The Great Square of
bright — shining at magnitude –1.8 — through the end of the
Pegasus borrows a corner
month, but appears lower each evening. It will soon be unob-
star from the neighboring
servable as it moves toward a late-December solar conjunction.
constellation Andromeda.
Saturn continues to crawl across the southern sky, offer- Follow the line that connects
ing about 3½ hours of visibility after dark. The waxing cres- Theta Pegasi and Enif to
cent Moon shines on either side of Saturn on November 1st locate the very faint globular
,WUMVQKW5IZITLQLQ[KW^MZML\PQ[ and 2nd, and makes a return visit on November 29th. cluster M15.
UWLM[\OTWJ]TIZKT][\MZQV
?Q\PIVIOMWN[WUMJQTTQWVaMIZ[
5Q[WVMWN\PMWTLM[\SVW_V
OTWJ]TIZ[1\KWV\IQV[IJW]\
[\IZ[J]\IXXMIZ[[UITTIVLNIQV\
JMKI][MQ\TQM[IJW]\TQOP\
aMIZ[NZWU][
1NaW]TWWSKTW[MTaI\\PM/ZMI\
;Y]IZMWN8MOI[][QV\PMQUIOMI\
α Andromedae
ZQOP\WZ\PMKPIZ\WVXIOMaW] β
KIV[MM\PI\Q\[JZQOP\M[\KWZVMZ[\IZQ[
IK\]ITTa)TXPI)VLZWUMLIM_PQKP
KWVVMK\[\PMXZQVKM[[¼[PMIL\W\PM
PWZ[M¼[JMTTa<PMKWUUWVVIUMNWZ Great
\PQ[[\IZ_PQKPaW]¼TTÅVLUIZSMLI[ Square
,MT\I8MOI[QQVMIZTa[\IZI\TI[M[Q[
)TXPMZI\bIVIUM\PI\KWUM[NZWU
\PM)ZIJQKXPZI[M[]ZI\ITNIZI[UMIV α Pegasi M15
γ
QVO¹\PMUIZM¼[VI^MTº7‫ٻ‬ KQITTaXIZ\ PEGASUS
WN)VLZWUMLIVW_\PM[\IZVM^MZ ε
\PMTM[[LZI_[\PM_QVOMLPWZ[MQV\W Enif
\PMNIUQTaLZIUIXTIaQVOW]\QV\PQ[
XQMKMWN\PM[Sa
?PQTM+I[[QWXMQIQ[[IQL\WPI^M θ
JMMV\PZW_V\W\PMPMI^MV[Ja\PM
OWL[I[INWZUWNM\MZVITX]VQ[P
UMV\NWZPMZ^IVQ\a)VLZWUMLI_I[
XTIKMLIJQ\UWZM[aUXI\PM\QKITTaJa
AKIRA FUJII

)\PMVI8MZPIX[\PQ[Q[_PaPMZKWV
[\MTTI\QWVKWV\IQV[WVMWN\PMUW[\

SK Y WATCH 2019 51
67> - 5 *- : d !
[XMK\IK]TIZLMMX[SaWJRMK\[^Q[QJTM
NZWU\PM6WZ\PMZV0MUQ[XPMZM\PM
/ZMI\)VLZWUMLI/ITI`a
+I\ITWOMLI[5\PM)VLZWUMLI
/ITI`aQ[^Q[QJTM\W\PMVISMLMaMM^MV
QV[TQOP\TaTQOP\XWTT]\ML[SQM[";MM
QNaW]KIVLM\MK\I[]J\TMOTW_KTW[M
\W/IUUI)VLZWUMLIMJMNWZMaW]
\]ZVaW]ZJQVWK]TIZ[\W_IZLQ\7VKM
aW]][MWX\QKITIQLaW]¼TTLQ[KW^MZIV
QUUMV[MW^ITWNTQOP\_Q\PIVW\QKMIJTa
JZQOP\J]TOMI\Q\[KMV\MZ:MITTaJQO
JQVW[KIVM^MV\]ZV]X5¼[KWUXIV
QWVOITI`QM[5IVL5
)[\ZWVWUMZ[PI^MSVW_V\PM
)VLZWUMLI/ITI`a[QVKMI\TMI[\),
!_PMV\PM8MZ[QIVI[\ZWVWUMZ»)JL
IT:IPUIVIT;]ÅÅZ[\ZMKWZLMLQ\
0W_M^MZQ\[\Z]MQLMV\Q\aI[IOITI`a
_I[VW\KWVÅZUML]V\QT\PM\PKMV
\]Za_PMV\PM)UMZQKIVI[\ZWVWUMZ
-L_QV0]JJTMLMUWV[\ZI\ML\PI\Q\
qu The Moon travels through Sagittarius twice in
November. Look for the close pairing of Jupiter and
Venus late in the month. These scenes are drawn
for near the middle of North America (latitude 40°
north, longitude 90° west); European observers
should move each Moon symbol a quarter of the
way toward the one for the previous date. The
blue 10° scale bar is about the width of your fist at
arm’s length. For clarity, the Moon is shown three
times its actual apparent size.
Dusk, Nov 1– 2
1 hour after sunset
Moon
Nov 2
Saturn
Moon
Nov 1
10°
S A G I T TA R I U S
Looking South-Southwest
52 SK Y WATCH 2019
TIaIVM[\QUI\MLTQOP\aMIZ[
I_IaNZWU][¸U]KP\WWLQ[\IV\\W
TRANSIT OF
JMTWVO\W\PM5QTSa?Ia?MVW_SVW_ MERCURY
Q\[TQOP\\ISM[IJW]\UQTTQWVaMIZ[\W On November 11, 2019, we are
ZMIKP-IZ\P<PI\¼[UWZM\PIV\_QKM presented with the remarkable
\PM\QUM0]JJTMM[\QUI\MLJ]\PQ[JI[QK opportunity to witness the transit of
XWQV\[\IVL["<PM5QTSa?Ia/ITI`a Mercury across the disk of the Sun.
PI[KWUXIVa1VNIK\ZMKMV\M[\QUI\M[ Due to the geometry of the solar
[]OOM[\\PI\\PM4WKIT/ZW]X\PM system, we can only see transits of
OITI`aOZW]X\PI\KWV\IQV[\PM5QTSa Mercury and Venus. While Venusian
?IaKWUXZQ[M[IJW]\OITI`QM[ transits occur in pairs separated by
<PM4WKIT/ZW]XQ\[MTNJMTWVO[\W_PI\ more than one hundred years, Mer-
I[\ZWVWUMZ[KITT\PM>QZOW;]XMZKT] cury glides across the solar disk,
[\MZIOQIV\KT][\MZWNIJW]\OITI`a as seen from Earth, approximately
OZW]X[<PM>QZOW+T][\MZQV\]ZV 13 times per century. The duration
JMTWVO[\W\PM4IVQISMI;]XMZKT][\MZ of the November 11th event will
_PQKPQVKT]LM[IJW]\OITI`QM[ be around 5½ hours long from the
moment the leading edge of the tiny
planet appears to first touch the
solar disk to when the trailing edge
Dusk, Nov 22
45 minutes after sunset leaves the disk. Analogous to solar
eclipses, there are five main phases
during a planetary transit. In addi-
tion to the two mentioned above,
Saturn we also have: the moment the
planet’s disk is entirely within the
solar disk at the start of the transit;
S A G I T TA R I U S
greatest transit — when the planet
passes closest to the Sun’s center;
and the moment when the planet,
Jupiter still entirely within the solar disk,
touches the edge of the Sun toward
Venus
the end of transit, after which time
it begins to leave the solar disk.
Viewers in South America and the
Looking Southwest eastern United States will see the
entire transit, while for those in
central and western states the tran-
sit will already be in progress when
Dusk, Nov 28 – 29
45 minutes after sunset the Sun rises. The transit begins at
12:35 UT (7:35 a.m. EST) and ends
at 18:05 UT (1:05 p.m. EST), with
greatest transit at 15:20 UT (10:20
Saturn a.m. EST). Unless you have the
Moon
Nov 29 proper filters for solar observations
for your scope or binoculars, do not
S A G I T TA R I U S Moon attempt to view this event! Your
Nov 28
astronomy club or science museum
may very well set up observing
Venus opportunities. If you don’t have
Jupiter access to local viewing sessions,
online sources such as NASA TV
will stream live coverage of the
Looking Southwest transit as it happens.
 Facing North
WHEN TO 11h
67> - 5 *- : d !
MAJOR
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Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

0W_LW 2][\I[KIZ\WOZIXPMZ[][MTWVOQ QLMV\QÅMLJaQ\[ZQOP\I[KMV[QWVIVL \PMbMZWWNZQOP\I[KMV[QWV,MKTQ

\]LMIVLTI\Q\]LM\WLM[KZQJM\PM Q\[LMKTQVI\QWV:QOP\I[KMV[QWV VI\QWVQ[\PMUMI[]ZMWNIVO]TIZ
I[\ZWVWUMZ[ TWKI\QWVWNI[XMKQÅKXWQV\WV IJJZM^QI\ML:)Q[MY]Q^ITMV\ LQ[\IVKMVWZ\PWZ[W]\PWN\PM
QVLQKI\M\PM -IZ\PI[\ZWVWUMZ[PI^MLM^Q[ML \W\MZZM[\ZQITTWVOQ\]LMIVLQ[ KMTM[\QITMY]I\WZIVLZIVOM[NZWU
IKWWZLQVI\M[a[\MUSVW_VI[ M`XZM[[MLQVPW]Z[UQV]\M[IVL !£\W·!£_Q\P£KWZZM[XWVL
position of an \PMMY]I\WZQITKWWZLQVI\M[a[\MU\W [MKWVL[1\¼[UMI[]ZMLMI[\_IZL QVO\W\PMKMTM[\QITMY]I\WZ;]J
object in the sky? TWKI\MXW[Q\QWV[QV\PM[Sa)Va ITWVO\PMMKTQX\QKNZWUP\WP LQ^Q[QWV[WNLMOZMM[WNLMKTQVI\QWV
KMTM[\QITWJRMK\¼[XW[Q\QWVKIVJM _Q\P\PM[XZQVOMY]QVW`Å`MLI[ IZMIZKUQV]\M[IVLIZK[MKWVL[

SK Y WATCH 2019 53
,-+-5 *-: d !

