December Skies – by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, December Solstice, Planet Plotting, December Moon

Focus Constellations: Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, Draco, Cygnus, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Camelopardalis, Gemini, Auriga, Taurus, Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus, Pisces, Aries

  • Comet Journals

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (2021) is in Cancer at 8th magnitude in December. It was at perihelion on November 3 and was closest to Earth on November 12.

C/2021 A1 (Leonard) is a long period (80,000 years) comet. It will be closest to Earth on December 12, and at perihelion on January 3, 2022. It is currently approaching 8th magnitude in Canes Venatici and is expected to move through the northern hemisphere night sky to Aquarius by month’s end and get much brighter in the 1st two weeks of December when it may become visible to the naked eye! Find it in the SE dawn sky until the 12th and low in the SW dusk sky afterwards.

Comet 4P/Faye is in Monoceras at 10th magnitude in December. Faye passed perihelion on September 8 and will be closest to Earth on December 6.

Comet 6P/d’Arrest (2021) moves through southeastern Aquarius and may reach magnitude 9 in December. It was closest to Earth in August and passed perihelion on September 17.

  • Mars Landers

After stowing its newly acquired drill cores, Perseverance Rover wrapped up operations at Citadelle in Jezero Crater on Sept. 21 and headed into South Seitah, a level area which may be an ancient lake bed in the crater. It wended its way between and around sand dunes and sand traps on a course scouted by Ingenuity helicopter. The rover evaluated a drill site at the Brac rock outcrop and extracted a core sample in mid November.

InSight Lander’s seismometer measured seismic waves from crustal vibrations induced by wind to develop a model describing fine structure of the bedrock in Elysium Planitia. Below an upper sandy layer 3 meters thick a 15 meter thick layer of coarse, blocky impact ejecta rests on a 150 meter thick layer of interbedded sedimentary material and volcanic lava flows.

After the solar conjunction last month, Curiosity Rover crushed and evaluated some nodules found in late September and headed to Siccar Point, a promontory with a major geologic unconformity where much younger rock layers overlie very old layers. The surface between represents a long episode of erosion which removed the layers formed during the interval. South of the point, the approach to the escarpment of the prominent flat-topped Greenheugh Pediment which dominates the western horizon was chosen for the 40th drilling target called Zechstein. Drilling was successfully completed on November 8 (Sol 3292), and the balance of November was spent processing and analyzing the drilling sample.

  • Meteor Showers

The Geminids join minor December Meteor showers including the Chi Orionids, Sigma Hydrids, Coma Berenicids, and Ursids. The Ursids can sporadically storm and the Geminids are one of the best meteor showers of the year.

December 2: Chi Orionids/December 12: Sigma Hydrids – less than 5 meteors/Hr in dark skies without stray light

December 14: Geminids. Active Dec. 7 – 17. Radiant 7h28m +33°. ZHR 120. 35 km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Asteroid (3200) Phaethon. 

December 20: Coma Berenicids. Active Dec. 12-Jan. 23. Radiant 11h40m +25°. ZHR 5. 65 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet Lowe.

December 22: Ursids. Active Dec. 17 – 26. Radiant 14h28m +76°. ZHR up to 50+. 33 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet 8P/Tuttle.

  • December Solstice

The solstice is on the 21st at 10:59 AM EST. The longest night of the year will be followed by the shortest day.

  • Planet Plotting

Mars (1.6 to 1.5) is December’s morning planet. It rises almost two hours before the Sun and brightens slightly during the month as it moves from Libra to Ophiuchus and Earth starts to close in on the orbiting red planet. 

Venus (-4.3 to -4.9 to -4.5) in Sagittarius is at its brightest on the 4th when it blazes out of the southwestern sunset twilight. Mercury will join Venus in late December when it climbs into twilight after its Superior Conjunction with the Sun in late November. The two will pass within 4 degrees of each other on the 28th as Venus falls deep into twilight, approaching Inferior Conjunction with the Sun in early January. Saturn (+0.7) in Capricornus and Jupiter (-2.1 to -2.0) in Capricornus and Aquarius rise in the eastern sky before noon and are best viewed in the early evening when highest in the southwestern sky. They set in the mid to late evening. Neptune (+7.9) rises in early afternoon in Aquarius and Uranus (+5.7) in Aries rises about 3 hours later.

Planet Constellation(s) Magnitude Planet Passages Time Date
Sun Libra – Scorpius -26.5 New Moon 2:43AM EST 12/4
Mercury Ophiuchus – Sagittarius -1.1 to -0.7 Venus, 4.0°N 8:00PM EST  12/28
Venus Sagittarius -4.5 to -4.2 Mercury, 4.0°S 8:00PM EST 12/28
Mars Libra – Ophiuchus +1.6 to +1.5
Jupiter Capricornus – Aquarius -2.1 to -2.0
Saturn Capricornus 0.7
Uranus Aries 5.7
Neptune Aquarius 7.9
  • December Moon

The New Moon of December on the 4th at 2:43AM EST is the start of Lunation 1224 which ends 29.45 days later with the New Moon of January 2 at 1:33PM EST. The Full Moon of December is on the 18th at 11:35PM EST. December’s Moon is called ”Cold Moon,” “Moon before Yule,” or “Long Night Moon”. The latter refers to the fact that the Full Moon is above the horizon for a longer time than at any other time of the year due to the high arc that it takes through the sky as the Earth rotates. For northern hemisphere observers, the Full Moon is highest in the sky in December and the Sun is lowest because Earth is tilted away from the Sun and toward the Full Moon. In colonial America it was the “Christmas Moon” and was named the “Oak Moon” in Medieval England. Celts called it “Wolf or Bitter Moon” and the Chinese call it “Bitter Moon”.

Of the 13 Grandmother Moons during each year, Anishnaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people of northern Michigan call it “Manidoo-gizisoons” (Little Spirit Moon.) The associated cultural teaching that explains the cycle of life and nature for the 12th Moon is: “a time of healing. By receiving both vision of the spirits and good health, we may walk the Red Road with purest intentions, and we can share this most positive energy with our families and friends for the good of all.”

Lunar Perigee distance (minimum lunar distance) is 221,702 mi. (55.94 Earth radii) on the 4th at 5:04AM EST. Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) is on December 17 at 9:15PM EST, when the Moon will be at a distance of 252,475 mi. (63.70 Earth radii).

The waning crescent Moon will appear to pass the morning planet, Mars, on the 2nd and 31st. The waxing crescent Moon appears to pass the evening planets: Mercury on the 4th, Venus on the 6th, Saturn on the 7th, Jupiter on the 9th, and Neptune on the 10th. The waxing gibbous Moon will appear to pass Uranus on the 15th. 

Planet Constellation Magnitude Moon Passages Moon Phase Moon Age
Sun Ophiuchus -26.8 2:43AM EST, 12/4 New 0 Days
Mercury Ophiuchus -1.0 0.42° ESE, 11:00AM EST, 12/4 Waxing Crescent 0.35 Days
Venus Sagittarius -4.6 1.9°S, 8:00PM EST, 12/6 Waxing Crescent 2.72 Days
Mars Libra 1.6 0.7°N, 7:00PM EST, 12/2 Waning Crescent 27.57 Days
Mars Ophiuchus 1.5 0.9°N, 3:00PM EST, 12/31 Waning Crescent 27.52 Days
Jupiter Capricornus -2.1 4.0°S, 1:00AM EST, 12/9 Waxing Crescent 4.93 Days
Saturn Capricornus 0.7 4.0°S, 9:00PM EST, 12/7 Waxing Crescent 3.76 Days
Uranus Aries 5.7 1.5°S, 1:00AM EST, 12/15 Waxing Gibbous 10.93 Days
Neptune Aquarius 5.7 4.0° S, 8:00PM EST, 12/10 Waxing Crescent 6.72 Days

November Skies – by Dick Cookman

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, November Moon

Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Auriga, Taurus, Perseus, Andromeda, Triangulum, Aries, Pisces, Aquarius, Pegasus, Cygnus, Lyra

  • Comet Journals

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (2021) is at 8th magnitude and moves through Gemini into Cancer in November and is at perihelion on November 3. It will be closest to Earth on November 12. C/2021 A1 (Leonard) is a long period (80,000 years) comet discovered in January. It may be a Christmas Comet after passing closest to Earth on December 12 and at perihelion on January 3, 2022! In November it is in Canes Venatici at 10th magnitude and is expected to get much brighter. It may reach magnitude 7 this month, and magnitude 4 in December. Comet 4P/Faye is in Monoceras and Gemini at 10th magnitude in November. Faye passed through perihelion on September 8 and will be closest to Earth on December 6. Comet 6P/d’Arrest (2021) moves into Pisces Austrinus and may reach magnitude 9 in November. It was closest to Earth in August and passed perihelion on September 17.

  • Mars Landers

The Perseverance Rover is positioned to approach the edge of an ancient delta on the margin of Jezero Crater. Investigation of the delta is a major science goal. A key objective for Perseverance’s mission on Mars is astrobiology, including the search for signs of ancient microbial life. The fine grain rock layers at the base of the delta were deposited by a slow, meandering waterway that fed the delta. The upper coarse grain boulder bearing layers were probably deposited by later, fast-moving flash floods. The fine grain layers are thought to be the best target for microfossils and the coarse ones may yield more ancient rocks carried in from beyond the margin of the crater. The major activities for the InSight Lander during the late September and early October solar conjunction were monitoring for further marsquakes activity and continuing with its multi-instrument weather monitoring. After completing its 33rd drilling on Mars on Sept. 7, and then completing analysis of the drilling samples, the Curiosity Rover ceased communication with Earth for 3 weeks during the Mars solar conjunction when Mars was on the other side of the Sun. On Oct. 18, the rover resumed climbing Mt. Sharp, ascending over progressively younger rock layers to reach the next drilling target on November 1 (Sol 3285).

