Sunday, January 1, 2006 6:30pm RA Culminating=1:00 RA Entering=3.00

Event Data:

The Moon is at perigee at 2300 UT.

6:15EST

Planet Data:

Mars Phase: 91.5%, Apparent Mag: -0.6 Distance (au) : 1.532569 Heliocentric Lng: 75.14 Apparent angular diameter: 11.9 RA, Dec: 2h 33m 34.3s , 16d 42m 39s N Az, Alt: 132d 34m 39s , 59d 15m 34s N Rise:12h 47m Transit:19h 47m Set: 2h 51m RA, Dec: 2h 33m 14.3s , 16d 41m 5s N (E2000)

NOTE: Mars continues to be of interest for part of this month as it is high overhead in the constellation Aries. On January 10th it slips below 10 arc seconds in apparent size and approaches magnitude 0.0. No more mentions of Mars will be made from this day forward but references to it along these lines should be made on January 1 based on opposition in November 2005.

6:30EST

Comet Data:

Hyakutake (Y1) Distance from Earth(au): 24.559900 Distance from Sun (au): 24.830417 Heliocentric: l:350.1044 b: 88.6218 r: 24.8383 Magnitude: 7.0 RA, Dec: 2h 7m 15.4s , 6d 49m 9s S Az, Alt: 162d 51m 32s , 41d 42m 46s N Rise:13h 42m Transit:19h 21m Set: 1h 4m RA, Dec: 2h 6m 57.0s , 6d 50m 51s S (E2000)

NOTE: Comet Hyakutake (Y1) is found 5 degrees west of Mira in Cetus. It remains of observational interest throughout the month pretty much in a stationary location west of Mira at magnitude 7.0 going from 24.8 to 25.2 AU's from the Earth and 24.8 to 25 AU's from the Sun. No further mention will be made of this comet.

6:45EST

Meteor Data:

First day of Quadrantids radiant Pegasus Jan 1-6 peaking Jan 3 at ~ 60/hr.

Double Star (Legend: Name, SAO Number, Separation, PA, Mag1, Mag2, RA, DEC):

POLARIS 308 18.4 218 2.0 9.0 02:31.9 +89:16 F7 (As a kick-off double)

NOTE: Someone setting up a scope for the first time on a GEM will turn their scope on Polaris. So we might as well tell them to look for its faintish companion. Meanwhile Polaris should be observed before the Moon gets too bright otherwise the faint secondary can get washed out. Discussion of disparate pairs would be nice here.

Featured Constellation for Familiarization:

Cassiopeia.

NOTE: We might want to add some teachings to the booklet explaining things like how to find certain constellations dominant at the time in the night sky. This will be a nice touch for newbies who just got a firstscope for Christmas. Meanwhile alittle mythology might be nice as well...

Featured Bright Star in Constellation:

Caph SAO 21133 Spectral: 3 Magnitude: 2.4 RA, Dec: 0h 9m 28.2s , 59d 11m 15s N Az, Alt: 318d 14m 12s , 51d 22m 55s N Always above, transit at 15h 23m Source Catalog GSC RA, Dec: 0h 9m 10.7s , 59d 8m 58s N (E2000)

NOTE: We should feature a star in the constellation above as well. This should probably be the brightest regardless of designation. (Sometimes Beta's are brighter than alphas etc.) It would also be great to include its arab (or other) common name and meaning wherever possible. Star lore is very engaging.

Moonsky Study:

Double cluster NGC 869 Open cluster dense. Constellation Per Dreyer Descr. CL,VVL,VRI,*7...14 Magnitude: 4.00 RA, Dec: 2h 19m 24.7s , 57d 10m 43s N Az, Alt: 20d 31m 12s , 71d 7m 9s N Always above, transit at 19h 33m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 30.0 RA, Dec: 2h 19m 0.0s , 57d 9m 0s N (E2000)

NOTE: Ordinarily I'd save this for a moonlit night but this is easy to find for newbies and a nice naked eye / bino study from darksky locales. Why Messier missed this one would make a nice anecdote - if we could find the reason!)