Celestial
Showdown
The winter sky tells the story
of an epic race between
humans and buffalo.

1V,ISW\I4ISW\IPQ[
\WZa\PM:IKM\ZIKS
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XIQV\MLPMZMQVaMTTW_
ZM[\[QV[QLM\PMKMTM[\QIT
:IKM\ZIKS

 A HPI WOWAMPI — D(L)AKOTA STAR MAP /

NATIVE SKYWATCHERS / ANNETTE S. LEE / JIM ROCK /
CHARLENE O’ROURKE; STARFIELD IMAGE: AKIRA FUJII

1
V,MKMUJMZ_M_MTKWUMJIKS\PM
NIUQTQIZKWV[\MTTI\QWV[WN_QV\MZ<PM
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54 SK Y WATCH 2019
 MOON
PLANETS IN DECEMBER PHASES

Mercury opens the month with a dawn apparition. It rises First

Qtr 4 d" IU
in the east-southeast; look for it about 12° above the horizon  -;<
some 30 minutes before sunrise. It’s bright, gleaming at mag-
Full
nitude –0.6, but binoculars will help pull it out of the twilight. Moon 12 d"IU
Venus graces the evening sky this month. Blazing away  -;<

at –3.9, the Evening Star is difficult to miss, even though it’s Last
fairly low in the southwest at dusk. Watch each evening as the Qtr 18 d"XU
 -;<
gap between Venus and Saturn narrows; on the 10th and 11th,
less than 2° separates the pair. On the evening of December New
Moon 26 d"IU
28th, grab a pair of binos to see the very thin waxing crescent  -;<
Moon less than 3° below Venus.
Mars meets us in the morning in December, rising 2½ to
3 hours before the Sun and standing highest at daybreak. The
waning crescent Moon is about 8° upper right of Mars on the
QV\W\PMJIKSOZW]VL 22nd and 6° lower left of Mars on the 23rd.
NWZUQVOIU]\MLJIKS Jupiter pays a short visit this month, disappearing from
LZWXNWZ\PM,ISW\I view around the 12th. Until then, look for it quite low in the q The Racetrack includes

4ISW\IKWV[\MTTI\QWV[ southwest at dusk. bright stars from six Greek

8IQV\MLJa\PMIZ\Q[\ Saturn plays leap frog with Venus this month. The Ringed constellations: Taurus, Auriga,
)VVM\\M4MMWN\PM Planet starts December about 11° upper left of brighter Venus Gemini, Canis Minor, Canis
Major, and Orion. Inside the
6I\Q^M;Sa_I\KPMZ[ on the 1st, but the distance between the pair shortens each
Racetrack sits the grow-
8ZWRMK\VI\Q^M[Sa evening. The two pass each other on the evenings of Decem-
ing buffalo Tayamni, which
_I\KPMZ[KWU\PM ber 11–13. By the time Saturn disappears from view on the stretches from the Pleiades
UWZM^QJZIV\XI\\MZV[ 27th, it shines some 18° lower right of Venus. With optimal (its head) to Sirius (its tail).
IZMZMUQVQ[KMV\WN\PM conditions, you may be able to detect an extremely thin waxing Orion’s belt forms the buf-
JMIL_WZS\ZILQ\QWVITTa crescent Moon 6° upper left of Saturn on the 27th. falo’s backbone.
][MLJa\PM,ISW\I4ISW\I
\W[QOVQNa\PM[IKZML α Aur
8MZPIX[JMKI][M\PMXZIQZQM
β Aur
[SaQ[[WJQO[W\WWIZM[WUMWN
\PM,ISW\I4ISW\IKWV[\MTTI\QWV[
7VMWN\PMTIZOM[\Q[3Q1ĒaIĒSI
Pleiades
7K IĒS]\PM:IKM\ZIKS,Q‫ٺ‬MZMV\
^MZ[QWV[WN\PM:IKM\ZIKS¼[PQ[\WZa
M`Q[\J]\QVUW[\\PM\ZIKSQ[ZMUMU
α Gem
JMZMLI[\PM[Q\MWNIOZMI\JI\\TMNWZ
XZQUIKaJM\_MMV\PMNW]ZTMOOML β Gem
J]‫ٺ‬ITWIVL\_WTMOOMLP]UIV<PM
KWUXM\Q\QWV\WWSXTIKMQVIVMZI
_PMVJ]‫ٺ‬ITWKTIQUML\PMZQOP\\W
SQTTIVLMI\W\PMZIVQUIT[QVKT]LQVO
α Ori
XMWXTM?Q[PQVO\WKPIVOM\PMQZZMTI
\Q^MXW[Q\QWV[WNXW_MZP]UIV[KPIT
TMVOML\PMJ]‫ٺ‬ITW\WIZIKM1N\PM
XMWXTMXZM^IQTML\PMJ]‫ٺ‬ITW_W]TL α CMi
OQ^M]X\PMQZZQOP\\WMI\UMI\1N\PM
β Ori
J]‫ٺ‬ITW_WVP]UIV[_W]TLKWV\QV]M
\WJMWV\PMJ]‫ٺ‬ITWLQVVMZUMV]
<PMW\PMZIVQUIT[IVLJQZL[_MZM
WNKW]Z[MQV\MZM[\MLQV\PMW]\KWUMWN
AKIRA FUJII

\PMZIKMIVL\PMaOI\PMZML\W_I\KP α CMa
MIKPXIQV\MLQV\PMKWTWZ[_M[MM

SK Y WATCH 2019 55
,-+- 5 *- : d !
\WLIa<PMJ]‫ٺ‬ITWKPW[M:]VVQVO;TQU
*]‫ٺ‬ITWIKW__Q\POZMI\NWW\[XMML\W
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qu Golden Saturn and white Venus begin De-
cember widely separated, with Saturn upper left
of brighter Venus. The distance between the two
shortens each evening until they pass each other
mid-month. This scene is exact for the middle of
North America and close enough for the rest of
the continent. For clarity, the Moon is shown three
times its actual apparent size. The blue 10º scale is
about the width of your fist at arm’s length.
Dusk, Dec 6
45 minutes after sunset
Saturn
10°
Venus
S A G I T TA R I U S
Jupiter
Looking Southwest
56 SK Y WATCH 2019
_Ia\PI\UQZZWZ[\PM[\IZ[ILWWZ_Ia
\W\PM[XQZQ\]IT_WZTLWXMV[NWZ\PMU
;W\PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV[LWV¼\R][\\MTT
I[\WZaJ]\KWVVMK\\PMXMWXTM\WI
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 in 1862, but the source of the shower
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\PM;IKZML0WWX<PM;IKZML0WWX
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IVMUJZaWVQKJ]‫ٺ‬ITW<IaIUVQQVKT]LM[
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7ZQWV<I]Z][IVL+IVQ[5IRWZ
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XIZ\[WV\PM[SaUIX<IaIUVQ8I
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\PMJ]‫ٺ‬ITW¼[PMIL<IaIUVQ+IĒSIP]
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\IS\PM[\IZ[WN 7ZQWV¼[JMT\ZMXZM[MV\[
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+]\]P]NWZUMLJaKWVVMK\QVO\PM
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NITW¼[\IQT
Dusk, Dec 27– 29
30 minutes after sunset
Moon
Dec 29
Venus _ Cap
` Cap
Moon
Dec 28
Moon
Dec 27
Saturn
Looking Southwest
THE GEMINIDS
The last major meteor shower of the
year is brought to us courtesy of 3200
Phaethon, an asteroid often referred to
as a rock comet since it displays char-
acteristics of both comets and aster-
oids. Asteroid 3200 Phaethon is also
remarkable in that it comes closer to
the Sun than any other named aster-
oid. The Geminids were first reported
was not identified until the discovery
of the asteroid in 1983. The Geminids
have been increasing in number and
intensity in the past years, making for
interesting viewing possibilities, even
if the peak of the shower in the early
hours of December 14th coincides
with the Moon two days past full. The
radiant rises shortly after sunset, and
this is therefore a good meteor shower
for the younger observers amongst us
who have earlier bedtimes.
ANNULAR ECLIPSE
Serendipitously, the projected sizes
of the Sun’s and the Moon’s disks on
the sky are similar, allowing for total
solar eclipses when their alignment is
favorable. However, since the Moon’s
orbit is not perfectly circular, there
are times when it’s closer to Earth,
and times when it’s farther away. On
December 26th, it so happens that the
full Moon is a bit farther in its orbit.
When it passes in front of the Sun,
it will appear smaller and won’t fully
cover the solar disk. In this case, we
see an annular eclipse, when a narrow
ring of the Sun’s disk encircles the
Moon. Viewers in southeastern Saudi
Arabia, southern India, parts of Suma-
tra and Borneo will witness an annular
eclipse, while most of Asia and Aus-
tralia will be privy to a partial eclipse.
This event begins after the Sun has
set in the Americas, but in 2023 the
path of an annular eclipse crosses
over the southwestern United States,
offering a partial eclipse for almost the
whole American continent.
 Facing North
WHEN TO 13h ,- + - 5 *- : d !
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Facing South
SYMBOLS Galaxy Double star Variable star Open cluster Diffuse nebula Globular cluster Planetary nebula

?PI\ )UI\M]ZI[\ZWVWUaQ[TIZOMTa ^Q[QJTM]T\ZI^QWTM\@ZIa[IVL TI]VKPLM\MK\WZ[WV[I\MTTQ\M[

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LWastronomers M`XTWQ\[\PMMV\QZMMTMK\ZWUIO XZW^QLMQVNWZUI\QWVWVLQ‫ٺ‬MZ ZILQWLQ[PM[>Q[QJTMIVLQVNZIZML
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use for observing? \W\PM[PWZ\M[\_I^MTMVO\P[\PM OIUUIZIa[IVLTIZOM[_I\PM[ \]ZJ]TMVKMQV\PMI\UW[XPMZM¸
[XMK\Z]UZ]V[NZWU\PMZILQW WN\PM]T\ZI^QWTM\JIVLLWV\ \PMZMNWZM_MXTIKM\MTM[KWXM[WV
\PZW]OPUQKZW_I^M[QVNZIZML XMVM\ZI\M\PMI\UW[XPMZM[W_M UW]V\IQV\WX[

SK Y WATCH 2019 57
INTRO TO SCOPES

BOB KING

58 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Your First
Scope
Ja*WJ3QVO