  • Meteor Showers

November Meteor showers include the Leonids and the south and north Taurids. The Leonids are not expected to storm as in 1833 and 1966. Also, they will have to compete with the waxing gibbous Moon. The Taurids are rather minor showers with slow moving meteors and occasional fireballs. 12,900 years ago the melting continental continental ice sheets paused in their retreat and readvanced in a global cooling event known as the Younger Dryas. Nanodiamonds and other impact products of this age recovered from the Great Lakes to Venezuela have been attributed to impact of a swarm of comet disintegration products known as the Taurid Complex.
November 4/5: Southern Taurids. Active Sept. 25-Nov. 25. Radiant 3hr28min +15°. ZHR 4 to 5. 27 km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon. Progenitor:  Asteroid 2004 TG10, Comet Enke, or Taurid Complex
November 11/12: Northern Taurids. Active Oct. 12-Dec. 12. Radiant 3h52min +22°. ZHR 4 to 5. 29 km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Asteroid 2004 TG10, Comet Enke, or Taurid Complex
November 16/17: Leonids. Active Oct. 2-Nov. 2. Radiant 10h08min +22°. ZHR 10 to 15. 71 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle

  • Planet Plotting

Morning planets in November include Mercury (-0.8 to -1.1) in Virgo and Ophiuchus, and Mars (1.7 to 1.6) in Virgo and Libra. They will be less than 1° apart on the 10th at 11:00AM EST when they rise 40 minutes before the Sun.
Venus (-4.3 to -4.5) in Virgo and Ophiuchus is in the western-southwestern sky, setting almost 3 hours after the Sun in November. Venus was on the other side of the Sun in March and now trails Earth by only 1/4 of its orbit, revealing a half lit disk to observers. Even as it moves into its crescent phase, it will brighten in November as it reduces its distance to Earth. It will catch up at inferior conjunction in January and then move into predawn skies. Jupiter (-2.3 to -2.2) and Saturn (+0.6 to +0.7) in Capricornus rise in the eastern sky about noon and are best viewed in the early evening when highest in the southwestern sky. They set in the late evening. Neptune (+7.8 to +7.9) rises in early afternoon in Aquarius and Uranus (+5.7) in Aries rises about 3 hours later.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Libra – Scorpius

-26.5

New Moon

5:14PM EDT

11/4

Mercury

Virgo – Ophiuchus

-0.8 to.-1.1

Mars, 0.96°SSW       

Superior Conjunction

11:00AM EST

11:00PM EST

11/10

11/28

Venus

Ophiuchus- Sagittarius

-4.3 to -4.5

Mars

Virgo – Libra

1.7 – 1.6

Mercury, 0.96° NNE

11:00AM EST

11/10

Jupiter

Capricornus

-2.3 to -2.2

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.6 to +0.7

Uranus

Aries

5.7

Neptune

Aquarius

7.8 – 7.9

  • November Moon

November’s New Moon on the 4th at 5:14PM EDT is the beginning of Lunation 1223 which ends 29.40 days later with the New Moon of December 4 at 2:43AM EST. The Full Moon of November is on the 20th at 3:58AM EST. It coincides with a partial lunar eclipse in North America and northeastern Asia. Known as the “Frosty or Beaver Moon” since colonial times, it was named the “Snow Moon” in Medieval England. Celts called it “Dark Moon” and Chinese people, on the opposite side of the world, call it “White Moon”. 

Of the 13 Grandmother Moons during each year, Anishinaabe (Odawa & Ojibwe) people call this Moon “Baashkaakodin-Giizis” (Freezing Moon). It has the following associated cultural teaching that explains the cycle of life and nature for the 11th Moon: 

it is “a time when Mother Earth is honored with the grandest of colors. As all of Creation makes their offerings to her, we become aware of all the miracles of Creation before us and our spiritual energies are once again awakened.”

Lunar Perigee distance (minimum lunar distance) is 358,844 km (56.26 Earth radii) on the 5th at 6:28PM EDT. At lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) on November 20 at 9:00PM EST, the Moon will be at a distance of 406,279 km (63.70 Earth radii.)

The waning crescent Moon will appear to pass the morning planets – Mercury on the 3rd and Mars on the 4th. The waxing crescent Moon appears to pass the evening planets: Venus on the 8th, Saturn on the 10th, and Jupiter on the 11th. The waxing gibbous Moon will appear to pass the Neptune on the 13th and Uranus on the 17th.

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Libra

-26.8

5:14PM EDT, 11/4 New 0 Days
Mercury Virgo

-0.5

1.12° SW, 4:00PM EDT, 11/3 Waning Crescent 28.26 Days
Venus Sagittarius

-4.4

1.14°SSW, 1:00AM EST, 11/8 Waxing Crescent 3.32 Days
Mars Virgo

1.6

2.13°SW, 3:00AM EDT, 11/4 Waning Crescent 28.72 Days
Jupiter Capricornus

-2.3

4.2°NNW, 4:00PM EST, 11/11 Waxing Gibbous 6.95 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.6

4.0°NNW, Noon EST, 11/10 Waxing Crescent 5.78 Days
Uranus Aries

5.7

1.37°NNW, 11:00PM EST, 11/17 Waxing Gibbous 13.24 Days
Neptune Aquarius

7.9

3.9° NNW, 6:00PM EST, 11/13 Waxing Gibbous 9.03 Days

October Skies – by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, October Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Camelopardalis, Ursa Major, Hercules, Lyra, Cygnus, Aquila, Pegasus, Andromeda, Pisces, Aries

  • Comet Journals

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (2021) is about 9th magnitude and moves through Taurus to Gemini in October and will reach perihelion on November 3. It will be closest to Earth on November 12. Comet 4P/Faye moves from Taurus to Orion and Gemini at 10th magnitude in October. Faye passed through perihelion on September 8 and will be closest to Earth in December. Comet 6P/d’Arrest (2021) moves through Sagittarius in October. It was closest to Earth in August and passed perihelion on September 17, reaching magnitude 9. 

  • Mars Landers

After successfully collecting its first core sample on Sept. 3, Perseverance Rover made a successful attempt to drill and extract a second rock core from the volcanic rock named Rochette on top of the ridge nicknamed Citadelle in Jezero Crater on Sept. 8. Pore fillings in Rochette indicate that it was subjected to alteration from saline water after it was formed.

This summer’s attempt to clear dust from the InSight Lander’s solar panels was able to allow continued powering of the seismometer which recorded marsquakes of magnitude 4.1 and 4.2 on August 25. On September 18, another 4.2 tremblor occurred. Distances to the epicenters of the three quakes ranged from 575 to 5280 miles. None were located in the Cerberus Fossae region (distance ~1000 miles) in which all the earlier quakes occurred, indicating that crustal movements are widespread on Mars. The Curiosity Rover is following a notch as it climbs Mt. Sharp to an area dominated by salty sulfate minerals. The rover conducted its 33rd drilling in the floor of the notch on Sept. 7, then spent the next two weeks analyzing the drilling samples and measuring  the  environmental characteristics of the area. On the 22nd, it resumed ascent to reach a nodular area in a slightly younger rock layer before shutting systems down for the ensuing solar conjunction. Mars will be on the other side of the Sun which will interfere with radio communication. 

  • Meteor Showers

October Meteor showers include the Camelepardalids, Draconids, Epsilon Geminids, Orionids, and Leo Minorids. All but the Draconids and Orionids are minor showers that will produce fewer than 10 meteors per hour in dark skies unpolluted by stray light. The Draconids can sporadically storm but are expected to be minor this year.

October 8: Draconids. Active Oct. 6-Oct 10. Radiant 17h28m +54°. ZHR 0 to storm. 20 km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon. Progenitor:  Comet Giacobini-Zinner. 

October 18: Epsilon Geminids. Active Oct. 14-Oct. 27. Radiant 6h48m +27°. ZHR 2. 66 km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet C/1964 N1 (Ikeya). 

October 21: Orionids. Active Oct. 2-Nov. 2. Radiant 6h20m +16°. ZHR 20. 66 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Halley’s Comet. 

  • Planet Plotting

Neptune (+7.8) rises in late afternoon in Aquarius and Uranus (+5.7) in Aries rises slightly more than 3 hours later. Both set in the early morning in October. Mars (+1.7), in Virgo, is immersed in the setting Sun’s glow as it approaches Solar Conjunction with the Sun the 8th and will appear in the morning sky in the last part of October.

Venus (-4.1 to -4.3) in Ophiuchus and Mercury (+2.1 to -0.8) in Virgo are in the western-southwestern sky after sunset in early October. Mercury is buried in the glow of sunset on the 1st and reaches Inferior Conjunction with the Sun on the 9th. Venus (-3.9 to -4.1) grows brighter each evening and reaches Maximum Eastern Elongation on the 29th. After the 9th, Mercury will move to the morning sky and will gradually rise out of the glow of sunrise in late October. Jupiter (-2.6 to -2.3) and Saturn (+0.5 to +0.6) in Capricornus rise in the eastern sky in the late morning and are best viewed in the early evening when highest in the southern sky. They set in the late evening.

