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Welcome to the Classical Astronomy Update!
IN THIS UPDATE:
- Signs of the Seasons
- Solar Eclipse Over North America
- Dance of the Planets
- See the Crescent Phases of Venus
- Venus Transit - June 5
The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and
called the earth from the rising of the sun unto
the going down thereof. - Psalm 50:1
Dear Friends,
Welcome to everyone who recently subscribed to this newsletter. There's been over 100 lately. Wish I knew where everyone came from!
Thanks to everyone from Northeast Ohio who joined the NEOastro newsletter list. Hope you all learn some things about astronomy happenings in our area. If you're from Ohio and joined this list by mistake, please be sure to subscribe to that list as well.
Signs of the Seasons
Solar Eclipse Over North America
As mentioned in previous newsletters, 2012 is a very special year in visual astronomy because of all the rare sky events occurring in such a short span of time. One of these events is the annular eclipse of the Sun, happening on Sunday, May 20. Some portion of this eclipse will be visible by nearly all of North America, west of the Appalachians. Though the east coast of the USA will miss it, most everyone else in the USA, along with Canada and Mexico, will have an opportunity to see this rare event.
Here's a description of an annular eclipse from the May edition of the Celestial Almanack:
This is similar to a total eclipse of the Sun, except the Moon will not entirely cover the Sun's surface. An annular eclipse is a type of partial eclipse, but where the Moon is centered over the Sun. Annular eclipses are not as exciting as total eclipses, since the Sun does not turn black, and the sky will not totally darken. However, they are still fairly rare events, and worth observing with proper eye protection.
The coolest part of the May 20 eclipse is that it will be visible at sunset for most of the central USA. Over west Texas, the Sun will set as a "ring of fire," where the Moon is blocking the Sun. Most everyone else between the coasts will see the Sun setting in some stage of partial eclipse. Here's the view we're expecting over Lake Erie from Cleveland, Ohio:
In the western USA, the entire eclipse will be over before sunset. In order to see the eclipse while the Sun is still high in the sky, you will need a Sun filter to protect your eyes. You can use #14 welding glass, or you can view the eclipse through Eclipse Shades, available from our Online Ordering page at www.ClassicalAstronomy.com).
As usual, the media will begin covering this event as the time approaches. However, in order to observe and appreciate this event, you'll need to be prepared. Detailed information on this annular eclipse is provided in the May edition of the Celestial Almanack. You won't learn all of this info from a skimpy news story, and it's only three bucks. Also, you will need to order Eclipse Shades from our store by May 14 to insure delivery, and our quantities are limited. I haven't seen a sunset eclipse in 10 years, so don't pass up on this one.
Dance of the Planets
See the Crescent Phases of Venus
Following the spectacular conjunction of Jupiter and Venus in March, Jupiter has vanished into the sunset, and now it's Venus' turn.
By mid-month, Venus will be hanging low above the treetops. Venus will be visible for another week, and then it will disappear into the sunset by the end of the month. Venus will be invisibly close to the Sun for a maybe a week, and will next be seen during its transit as a black dot upon the face of the Sun.
Venus is always a fun object to spot with the unaided eye, but during May, 2012, Venus will be a very interesting sight as seen through optics. If you have access to binoculars or a small telescope, you can see that Venus passes through crescent phases, similar to the Moon.
For detailed information for viewing and understanding this phenomenon, check out the May edition of the Celestial Almanack.
Venus Transit - Tuesday, June 5, 2012
On the evening of Tuesday, June 5, 2012, the entire North American continent will have the have the opportunity to witness the rare spectacle of a Venus transit. Though this will be visible over most of the world at some time of day, North America will be favored with access to this rare event in the evening hours, when most people are awake and off work.
There will not be another Venus transit until December, 2117, so no one alive today can expect to see another.
We can also expect that the media will begin covering the Venus transit closer to the time approaches, but you'll need to be prepared in advance for this as well. If you order Eclipse Shades for the annular eclipse, you can still use them two weeks later to see the Venus transit. If anyone decides to blow this off now, maybe you can try again in another 105 years!
Til next time, God bless and clear skies!
-jay
The Ryan Family
Cleveland, Ohio, USA
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and
the stars, which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art
mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
- Psalm 8:3-4, a Psalm of David
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