New to
8
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telescopes? R]VOTM<PMZMIZM[M^MZITZMI[WV[NWZ\PQ["UIVaUWLMT[IVL\aXM[NZWU_PQKP
\WKPWW[MKW[\KWVKMZV[IVLNMIZWNJ]aQVOR]VSAM[\PMZMIZM[WUMXWWZTa
Ready to take the UILM[KWXM[aW][PW]TLI^WQLJ]\\PMZMIZMIT[W_WVLMZN]TWVM[NWZZMI[WVIJTM
plunge? Read on XZQKM[1PWXM_MKIVUISM\PMRWJWNÅVLQVOWVMITQ\\TMMI[QMZ
for everything you 7]ZÅZ[\¹\MTM[KWXMºQ[\PM[M\WNMaM[_Q\P_PQKP_M_MZMJWZV?MUQOP\
JM\\MZKITT\PMUWVMXW_MZJQVWK]TIZ[,MXMVLQVOWV\PM\QUMWNaMIZaW]KIV
need to know. \QT\aW]ZPMILJIKSIVL[MM\PMÅ^MJZQOP\M[\XTIVM\[XZWUQVMV\KWUM\[M^MV\PM
JZQOP\M[\[\IZKT][\MZ[VMJ]TIMKTW]L[WNOI[IVLL][\_PMZM[\IZ[IZMJWZVIVL
OITI`QM[5ISQVOIZMO]TIZPIJQ\WNTWWSQVO]XPMTX[][JMKWUMNIUQTQIZ_Q\P\PM
TIaW]\IVLUW^MUMV\WN\PM[\IZ[IVLXTIVM\[IKZ]KQIT[\MXWV\PMXI\P\W_IZL
MVRWaQVO\PI\ÅZ[\\MTM[KWXM
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WN^QM_QVUIVaQV[\Z]UMV\[Q[VIZZW_ZW]OPTaIJW]\\PM_QL\PWN\PMN]TT5WWV
<W][MWVM_Q\PW]\M`XMV[Q^MI]\WXWQV\QVOLM^QKM[aW]PI^M\WSVW__PMZMIVL
I\_PI\\WXWQV\<PMUWZMNIUQTQIZaW]IZM_Q\P\PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV[IVLXTIVM\
XW[Q\QWV[\PMMI[QMZQ\_QTTJM\WVI^QOI\M\PM[SaIVLÅVL_PI\aW]¼ZMTWWSQVONWZ
3VW_QVO\PMTIaW]\WN\PM[SaKWVNMZ[\PM[IUMIL^IV\IOM[I[SVW_QVO_PMZM\W
J]aOZWKMZQM[OI[WZIOWWLUMITQVaW]ZPWUM\W_V

Warm Up to the Sky with Apps and Binoculars

<W\PI\MVL1ZMKWUUMVL][QVOIUWJQTMXPWVM[\IZIVLXTIVM\ÅVLQVOIXXTQSM
\PW[MTQ[\MLI\\PMMVLWN\PQ[IZ\QKTM.QZM]X\PMIXXIVLPWTLaW]ZXPWVM\W\PM
[SaNWZITQ^M^QM_WN_PI\¼[]XI\\PI\UWUMV\NZWUaW]ZTWKI\QWV*MNWZM\WWTWVO
aW]¼TT[\IZ\\WZMKWOVQbM\PMJZQOP\MZKWV[\MTTI\QWV[IVLXTIVM\[I[aW]_WZSaW]Z_Ia
\WJMKWUQVOI2MLQUI[\MZWN\PMVQOP\
t Compact Compound
7VKMaW]PI^MIZ]LQUMV\IZaSVW_TMLOMWN\PMKWV[\MTTI\QWV[KWV[QLMZX]ZKPI[
Compound telescopes have much
shorter tubes since they use a combi-
QVOIXIQZWNJQVWK]TIZ[JMNWZMLMKQLQVOWVI\MTM[KWXM/WWLJQVWK]TIZ[NWZI[\ZW
nation of mirrors and lenses to focus VWUQKIT^QM_QVOKIVJMPILNWZIZW]VL·IVL_QTTZM^MIT\PMNW]Z/ITQTMIV
the incoming light. They are thus UWWV[WN2]XQ\MZI[\QVaXQVXZQKS[WNTQOP\[PW_\PMXPI[M[WN>MV][IVLOQ^MOZMI\
extremely portable, allowing you to ^QM_[WN\PMJZQOP\M[\[\IZKT][\MZ[IVLVMJ]TIM*MKI][M\PMaPI^MINIQZTa_QLMÅMTL
pick up and go observe on a whim. WN^QM_JQVWK]TIZ[IZMMI[a\WXWQV\1IT_Ia[SMMXIXIQZPIVLaNWZTWWSQVOI\I[\MZ

SK Y WATCH 2019 59
Intro to Scopes

WQL[JZQOP\KWUM\[IVL[\IZKT][\MZ[IVL OZMMVIVLZMLTQOP\_PQKP[WUMWJ[MZ^ _PMZMQ\[\ZQSM[\PMÆI\[MKWVLIZaUQZZWZ

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\PMWJRMK\Q^MQ[Å`MLQVXTIKMIVLVM^MZ
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What Kind of Telescope

Should You Get?
+WUUMZKQIT\MTM[KWXM[KWUMQV\PZMM
JI[QKLM[QOV["ZMNZIK\WZZMÆMK\WZIVL
KWUXW]VL_Q\P\PM;KPUQL\+I[[MO
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\]JMIVLQV\W\PMMaMXQMKM_PMZMQ\¼[
JZW]OP\\WINWK][_Q\PI\_Q[\WN\PM
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
NWK][QVOSVWJ?PQTMUIVaQUXZW^M
• Best performance per inch • Highest cost per inch of
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of aperture aperture
[QVKM/ITQTMW¼[LIaZMNZIK\WZ[[\QTT_WZS
• Rugged construction and • Short tubes require extra-
\PM[IUM_Ia sealed tube increase expensive lens
GREGG DINDERMAN / SKYWATCH

<PM_WZLZMNZIK\WZZMNMZ[\W\PM portability • Designed to suppress false-

NIK\\PI\[\IZTQOP\MV\MZQVO\PMNZWV\ • Usually no need for user color fringing
adjustment • Requires a tall mount
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• Relatively fast cool-down • Usually gives a mirror-
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time image view
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ZMNZIK\MLMY]ITTaWJRMK\[^QM_MLQV
QVM`XMV[Q^MQV[\Z]UMV\[IZMNZQVOMLQV

60 SK Y WATCH 2019
\WPIVOIKIUMZIW‫\ٺ‬PM\]JMMVLNWZ
I[\ZWXPW\WOZIXPa
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WN\PM\MTM[KWXM4QOP\NZWUI[\IZXI[[M[
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\PM[QLMWN\PM\]JMTQSMIZMÆMK\WZ\PM
JMIUJW]VKM[[\ZIQOP\JIKS\PZW]OPI
PWTMJWZMLQV\PMXZQUIZaUQZZWZIVL
I will never forget how unreal — and
yet so real — Saturn and Jupiter looked.
Wow! I was hooked.
W]\\W\PMMaMXQMKMIVLWJ[MZ^MZ¼[MaM
1VM[[MVKM\PMXI\P\PMTQOP\\ISM[OM\[
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Say “No” to the Wobblies,
Get a Sturdy Mount
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+PMIX\MTM[KWXM[VW\WVTaPI^MTW_
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QVO[\Ia[X]\ <WSMMXIKMTM[\QITWJRMK\
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Reǫector Compound

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

• Most aperture for the • Requires occasional • Most compact tube per inch • Fairly high cost per inch
money collimation (alignment of of aperture of aperture
mirrors) • Requires occasional
• Simple design • Short tube is easiest to
• May be unsuitable for mount collimation
• Viewing at top of tube
photography • Longest cool-down time
allows low mount (such • Eyepiece height varies least
as the Dobsonian mount • Often the bulkiest tube of any design
• Sealed tube
shown here) • Usually gives a mirror-
• Smaller models very
• No mirror-imaging image view
portable
• Reasonably portable • Equatorial mount can
be bulky

SK Y WATCH 2019 61
Intro to Scopes

p Instant Images You don’t u Steady Dob

need fancy equipment to get
stunning images of the Moon and
the planets — simply put your
smartphone up to the eyepiece
and fire away!
A Dobsonian-style mount al-
lows you to plunk your scope
down anywhere for easy and
fun observing nights.

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IVLOQ^MQ\IX][PWZX]TT\WKMV\MZ\PM
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ZWKSMZ\]ZV[QVIbQU]\PˆWN\PM
KWUXI[[IVL\PM[QLMJMIZQVO[TM\aW]
UW^M\PM[KWXM]XIVLLW_VQVIT\Q\]LM
<PM,WJ[WVQIVUW]V\¼[[QUXTMLM[QOV
IVLTW_KMV\MZWNOZI^Q\aUISM[PISM
IVL_WJJTMVWVQ[[]M[7VKMIVMJ]TIWZ
XTIVM\Q[KMV\MZMLQV\PMMaMXQMKMaW]
X][PWZX]TT\PM\]JM\WNWTTW_
\WZQITAW]¼TT[MM\PQ[[\aTMWVITT\aXM[
IVL[QbM[WN\MTM[KWXM[\PW]OP[XQVLTa
IVL[PISa^MZ[QWV[WV[UITTMZQV[\Z]
UMV\[IZMJM[\I^WQLML<PMa\ISMI
TQ\\TMUWZM\QUM\WTMIZV\W][MJ]\
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;\IZaW]KIVSMMXIVWJRMK\QV^QM_
_Q\PI[QVOTMX][PWZX]TT<PI\UMIV[
NMZZMLNWZ[MZQW][I[\ZWXPW\WOZIXPa
Eyepieces and Accessories
5W[\\MTM[KWXM[KWUM_Q\PIVMaMXQMKM
WZ\_W\WUIOVQNa_PI\aW]¼ZMTWWSQVO
I\;WUMIZMKPMIXTaUILMIVLPI^M
VIZZW_ÅMTL[WN^QM_\PI\UISMQ\PIZL\W
ÅVLIVLSMMXIVWJRMK\QV^QM_1ZMKWU
UMVLLM[QOV[_Q\P_QLMZÅMTL[[WQ\NMMT[
TQSMaW]¼ZMTWWSQVOQV\W\PM^I[\VM[[WN
[XIKMQV[\MILWNLW_VILZQVSQVO[\ZI_
/WWLMaMXQMKM[IT[WPI^MOWWLMaMZMTQMN
\PMLQ[\IVKMNZWU\PM\WXWN\PMMaMXQMKM
\W\PMXWQV\_PMZMaW]KIV[MM\PM_PWTM
ÅMTLWN^QM_;PWZ\MaMZMTQMNUMIV[PI^
QVO\WXZM[[aW]ZMaM]VKWUNWZ\IJTaKTW[M
\W\PMTMV[\W[MMM^MZa\PQVO4WWSNWZ
MaMZMTQMN[WNû·ýQVKPM[·UUNWZ
ZMTI`QVO^QM_[
)PIXXaUISQVO\MTM[KWXM[PW]TL
IT[WQVKT]LMIÅVLMZ[KWXMWZ[QUXTa
ÅVLMZWZIZMLLW\TI[MZLM^QKM\WI[[Q[\
QVIQUQVO\PMUIQV[KWXMI\\PM\IZOM\
)ÅVLMZQ[IUQVQI\]ZMTW_XW_MZ\MTM
BOB KING (4)