October’s waxing crescent Moon appears to pass the evening planets – Mars, Mercury, and Venus – from the 6th through the 9th. The first two passages will be very difficult to see on the 6th when the crescent Moon, Mars, and Mercury appear too close to the Sun. The waxing gibbous Moon will appear to pass the morning planets – Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune – from the 14th through the 17th. The waning gibbous Moon will pass Uranus on the 21st.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Libra

-26.5

New Moon

7:08AM EDT

10/6

Mercury

Virgo

2.1 to.-0.8

Inferior Conjunction

Mars, 2.41°NE

Max West Elongation

Noon EDT

1:00AM EDT

1:00AM EDT

10/9


10/10


10/25

Venus

Ophiuchus

-4.1 to -4.3

Max East Elongation

5:00PM EDT

10/29

Mars

Virgo

1.7

Solar Conjunction

Mercury, 2.41°SW

Midnight EDT

1:00AM EDT

10/8


10/10

Jupiter

Capricornus

-2.6 to -2.3

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.5 to +0.6

Uranus

Aries

5.7

Neptune

Aquarius

7.8

  • October Moon

October’s New Moon on the 6th at 7:05AM EDT introduces Lunation 1222 which ends with November’s New Moon, 29.31 days later on the 4th at 5:14PM EDT. October 20 at 10:56AM EDT is marked by a Full Moon, commonly known as “Hunter’s Moon.” The name was apparently adopted from Native Americans in colonial times. In Medieval England, it was the “Blood” Moon.” Chinese call it “Kindly” Moon and for Celts it was “Harvest or Snow” Moon. 

The “Hunter’s Moon” is the full moon after the September Harvest Moon. At this time of year, the path of rising Moon is at a low angle to the horizon. The Full Moon rises slowly and moves southward above the eastern horizon, casting light over stubble in harvested corn fields, exposing game animals hiding places to hunters.

Of 13 Grandmother Moons each year, the 10th Moon is “Binaakwe Giizi” (Bi-nah-kway) – the Falling Leaves Moon for Anishinaabe (Odawa & Ojibwe) people. Cultural teachings explain the cycle of life and nature for the 10th Moon as “the leaves turn to breathtaking shades of red, orange, yellow, and gold before falling to the ground. It’s the grandest of spectacles to honor Mother Earth, and a powerful reminder of all the miracles in creation that sustain us and all our relations such as the animals and plants. Falling Leaves Moon is a time to honor, and give thanks.”

Lunar Perigee distance (minimum lunar distance) is 225797.6 miles on the 8th at 1:28PM EDT. Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) is on October 24 at Noon EDT. The Moon will be at a distance of 252037.4 miles.

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun

Virgo

-26.8

7:05AM EDT, 10/6 New 0 Days

Mercury

Virgo

3.5

6.2°SSW, 7:00PM EDT, 10/6 Waxing Crescent 0.50 Days

Venus

Scorpius

-4.1

2.74°SSW, 5:00PM EDT, 10/9 Waxing Crescent 3.30 Days

Mars

Virgo

1.7

3.2°SSW, 9:00AM EDT, 10/6 Waxing Crescent

t

0.08 Days

Jupiter

Capricornus

-2.5

4.0°NNW, 9:00AM EDT, 10/15 Waxing Gibbous 8.97 Days

Saturn

Capricornus

0.5

3.8°NNW, 5:00AM EDT, 10/14 Waxing Gibbous 7.80 Days

Uranus

Aries

5.7

1.24°NNW, 7:00PM EDT, 10/21 Waning Gibbous 15.38 Days
Neptune

Aquarius

7.8

3.7°NNW, 2:00PM EDT, 10/17 Waxing Gibbous

11.17 Days

September Skies – by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Autumnal Equinox, Planet Plotting, September Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Camelopardalis, Ursa Major, Corona Borealis, Ophiuchus, Hercules, Lyra, Cygnus, Aquila, Pegasus, Andromeda

  • Comet Journals

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (2021) is about 10th magnitude and will be closest to Earth on November 12. It will reach perihelion on November 3 and moves from Cetus to Taurus in September. Comet 4P/Faye moves from Taurus to Orion at 10th magnitude in September. Faye is closest to the Sun at perihelion on September 8 and closest to Earth in December. Comet 6P/d’Arrest (2021) moves from Ophiuchus to Sagittarius in September. It was discovered on December, 2020 and may reach 10th magnitude when near its September 17 perihelion.

  • Mars Landers

On August 6, the Perseverance Rover made its first attempt to drill and extract a rock core from the floor of Jezero Crater which is thought to be an ancient lakebed. Upon extraction, the core disintegrated, breaking into irretrievable fragments. The rover was then directed to move 1,493 feet (455 meters) to a ridge nicknamed Citadelle which appeared to be more cohesive. Data received late Sept. 1, 2021 from Perseverance indicate the team has achieved its goal of successfully coring a Mars rock. The initial images downlinked after the historic event show an intact sample present in the tube after coring. More images are required to confirm.

The InSight Lander is generating daily atmospheric and opacity pressure reports. Other functions have been temporarily shut down to conserve energy limited by solar panel dust accumulation. Spacecraft orbiting Mars show that Curiosity is climbing Mt. Sharp, between a region enriched in clay minerals deposited in an ancient fresh water lake, and one dominated by salty minerals called sulfates which may be replacement minerals from salty brines which altered pre-existing clay minerals. The mountain’s layers in this area may reveal how the ancient environment within Gale Crater dried up over time. 

  • Autumnal Equinox

The Equinox is at 3:22PM EDT on September 22, 19 hours after Full Moon. The noon Sun is directly above Earth’s equator, and a line between Earth and the Sun is at right angles to Earth’s axis, marking the transition from Summer to Autumn. Each hemisphere receives equal amounts of sunlight causing day and night to be of equal length over the entire Earth on the Equinox.

  • Meteor Showers

September Meteor showers include the Alpha Aurigids, Delta Aurigids, Epsilon Perseids and the Piscids. All are minor showers that will produce less than 10 meteors per hour in dark skies unpolluted by stray light.

September 1: Alpha Aurigids. Active Aug. 28-Sep. 5. Radiant 5h36m +42°. ZHR 10. 66 km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Comet Keiss.

September 8: Delta Aurigids. Active Sep. 5-Oct 10. Radiant 4h00m +47°. ZHR 6. 64 km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon. Progenitor:  Comet Keiss. 

September 9: Epsilon Perseids. Active Sep. 5-Sep. 21. Radiant 3h12m +40°. ZHR 5.  64 km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon.  Progenitor: unknown long period comet 

September 20: Piscids. Active Sep. 3-Oct. 2. Radiant 0h20m -01°. ZHR 3. 36 km/sec. Full Moon. Progenitor: possibly Comet Wirtanen. 

  • Planet Plotting

Neptune (+7.8) (Opposition 9/14) rises well before midnight in Aquarius and Uranus (+5.7) in Aries rises slightly later. Both are morning planets in September. Mars (+1.8 to +1.7), in Leo and Virgo, is buried in the Sun’s glow as it approaches Superior Conjunction with the Sun in early October.

Venus (-3.9 to -4.1) and Mercury (+0.0 to +1.6) in Virgo are low in the western-southwestern sky after sunset in September. Mercury is buried in the glow of sunset on the 1st and is slightly higher in the sky each evening until it reaches Maximum Eastern Elongation from the Sun on the 14th. Venus (-3.9 to -4.1) grows brighter each evening and moves into Libra on the 18th. Both planets are low in the evening sky because even though they appear to move away from the Sun in the 1st half of the month, their movement along the ecliptic is only slightly above the horizon. Jupiter (-2.7 to -2.6) and Saturn (+0.3 to +0.53) in Capricornus rise in the eastern sky before sunset and are best viewed around 10PM EDT when they are highest in the southern sky. They set in the wee hours.

In September, the waxing crescent Moon will appear to pass the evening planets, Mercury, Mars, and Venus from the 7th through the10th. The waxing gibbous Moon will appear to pass the morning planets Saturn, Jupiter, and Neptune from the 17th through the 20th. The waning gibbous Moon will pass Uranus on the 28th.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Leo, Virgo

-26.5

New Moon

8:51PM EDT

9/6

Mercury

Virgo

0.0 to.1.6

Maximum East Elongation

Midnight EDT

9/14

Venus

Virgo/Libra

-3.9 to -4.1

Mars

Leo/Virgo

1.8 to 1.7

Jupiter

Capricornus

-2.7 to -2.6

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.3 to +0.5

Uranus

Aries

5.7

Neptune

Aquarius

7.8

Opposition

5:00AM EDT

9/14

  • September Moon

The New Moon of September is on the 6th at 8:51PM EDT. It is the beginning of Lunation 1221 which ends 29.46 days later with the New Moon of October 6 at 7:05AM EDT. The Full Moon of September is on the 21st at 8:01PM EDT. It is commonly known as “Fruit” Moon. In colonial times, the Full Moon of September was called the “Harvest” Moon and in Medieval England, it was the “Barley” Moon.” Chinese call it “Chrysanthemum” Moon and Celts named it the “Singing” or “Blood” Moon. 

The “Harvest Moon” occurs in September because it is the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox at 3:22PM on the 22nd. Since it occurs slightly before the equinox, it is thought to occur during the three months of Summer which began on the Summer Solstice. It is the 4th Full Moon is those 3 months which made the August Full Moon a “Blue Moon”.

Of the 13 Grandmother Moons during each year, the Anishinaabe (Odawa & Ojibwe) people recognize the 10th Moon as “Waatebagaa-giizis” (Leaves Turning Moon). It has the following associated cultural teaching that explains the cycle of life and nature for the 10th Moon. “This is a time when it is said that all of creation makes offerings to Mother Earth. The beautiful colors of fall and the awakening of spirits happens during this…..moon.”

Lunar Perigee distance (minimum lunar distance) is 228,951 miles on the 11th at 5:53AM EDT. Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) is on September 26 at 6:00PM EDT, The Moon will be 251,432 miles from Earth.

  • September Moon

The New Moon of September is on the 6th at 8:51PM EDT. It is the beginning of Lunation 1221 which ends 29.46 days later with the New Moon of October 6 at 7:05AM EDT. The Full Moon of September is on the 21st at 8:01PM EDT. It is commonly known as “Fruit” Moon. In colonial times, the Full Moon of September was called the “Harvest” Moon and in Medieval England, it was the “Barley” Moon.” Chinese call it “Chrysanthemum” Moon and Celts named it the “Singing” or “Blood” Moon. 

