Mars at Opposition – July 27, 2018 & Closest Approach – July 31, 2018

 

 

Photos above were taken in Newport Beach, Ca – July 30th evening/ July 31st morning.

Using Meade refractor telescope. Set–up:  focal length of main objective lens (700mm) and the focal length of the eye piece (25mm); so 700/25 = 28x

Photos below were taken in Newport Beach, Ca – July 31st evening/Aug 1st morning.

 

In putting together the Opposition Phenomena and how to Mars’ position relates to it’s visibility in the night sky:

A. First, consider how both planets orbit or revolve around the sun and their position; Mars being the 4th planet from the Sun and Earth being the 3rd planet from the Sun. Consider the diagrams below:

 

 

Diagrams courtesy of: http://www.nasa.gov

B. Secondly, let’s look into the term “opposition” and what this might mean for planets in the solar system. A superior planet (one with an orbit farther from the Sun than Earth’s – so anything outside of the Earth’s orbit) is in opposition when Earth passes between it and the Sun. The opposition of a planet is a good time to view it, because the planet is then close to the Earth and in its full phase.

So think about this.. can Mercury or Venus ever be in opposition to Earth? Well, you know that a planet has to be outside of Earth’s orbit and the Earth must be between those planets; so, no Mercury and Venus can never be in Opposition to Earth.

Diagram courtesy: http://www.naasbeginners.co.uk

C. Thirdly, now that we are aware of planets’ positions as”superior” and “inferior” to our planet; let’s take a look at the term “conjunction” and how it relates to the inferior planets. Above is a simple, but useful diagram: Inferior planets—those with orbits smaller than the Earth’s (Venus and Mercury)—have two kinds of conjunctions with the Sun. An inferior conjunction occurs when the planet passes approximately between Earth and Sun; if it passes exactly between them, moving across the Sun’s face as seen from Earth, it is said to be in transit. You may have heard of “the transit of Mercury” a few years back. Sadly, the marine layer was heavy during the day and it was not visible for much of Orange County.

Above, you will also notice a superior conjunction. A superior conjunction occurs when Earth and the other planet are on opposite sides of the Sun, but all three bodies are again nearly in a straight line. It might sound confusing, but an “inferior” planet can have both an “inferior” and “superior” conjunction.

Superior planets, those having orbits larger than the Earth’s, can have only superior conjunctions with the Sun – so Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. In the diagram below, this could be any superior planet. Notice where both opposition and conjunction occur:

Diagram courtesy of: http://www.hko.gov.hk

D. Fourth, now let’s relate what we know so far: we have a superior planet, Mars, in opposition. Take a look below at the diagram that shows Mars in both superior conjunction and opposition. Think about the terms we have gone over….which is which?

Diagram courtesy of: http://www.astronomy.swin.edu.au

Hopefully, you noticed on a superior planet on the right on the outside of earth where the planet, Earth, and the Sun form a straight line – this is opposition. The opposition of Mars happens about every two years. That makes sense because Earth takes a year to orbit the sun, and Mars takes about two years. About every two years, we gain a lap on Mars, passing between it and the sun. Note, opposition does not exactly match up with the closest approach due to the shape of the planets’ orbits.

If Earth and Mars orbited the sun in perfect circles and on the same exact plane, Earth would come closest to Mars right at opposition. Planets do not orbit in perfect circles. The orbits of both Earth and Mars are not circles, but they are ellipses; like circles someone sat down on. The diagram below does an excellent job showing the variations in the orbits of Earth and Mars:

Diagram credit: Earth Sky: http://earthsky.org/sky-archive/close-and-far-martian-oppositions

Oppositions of Mars, 2018 – 2037 Date of Opposition Date of Closest Encounter Closest Distance (AUs / Millions of Miles) Jul 27 2018 Oct 13 2020 Dec 08 2022 Jan 16 2025 Feb 19 2027 Mar 25 2029 May 04 2031 Jun 27 2033 Sep 15 2035 Nov 19 2037 Jul 31 2018 Oct 06 2020 Dec 01 2022 Jan 12 2025 Feb 20 2027 Mar 29 2029 May 12 2031 Jul 05 2033 Sep 11 2035 Nov 11 2037 0.38496 / 35.8 0.41492 / 38.6 0.54447 / 50.6 0.64228 / 59.7 0.67792 / 63.0 0.64722 / 60.2 0.55336 / 51.4 0.42302 / 39.3 0.38041 / 35.4 0.49358 / 45.9

Diagram Credit: https://cseligman.com/text/planets/marsoppositions.htm

So, when is the next transit of Mercury or Venus? The next Mercury transit is November 11–12, 2019. The next Venus transit is December 11, 2117. Yes, 2117 …

 

 

 

 

 

Waxing Crescent – Moon

2/18/18

2/18/18

February 18, 2018 – Phase = Waxing Crescent

First image – Nikon + Meade telescope 28x – image is reversed.