.WZUQKI[]ZNIKMWV\PMOZW]VLJWIZL MI[QMZ\ZIKSQVOIVL\PMIJQTQ\a\WILL [KWXM_Q\PI[M\WNKZW[[PIQZ[QV\PMÅMTL

<_WK]\W]\[I\\PM\WXWN\PMJW`KZILTM IVWX\QWVITLZQ^MNWZI]\WUI\QK\ZIKS WN^QM_*MNWZMaW]][MIVM_\MTM[KWXM

62 SK Y WATCH 2019
When deciding on a telescope,
we weigh factors like aperture,
portability, and price to Ǫnd what
works best for each of us.

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WV\PMÅVLMZUW]V\[W\PMWJRMK\Q[
LMILKMV\MZQV\PMKZW[[PIQZ[<PMVM`\
KTMIZVQOP\KMV\MZIXTIVM\WZ[\IZWV
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UIQV[KWXMNWZIKTW[M]XTWWS
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aW]¼TTVMML\W\]ZV\PMKPIZ\]X[QLM
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JW]VLPIVLJWWSXTW\[[WUMLMMX
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IT[W_IV\\WJ]aIZMLÅT\MZMLÆI[PTQOP\
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\PMUWZMWN\MVaW]¼TT][MaW]Z\MTM[KWXM
)XMZ\]ZMQ[IVQUXWZ\IV\KWV[QLMZ
I\QWV<PMJQOOMZ\PMTQOP\KWTTMK\QVO
TMV[WZUQZZWZ\PMJZQOP\MZIVWJRMK\_QTT
IXXMIZQV\PM\MTM[KWXM*ZQOP\MZIT[W
UMIV[aW]KIV][MPQOPMZUIOVQÅKI\QWV p App Maps Your smartphone can be
\W[MMLM\IQT[UWZMKTMIZTa1NaW]R][\ useful in other ways as well. Download free
XTIV\WKI[]ITTa[]Z^Ma\PM5WWVIVL apps that will guide you around the sky to get
JZQOP\XTIVM\[I[UITTMZQV[\Z]UMV\_QTT you started with your observing adventures.
[]‫ٻ‬KM*]\QNaW]_IV\\W[MMOITI`QM[ See overleaf for some ideas.
IVL[UITTMZNMI\]ZM[WV\PMXTIVM\[TQSM
5IZ[¼[XWTIZKIX[IVL2]XQ\MZ¼[/ZMI\
:ML;XW\KWV[QLMZITIZOMZIXMZ\]ZM
;UITT[KWXM[PI^MTMV[M[WZUQZ
STAR MAP APPS
ZWZ[NZWUQVKPM[UU]X\W SkySafari (free)
QVKPM[UUIKZW[[-`KMX\NWZU]T\Q Astronomy Night Sky Guide
MTMUMV\ZMNZIK\WZ[ITT\MTM[KWXM\aXM[QV Apple iOS and Android
\PQ[ZIVOMIZMZMI[WVIJTaXZQKML;Q`\W
MQOP\QVKP·UU[KWXM[_QTTOQ^M Star Chart (free)
Education
Apple iOS and Android
q Navigating Among the Stars You can
use your device’s star chart at your scope while Find more apps at skyandtelescope.
you explore the heavens. com/astroapps.

Aperture and Magni¿cation

?PMVLMKQLQVOWVI\MTM[KWXM_M_MQOP
NIK\WZ[TQSMIXMZ\]ZMXWZ\IJQTQ\aIVL
XZQKM\WÅVL_PI\_WZS[JM[\NWZMIKP
WN][1NaW]¼ZMVM_\W\PMPWJJaI^WQL

SK Y WATCH 2019 63
Intro to Scopes

p Fun for All Observing is that much more u Venus Elicits Wonder
enjoyable when you can share your experiences. A young observer reacts upon
Gather your friends and family around your scope, seeing the planet through an
or find your local astronomy club and join the 8-inch telescope at a public view-
regular observing nights. ing party in Duluth, Minnesota.

M`KMTTMV\^QM_[WNR][\IJW]\IVa\PQVO TQUQ\MLJa\PM[\I\MWN\PMI\UW[XPMZM JZQVOQ\W]\[QLMIVLTM\Q\KWWTLW_VNWZ

IVLIZMZMUIZSIJTaI‫ٺ‬WZLIJTM6W[]Z -^MVQNQ\NMMT[KITUIVL[MZMVMWV\PM
XZQ[MZMÆMK\WZ[IZM\PMTMI[\M`XMV[Q^M OZW]VL\PI\¼[VWO]IZIV\MMaW]¼ZM
XMZQVKPWNIXMZ\]ZMNWTTW_MLJa;+<[ TWWSQVO\PZW]OP\PM[IUM<PMI\UW
IVLZMNZIK\WZ[;KWXM[NZWUQVKPM[ [XPMZMQ[NZMY]MV\Ta^M`MLJa\]ZJ]TMVKM
UUIVL]XIZMPMI^QMZIVLTM[[ KI][MLJaIQZXWKSM\[WNLQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\\MU
XWZ\IJTM;WUMJZMISLW_VQV\W[M^MZIT XMZI\]ZM[UQ`QVO\WOM\PMZ;WN\JT]ZZa
XQMKM[\PI\PI^M\WJMI[[MUJTMLWV[Q\M QUIOM[ZM[]T\<PMZM¼[VW\PQVO_ZWVO
<PMaKW[\UWZM¸VW[]ZXZQ[M ¸J]\ _Q\PaW]Z\MTM[KWXM1V[\MIL][MTW_
\PM^QM_[IZMIUIbQVO UIOVQÅKI\QWV[WN×\W×\WUISM
5IOVQÅKI\QWVIT_Ia[KWUM[]X \PMUW[\WN\PMVQOP\
_PMVJ]aQVOI\MTM[KWXM1\¼[W^MZZI\ML <MTM[KWXM][MZ[IT[WPI^M\WKWV\MVL
?Q\P\PMIXXW[Q\MMaMXQMKMaW]KIV _Q\P\]ZJ]TMVKM_Q\PQV\PM\MTM[KWXM
UISMIVa[KWXMUIOVQNaWZ Q\[MTN,]ZQVO\PMKWWTMZNITTIVL_QV\MZ
\QUM[2][\LWV¼\LWQ\ 1UIOMKTIZQ\aQ[ UWV\P[QNaW][\WZMaW]Z[KWXMQVLWWZ[
ACCESSORIES
Orion EF Widefield 1.25-inch Agena 1.25-inch Enhanced Sky & Telescope
eyepiece, 19mm. Wide Angle Eyepiece, 20 Pocket Sky Atlas.
$80 from telescope.com mm. Use this for “picture $16 from
window” views through shopatsky.com
Celestron Night Vision Red LED your scope.
I\TMI[\UQV]\M[¸WZTWVOMZQNQ\[
M[XMKQITTaKWTLW]\¸JMNWZMaW][\IZ\
WJ[MZ^QVO0MI\NZWU\PM\]JMIVL\PM
WX\QK[_QTTW\PMZ_Q[MUISM\PMQUIOM[
JT]ZZa<PMTIZOMZ\PM\MTM[KWXM\PM
TWVOMZ\PMKWWTLW_V\QUM;\WZQVOaW]Z
[KWXMQVIVW]\LWWZ[J]QTLQVO_QTTPMTX
ZML]KM\PI\\QUM
?PMV\PMI\UW[XPMZMJMPI^M[
QUIOM[IZMSVQNMMLOMKZQ[XIVLaW]
KIVZI\KPM\\PMXW_MZ]X\W×WZ
M^MVPQOPMZNWZ]VNWZOM\\IJTM^QM_[WN
\PMXTIVM\[[\IZKT][\MZ[VMJ]TIMIVL
OITI`QM[)VL_PQTM\PMQUIOM[UIaVW\
R]UXW‫\ٺ‬PMXIOMQV^Q^QLKWTWZTQSM\PMa
LWQVUIOIbQVM[MIKPQ[]\\MZTaZMITIVL
JMI]\QN]TQVQ\[W_VZQOP\
An amateur astronomer since child-
hood and a long-time member of the
American Association of Variable Star
Observers (AAVSO), Sky & Telescope
Contributing Editor BOB KING also
teaches community education astron-
BOB KING (2)

flashlight. $13 from $45 from agenaastro.com omy and writes the blog Astro Bob
bhphotovideo.com (astrobob.areavoices.com).