The “Harvest Moon” occurs in September because it is the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox at 3:22PM on the 22nd. Since it occurs slightly before the equinox, it is thought to occur during the three months of Summer which began on the Summer Solstice. It is the 4th Full Moon is those 3 months which made the August Full Moon a “Blue Moon”.

Of the 13 Grandmother Moons during each year, the Anishinaabe (Odawa & Ojibwe) people recognize the 10th Moon as “Waatebagaa-giizis” (Leaves Turning Moon). It has the following associated cultural teaching that explains the cycle of life and nature for the 10th Moon. “This is a time when it is said that all of creation makes offerings to Mother Earth. The beautiful colors of fall and the awakening of spirits happens during this…..moon.”

Lunar Perigee distance (minimum lunar distance) is 228,951 miles on the 11th at 5:53AM EDT. Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) is on September 26 at 6:00PM EDT, The Moon will be 251,432 miles from Earth.

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Leo

-26.8

8:51PM EDT, 9/6 New 0 Days
Mercury Virgo

0.1

5.9°NNE, 10:00PM EDT, 9/8 Waxing Crescent 2.05 Days
Venus Libra

-4.0

3.7°N, 2:00AM EDT, 9/10 Waxing Crescent 3.21 Days
Mars Virgo

1.8

3.8°NNE, 4:00PM EDT, 9/7 Waxing Crescent 0.80 Days
Jupiter Capricornus

-2.6

3.8°SE, 6:00AM EDT, 9/18 Waxing Gibbous 11.38 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.4

3.7°SE, 1:00AM EDT, 9/17 Waxing Gibbous 10.17 Days
Uranus Aries

5.7

1.26°SE, 2:00PM EDT, 9/24 Waning Gibbous 17.71 Days
Neptune Aquarius

7.8

3.7°SE, 9:00AM EDT, 9/20 Waxing Gibbous 13.51 Days

 

August Skies – by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, August Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Ursa Major, Bootes, Corona Borealis, Ophiuchus, Hercules, Lyra, Cygnus, Aquila, Pegasus, Andromeda

  • Comet Journals

C2020 T2 (Palomar) is about 10th magnitude and was closest to Earth on May 12. It passed perihelion on July 10  and moves from Virgo to Libra in August. It will slowly dim as it retreats from the Sun and heads eastward along the ecliptic, returning to the Oort Belt. 

Comet Faye moves from Aries to Taurus at 10th magnitude in August. Faye is closest to the Sun at perihelion on September 8 and closest to Earth in December. Comet 8P/Tuttle (2021) moves from Gemini to Hydra at 10th magnitude in August. Perihelion is on August 27 and the closest approach to Earth is in September. C/2021 O1 (Nishimura) moves from Gemini to Leo in August. It was discovered on July 21, 2021 and may reach 9th magnitude when near its August 12 perihelion.

Mars Landers

After shepherding the Ingenuity Helicopter through ten very successful test flights, the Perseverance Rover is preparing to conduct its first 11 day sampling mission. They plan to extract a rock core sample, conduct an examination of the sample, then hermetically seal it for preservation until it is picked up and returned to Earth in the next decade by a future mission.

Data collected from the 700+ marsquakes measured by the InSight Lander the last 2.5 years reveals a spectacular picture of the Martian interior. The planet’s crust has an upper layer 10 km. thick with apparently highly fractured rock and averages a total thickness between 24 and 72 km. This is much thinner than previously estimated. The entire lithosphere is 500 km. thick and overlies a mantle about 1060 km. thick. The 1860 km. radius of the core beneath the mantle is over half that of the planet. Earlier estimates were significantly smaller, the larger size requires a lower density than Earth’s core. 

Curiosity is in the lower part of the Sulfate Unit and spent the first week of July preparing for its 32nd drilling event on a rock surface target named “Pontours” which occurred on July 7, 2021 (Sol 3171). The next two weeks were devoted to processing the sample and making observations of the surrounding rocks, sediments, and atmospheric conditions. The rover then resumed its ascent of Mt. Sharp and observation of the Sulfate Unit.

Meteor Showers

August Meteor showers include the Perseids, the Kappa Cygnids, and the Aurigids. The Perseids are one of the best showers of the year and the other two are minor showers. The Cygnids have to compete with the glare of the waxing gibbous Moon, and the Aurigids may produce enhanced activity this year.

August 12: Perseids. Active July 17 – August 24, Radiant 3h13m +58°, ZHR 100. 59km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon, Progenitor: Comet 109P Swift-Tuttle

August 17: Kappa Cygnids. Active July 28 – September 2, Radiant 19h13m +53°, ZHR 3 to 5, 23 km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon, Progenitor: The meteor shower and Minor planet 2008 ED69 are thought to be remnants of a comet break up between 4000-1600 BC. August 31: Aurigids. Active August 25 – September 4, Radiant 6h4m +39°, ZHR 1 to 6, 66km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon, Progenitor: Comet C/1911 Kiess

  • Planet Plotting

Uranus (+5.8 to +5.7) in Aries is a morning planet in August. Saturn (+0.2 to +0.3) in Capricornus rises at sunset on the 1st and sets at sunrise. On the 2nd, it is at Opposition. Jupiter (-2.7), which reaches Opposition on the 19th is in Aquarius and Capricornus. It rises an hour after Saturn and Neptune (+7.9 to +7.8) rises an hour later in Aquarius.

Mercury (+1.0 to -1.9) in Cancer and Leo is low in the southwestern sky after sunset in the 1st half of the month after its Superior Conjunction with the Sun on the 1st. Venus (-3.8) in Leo and Virgo dominates the early evening southwestern sky and is briefly joined by Mars (+1.8) in Leo in early August. 

The waxing crescent Moon appears to pass evening planets Mercury, Mars, and Venus from August 9 to 11. The waxing gibbous Moon appears to pass morning planets Saturn and Jupiter from the 20th through the 22nd. The waning gibbous moon will pass Neptune on the 23rd and Uranus on the 28th.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Pisces, Aries

-26.5

New Moon

9:50AM EDT

8/8

Mercury

Cancer/Leo/Virgo

-1.9 to.0.0

Superior Conjunction

Mars, 0.8°N

10:00AM EDT

Midnight EDT

8/1

8/18

Venus

Leo/Virgo

-3.8 to -3.9

Mars

Leo

1.8

Mercury, 0.8°S

Midnight EDT

8/18

Jupiter

Aquarius/Capricornus

-2.7

Opposition

8:00PM EDT

8/19

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.2 to +0.3

Opposition

2:00AM EDT

8/2

Uranus

Aries

+5.8 to +5.7

Neptune

Aquarius

7.8

  • August Moon

The New Moon of August is on the 8th at 9:50AM EDT. It is the beginning of Lunation 1220, which ends 28.96 days later with the New Moon of September 6 at 8:51PM EDT. The Full Moon of August is on the 22nd at 8:02AM EDT. It is commonly known as “Grain or Green Corn” Moon. In colonial times, the Full Moon of August was called the “Dog’s Day” Moon and in Medieval England, it was the “Corn” Moon. The Chinese call it “Harvest” Moon and the Celts named it the “Dispute” or “Barley” Moon. 

Of the 13 Grandmother Moons during each year, the Anishinaabe (Odawa & Ojibwe) people recognize the 8th Moon as “Manoominike-giizis” (Ricing Moon). According to Earth Haven Farm in Ontario, it has the following cultural teaching that explains the cycle of life and nature for the 8th Moon. “We honor the Thimbleberry which produces an abundance of fruit once every three years. It was one of the first plants put on Mother Earth, and its purpose is to protect the Sacred Circle of Life by allowing us to recognize and understand the teachings that come from the Spirit World.”

Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) is on August 2 at 3:35AM EDT. The Moon will be 251,289 miles from Earth. Perigee distance (minimum lunar distance) is 229,363 miles on the 17th at 5:16AM EDT, 42 hours before Full Moon. The Full Moon occurs when close to the perigee point in its orbit and appears larger and brighter than normal. However, it fails to achieve “Supermoon” status because it is too far away.

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Cancer

-26.8

9:50AM EDT, 8/8 New 0 Days
Mercury Leo

-1.1

3.2°NNE, 2:00AM EDT, 8/9 Waxing Crescent 27.75 Days
Venus Virgo

-3.9

4.0°N, 3:00AM EDT, 8/11 Waxing Crescent 0.72 Days
Mars Leo

1.8

4.0°N, 9:00PM EDT, 8/9 Waxing Crescent 0.36 Days
Jupiter Capricornus

-2.7

4.0°S, 1:00AM EDT, 8/22 Waxing Gibbous 13.63 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.3

4.0°S, 6:00PM EDT, 8/20 Waxing Gibbous 12.74 Days
Uranus Aries

5.7

1.5°S, 5:00AM EDT, 8/28 Waning Gibbous 19.80 Days
Neptune Aquarius

7.8

4.0°SE, 10:00PM EDT, 8/23  Waning Gibbous 15.51 Days

July Skies – by Dick Cookman

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, July Moon
Focus Constellations: Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Ursa Major, Coma Berenices, Virgo, Bootes, Corona Borealis, Hercules, Ophiuchus, Aquila, Lyra, Cygnus

Comet Journal

C2020 T2 (Palomar) is between 10th and 11th magnitude and was closest to Earth on May 12. It is in Virgo in July and will slowly dim as it retreats from the Sun after perihelion on July 10. heading eastward along the ecliptic and returning to the Oort Belt,On it’s 7.5 year orbit, Comet Faye visited Jupiter and, in July, graces our midnight skies in Aries at 11th magnitude. Faye is closest to the Sun in September and closest to Earth in December. Comet 8P/Tuttle (2021) is another Jupiter family comet, moving from Auriga to Gemini at 10th magnitude in July. Perihelion is in late August and closest approach to Earth is in September. Comet 15/P Findlay in Aries moves to Taurus in July at 9th magnitude. Closest approach to Earth was on June 17 and perihelion is on July 13.