More about image orientation w/ telescopes:

https://www.telescopesplus.com/blogs/helpful-information/18943492-image-orientation-why-is-everything-upside-down

Second and Third images – Nikon

 

A few days later.. .

2/20/18

2/20/18

2/20/18

Photos above w/ Nikon camera.

Photos below – (image reversed)  – Think I might need to clean eyepiece and objective lenses… 😉

Full Lunar Eclipse – January 31, 2018

Super Blue Blood Moon – Jan 31st, 2018 /Lunar Eclipse –PST 4:51 am-6:07 am

 

Images captured during Full Lunar Eclipse 1/31/18 from Newport Beach, CA

 

Both Photos above – 4:46 am – Woke up around 4:30 am and began taking photos w/ Nikon camera – first few shots – Moon entering the Earth’s shadow.  (Nikon – S6800)

4:59 am – Above

5:02 am – Began to notice the Nikon was not picking up enough light. Image appeared very faint. At this point, I began to think about using an old telescope.

 

5:11 am – At this point, the Moon is passing into the Earth’s shadow. I decided to get the telescope out to see if I could gather more light!

5:15 am – 5:30am – Using Meade refractor telescope. Set – up:  focal length of main objective lens (700mm) and the focal length of the eye piece (25mm); so 700/25 = 28x – Using the Nikon  w/ telescope. Below are the results…

Above – 5:31 am – Positioned the Nikon above the Meade’s eyepiece lens and this was the result. I was stoked.

 

5:32am – Full Lunar Eclipse just after maximum at 5:29 am.

 

5:35 am – Full Lunar Eclipse (Outside edges are concrete driveway – under the telescope.)

 

5:36 am – Full Lunar Eclipse

 

5:39 am – Full Lunar Eclipse

 

5:43 am – Full Lunar Eclipse

 

5:43 am – Full Lunar Eclipse

 

6:14 am – Moon is coming out of the Earth’s shadow. (The blurry circle is the eyepiece lens of the telescope.)

6:42 am – (Newport Beach, CA) – Note the moon is still within the penumbra (outer shadow which doesn’t receive as much red scattered light) – Nikon

6:57 am – Elementary school, Newport Beach, CA

 

6:58 am – A closer look.. . Crown Dr.

 

6:58 am

 

6:59 am

 

6:59 am – Last view  of the eclipse. In reflecting back on this morning, I wish I had be more consistent about equipment and position. During future eclipses, I might find a place of higher elevation. Not to make excuses, but I was more focused on work this morning in setting up the classroom.  This Spring, I will look into telescope/camera set-up options (no longer relying on sticking the camera over the lens and hoping for a clear image).  As 80’s singer/songwriter Howard Jones philosophized— “Things can only get better.”

The following morning:

7:20 am 2/1/18 –  Following morning at an elementary school in Newport Beach, CA.

7:19 am 2/1/18

UNDERSTANDING THE LUNAR ECLIPSE:

 

Why does the Moon appear red? The coloration is due to red light from the Sun being refracted around the Earth by the atmosphere; so during eclipse the Moon can appear red. Earth casts two shadows that fall on the moon during a lunar eclipse: The umbra is a full, dark shadow. The penumbra is a partial outer shadow. The moon passes through these shadows in stages. Perspective from the moon:

“If you were standing on the moon, looking back at the sun, you’d see the black disk of Earth blocking the entire sun, but you’d also see a ring of reflected light glowing around the edges of Earth — that’s the light that falls on the moon during a total lunar eclipse.”-www.skyandtelescope.com

Diagram/Image courtesy of – www.skyandtelescope.com (NOTE – Earth/Moon distance not to scale. The diagram is to show how light is bent into the umbra.)

What causes a lunar eclipse? A lunar eclipse occur only at full moon phase. Only at this phase is it possible for the moon to pass into the Earth’s shadow (umbra). Most of the time, the full moon misses the Earth’s shadow by orbiting below or above it. The diagram from Astronomy Stack does an excellent job showcasing the effect of the Moon’s orbital tilt of 5.1 degrees. For example, the last full moon on January 2, 2018 – orbit was south of the Earth’s Shadow (similar to the right side of the diagram) and the next full moon – on March 2, 2018 – will orbit north of the Earth’s shadow (similar to the left side of the diagram).

 Diagram/Image courtesy of – Astronomy Stack Exchange – https://astronomy.stackexchange.com (NOTE: Earth’s orbit not to scale. Earth/Moon distance not to scale. Earth/Sun distance not to scale. The purpose of the diagram is to provide clarity to the 5.1 degree tilt of the moon’s orbit to the plane of the ecliptic.

Why not a lunar eclipse each month? The moon’s orbital plane around Earth is inclined at 5 degrees (5.1) to the ecliptic – Earth’s orbital plane around the sun.  However, the moon’s orbit intersects the ecliptic at two points called nodes (the red line passes through the nodes in the diagram above). It’s an ascending node where it crosses the Earth’s orbital plane going from south to north, and a descending node where it crosses the Earth’s orbital plane going from north to south. A lunar eclipse occurs when the full moon closely matches with one of its nodes.