64 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Sky & Telescope’s
S&T’s Eclipse Flight:
Mini Globes
Chile July 2, 2019
Mars Globe
The editors of S&T
collaborated with
planetary specialists
to produce a base map
showing details as
small as 2 miles From the vantage point of an A320 aircraft flying 37,000 feet
in size. above the Pacific Ocean, you’ll be high above any clouds that
15 cm across
120 feature labels might lurk below, seeing up to 3¼ minutes of totality in a dark
SRN: R5293
sky that makes the Sun’s corona look incredibly dramatic.
Price: $24.99 (Can $27.99) Our flight will depart from and return to Santiago, Chile.
See all S&T tours at skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-travel
Moon Globe
Like S&T’s original
Moon globe, this
smaller version uses
a surface map based
on more than 15,000
photographs.
15 cm across
190 feature labels
skyyaannddtteeleesc
sk scope
opee..co
op com/
m/20
2019e
199ec
eclliips
psefl
eflig
ighhtt
SRN: R5294
Price: $24.99 (Can $27.99)

Venus Globe
Even though Venus nus Sky & Telescope’s
is covered by dense
nse
clouds, radar reveals
a wonderland of
eals
M ING MARS PUZZLE
craters and otherr
CO ON! 6784)6-<PI[KIX\Q^I\ML
SO
geologic features
shown on this globe.
obe. P]UIVQUIOQVI\QWV¸WZJMMV
15 cm across ^Q[Q\ML[WWN\MVJa[XIKMKZIN\¸
150 feature labels I[\PM:ML8TIVM\
SRN: R9933
Price: $24.99 (Can $27.99) 6W_aW]KIV¹J]QTLº5IZ[
NWZaW]Z[MTNXQMKQVO\WOM\PMZ
Q\[\W_MZQVO^WTKIVWM[LMMX
Mercury Globe KIVaWV[Z][\KWTWZML[IVL
NASA scientists used L]VM[IVLU]KPUWZM
thousands of images
ages

ING
from the Messenger ger 7]ZKQZK]TIZ5IZ[X]bbTM 
spacecraft to produce
duce
M QVKPM[IKZW[[KIX\]ZM[\PM
CO ON!
a custom-color map
that reveals amazing
zing XTIVM\¼[ITT]ZM][QVOVI\]ZIT

SO
details on the inner-
ner- KWTWZQUIOMZaNZWU6);)¼[
most planet. >QSQVOWZJQ\MZAW]¼TT
15 cm across ^QKIZQW][TaZWIU\PM5IZ\QIV
200 feature labels []ZNIKMI[aW]I[[MUJTM\PM
SRN: R9932 X]bbTM¼[LQMK]\XQMKM[
7.99)
Price: $24.99 (Can $27.99)
)UIXWV\PMX]bbTMJW` Box: 9 x 7 x 1.6 inches
QLMV\QÅM[UIVaSMaNMI\]ZM[ SRN: R9680 $25.00

shopatsky.com 888-253-0230 shopatsky.com 888-253-0230

SK Y WATCH 2019 65
BACKYARD SEASONS

The Backyard
Sky Through
the Seasons
You don’t need to travel far to enjoy celestial delights —
just step outside and look up!
Ja:WL5WTTQ[M

)
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KWTW[[ITLWUM[WV\PM[]UUQ\[WNUIRM[\QKUW]V\IQV[
*]\O]M[[_PI\'AW]LWV¼\VMML\W\ZI^MT\WQUXW[[QJTa
ZMUW\MTWKI\QWV[\WOM\I[I\Q[NaQVOLW[MWNWJ[MZ^QVO¸\PM
JM[\LWUMQ[ZQOP\W]\[QLMaW]ZJIKSLWWZ<PMJIKSaIZL[SaQ[
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WV\PM[MI[\ZWVWUQKIT_WVLMZ[\PZW]OPW]\\PMaMIZ
<ISM\PQ[WXXWZ\]VQ\a¸\PMIKKM[[QJQTQ\aWNaW]ZJIKS
aIZL¸\W[\IZ\XZIK\QKQVO_Q\PLQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\UIOVQÅKI\QWV[
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\WLQ[KMZV\PMLM\IQT\PI\\PM[MNIKQTQ\QM[XZW^QLM*]\LWV¼\TM\
\PI\LQ[KW]ZIOMaW]¸I[aW]XMMZ\PZW]OPaW]ZMaMXQMKMWZ
[QUXTa\]ZVaW]ZOIbM[Sa_IZLJMIZ\PM[MQUIOM[QVUQVL
IVLZM^MTQV\PMSVW_TMLOM\PI\aW]IZM_Q\VM[[QVO\PM[MI[\ZW
VWUQKIT_WVLMZ[ÅZ[\PIVL
NASA / ESA / AURA / CALTECH

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VW_WZZQM[¸][MaW]ZMaM[OM\][ML\W\PMTIaW]\WN\PM
KWV[\MTTI\QWV[TMIZVPW_\W][M\PMITT[SaKPIZ\[QVKT]LMLQV
\PQ[UIOIbQVM;XMVL[WUM\QUMVW\QKQVOPW_\PMVQOP\[Sa
KPIVOM[NZWU[MI[WV\W[MI[WV*]\UIQVTaMVRWa
p The Pleiades Officially known as Messier 45, and fondly referred to
as the Seven Sisters, the Pleiades shimmer in Taurus, the Bull. Six stars in
this open cluster are easily visible with the naked eye, and most people un-
der the right circumstances can pick out a seventh (hence their nickname).
But how many stars can you see through binoculars?

66 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Winter Winter Wonders — Open Clusters
?QV\MZQ[IOZMI\\QUM\W[\IZ\NIUQTQIZ
OBJECT CONSTELLATION MAG(v) SIZE RA DEC.
QbQVOaW]Z[MTN_Q\P\PMKMTM[\QIT^I]T\
<PMVQOP\[IZMTWVOIVL_QV\MZ¼[KTMIV M45 Taurus 1.5 120Ļ 03 47.5
h m
+24° 06Ļ
LZa[SQM[IZMVI\]ZITTaLIZSMZ1VILLQ M36 Auriga 6.0 10Ļ 05h 36.3m +34° 08Ļ
\QWV\PM[SaQ[XMXXMZML_Q\PMI[a\W M37 Auriga 5.6 15Ļ 05h 52.3m +32° 33Ļ
ÅVLWXMVKT][\MZ[7VKMaW]^MOIQVML M38 Auriga 6.4 15Ļ 05h 28.7m +35° 51Ļ
M`XMZQMVKMTWKI\QVO\PMMI[QMZKT][\MZ[ M35 Gemini 5.1 25Ļ 06 09.0
h m
+24° 21Ļ
aW]KIVOZIL]I\M\WUWZMKPITTMVOQVO
NGC 2158 Gemini 8.6 5Ļ 06h 07.4m +24° 06Ļ
\IZOM\[=[M\PMITT[SaKPIZ\[QV\PM[M
XIOM[\WPMTXaW]VI^QOI\MNZWUWVM M50 Monoceros 5.9 15Ļ 07h 02.8m –08° 23Ļ
KWV[\MTTI\QWV\WIVW\PMZ NGC 2362 Canis Major 3.8 6Ļ 07h 18.7m –24° 57Ļ
?PMVaW]_ITSW]\[QLMIVLTWWS\W NGC 2354 Canis Major 6.5 18Ļ 07 14.3
h m
–25° 42Ļ
\PMMI[\WVIVMIZTa_QV\MZM^MVQVO\PM Angular sizes and separations are from recent catalogs. Visually, an object’s size is often smaller
ÅZ[\KWV[\MTTI\QWV\PI\KI\KPM[aW]ZMaM than the cataloged value and varies according to the aperture and magniǪcation of the viewing
instrument. Right ascension and declination are for equinox 2000.0.
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\PMJM[\5M[[QMZKT][\MZQ\¼[[QbM<PM +PIZQW\MMZPWTL[\PZMMM`KMTTMV\KT][ 5IVL5 XITMQVKWUXIZQ[WV\W
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W]\TaQVO[\IZ[QVKZMI[M\PI\\Wˆ;W NI\PMZIVL1KITTML¹<PM*QO<PZMMºWV KWUXW[MLWNIKW]XTMWNLWbMV[\IZ[WN
aW]VMMLI[UITT_QLMÅMTL\MTM[KWXMWZ \PMTWVOIOWM^MVQVO[_PMV_M_W]TL UIOVQ\]LM ·IVLTMOQWV[WNLQUUMZ
JQVWK]TIZ[\W\ISMQV\PMMV\QZMKT][\MZ WJ[MZ^M\WOM\PMZ WVM[5 Q[\PMTIZOMZWN\PM\_W′

M37 M38 M36

NOAO / AURA / NSF (3); SNOWFLAKE ICON: MADE BY MADE /
THE NOUN PROJECT

p Sparkly trio The open clusters Messier 37, Messier 38, and Messier 36 shine in Auriga. All three clusters lie at similar distances, around 4,000 light-years
away, with M37 the farthest at 4,600 light-years. M37 is the brightest of the trio, and M36 is the youngest — there are no evolved red giants in the cluster.