Mars Landers

Perseverance rover is more than a babysitter for its Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. The rover’s mission includes a nine mile journey across the floor of Jezero Crater which is former lake bed. The destination is a delta at the edge of the crater which may contain evidence of former life on the planet. Ingenuity will function as a scout to complement the rover’s navigational systems. Perseverance is Curiosity on steroids. The navigational systems are beefed up, wheels have been upgraded, higher clearance permits safer travel over rough ground and rocks, and a much more robust autonomous route planning and hazard avoidance capability results in a six times faster speed for the journey.
Although the dust coating on the solar panels of InSight’s lander was partially ameliorated by measures taken by mission scientists, most scientific instruments will be shut down as Mars approaches aphelion on July 12. After the travel delay in May due to difficulties in closing a reluctant dust cover and stowing the remote sensing mast, Curiosity departed from Mont Mercou at the base Sulfate Unit and resumed its ascent of Mt. Sharp. During June, the rover made daily observations as it ascended a few hundred meters and positioned itself for the next drilling campaign.

Meteor Showers

July Meteor showers are in southern skies and have to compete with the waning gibbous Moon, so they will be rather unimpressive. July 27 will host the Piscis Austrinid and the Delta Aquarid showers. The Alpha Capricornids occur on the 29th.

July 27: Piscis Austrinids. Active July 15 – August 10, Radiant 22h44m -30°, ZHR 5. 35km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon, Progenitor: Comet Kiess (C/1911 N1)
July 27: Delta Aquarids. Active July 12 – August 19, Radiant 22h36m -16°, ZHR 20, 41 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon, Progenitor: Comet 96P Machholz
July 29: Alpha Capricornids. Active July 3 – August 15, Radiant 20h28m -10°, ZHR 4. 23km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon, Progenitor: Asteroid 169P/2002 EX12 (NEAT)

Planet Plotting

Morning planets include Mercury (+1.0 to -1.9) in Taurus and Cancer, Uranus (+5.8) in Aries. Neptune (+7.9 to +7.8) and Jupiter (-2.5 to -2.7) in Aquarius, and Saturn (+0.4 to +0.2) in Capricornus. Get an early start on Independence Day celebrations when Mercury (magnitude 0.6) is at maximum western elongation and rises almost 1.5 hours before the Sun in Taurus. In the hour before dawn in July, Uranus can be found high in the southeast in Aries with binoculars which, when turned to the south-southwest, might also reveal Neptune in extreme eastern Aquarius which rises at midnight. Bright Jupiter is next, in central Aquarius, and Saturn can be seen farther west in Capricornus.

Evening planets are Venus (-3.8) and Mars (+1.8) which move from Cancer to Leo in July and are less than a degree apart at 3:00AM EDT on the 13th.
The waning crescent Moon is 4.0° from Mercury at 1:00AM EDT on the 8th and 1.8° from Uranus at 8:00PM EDT on the 31st.. A waxing crescent Moon is 3.0° from Venus at 5:00AM EDT and 4.0° from Mars at 6:00AM EDT on the 12th The waning gibbous Moon is 4.0° from Saturn at 1:00PM EDT on the 24th, 4.0° from Jupiter at 9:00PM EDT on the 25th, and 4.0° from Neptune at 2:00PM EDT on the 27th.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Pisces, Aries

-26.5

New Moon

 0:17PM EDT

7/9

Mercury

Taurus, Cancer

+1.0 to -1.9

Maximum

Western

Elongation

4:00PM EDT

7/4

Venus

Cancer, Leo

-3.8

Mars, 0.5°S

3:00AM EDT

    7/9
Mars

Cancer, Leo

+1.8

Venus, 0.5°N    3:00AM EDT     7/9
Jupiter

Aquarius

-2.5 to -2.7

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.4 to +0.2

Uranus

Aries

+5.8

Neptune

Aquarius

+7.9 to +7.8

July Moon

July’s New Moon on the 9th at 9:17PM EDT marks the start of Lunation 1219 which ends 29.52 days later with the New Moon of August 8 at 9:50AM EDT. The Full Moon of July is on the 23rd at 10:36PM EDT. It is commonly known as “Hay or Thunder” Moon. In colonial times, the July Moon was the “Summer” Moon and, in Medieval England, it was the “Mead” Moon.” Chinese call it “Hungry” Moon and Celts named it the “Claiming” or “Corn” Moon.
Of the 13 Grandmother Moons during each year, the Anishinaabe (Odawa & Ojibwe) people recognize the seventh Moon as “Miin-giizis” (Berry Moon). It is also called “Mskomin-giizis” (Raspberry Moon) and has the following associated cultural teaching that explains the cycle of life and nature during the seventh Moon. “When great changes begin, by learning gentleness and kindness, we may pass through the thorns of the raspberry bush and harvest its fruit, the knowledge that will help in raising our families.”
Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) is on July 5 at 6:47AM EDT, The Moon will be 251,867 miles from Earth. Perigee distance (minimum lunar distance) is 226,503 miles on the 21st at 2:24AM EDT, 2.6 days earlier than Full Moon. Even though the Full Moon occurs when close to the perigee point in its orbit, thus appearing larger and brighter than normal, the July Full Moon is not a Supermoon like those of March through June. The Moon is slightly beyond the arbitrary 226,00 miles mile distance established for a Supermoon.

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Gemini

-26.8

9:17PM EDT, 7/9 New 0 Days
Mercury Taurus

0.1

4.0°N, 1:00AM EDT, 7/8 Waning Crescent 27.75 Days
Venus Leo

-3.8

3.0°N, 5:00AM EDT, 7/12 Waxing Crescent 2.32 Days
Mars Leo

1.8

4.0°N, 6:00AM EDT, 7/12 Waxing Crescent 2.36 Days
Jupiter Aquarius

-2.6

4.0°S, 9:00PM, EDT, 7/25 Waning Gibbous 15.99 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.2

4.0°S, 1:00PM EDT, 7/24 Waning Gibbous 14.65 Days
Uranus Aries

5.8

1.8°S, 8:00PM EDT, 7/31 Waning Crescent 21.95 Days
Neptune Aquarius

7.8

4.0°SE, 2:00PM EDT, 7/27 Waning Gibbous 17.70 Days

The Skies of June by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Summer Solstice, Planet Plotting, June Moon

Focus Constellations: Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Ursa Major, Leo, Coma Berenices, Virgo, Bootes, Corona Borealis, Ophiuchus, Hercules, Lyra, Cygnus

  • Comet Journals

June skies lack bright comets. Comet C/2020 R4 (ATLAS) moves from Perseus to Auriga during the month but has dimmed to 12th magnitude as it embarks on its long journey back to the Oort Belt. C2020 T2 (Palomar) is at 11th magnitude. It is between Bootes and Virgo in June. It will pass through perihelion on July 10, then dim as it heads eastward along the ecliptic and returns to the Oort Belt.

  • Mars Landers

Perseverance rover is serving as a communications base station for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and documenting the rotorcraft’s historic flights. The rover is also focusing its science instruments on rocks that lay on the floor of Jezero Crater in its astrobiology mission, which includes the search for signs of ancient microbial life. On its latest flight, Ingenuity was able to land after overcoming a glitch which interrupted the sequence of navigation camera images, causing mistimed navigation corrections. 

The InSight lander’s solar panels were coated with dust as it buried its seismometer cable to improve Mars quake monitoring. Limited electrical output forced instrument shut down due to onset of winter. 

9 year old Curiosity departed from Mont Mercou at the base Sulfate Unit on May 1 and conducted observations as it resumed its ascent of Mt. Sharp. During most of May, the ascent and observations were hindered by difficulties in closing a reluctant dust cover and stowing the remote sensing mast.

  • Summer Solstice

June solstice on the 20th, at 11:32PM EDT is the longest day, but earliest sunrise occurs on 6/14 and latest sunset is on 6/27. Earth rotates 360° in 23 hours, 56 minutes. Due to orbital motion, an average of ~ 4 more minutes of rotation is needed repeat solar noon. We have an elliptical orbit, causing our rate of movement around the Sun to change (fast when close at perihelion-winter, slow when far at aphelion-summer) so the 4 minute gap varies. In addition, Earth’s axis remains tilted in the same direction as we move around the Sun, making the apparent path of the Sun through the sky change through the seasons. These two factors combine to influence rise/set times and dates. 

  • Meteor Showers

June Meteor showers include the Lyrids on the 15-16th and the Bootids on the 27th. The Lyrids are best viewed before dawn on the 16th after the waxing crescent Moon sets in Leo. The Bootids will be best in early evening on the 27th when Bootes is highest in the sky and the gibbous Moon is low. 

June 15-16: Lyrids. Active June 10 – June 21 Radiant 18h32m 35°, ZHR 8-10. 66km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon.: Progenitor: Comet C/1915 C1 Mellish.

June 27-28: Bootids. Active June 22-July 2, Radiant 14h54m 48°, ZHR 5 variable, 18 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke.

  • Planet Plotting

Evening planets are Mercury (+3.2 to +1.0) in Taurus, Venus (-3.8) in Taurus/Cancer, and Mars (+1.7 to +1.8) in Gemini/Cancer. Mercury is very low in the western sky and disappears at Inferior Solar Conjunction on the 10th, then moves into the morning sky. Mars is visible in early June, dropping rapidly into the glow of sunset as it approaches Solar Conjunction in July. Venus sets slightly more than an hour after the Sun in June. Morning planets include Uranus (+5.9 to +5.8), buried in dawn’s glow in Aries. Neptune (+7.9) and Jupiter (-2.3 to -2.5) in Aquarius, and Saturn (+0.6 to +0.4) in Capricornus rise well after midnight. 