Darksky Study:

M74 NGC 628 Spiral galaxy structure. Constellation Psc Dreyer Descr. GCL,F,VL,R,VG,PSMBM Magnitude: 9.19 RA, Dec: 1h 37m 1.1s , 15d 48m 53s N Az, Alt: 176d 31m 22s , 65d 46m 49s N Rise:11h 54m Transit:18h 51m Set: 1h 51m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 11.0 x 9.0 RA, Dec: 1h 36m 42.0s , 15d 47m 0s N (E2000)

NOTE: First Messier study and galaxy of year - culminating to south and needs no moon. I'd make note of the fact that this is one of the very first Messiers to be tracked down during a Marathon and also plan to include a Marathon observing schedule in March (I have one on geekjoy).

FINAL NOTE: I've included only two new studies per night simply because its hard to find new stuff that is bright enough to cover the bulk of the month. Here the one chosen is based on the fact that the sky is relatively dark and the galaxy is culminating at this hour.

Monday, January 2, 2006 6:30pm RA Culminating=1:00 RA Entering=3.00

5:30EST

Moon Data:

Moon RA, Dec: 21h 39m 47.0s , 18d 28m 15s S Az, Alt: 220d 40m 22s , 20d 39m 43s N Rise: 9h 44m Transit:14h 45m Set:19h 57m RA, Dec: 21h 39m 27.0s , 18d 29m 53s S (E2000) Phase: 11.5% Horiz. Parallax: 1.008 Distance (km): 362549.1 ( 225278.1 miles) Angular Size : 0d 33m 10s RA, Dec: 21h 39m 47s , 18d 28m 14s S (E2006)

NOTE: The Moon moves so rapidly we should probably include data as above each time it is included as a study of interest.

Moon Day 1 Feature: Crater Apollonius

NOTE: Day Two Moon is higher so it can be observed later on this occasion it is 39 degrees east of the Sun.

Meteor Data:

Second day of Quadrantids radiant Pegasus Jan 1-6 peaking Jan 3 at ~ 60/hr.

6:45EST

Featured Constellation for Familiarization:

Perseus.

Featured Bright Star in Constellation:

Mirfak SAO 38787 Spectral: Magnitude: 1.9 RA, Dec: 3h 24m 46.0s , 49d 53m 13s N Az, Alt: 337d 34m 35s , 79d 7m 55s N Always above, transit at 18h 34m Source Catalog GSC RA, Dec: 3h 24m 19.3s , 49d 51m 40s N (E2000)

Darksky Study:

M77 NGC 1068 Round galaxy with bright core. Constellation Cet Dreyer Descr. VB,PL,IR,SBMRRN Magnitude: 8.80 RA, Dec: 2h 43m 0.4s , 0d 0m 36s N Az, Alt: 154d 34m 3s , 47d 6m 51s N Rise:13h 51m Transit:19h 52m Set: 1h 58m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 7.0 Position Angle 70.0 RA, Dec: 2h 42m 42.0s , 0d 1m 0s S (E2000) Angular Separation: 11d 14m 11s (Prior Object)

Darksky Study:

NGC 1023 Very elongated galaxy with bright core. Constellation Per Dreyer Descr. VB,VL,VME,VVMBM Magnitude: 9.50 RA, Dec: 2h 40m 46.2s , 39d 5m 37s N Az, Alt: 88d 48m 35s , 77d 18m 48s N Rise:10h 55m Transit:19h 50m Set: 4h 50m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 3.5 x 1.5 Position Angle 86.0 RA, Dec: 2h 40m 24.0s , 39d 4m 0s N (E2000)

Tuesday, January 3, 2006 6:30pm RA Culminating=1:00 RA Entering=3.00

4:45EST

Event Data:

At sunset Venus is visible 14 degrees above the SW horizon:

Venus Phase: 3.7%, Apparent Mag: -4.3 Distance (au) : 0.719278 Heliocentric Lng: 97.39 Apparent angular diameter: 59.8 RA, Dec: 20h 2m 39.7s , 17d 18m 12s S Az, Alt: 232d 41m 24s , 13d 48m 44s N Rise: 8h 9m Transit:13h 10m Set:18h 11m RA, Dec: 20h 2m 19.1s , 17d 19m 14s S (E2000)

and forms a 17 degree line with Neptune to the east in Capricorn:

Neptune Phase: 100.0%, Apparent Mag: 8.0 Distance (au) : 30.058027 Heliocentric Lng: 317.09 Apparent angular diameter: 2.2 RA, Dec: 21h 14m 19.7s , 16d 10m 12s S Az, Alt: 218d 27m 9s , 24d 33m 29s N Rise: 9h 15m Transit:14h 21m Set:19h 27m RA, Dec: 21h 13m 59.7s , 16d 11m 42s S (E2000) Angular Separation: 27d 20m 40s (Prior Object)

which forms a 22 degree line with Uranus to the east in Aquarius:

Uranus Phase: 100.0%, Apparent Mag: 5.9 Distance (au) : 20.074736 Heliocentric Lng: 340.12 Apparent angular diameter: 3.4 RA, Dec: 22h 39m 8.8s , 9d 19m 42s S Az, Alt: 198d 57m 51s , 38d 47m 3s N Rise:10h 15m Transit:15h 46m Set:21h 16m RA, Dec: 22h 38m 49.8s , 9d 21m 35s S (E2000) Angular Separation: 21d 45m 53s (Prior Object)

which itself lies 3.5 degrees north of the Moon

5:45EST

Moon Data:

Moon RA, Dec: 22h 36m 11.3s , 12d 16m 11s S Az, Alt: 215d 19m 18s , 30d 29m 10s N Rise:10h 16m Transit:15h 39m Set:21h 13m RA, Dec: 22h 35m 52.2s , 12d 18m 3s S (E2000) Phase: 20.2% Horiz. Parallax: 1.002 Distance (km): 364723.2 ( 226629.1 miles) Angular Size : 0d 33m 3s RA, Dec: 22h 36m 11s , 12d 16m 11s S (E2006)

Moon Day 2: 3 12am Feature: Crater Lick

6:45EST

Meteor Data:

Peak day of Quadrantids radiant Pegasus Jan 1-6 peaking Jan 3 at ~ 60/hr.

Featured Constellation for Familiarization:

Andromeda

Featured Bright Star in Constellation:

Mirach SAO 54471 Spectral: Magnitude: 2.4 RA, Dec: 1h 10m 3.8s , 35d 39m 20s N Az, Alt: 275d 38m 49s , 57d 33m 32s N Rise: 7h 45m Transit:16h 16m Set: 0h 51m Source Catalog GSC RA, Dec: 1h 9m 43.9s , 35d 37m 13s N (E2000)

Darksky Study:

NGC 246 Planetary nebula ring. Constellation Psc Dreyer Descr. VF,L,4*INDIFNEB Magnitude: 8.00 RA, Dec: 0h 47m 18.1s , 11d 51m 1s S Az, Alt: 191d 18m 6s , 37d 27m 30s N Rise:12h 47m Transit:18h 8m Set:23h 30m Source Catalog NGC

Darksky Study:

NGC 772 Round galaxy with bright core. Constellation Ari Dreyer Descr. B,CL,R,GBM,R Magnitude: 10.30 RA, Dec: 1h 59m 37.6s , 19d 2m 48s N Az, Alt: 162d 1m 12s , 68d 12m 25s N Rise:12h 3m Transit:19h 12m Set: 2h 26m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 7.5 x 4.0 Position Angle 130.0 RA, Dec: 1h 59m 18.0s , 19d 1m 0s N (E2000) Angular Separation: 26d 47m 13s (Prior Object)

Wednesday, January 4, 2006 6:30pm RA Culminating=1:00 RA Entering=3.00

6:00EST

Moon Data:

Moon RA, Dec: 23h 29m 10.0s , 5d 30m 50s S Az, Alt: 209d 24m 9s , 40d 7m 22s N Rise:10h 42m Transit:16h 29m Set:22h 27m RA, Dec: 23h 28m 51.4s , 5d 32m 49s S (E2000) Phase: 30.4% Horiz. Parallax: 0.993 Distance (km): 367950.9 ( 228634.7 miles) Angular Size : 0d 32m 50s RA, Dec: 23h 29m 9s , 5d 30m 49s S (E2006) Angular Separation: 52d 11m 37s (Prior Object)

Moon Day 3: 3 12am Feature: Crater Taruntius

6:45EST

Meteor Data:

Fourth day of Quadrantids radiant Pegasus Jan 1-6 peaking Jan 3 at ~ 60/hr.