SK Y WATCH 2019 67
Backyard Seasons
M35
You don't need to travel to impossibly remote
locations to get a satisfying dose of observing —
the best dome is right outside your back door.
IKZW[[IVL[PQVQVOI\UIOVQ\]LM
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68 SK Y WATCH 2019
NGC 2158
LIZS[SQM[6/+ Q[^Q[QJTMQVI
QVKP\MTM[KWXMI[IV]VZM[WT^MLKTW]L
′IKZW[[;MMQVOVMIZJa5ZW]OPTa
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-I[\WN7ZQWVQ[\PMTIKST][\MZKWV
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UIaJMLQUJ]\Q\KWV\IQV[I[XMK\IK]
TIZKT][\MZM50<PQ[OZW]XWN[\IZ[
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u Messier 50 This
open cluster of some two
hundred members lies in
Monoceros at a distance
of about 3,000 light-years.
Can you see the heart
shape that lends it its
nickname?
t Messier 35 and NGC 2158 These two
clusters in Gemini appear close together in the sky,
but they're in fact separated by some 8,000 light-
years. M35, visible to the naked eye under good
conditions, is the closer cluster, and lies at 3,000
light-years. You'll need a telescope to spot the
more compact NGC 2158, which is around 11,000
light-years away.
ILQ[\QVK\Q^M[PIXMAMIZ[IOW1_I[
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\PMLQUUMZKT][\MZ[\IZ[<PQ[_MQZL
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2]UXQVO;XQLMZ;\IZº
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KW]V\Za[SQM[.ZWULIZS[Q\M[NGC 2354
IUIOVQ\]LM ′WXMVKT][\MZ\PI\
TQM[ˆ[W]\PWN;QZQ][Q[NIQZTaZQKP
J]\VW\PQVO[XM
KQIT.ZWUIXWWZMZ
TWKI\QWVPW_M^MZ M35 AND NGC 2158: N. A. SHARP / NOAO / AURA / NSF;
Q\¼[[\IZ\TQVO?Q\P
\PMLQUUMZ[\IZ[
OWVMI\×1[MMI
!UIOVQ\]LM[\IZ
[]ZZW]VLMLJaIZQVO
WNUMLQ]UJZQOP\
M50: NOAO / AURA / NSF
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IJW]\′QVLQIUM\MZ
Q[[WXMZNMK\I[\W
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 Spring
<PM[XZQVOKWV[\MTTI\QWV[IZMV¼\I[ÆI[Pa
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-aM1\TQM[QV\PMTQ\\TMKWV[\MTTI\QWV
+IVM[>MVI\QKQ\PM0]V\QVO,WO[R][\
[W]\PWN\PM*QO,QXXMZ¼[PIVLTMAW]
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IXXMIZ[I[I[TQOP\TaN]bba[\IZ*]UXQVO p Messier 66 Along with M65 and NGC 3628, q Messier 94 This face-on spiral galaxy
]X\PMUIOVQÅKI\QWV\W×JZQVO[W]\ M66 is a member of the Leo Triplet. It is the largest lies about 16 million light-years away in the
ITQ\\TMUWZMWN\PMVMJ]TW][PIbM[]Z of the three galaxies, and is unusual in that its spiral constellation Canis Venatici, the Hunting Dogs.
ZW]VLQVO\PMOITI`a¼[QV\MV[MKWZMUIS arms are asymmetric and its core is apparently dis- Stars are forming at a furious rate in what is
QVOQ\TWWS[QUQTIZ\WIV]VZM[WT^MLOTWJ placed. Astronomers attribute M66’s strange anatomy called a starburst ring around the central parts
to the gravitational pull of the other two galaxies. of the galaxy.
]TIZ[\IZKT][\MZ5!¼[KMV\MZQ[JZQOP\
JMKI][M[WUM\PQVO]V][]ITQ[OWQVOWV
\PMZM#TQSMTaIUI[[Q^MJTIKSPWTMQ[NMML
QVOWVOI[IVL]VT]KSa[\IZ[?PaQ[
5!KITTML\PM¹+ZWK¼[-aM/ITI`aº'1V
TWVOM`XW[]ZMQUIOM[Q\[OTW_QVOKMV
\MZ[]ZZW]VLMLJaI_ZMI\PWN\QOP\Ta
_ZIXXML[XQZITIZU[TWWS[IUIbQVOTa
TQSM\PMJITMN]TMaMWNIKZWKWLQTM
<_WWN4MW¼[OITI`QM[M65IVL
M66IZM[WJZQOP\\PI\1¼^M[MMV\PMU
WVVQOP\[_PMV1_I[V¼\[]ZM\PI\2]XQ
\MZ_W]TLJM^Q[QJTM*W\POITI`QM[IZM
R][\[W]\PMI[\WN\PM4QWV¼[PQVLY]IZ
\MZ[ýˆ[W]\PMI[\WNUIOVQ\]LM
<PM\IŽ4MWVQ[
<PW]OP\PMa¼ZMNMTTW_\ZI^MTMZ[QV\PM
[SaWVTaITQ\\TMUWZM\PIV′IXIZ\\PM
M66: NASA / ESA / HUBBLE HERITAGE COLLABORATION / DAVIDE

\_WOITI`QM[TWWSY]Q\MLQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\M^MVQV
DE MARTIN / ROBERT GENDLER; M94: ESA / HUBBLE / NASA;

I[UITT\MTM[KWXM5Q[\PMTIZOMZIVL
FLOWER ICON: MADE BY MADE / THE NOUN PROJECT

JZQOP\MZWN\PM\_WIVLNZWU\PMJIKS
aIZL\PQ[JQOL][\a[XQZITOQ^M[]XITQ\\TM
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\PMWJRMK\QV[\MILWNLQZMK\TaI\Q\ITTW_
QVO\PMLQUTQOP\ZMKMX\WZ[WNUaMaM\PM
ZWL[\WKWUMQV\WXTIa

SK Y WATCH 2019 69
Backyard Seasons

5Q[I[TQOP\Ta[UITTMZIVLLQU TWWSQVOTQSMIP]OMKI\PMZQVM_PMMT Summer

UMZXZQbM<PQ[OITI`aINMI\]ZMTM[[ ÅZM_WZS.ZWUUaJIKSaIZL';WUM .MTTW_IUI\M]ZI[\ZWVWUMZ[_PW\MTT
OZIaW^ITQ[MI[a\W[MMIVLTWWS[ \QUM[1KIV¼\[MMIVa\PQVOJMaWVL\PM aW]\PM[]UUMZ[SaQ[QUXW[[QJTM\W
OZMI\XIQZML_Q\P5QVI_QLMÅMTL OITI`a¼[MTWVOI\MLKWZM7VM`KMTTMV\ MVRWaNZWUaW]ZJIKSaIZLIZM_ZWVO1\
MaMXQMKM*]\Q\¼[JTIVLMZ\PIVQ\[XIT VQOP\[M[XMKQITTaQN1_IQ\NWZ0aLZI\W Q[QVLMMLUWZMLQ‫ٻ‬ K]T\\WOM\OWWLTWWS[
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aIZL\MTM[KWXM \W[MMITQ\\TMWN\PQ[OITI`a¼[NWZU \PM[MI[WV¼[PIbMIVLP]UQLQ\a_PQKP
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I`a\W[MMQV[XZQVO[[SQM["M83\PM LIZSILIX\MLI[XW[[QJTM1JMOQV\W \PMTM[[\PMZMIZM[\QTTXTMV\aWN\IZOM\[\W
;W]\PMZV8QV_PMMTQV0aLZI\PM;MI UISMW]\I[]J\TMW^ITPIbM\PI\Q[\PQ[ WJ[MZ^MIVLXTMV\aWNLM\IQT[\WJM[MMV
;MZXMV\1\¼[IUIbQVONZWULIZS[Q\M[ _WVLMZ¼[IZU[ QV\PMU<WM`XMZQMVKM\PM_WVLMZ[WN
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IVLTWWSI\\PMU
Spring Spirals — Galaxies <PM;KWZXQWVLWM[V¼\PWTLI[UIVa
OBJECT CONSTELLATION MAG(v) SIZE RA DEC.
JZQOP\IVL[XMK\IK]TIZLMMX[SaWJRMK\[
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M94 Canis Venatici 8.2 14Ļ × 12Ļ 12h 50.9m +41° 07Ļ
IZM[\QTT\ZMI\[PMZMQVKT]LQVO\PMTWW[M
M65 Leo 9.3 10Ļ × 3Ļ 11h 18.9m +13° 06Ļ OTWJ]TIZ[\IZKT][\MZM4\PM+I\¼[-aM
M66 Leo 8.9 9Ļ × 4Ļ 11h 20.3m +12° 59Ļ +T][\MZ5IVaIUI\M]Z[IVLVW\R][\
M83 Hydra 7.5 13Ļ × 12Ļ 13h 37.0m –29° 52Ļ VW^QKM[LWV¼\\ISM\PM\QUM\WKWV[QLMZ
Angular sizes are from recent catalogs. Visually, an object’s size is often smaller than the cataloged PW_JMI]\QN]T\PM+I\¼[-aMZMITTaQ[
value and varies according to the aperture and magniǪcation of the viewing instrument. Right <PQ[TWW[MKT][\MZQ[I[\IVLW]\JMKI][M
ascension and declination are for equinox 2000.0.
WNITQVMWN[\IZ[IKZW[[Q\[KWZM\PI\TWWS[
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UMIVQ\Q[V¼\_WZ\PaWNaW]ZNZMY]MV\
I\\MV\QWV\PW]OP)\IUIOVQÅKI\QWVWN ESO; SUN ICON: SAEFUL MUSLIM / THE NOUN PROJECT

×_Q\P\PMQVKPZMNZIK\WZQ\MI[QTa
OQ^M[]XIVQKM[XZQVSTQVOWN[\IZ[<PM
KWZMWN\PQ[;PIXTMa·;I_aMZ+TI[[1>
KT][\MZUMLQ]UKWVKMV\ZI\MLKWZMTWWS[
Messier 83 This glorious face-on
spiral in Hydra is also called the Southern
ITUW[\[Y]IZMIVL\PMIZMIIZW]VLQ\Q[
Pinwheel. Can you see why? It’s a chal- XWX]TI\MLJaV]UMZW][[\IZ[INM_WN
lenging target — make sure conditions are _PQKPPWTL[\MILa_Q\PLQZMK\^Q[QWVJ]\
excellent and that you adapt your eyes to UW[\WN_PQKP_QVSQVIVLW]\
the dark — but well worth it. AW]¼TTJMOTILaW]¼ZMOWQVO\WUISM
\PMIKY]IQV\IVKMWN7XPQ]KP][\PM

70 SK Y WATCH 2019
 p Messier 13 You can see why M13 is known as the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules — it’s a truly
magnificent specimen, comprising hundreds of thousands of twinkling stars. Under the right sky condi-
tions, this cluster is visible to the naked eye.