June 1st’s waning gibbous Moon is 4.4° from Jupiter at 9:00AM EDT. A waning crescent Moon is 4.0° from Neptune at 1:00AM EDT on the 3rd and 2.2° from Uranus at 5:00AM EDT on the 7th. A waxing crescent Moon is 2.09° from Mercury at 9:00AM EDT on the 10th, 0.71° from Venus at 4:00AM EDT on the 12th, and 1.5° from Mars at 6:00PM EDT on the 13th. A waning gibbous Moon is 4.1° from Saturn at 8:00AM EDT on the 27th, 4.2° from Jupiter at 6PM EDT on the 28th, and 4.0° from Neptune at 9:00AM EDT on the 30th.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Pisces, Aries

-26.5

New Moon

 6:53AM EDT

6/10

Mercury

Taurus

+3.2 to +1.0

Inferior Conjunction

9:00PM EDT

6/10

Venus

Taurus, Gemini, Cancer

-3.8

Mars

Gemini, Cancer

+1.7 to +1.8

Jupiter

Aquarius

-2.3 to -2.5

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.6 to +0.4

Uranus

Aries

+5.9 to +5.8

Neptune

Aquarius

+7.9

  • June Moon

June’s New Moon on the 10th at 6:53AM EDT is the start of Lunation 1218 which ends 29.35 days later with the New Moon of July on the 9th at 9:17PM EDT. At sunrise on June 10 between 5:30AM and 6:30AM, the New Moon will eclipse the Sun. The Moon is near apogee (the maximum distance position in its elliptical orbit) and is too far from Earth to cover the entire Sun, so we are rewarded with a rare Annular Eclipse, where the almost eclipsed Sun appears as a bright ring around a dark Moon. 

This event is open to the public at no charge! The annular phase of the solar eclipse is visible from parts of Russia, Greenland, and northern Canada. Weather permitting, observers in North Asia, Europe, and NE United States will see a partial eclipse as the rising crescent Sun adorns the eastern sky.

The Full Moon of June is on the 24th at 2:39PM EDT. It is commonly known as the “Rose, Flower, or Strawberry” Moon. In colonial times, the June Moon was the “Rose Moon” and in Medieval England, it was the “Dyan Moon.” Chinese call it “Lotus Moon” and Celts named it the “Horse’s” or “Mead” Moon. The Anishinaabe (Odawa & Ojibwe) people recognize it as “Odemiini-giizis” (Strawberry Moon.) Anishinaabe and other indigenous North Americans live on Turtle Island. Anishinaabe people traditionally utilized a Lunar calendar embodied by the 13 large scutes on the Turtle’s back. Each scute represents one of the Grandmother Moons “Nookimis Giizis”, and indicates seasonal changes and tasks that the people are to follow. The June (Strawberry Moon) is the right rear costal scute. 

At Lunar apogee (maximum solar distance) on June 7 at 10:00PM EDT, the Moon will be 252,418 miles (63.69 Earth radii) away. Lunar perigee is on the 23rd at 5:52AM EDT when lunar distance is 223,666 miles (56.44 Earth radii). The Full Moon is only 33 hours removed from perigee (closest approach to Earth) making it a big, bright Supermoon, though not as big and bright as the April & May Supermoons.

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Pisces

-26.8

6:53AM EDT, 6/10 New 0 Days
Mercury Taurus

5.5

2.09°NNW, 9:00AM EDT, 6/10 Waxing Crescent 0.09 Days
Venus Gemini

-3.8

0.71°NNW, 4:00AM EDT, 6/12 Waxing Crescent 1.88 Days
Mars Cancer

1.8

1.5°SSW, 6:00PM EDT, 6/13 Waxing Crescent 3.46 Days
Jupiter Aquarius

-2.3

4.4°SE, 9:00AM EDT, 6/1 Waning Gibbous 20.44 Days
Jupiter Aquarius

-2.5

4.2°SE, 6:00PM EDT, 6/28 Waning Gibbous 17.75 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.4

4.1°NW, 8:00AM EDT, 6/27 Waning Gibbous 17.05 Days
Uranus Aries

5.9

2.2°NW, 5:00AM EDT, 6/7 Waning Crescent 26.27 Days
Neptune Aquarius

7.9

4.0°NNW, 1:00AM EDT, 6/3 Waning Crescent 22.10 Days
Neptune Aquarius

7.9

4.0°SE, 9:00AM EDT, 6/30  Waning Gibbous 20.09 Days

 

The Skies of May by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, May Moon

Focus Constellations:  Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Lynx, Leo, Virgo, Coma Berenices, Bootes, Corona Borealis, Hercules, Lyra

  • Comet Journals

Comet C/2020 R4 (ATLAS) is a long period comet from the Oort Belt. It moves rapidly from Canes Venatici to Leo in May at 9th magnitude. It was at perihelion on March 1 and was closest to Earth on April 23 when it reached 8th magnitude. 

C/2020 T2 (Palomar) is an 11th magnitude also from the Oort Belt. It is between Bootes, Canes Venatici, and Coma Berenices in May. It will probably remain at 10th to 11th magnitude during its closest approach to Earth on May 12 and as it passes through perihelion on July 10.

  • Mars Landers

The Perseverance rover utilized its MOXIE instrument to split oxygen and carbon monoxide from the carbon dioxide in the Martian air. This experiment confirmed the viability of producing oxygen for human survival on Mars and as a rocket fuel oxidizer for future Mars missions to make round trips. Perseverance also unleashed its onboard Ingenuity helicopter which successfully completed a series of 4 flights from April 19-30. Each flight was progressively longer, higher, farther, and achieved more complex maneuvers. Based on this success, NASA scientists are extending its mission and planning to utilize it as a scout for the rover. 

NASA’s InSight lander has detected over 500 quakes and registered more than 10,000 dust devils since arriving on the Mars in 2018. After discontinuing attempts to drill and place its heat flow measuring equipment at a depth of 16 feet, the solar panels on the lander became coated with Martian dust, jeopardizing the mission unless winds on Elysium Planitia pick up before winters end and the rover successfully buries its seismometer cable to improve Mars quake monitoring. 

After completing analysis of the drilling samples derived from the Nontron drill hole at the top of the Murray formation, Curiosity examined the 20 foot cliff called Mont Mercou at the base Sulfate Unit, then conducted further observations as it navigated along the base of the cliff in order to ascend around the outcrop to approach the top of the cliff to complete the Bardou drill hole on April 20 (Sol 3093.) The rover will now depart from the top of Mont Mercou and resume its ascent of Mt. Sharp.

  • Meteor Showers

Meteor showers in April include the Lyrids on the 22nd and the Pi Puppids on the 23rd. The latter is a southern hemisphere shower. The former is competing with glare from at the bright waxing gibbous Moon in Leo which, fortunately, sets before the best viewing time between 4:00 to 5:00AM.

May 5: Eta Aquarids. Active Apr 19 – May 28, Radiant 22h32m -01°, ZHR 60. 66km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon.: Progenitor: Comet 1/P Halley

May 8: Eta Lyrids. Active May 3-12, Radiant 19h08m 44°, ZHR 3, 44 km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Comet C/1983 H1 IRAS- Araki-Alcock. 

  • Planet Plotting

May evening planets include Mercury (+1.0 to +2.9) in Taurus, Venus (-3.8) in Aries and Taurus, and Mars (+1.6 to +1.7) in Gemini. Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation from the Sun on the 17th when it presents its best apparition of the year, setting two hours after sunset. Mars sets between 9 and 10PM EDT while Mercury and Venus are very low in the western sky after sunset and appear to make a close approach to each other in Taurus on the 29th when they are less than a degree apart. Uranus (+5.9) in Aries, Neptune (+7.9) in Aquarius; and Jupiter (-2.1 to -2.3) in Aquarius and Saturn (+0.7 to +0.6) in Capricornus are morning planets. 

On the 3rd, a waning crescent Moon is 4.1° from Saturn at 4:00PM EDT. It is 4.4° from Jupiter at 9:00PM EDT on the 4th, 4.0° from Neptune at 6:00PM EDT on the 6th, and 2.2° from Uranus at 8:00PM EDT on the 10th. The waxing crescent Moon is 0.71° from Venus at 7:00PM EDT on the 12th, 2.09° from Mercury at 4:00PM EDT on the 13th, and 1.5° from Mars at 2:00AM EDT on the 16th. The waning gibbous Moon is 4.1° from Saturn at midnight on the 31st.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Pisces, Aries

-26.5

New Moon

3:00PM EDT

5/11

Mercury

Taurus

0.6

Maximum East Elongation

2:00AM EDT

5/17

Mercury

Taurus

-1.0 to +2.9

Venus, 0.40° NW

Midnight EDT

5/29

Venus

Aries, Taurus

-3.8

Mercury, 0.40° SE

Midnight EDT

5/29

Mars

Gemini

+1.6 to +1.7

Jupiter

Aquarius

-2.1 to -2.3

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.7 to +0.6

Uranus

Aries

5.9

Uranus

Aries

5.9

Uranus

Aries

5.9

Neptune

Aquarius

+7.9

  • May Moon

The New Moon of May on the 11th at 3:00PM EDT is the start of Lunation 1217 which ends 29.31 days later with the New Moon of June on the 10th at 6:53AM EDT. The Full Moon of May is on the 26th at 7:19AM EDT. It is commonly known as the “Corn Planting or Milk” Moon. It also is called the “Flower Moon” and will produce a Total Lunar Eclipse, the first one since January of 2019. Totality will last for 14.5 minutes, and is centered within a 3 hours, 7.5 minutes partial eclipse. The Moon will enter the Moon’s penumbra at 4:46AM when it starts to dim. At 5:46AM, the partial eclipse starts and is followed by totality starting at 7:10AM and ending at 7:28AM. Totality is followed by another partial phase which ends at 8:53AM. The eclipse favors western North America but may be visible from all of the lower 48 states and Hawaii, most of Alaska & Canada, all of Australia and Oceania, and southeast Asia. USA east coast observers may get a glance of the final stages of the partial eclipse. 