For lunar eclipse points, see the diagram above (look at the middle two examples). On the middle top, the Moon’s orbit is aligned with the ascending node as it orbits counter-clockwise around the Earth. On the middle bottom, the Moon’s orbit is aligned with the descending node as it orbits counter-clockwise around the Earth. Earth-Sun-Moon line up = eclipse.

Every lunar eclipse is observable anywhere on Earth where the Moon is above the horizon (note->the sky has to be clear which it was this time…).

Terminology:

Moon in closest approach to Earth in a single orbit = Supermoon – Moon’s distance is less than 223,000 miles from Earth or 6% closer than the average Earth- Moon distance, which is 239,000 miles. (appears 30% brighter and 14% brighter)

More information on Supermoon – https://lightsinthedark.com/2016/11/11/whats-so-super-about-a-supermoon/

Moon passes into the Earth’s shadow = Lunar Eclipse

More information on Lunar Eclipses.: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/solar-and-lunar-eclipses-in-2018/

 

 

Red-Shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus

 

Red-Shouldered Hawk in Corona Del Mar, CA – streetlight

According to the Cornell Lab of Orinthology:

“Red-shouldered Hawks eat mostly small mammals, lizards, snakes, and amphibians. They hunt from perches below the forest canopy or at the edge of a pond, sitting silently until they sight their prey below. Then they descend swiftly, gliding and snatching a vole or chipmunk off the forest floor. They also eat toads, snakes, and crayfish. They occasionally eat birds, sometimes from bird feeders; recorded prey include sparrows, starlings, and doves.” – https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/lifehistory

More info – https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-shouldered_Hawk/id

 

(streetlight on a typical day)

Sunsets: Autumnal Equinox through Winter Solstice

In using the telephone pole, we have a reference point and can track the sun setting at various locations – further north in Sept. and proceeding south to Dec. As we orbit the sun, the angle that we are able to view a sunset varies (changing angle of altitude and azimuth).  In the pictures below, you will notice a change in position of the sun setting along the horizon. The angle along the horizon is the angle of azimuth***. According to Griffith Observatory, here are the following angles of azimuth for Sept. – Dec. 2017.   http://www.griffithobservatory.org/sky/skytable/skysunrise2017.htm

Sept 21- 270 degrees // Oct 22-  257 degrees   //Nov 22-  246 degrees  //Dec 21-  242 degrees

You can see the pronounced difference in angles of azimuth from Sept to Oct, but not much from Nov to Dec. It was fun to track this phenomena firsthand at the top of Newport Coast in CA. So, think about where the vernal equinox and summer solstice sunset positions were this year… (you can click the link above to see how close you are in degrees)

***Azimuth angle has also been more generally defined as a horizontal angle (measured clockwise from any fixed reference plane).

September 22, 2017 (Autumnal Equinox)

 

October 23, 2017

 

November 22, 2017

 

December 21, 2017 (Winter Solstice)

 

 

Luiseno Tribe Pictographs – Riverside, CA

Mockingbird Canyon, Riverside, CA pictographs – cave art of the Luiseno Tribe:

Pictographs: interpretation of rock art is not definite as about 70% of archaeologists do not interpret in their studies. The ethnographic interpretation is that the concentric circles= universe; and the circle w/ bands = the Milky Way.

“The Luiseno lived in present day Orange County from Aliso Creek inland to Temecula and south to Oceanside. Their name comes from the San Luis Rey Mission, where they were taken during the Spanish occupation of California.”

“Paints were made from minerals found in rocks. Red paint came from hematite
or iron oxide. Orange and yellow paint were made from yellow ocher. Black paint was made from charcoal or a soft black mineral, manganese. White paint came from diatomaceous earth. These minerals were ground and mixed in bowls made of stone, fish vertebrae, or shells. The paint powder was mixed with juice from milkweed, wild cucumber seeds, animal oil, or egg whites.”

Source –  The Chumash People, Materials for Teachers and Students, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, EZ Nature Books, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403, 1991

Adolescent ceremony pictographs – difficult to see, but there are diamonds patterns in the vertical direction.

 

 

Entering the rock shelter.

 

 

 

Above – Luiseno ate buckwheat plant – Fagopyrum esculentum.

 

Above – Juniper shrub/small tree – Juniperus californica.

 

Above – white sage – Salvia apiana (these seeds were mixed w/ buckwheat).

 

  

Tiger Centipede – Scolopendra polymorpha

Mockingbird Canyon, Riverside, CA

Tiger Centipede: this genus has 21 pairs of legs.

Centipede was found along Mockingbird Canyon in Riverside, CA.

More about Tiger Centipedes: http://nathistoc.bio.uci.edu/Myriapods/Scolopendra.htm

Waning Crescent – Moon

Danaus plexippus – Monarch butterfly

 

 

 

 

Sceloporus occidentalis biseriatus – San Joaquin Fence Lizard

Newport Beach, CA