;VISM0WTLMZ#PM¼[I_WVLMZTIVLNWZI
LMMX[SaWJ[MZ^MZ0Q[UW[\XZWUQVMV\
WNUIVaOWWLWJRMK\[IZMW]ZVM`\\IZ
OM\[M10IVLM12IZMWN\MVZMNMZZML\W
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KWUUWVSVW_TMLOMQ[_ZWVO<PMa
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\WOM\PMZ¸WVTaüˆ[MXIZI\M[\PMU¸
J]\\PMaTWWSVW\PQVOITQSM
5Q[\PMJZQOP\MZIVL[UITTMZWN\PM
\_WJ]\KIVJMLQ[IXXWQV\QVOQVJIKS
M13 & M10: ESA / HUBBLE / NASA; M4: NOAO / AURA / NSF
Q\[VMQOPJWZJ]\TWWS[JM\\MZQV\PM
MaMXQMKM1\¼[UWZMKWVKMV\ZI\MLJ]\
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pp Messier 4 Composed of several tens of
ZMÆMK\WZ1KIVMI[QTaXQKSW]\INM_ thousands of stars, this globular cluster interest-
[]V[PMZMM^MV_Q\PLQZMK\^Q[QWV ingly contains many white dwarfs.
1VITIZOMZ[KWXM5Q[I_WVLMZ
[PW_QVOXTMV\aWN\QVa[\IZ[IVLZMITTa p Messier 10 This sparkling ball lies in Ophiu-
¹TWWSQVOTQSMIOTWJ]TIZº chus at a distance of 15,000 light-years.
Summer Sparklers — Globular Clusters

aIZL[KWXM[[UITTMZ\PIVQVKPM[<PQ[
OBJECT CONSTELLATION MAG(v) SIZE RA DEC.
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TWW[MIVL]VLMZXWWZKWVLQ\QWV[Q[R][\I M4 Scorpius 5.4 36Ļ 16 23.6
h m
–26° 32Ļ
OPW[\TaOTW__Q\PINM_[\IZ[XWXXQVOQV M13 Hercules 5.8 20Ļ 16h 41.7m +36° 28Ļ
IVLW]\)^MZ\ML^Q[QWVPMTX[[WUMJ]\ M92 Hercules 6.5 14Ļ 17h 17.1m +43° 08Ļ
][QVOIQVKPWZTIZOMZ[KWXMIVL_IQ\ M10 Ophiuchus 6.6 20Ļ 16h 57.2m –04° 06Ļ
QVONWZ\PMKT][\MZ\WZQ[M\WI\TMI[\ˆ
M12 Ophiuchus 6.1 16Ļ 16 47.3
h m
–01° 57Ļ
WNIT\Q\]LM_QTTIQLaW]Z^QM_\PMUW[\
Angular sizes are from recent catalogs. Visually, an object’s size is often smaller than the cataloged
5Q[TIZOMZ′QVLQIUM\MZ value and varies according to the aperture and magniǪcation of the viewing instrument. Right
IVLLQUUMZUIOVQ\]LM\PIV ascension and declination are for equinox 2000.0.

SK Y WATCH 2019 71
Backyard Seasons
Fall
<PMOZMI\_PMMTWN\PM[SaPI[ZWTTML
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WNI]\]UV*IKSaIZLWJ[MZ^MZ[\MVL
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UIaJM\Z]MJ]\\PMI]\]UV[SaQ[[\QTT
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WN\PM[MI[WV[^Q[Q\QVOI[MTMK\QWVWN
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4M\¼[JMOQV_Q\P[XZI_TQVO8MOI[][
<PMÆaQVOPWZ[M¼[OZMI\OTWJ]TIZ[\IZ
KT][\MZM15[PQVM[I\UIOVQ\]LM
JZQOP\MVW]OP\WJMMI[QTa^Q[QJTMM^MV
QVKWUXZWUQ[ML[SQM[1\¼[IT[WMI[a\W
ÅVLTWKI\MLIUMZMˆVWZ\P_M[\WN
UIOVQ\]LM-X[QTWVź8MOI[Q-VQN 
¹\PM0WZ[M¼[6W[MºAW]XZWJIJTa_WV¼\
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q NGC 7331 Also known as the Deer Lick Gal-
axy, NGC 7331 floats in space along with several
companions.
Fall Fascinations — Potpourri
OBJECT TYPE
M15 Globular cluster
NGC 7331 Spiral galaxy
M30 Globular cluster
NGC 457 Open cluster
Angular sizes are from recent catalogs. Visually, an object’s size is often smaller than the cataloged value and varies according to the aperture and mag-
niǪcation of the viewing instrument. Right ascension and declination are for equinox 2000.0.
72 SK Y WATCH 2019
7VMWN\PM\ZQKS[\W[MMQVOLMMX[Sa q Messier 30 and NGC 457 Top: Located
WJRMK\[_MTTQVTQOP\XWTT]\QWVQ[QVKZMI[ about 28,000 light-years away, this bedazzling
QVOUIOVQÅKI\QWV_PQKP\MVL[\W[XZMIL ball of stars contains several hundred thousand
W]\JIKSOZW]VL[SaOTW_IVLQVKZMI[M members. Bottom: These shimmering stars in Cas-
siopeia are fondly known as the E.T. or Owl Cluster.
KWV\ZI[\)T\PW]OP\PQ[IT[WLQT]\M[TQOP\
NZWU\PMWJRMK\Q\[WUM\QUM[QUXZW^M[
KWV\ZI[\1NIVa\PQVOQTT][\ZI\M[\PQ[
XWQV\Q\¼[5)\ ×\PMKT][\MZTWWS[
WSIaQVUaQVKP,WJ[WVQIVZMÆMK\WZ
[PW_QVOIVQV\MV[MTaJZQOP\KWZM[]Z
ZW]VLMLJaINM_ZM[WT^ML[\IZ[;\QTT M30
\PMQUXZM[[QWVQ[¹N]bbJITTº1\¼[JM\\MZ
I\×J]\ILLQVOI×*IZTW_\WUa
UUMaMXQMKMUISM[ITT\PMLQ‫ٺ‬MZMVKM
41 Capricornus
)\×5JMKWUM[IZQKPJITT
WN[]V[_Q\P[\ZMIU[WN[\IZ[M`\MVLQVO
IKWV[QLMZIJTMLQ[\IVKMNZWU\PMKWZM
<PMKT][\MZ¼[I\Q\[JM[\_Q\PI\TMI[\
QVKPM[WNIXMZ\]ZMJ]\Q\¼[IT[WXZM\\aQV
UaQVKPZMNZIK\WZ_PMV1X][PQ\\W
×)\\PI\UIOVQÅKI\QWVY]Q\MINM_ NGC 457
[\IZ[XWXQVIVLW]\WN^QM_
NGC 7331IT[WSVW_VI[\PM,MMZ
4QKS/ITI`aQ[[WU]KPLQUUMZ\PIV
5aW]¼L\PQVSQ\_W]TLJMIVQUXW[
[QJTMKI\KPNZWU\PMI^MZIOM)UMZQKIV
[]J]ZJ0W_M^MZ1LWV¼\JMTQM^M1¼^M
M^MZNIQTML\WI\TMI[\LM\MK\\PM,MMZ
4QKSWVIVaLMKMV\VQOP\_PMV1¼^M
\]ZVMLUaIVLQVKP\MTM[KWXM[\WQ\[
TWKI\QWVVWZ\P_M[\WNXZWUQVMV\-\Iż
8MOI[Q5I\IZ
*]\R][\JMKI][MaW]KIV[MMIOITI`a
LWM[V¼\UMIVaW]KIV[MMU]KPWNQ\7V 1VILLQ\QWV\W6/+V]UMZ
UIVaVQOP\[6/+Q[R][\IVW\QKM W][[UITTIVLLQUQ[TIVL]VQ^MZ[M[LW\
IJTaMTWVOI\ML[U]LOM1NaW]_IQ\NWZI \PM[IUMÅMTLWN^QM_QVKT]LQVO6/+
[]XMZQWZM^MVQVOPW_M^MZIVL^Q[Q\\PM 6/+6/+IVL6/+
OITI`a_PMVQ\¼[ZQLQVOPQOPQ\KIV[]Z _PQKPZIVOMQVUIOVQ\]LMNZWU
XZQ[MaW]I[Q\LQLUMWVIVQOP\_PMV ITT\PM_IaLW_V\W<PM[M
Q\[PW_MLW‫ٺ‬IJZQOP\KMV\ZITZMOQWVI OITIK\QK\QVQM[IZMVWZUITTaQV^Q[QJTMQV
_MTTLMÅVMLLQ[SIVL\ZIKM[WNQ\[XZWU UaQVKPNZWUPWUMJ]\WV\PM[IUM
QVMV\[_MMXQVO[XQZITIZU5aJM[\ VQOP\1KI]OP\6/+¼[[XQZITIZU1
^QM_[\PI\VQOP\KIUM_Q\P\PMQVKP _I[IUIbML\WLM\MK\\PM\_WJZQOP\M[\
I\UMLQ]UXW_MZIZW]VL÷ [XZQ\M[UIOVQ\]LM6/+IVL
NGC 7331: MASIL IMAGING TEAM; M30: ESO / DIGITIZED SKY
SURVEY 2 / DAVIDE DE MARTIN; NGC 457: NOAO / AURA /
NSF; LEAF ICON: ICONIKA / THE NOUN PROJECT
CONSTELLATION MAG(v) SIZE RA DEC.
Pegasus 6.3 18Ļ 21 30.0
h m
+12° 10Ļ
Pegasus 9.5 11Ļ × 4Ļ 22h 37.1m +34° 25Ļ
Capricornus 6.9 12Ļ 21h 40.4m –23° 11Ļ
Cassiopeia 6.4 20Ļ 01h 19.6m +58° 17Ļ

p Messier 15 Lying in Pegasus some 35,000 light-years away, M15 is one of the oldest globular clus-
ters known, with an age of some 12 billion years (remember, the universe is calculated to be 13.8 billion
years old). It is also one of the densest globular clusters, and this image clearly shows the concentration of
stars at the cluster’s core.
UIOVQ\]LM6/+?PaQ[\PM
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Contributing Editor ROD MOLLISE
observes regularly from his own
backyard and is the author of The
Urban Astronomer's Guide.
SK Y WATCH 2019 73
INTRO TO IMAGING

Shoot for Success Capturing serene

scenes like the one above isn’t that tricky.
The author shot Sagittarius and Scorpius
peeking out from the trees in Spring-
field, Vermont, using a Canon Rebel XS
equipped with a 20-mm lens at f/2.8 on a
stationary tripod and a single 30-second
exposure at ISO 1600.

74 SK Y WATCH 2019
 Picture
Get started in

Perfect
astrophotography
today.