Lunar apogee (maximum solar distance) is on May 11 at 6:00PM EDT. The Moon will be at 252595 miles (63.73 Earth radii), its largest distance in 2021. Lunar perigee occurs 9 hours, 28 minutes before Full Moon on the 25th at 9:46PM EDT when the Moon is at 222117 miles (56.02 Earth radii). The proximity of the Full Moon to closest approach to Earth makes it appear big and bright, the 2nd Supermoon in a row, the biggest and brightest of 2021!

In colonial times, the May Moon was the “Milk Moon” and in Medieval England, it was the “Hare Moon.” Chinese call it “Dragon Moon” and Celts named it the “Bright Or Dyan” Moon. The latter name refers to the Goddess of Animals, woodlands, and the hunt who could talk to and control the animals. Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people recognize it as “Zaagibagaa-giizis” (Budding Moon,) when the Sun sends the white owl to escort Winter back to the deep, cold snows of the north.

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Pisces

-26.8

3:00PM EDT, 5/11 New 0 Days
Mercury Taurus

0.1

2.09°NNW, 4:00PM EDT, 5/13 Waxing Crescent 1.73 Days
Venus Taurus

-3.8

0.71°NNW, 7:00PM EDT, 5/12 Waxing Crescent 0.85 Days
Mars Taurus

1.7

1.5°SSW, 2:00AM EDT, 5/16 Waxing Crescent 4.14 Days
Jupiter Aquarius

-2.1

4.4°SE, 9:00PM EDT, 5/4 Waning Crescent 22.94 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.6

4.1°NW, 4:00PM EDT, 5/3 Waning Crescent 21.73 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.6

4.1°NW, Midnight EDT, 5/31 Waning Gibbous 19.06 Days
Uranus Aries

5.9

2.2°NW, 8:00PM EDT, 5/10 Waning Crescent 28.81 Days
Neptune Aquarius

7.9

4.0°NNW, 6:00PM EDT, 5/6 Waning Crescent 27.81 Days

The Skies of April by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, April Moon

Focus Constellations:  Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Perseus, Auriga, Taurus, Orion, Monoceras, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Coma Berenices, Bootes

  • Comet Journals

Comet C/2020 R4 (ATLAS) is a long period comet from the Oort Belt. It moves rapidly from Aquila to Canes Venatici in April at 8th magnitude. It was at perihelion on March 1 and is closest to Earth on April 23 when it may reach 7th magnitude. It will dim rapidly in May as it appears to head toward Leo.

C/2020 T2 (Palomar) is an 11th magnitude also from the Oort Belt. It is between Bootes, Canes Venatici, and Coma Berenices in April. Closest approach to Earth occurs on May 12 when it may reach 10th magnitude, after which it reaches perihelion on July 10.

  • Mars Landers

Perseverance is outfitted with equipment and instruments for numerous mind-blowing tasks on its mission. These include rock/soil caching in its 38 tubes for possible future return to Earth. To accomplish this and future astronauts returns, fuel must be provided for the return trip. To that end, the rover will utilize its MOXIE instrument to split oxygen and carbon monoxide from the carbon dioxide in the Martian air. The rover is also equipped for detailed analysis of any past and present microbiota, and its MEDA equipment will further understanding of the martian atmosphere and dust storm behavior. Perseverance will also unleash its onboard helicopter to determine flight capabilities for future missions. 

InSight has detected 2 relatively strong Marsquakes in the Cerberus Fossae region where similar quakes were recorded earlier in the mission. This quake repetition provides support for the suggestion that the region is a center of seismic activity. Each set of quakes occurred during northern hemisphere summer when winds become calmer and crustal vibrations due to winds may mask the seismic data. The lack of quake recordings between the two sets may be due to the high winds during the interval. Measurement of the quakes is also hindered by the cold winter temperatures (-148 to +32°F) at Insight’s position in the southern hemisphere. Mission scientist hope to correct this issue by using the scoop on Insight’s robotic to bury and insulate the seismic equipment tether. 

Curiosity Is now at the top of the Murray formation just below a 20 foot cliff call Mont Mercou in the overlying Sulfate Unit. The rover completed the Nontron drill hole, its last in the Murray formation, on Sol 3069 (March 25) and will now climb higher and leap forward in time to the younger Sulfate Unit.

  • Meteor Showers

Meteor showers in April include the Lyrids on the 22nd and the Pi Puppids on the 23rd. The latter is a southern hemisphere shower. The former is competing with glare from at the bright waxing gibbous Moon in Leo which, fortunately, sets before the best viewing time between 4:00 to 5:00AM.

April 22: Lyrids. Active Apr 16-25, Radiant 13h00m -04°, ZHR 5. 30km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: C/1861 G1 (Thatcher) 

April 23: Pi Puppids. Active Apr 15-28, Radiant 7h20m -45°, ZHR 0 to 40, 18 km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet 26P/Grigg-Skjelleru 

  • Planet Plotting

In early April, Mercury (-0.4 to -2.1) in Aquarius, Capricorn, and Pisces; Neptune (+8.0) in Aquarius; and Jupiter (-3.8) and Saturn (+0.8 to +0.7) in Capricornus are morning planets. After its Superior Conjunction on April 18, Mercury (-2.1 to -1.1) enters the evening sky with Venus (-3.8) and Uranus (+5.9) in Aries; and Mars (+1.5 to +1.6) in Taurus and Gemini. From the 22nd through the 25th, Mercury, Venus, and Uranus have a series of near conjunctions. The first one is that of Venus and Uranus on the 22nd when they appear to be within less than 1/4 of a degree of one another. On the 24th, Mercury and Uranus are 3/4 of a degree apart, and Mercury and Venus are more than a degree apart on the 25th.

On the 6th, a waning crescent Moon is 3.5° from Saturn at 7:00AM EDT. It is 3.9° from Jupiter at 7:00AM EDT on the 7th, 3.9° from Neptune at 11:00AM EDT on the 9th, and 3.5° from Mercury at 6:00AM EDT on the 11th. The waxing crescent Moon is 3.6° from Venus at 9:00AM EDT on the 12th, 2.5° from Uranus at 2:00PM EDT on the 13th, and 1.9° from Mars at 1:00PM EDT on the 16th.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Pisces, Aries

-26.5

New Moon

10:32PM EDT

4/11

Mercury

Aquarius, Aries

-0.4 to -1.1

Superior Conjunction

10:00 PM EDT

4/18

Mercury

Aquarius, Aries

-0.4 to -1.1

Uranus, 0.74°SE

3:00AM EDT

4/24

Mercury

Aquarius, Aries

-0.4 to -1.1

Venus, 1.16°SSE

2:00PM EDT

4/25

Venus

Pisces, Aries

-3.8

Uranus, 0.24°NNW

10:00PM EDT

4/22

Venus

Pisces, Aries

-3.8

Mercury, 1.16°NNW

2:00PM EDT

4/25

Mars

Taurus, Gemini

+1.3 to +1.6

Jupiter

Capricornus, Aquarius

-1.9 to -2.1

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.8 to +0.7

Uranus

Aries

5.9

Venus, 0.24°SSE

10:00PM EDT

4/22

Uranus

Aries

5.9

Mercury, 0.74°NW

3:00AM EDT

4/24

Uranus

Aries

5.9

Solar Conjunction

8:00PM EDT

4/30

Neptune

Aquarius

+8.0 to +7.9

  • April Moon

The New Moon of April on the 11th at 10:32PM EDT is the start of Lunation 1216 which ends 29.72 days later with the New Moon of May on the 11th at 3:00PM EDT. The Full Moon of April is on the 26th at 11:32PM EDT. It is commonly known as the “Grass, Egg, Easter or Paschal” Moon. It also is called the “Pink Moon”. Unfortunately, it isn’t pink, the April Full Moon was so-named because it often occurs during the early springtime blooms of Phlox subulata—creeping phlox or moss phlox—also called “moss pink”. In colonial times, the April Moon was the “Planter’s Moon” and in Medieval England, it was the “Seed Moon.” Celts named it the “Growing or Hare” Moon and the Chinese call it “Peony Moon”. Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people recognize it as “Pokwaagami-giizis” (Broken Snowshoe Moon). 

The traditional Ojibwe calendar year follows a 13 moon lunar cycle. Native Americans recognize 13 moons per year because there are 13 constellations or signs of the zodiac through which the Moon moves each year. Twelve are recognized in anglo-american/european calendars and in astrology. The 13th Full Moon is found in Ophiuchus during May or June of each year. According to native folklore: “the world was created when muskrat brought mud from the bottom of the flood to be placed on turtle’s back.” The turtle’s shell is made up of thirteen central plates. These 13 scutes match the “Moons” of each year. 

At Lunar apogee (maximum solar distance), on April 12 at 2:00PM EDT, the Moon is at 252379 miles (63.68 Earth radii). Lunar perigee occurs on the 27th at 11:20AM EDT when the Moon is at 222061 miles (56.03 Earth radii). Full Moon occurs less than twelve hours earlier than its closest approach to Earth, making it appear unusually bright! This perigee is closer than it is at most perigees in 2021, making the Full Moon appear even larger and brighter.  Celestial observers may enjoy a Pink, Easter Supermoon!

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Pisces

-26.8

10:32PM EDT, 4/11 New 0 Days
Mercury Pisces

-1.2

3.5°SE, 6:00AM EDT, 4/11 Waning Crescent 29.03 Days
Venus Pisces

-3.8

3.6°SE, 9:00AM EDT, 4/12 Waxing Crescent 0.44 Days
Mars Taurus

1.4

1.9°SE, 1:00PM EDT, 4/16 Waxing Crescent 5.60 Days
Jupiter Capricornus

-1.9

3.9°SE, 7:00AM EDT, 4/7 Waning Crescent 25.07 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.8

3.6°SE, 7:00AM EDT, 4/6 Waning Crescent 24.07Days
Uranus Aries

5.9

2.5°SE, 2:00PM EDT, 4/13 Waxing Crescent 1.06 Days
Neptune Aquarius

8.0

3.9°SE, 11:00AM EDT, 4/9 Waning Crescent 27.23 Days

 

 

The Skies of March by Dick Cookman

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Spring Equinox, Planet Plotting, March Moon

Focus Constellations:  Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Perseus, Auriga, Taurus, Orion, Monoceras, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Coma Berenices, Bootes

  • Comet Journals

Comet C/2020 R4 (ATLAS) is a long period comet from the Oort Belt. It is at 9th magnitude between Aquarius and Aquila and will reach perihelion on March 1. The comet will get progressively brighter as it moves, in April, from east to west in northern skies in Hercules and Bootes and is closest to Earth on April 23 when it may reach between 7th and 9th magnitude. It will dim rapidly in May as it appears to head toward Leo.

No other March comets exceed 12th magnitude in brightness nor are any currently visible comets likely to achieve better than 12th magnitude this year.

  • Mars Landers

NASA ignored the valuable techniques revealed by the Forbidden Planet, When Worlds Collide, Star Trek, and Star Wars movies with the 21st Century landings on Mars of Spirit and Opportunity in 2004, the Curiosity Science Laboratory in 2012, the Insight Lander in 2018, and Perseverance in Jezero Crater last month. 

Spirit & Opportunity entered the Martian atmosphere inside of heat shielded capsules that descended as they were slowed by atmospheric friction until it was safe to unfurl their parachutes. The capsules then opened, suspended the landers protected by airbags, and fired its retrorockets to further slow descent until it was safe to release the landers which bounced at least a dozen times before rolling to stops. Due to its weight, Curiosity required a more sophisticated process. After the capsule slowed, it unfurled its parachute, opened and released a “sky crane” which fired retrorockets to halt the descent, then lowered the suspended rover to the ground. The lighter weight Insight lander had its own retrorockets, which enabled it to land after the capsule heat shield and parachute had done their work. Perseverance is heavier so mission scientists relied on the process that safely landed Curiosity and, for good measure, included an array of cameras to display each step for all of us to see. 

InSight’s heat flow measurement experiment was abandoned in January, but seismic and weather observations proceed apace. Scientists analyzed seismic data and suggest that the flurry of marsquake activity last summer, its subsequent reduction, and recent resumption may be due to wind masking lower amplitude seismic waves during the windy season. They also discovered that, like our Moon, quakes on Mars display an absence of surface seismic waves accompanying the seismic body waves. A highly fractured outer ten kilometers of the planet’s crust like that attributed to our Moon may be the cause. Fractures scatter and absorb seismic waves. 

From mid-January to present, Curiosity climbed up through a rubbly bedrock area in the upper layers of the water deposited, clay bearing, 300 foot thick Murray formation, reaching its top where it transitions to the overlying layered sulfate bearing unit which was first identified with spectrometers from orbit. Following departure from the crater floor in 2014, the rover ascended the Murray formation. As it climbs through the transition zone and above Curiosity opens a new chapter. The transition zone has a lower clay bearing unit like the Murray formation and the upper part is composed of sulfate bearing clay minerals. Although Curiosity has not crossed its boundary, long range views of the lower part of the layered sulfate unit appear to show fine sandstone with cross-bedding indicative of wind blown deposition, features visible in the upper part suggest water current deposition.

  • Meteor Showers

The 2 meteor showers in March are both rather minor and one is confined to the southern hemisphere. The Virginids are in northern skies and are best viewed around the 14th. They only produce about 5 meteors an hour in dark skies without light pollution.

Early March – Early April: Virginids. Active Jan 25-Apr 15. Radiant 13h00m -04°, ZHR 5. 30km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: potentially hazardous near-Earth asteroid 2007CA19 

March 13: Gamma Normids. Active Feb 25-Mar 22, Radiant 16h36m -51°, ZHR 8?, 56 km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon. Progenitor: unknown 

  • Spring Equinox

At 5:40AM EDT on March 20, the Spring (Vernal) Equinox marks the beginning of Spring when the Sun will be above Earth’s equator and will appear to move into the northern hemisphere skies during the following days. Earth will be positioned so that our axis of rotation will be leaning away from our orbiting direction and will be perpendicular to a line between the Earth and Sun. In this orientation, all locations on Earth receive 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.

  • Planet Plotting 

Mercury (+0.3 to +0.4) in Capricornus and Aquarius, Venus (-3.8) in Aquarius and Pisces, and Jupiter (-1.8)

Saturn (+0.7 to +0.8) in Capricornus are morning planets in March. All appear fairly close to one another and to the Sun. Mercury is at maximum western elongation from the Sun on the 6th, and Venus’ superior conjunction with the Sun is on the 26th. Saturn appears farthest from the Sun, rising 2 hours before sunrise. Mercury and Jupiter are next, rising about an hour and a half before the Sun. Venus rises about 15 minutes before sunrise and, after its conjunction with the Sun on March 10, Neptune (+8.0) in Aquarius moves to the morning sky, rising before the Sun for the rest of the month. On the  5th, Mercury and Jupiter are less than a degree apart, and Venus and Neptune follow suit on the 14th. Mercury and Neptune are slightly more than a degree apart on the 30th. 

Mars (+0.9 to +1.3) and Uranus (+5.8 to +5.9) grace the southern evening skies in Taurus and Aries respectively. They appear after sunset and set about midnight. Mars is over three times farther away than it was at opposition last autumn and is drastically dimmer. Even so, it is still at first magnitude and makes a nice pairing with the Pleiades star cluster which is 2.6° NNW of the red planet on Mar. 5.

Planet

Constellation(s)

Magnitude

Planet Passages

Time

Date

Sun

Aquarius, Pisces

-26.8

New Moon

5:22AM EST

3/13

Mercury

Capricornus, Aquarius

+0.3 to -0.4

Jupiter, 0.32°N

2:00AM EST     

3/5        

Mercury

Capricornus, Aquarius

+0.3 to -0.4

Max. West Elongation

6:00AM EST

3/6

Mercury

Capricornus, Aquarius

+0.3 to -0.4

Neptune, 1.3°NW

12:00AM EDT

3/30

Venus

Aquarius, Pisces

-3.8

Neptune, 0.37°NW

1:00AM EDT

3/14

Venus

Aquarius, Pisces

-3.8

Superior Conjunction

2:00AM EDT

3/26     

Mars

Taurus

+0.9 to +1.3

Jupiter

Capricornus

-1.8 to -1.9

Mercury, 0.32°N                   

2:00AM EST

3/5     

Saturn

Capricornus

+0.7 to +0.8

    

Uranus

Aries

+5.8 to +5.9

Neptune

Aquarius

+8.0

Solar Conjunction

7:00PM EST

3/10

Neptune

Aquarius

+8.0

  Venus, 0.37°SE

1:00AM EDT

3/14

Neptune

Aquarius

+8.0

Mercury, 1.3°SE

12:00AM EDT

3/30

On the 9th, a waning crescent Moon is 3.6° from Saturn at 8:00PM EST, 3.9° from Jupiter at 1:00PM EST on the 10th, 3.5° from Mercury at 11:00PM EST, 3.6° from Venus at 11:00PM EST on the 12th, and 3.9° from Neptune at 2:00AM EST on the 13th. A waxing crescent is 2.5° from Uranus at 1:00AM EDT on the 17th, and 1.9° from Mars at 4:00PM EDT on the 19th.

  • March Moon

The New Moon of March on the 13th at 5:22AM EST is the start of Lunation 1215 which ends 29.43 days later with the New Moon of April on the 11th at 10:32PM EDT. The Full Moon of March is on the 28th at 2:48PM EDT. It is commonly known as the “Sap, Crow, or Lenten” Moon. In colonial times, the March Moon was the “Fish Moon” and in Medieval England, it was the “Chaste Moon.” Celts named it the Moon of “Wind or Seed” and the Chinese call it“ Sleepy Moon”.  Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people recognize it as “Onaabani-giizis” (Snowcrust Moon).

At Lunar Perigee, on the 2nd at 12:17AM EST, the Moon is 229551 miles from Earth (57.92 Earth radii). At apogee (maximum solar distance), on March 18 at 1:00AM EDT, the Moon is at 251824 miles (63.54 Earth radii). Another lunar perigee occurs on the 30th at 2:16AM EDT when the Moon is at 223884 miles (56.49 Earth radii).

Planet

Constellation

Magnitude

Moon Passages

Moon Phase

Moon Age

Sun Pisces

-26.8

5:22AM EST, 3/13 New 0 Days
Mercury Capricornus

0.1

3.5°SE, 11:00PM EST, 3/10 Waning Crescent 29.12 Days
Venus Aquarius

-3.8

3.6°SE, 11:00PM EST, 3/12 Waning Crescent 28.75 Days
Mars Taurus

1.2

1.9°SE, 4:00PM EDT, 3/19 Waxing Crescent 7.08 Days
Jupiter Capricornus

-1.8

3.9°SE, 1:00PM EST. 3/10 Waning Crescent 28.79 Days
Saturn Capricornus

0.76

3.6°SE, 8:00PM EST, 3/9 Waning Crescent 27.33 Days
Uranus Aries

5.9

2.5°SE, 1:00AM EDT, 3/17 Waxing Crescent 5.79 Days
Neptune Aquarius

8.0

3.9°SE, 2:00AM EST, 3/13 Waning Crescent 2.2 Days