Ja;MIV?ITSMZ

;
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W‫ٺ‬MZ[IVM`\ZMUMTa^MZ[I\QTMILIX\MZSVW_VI[\PM6M`ABI`Q[=VQ^MZ[IT;UIZ\
XPWVM)LIX\MZ\WI\\IKPaW]ZXPWVMLQZMK\Ta\WUW[\üIVLQVKPMaMXQMKM[AW]¼TT
JM[PIZQVO\PM^QM_QVVW\QUM

Getting More than Snapshots

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UWWVTQ\TIVL[KIXM;UITTLQOQ\ITKIUMZI[PI^MM^MVUWZM[M\\QVO[I^IQTIJTMNWZaW]
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[KIXMXPW\W[I[Q\OQ^M[\PMKIUMZIINM_[MKWVL[¼\QUM\W[\WXRQOOTQVOIN\MZaW]PQ\
SEAN WALKER / SKYWATCH

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Q[WN\MV\PMJM[\KWUXZWUQ[M

SK Y WATCH 2019 75
Intro to Imaging
p Best Choice Mirrorless and DSLR
cameras open up many opportunities for
shooting the night sky. In addition to their
ability to accept a wide range of high-qual-
ity lenses, they allow you to expose your
photo for as long as necessary to capture
your subject.
q Follow the Sky Tracking the sky
allows you to shoot long exposures to reveal
faint details in your subject.
76 SK Y WATCH 2019
.WK][Q[WN\MV[\ZIQOP\NWZ_IZL_Q\P
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Stepping Up to a Better
Camera
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UWZMKWV[QLMZUW^QVO]X\WILQOQ\IT
[QVOTMTMV[ZMÆM`,;4:WZUQZZWZTM[[
QV\MZKPIVOMIJTMTMV[514KIUMZI
p Smartphone Conjunction Today’s
smartphones include powerful cameras that can
record striking shots of twilight planetary conjunc-
tions. This image of the crescent Moon and Venus
over Charlestown, Massachusetts, was snapped
with a handheld iPhone 6SE.
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IVLQV\MZKPIVOMIJTMTMV[M[\PI\W‫ٺ‬MZaW]
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M[\IZZIaWNJWLQM[IVLPQOPY]ITQ\a CELL PHONE NIGHTSCAPE: SEAN WALKER / SKYWATCH
CAMERA: SONY; CAMERA ON MOUNT: SKY-WATCHER;
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By introducing a tracking head to your setup,
you can make your camera follow your target as
it moves across the sky. These accessories allow
you to capture perfectly tracked exposures many
minutes long with wide-angle lenses.
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Tracking the Sky
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q Stationary or Star Trails A DSLR or MIL camera with a fast wide-angle lens can record many bright nebulae and star clusters in the Milky Way with
short exposures. The photo at left captures the night sky above the Stellafane Telescope Makers Convention in Springfield, Vermont, using a 30-second exposure
with a DSLR camera and 14-mm lens. The image at right combines twelve 30-second exposures to create star trails.
SEAN WALKER / SKYWATCH (2)

SK Y WATCH 2019 77
Intro to Imaging
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aW]Z\MTM[KWXM\WTWWSI\IVa\PQVOMT[M
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\MTM[KWXMUW]V\1¼U\ITSQVOIJW]\
[WKITTML\ZIKSQVOPMIL[\PI\I\\IKP
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aW]ZKIUMZINWTTW_aW]Z\IZOM\I[Q\
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\QK[KWUXZWL]KMKWUXIK\\ZIKSQVO
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ITQOVML\WITTW_aW]\WKIX\]ZMXMZNMK\Ta
\ZIKSMLM`XW[]ZM[INM_UQV]\M[TWVO
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UW]V\aW]KIV][M\MTMXPW\WTMV[M[_Q\P
aW]ZKIUMZI\W\ISMLMMXKTW[M]X[WN
NIQV\VMJ]TIMWZJQOJZQOP\OITI`QM[[]KP
I[5WZ\PM5IOMTTIVQK+TW]L[
q Special Use Camera If you grow out of
these introductory techniques, consider getting
a dedicated astro-camera. These are designed
exclusively for imaging astronomical subjects and
attach to your telescope in place of an eyepiece,
providing you with the ability to record deep im-
ages of galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.
78 SK Y WATCH 2019
p Mega Telephoto By adding a T-adapter
and a DSLR or MIL camera, your telescope sud-
denly becomes a high-quality, super-long telephoto
lens capable of resolving hundreds of craters
and other features on the Moon. This photo was
taken with a DSLR camera attached to a 10-inch
Newtonian Reflector.
3MMXQVUQVL\PI\\ZIKSQVOLZQ^M[
IZMV\XMZNMK\IVLIVa\ZIKSQVOMZZWZ[
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.WZM`IUXTM1KIV[PWW\UQV]\M
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UQV]\M?Q\P\PQ[QVUQVLKWUJQVQVO
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M[]T\[
[\QTTXZWL]KM[OZMI\ZM[]T\[
u Through the
Scope The addition
of a good smartphone
adapter, such as the
NexYZ from Celestron,
permits you to take
satisfying close-ups of
the Moon and planets
using a camera many
people own today.
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\PM7ZQWV6MJ]TI5
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_QTTZMY]QZMILLQ\QWVITIKKM[[WZQM[IVL
MY]QXUMV\J]\\PM[M\MKPVQY]M[KIV
OM\aW][\IZ\MLWV\PMXI\P\WJMKWU
QVOI_WZTLKTI[[I[\ZWXPW\WOZIXPMZ
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UMUJMZ[WN<PM?WZTLI\6QOP\WZOI
VQbI\QWV\_IVWZO[\ZQK\Ta[PWW\_Q\P
W]\U]KPUWZM\PIV\PM\MKPVQY]M[
LM[KZQJMLPMZM>Q[Q\P\\X["Q[OL
)[\ZWXPW\WOZIXPa\WTMIZVUWZM
IJW]\IL^IVKMLQUIOQVO\MKPVQY]M[
*]\NWZVW_M`XMZQUMV\_Q\P\PM[M
MI[a\QX[¸\PMZM¼[IOWWLKPIVKMaW]¼TT
KWUMPWUM_Q\POWWLQUIOM[WVaW]Z
^MZaÅZ[\VQOP\
Sky & Telescope Associate Editor SEAN
WALKER R images the night sky from his
home in Litch¿eld, New Hampshire.
MOON: SEAN WALKER / SKYWATCH; ASTRO CAMERA:
SBIG; CELL PHONE ADAPTOR: CELESTRON
 New S&T Tours in 2019!
Join astronomer Stephen
African Stargazing Safari
James O’Meara in wildlife-
July 29–August 4, 2019
rich Botswana for evening
stargazing and daytime safari
drives at three luxury field
camps. Only 16 spaces
available! Optional extension
to Victoria Falls.
skyandtelescope.com/botswana2019

This is our 6th year running Iceland Aurorae

this popular tour of Iceland.
Visit historic sites, geysers,
September 29–October 2, 2019
and towering waterfalls
with a guide; at night, seek
the fabled northern lights.
Fine restaurants and hotels
await you.

skyandtelescope.com/iceland2019

Australia Observatories Travel Down Under to tour

Uluru & Sydney Opera House: Tourism Australia

October 1–8, 2019 top observatories, including

Siding Spring and “The Dish”
reef: Tourism Port Douglas & Daintree

at Parkes. Go wine-tasting,
hike in nature reserves,
and explore eclectic Sydney.
Options to Great Barrier
Reef and Uluru.

skyandtelescope.com/australia2019

See all S&T tours at skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-travel

PARTING SHOT

Captured in a 30-second
exposure with an ISO of 6400,
the Milky Way stretches glori-
ously across the sky above one
of the most famous mountains in
the world, the Matterhorn. The
shimmering waters of Stellisee, a
popular and well-visited lake near
the town Visp in the Rhône Valley
of Switzerland, reflect the sky’s
brightest stars.

LUKAS SCHLAGENHAUF / CC BY-ND 2.0

80 SK Y WATCH 2019
 ETX OBSERVER
The ETX Observer series provides astronomers with quality,
value and performance, taking mobile astronomy to the next
level. The ETX Observer models come in an 80mm refractor, a
90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain, or a 125mm Maksutov-Cassegrain
telescope design. These telescopes now feature the AudioStar®
hand box controller, which gives you easy access to a
30,000-object database, and includes a built-in speaker that
ETX90
plays educational content about the celestial objects you view!
The 80mm is designed for portability and fits in the included
backpack, making it great for people on the go. The 90mm and
125mm tripods feature an EQ tilt plate that allows the ETX to be
used in Alt/AZ or polar mode. Enjoy detailed close-up views of
the Moon and planets, and be amazed by the stunning views of
star clusters, nebulae, and more! Whether you are camping, or in
the backyard the ETX Observer models are made for observing
anytime, anywhere. With GoTo and tracking capabilities, these
are the ultimate portable computerized telescopes.

Jupiter | Taken with: ETX90 using the LPI-G Color

Photo by: Steve Walkenshaw

Moon Surface | Taken with: ETX125 using the LPI-G

Photo by: Greg Hogan

UNLEASH THE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHER IN YOU!

LUNAR, PLANETARY IMAGER AND GUIDER
A thee perf
Add perfect
rfec
ectt accessory
acce
ac cess
ssor
oryy ttoo your
you
ourr sc
scop
scope
opee with
with tthe
he LLunar,
unnar
ar, Pl
Plan
Planetary
anet
etar
taryy Im
Imag
Imager
ager
er and
and Guider
Guid
uiider
der (LPI-G).
(LPI
(L PI-G)
G). With
With our
o
ssolar,
olar, lu
unar and planetary guide camera, experience the universe on a whole new level! The LPI-G is an
lunar
eexcellent
xcelle camera for solar system astrophotography. Easily capture images of the Moon and planets
with this
w th new CMOS camera. The LPI-G is also ideal for capturing images of the Sun* or for use as a
sstandalone
tandal auto-guider camera**.

The LPI-G
TTh LPI features a 1280 x 960-pixel CMOS AR130 sensor, available in both color and monochrome,
with the
w th ability of capturing 28 frames per second at full resolution. This camera has a USB 2.0
cconnection
onnec and ST-4 guider port for easy connection to the mount. Accessories include USB 2.0 cable,
ST-4 gu
S guide cable, a C-mount, a 1.25" nosepiece, ASCOM drivers, and Meade Sky Capture software CD.
* Proper solar filter is required when imaging the sun.
** ETX Observer does not contain an auto-guider port necessary for use with the LPI-G auto-guiding feature.

OPT Telescopes | optcorp.com High Point Scientific | highpointscientific.com

Focus Camera | focuscamera.com MeadeInstruments
Adorama | adorama.com
Astronomics | astronomics.com Optics Planet | opticsplanet.com
B&H Photo Video | bhphotovideo.com Woodland Hills Camera | whcamera.com
Agena | agenaastro.com