Featured Constellation for Familiarization:

Triangulum

Featured Bright Star in Constellation:

Alpha? SAO 55306 Spectral: Magnitude: 3.1 RA, Dec: 2h 9m 54.1s , 35d 1m 8s N Az, Alt: 123d 38m 13s , 81d 35m 37s N Rise:10h 52m Transit:19h 19m Set: 3h 50m Source Catalog GSC RA, Dec: 2h 9m 32.5s , 34d 59m 13s N (E2000)

Darksky Study:

NGC 663 Open cluster dense. Constellation Cas Dreyer Descr. CL,B,L,ERI,STPL Magnitude: 7.10 RA, Dec: 1h 46m 23.9s , 61d 16m 51s N Az, Alt: 7d 22m 5s , 68d 26m 27s N Always above, transit at 19h 7m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 16.0 RA, Dec: 1h 46m 0.0s , 61d 15m 0s N (E2000)

Darksky Study:

NGC 1245 Open cluster dense. Constellation Per Dreyer Descr. CL,PL,RI,C,IR,*12.15 Magnitude: 8.40 RA, Dec: 3h 15m 6.4s , 47d 16m 25s N Az, Alt: 60d 47m 20s , 68d 44m 22s N Rise:10h 6m Transit:20h 35m Set: 7h 9m Source Catalog NGC

Thursday, January 5, 2006 6:30pm RA Culminating=1:00 RA Entering=3.00

6:15EST

Moon Data:

Moon RA, Dec: 0h 20m 0.2s , 1d 22m 5s N Az, Alt: 202d 4m 1s , 49d 16m 12s N Rise:11h 6m Transit:17h 16m Set:23h 37m RA, Dec: 0h 19m 41.7s , 1d 20m 4s N (E2000) Phase: 41.4% Horiz. Parallax: 0.983 Distance (km): 371865.3 ( 231067.0 miles) Angular Size : 0d 32m 33s RA, Dec: 0h 20m 0s , 1d 22m 4s N (E2006) Angular Separation: 27d 59m 2s (Prior Object)

Moon Day 4: 3 12pm Feature: Crater Lyall

6:45EST

Meteor Data:

Fifth day of Quadrantids radiant Pegasus Jan 1-6 peaking Jan 3 at ~ 60/hr.

Featured Constellation for Familiarization:

Aries

Featured Bright Star in Constellation:

Hamal SAO 75151 Spectral: Magnitude: 2.2 RA, Dec: 2h 7m 30.8s , 23d 29m 36s N Az, Alt: 155d 30m 38s , 72d 10m 57s N Rise:11h 49m Transit:19h 16m Set: 2h 48m Source Catalog GSC RA, Dec: 2h 7m 10.3s , 23d 27m 44s N (E2000) Angular Separation: 11d 32m 14s (Prior Object) Can You find it again? NGC 663

Darksky Study:

NGC 654 Open cluster dense. Constellation Cas Dreyer Descr. CL,IF,RI,1*6.7, Magnitude: 6.50 RA, Dec: 1h 44m 30.0s , 61d 54m 51s N Az, Alt: 6d 26m 36s , 67d 51m 47s N Always above, transit at 19h 5m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 5.0 RA, Dec: 1h 44m 6.0s , 61d 53m 0s N (E2000)

Darksky Study:

NGC 659 Open cluster scattered. Constellation Cas Dreyer Descr. CL,LRI,STB Magnitude: 7.90 RA, Dec: 1h 44m 35.7s , 60d 43m 51s N Az, Alt: 7d 4m 44s , 69d 1m 24s N Always above, transit at 19h 5m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 5.0 RA, Dec: 1h 44m 12.0s , 60d 42m 0s N (E2000)

NOTE: With NGC 663, these three clusters line up north to south and all fit in a low power FOV. For this reason they can be observed as a group - I wonder if any observers noticed the other two clusters the previous evening?

Friday, January 6, 2006 6:30pm RA Culminating=1:00 RA Entering=3.00

6:15EST

Moon Data:

Moon RA, Dec: 1h 9m 45.7s , 7d 57m 3s N Az, Alt: 185d 6m 20s , 57d 51m 27s N Rise:11h 30m Transit:18h 3m Set: 0h 47m RA, Dec: 1h 9m 26.9s , 7d 55m 8s N (E2000) Phase: 52.6% Horiz. Parallax: 0.972 Distance (km): 376075.9 ( 233683.3 miles) Angular Size : 0d 32m 14s RA, Dec: 1h 9m 45s , 7d 57m 3s N (E2006) Angular Separation: 14d 1m 53s (Prior Object)

Moon Day 5 Feature: Crater Maraldi

NOTE: From this point on the Moon should be observed early before skydark to reduce glare and allow time for dark adaptation.

6:45EST

Meteor Data:

Final day of Quadrantids radiant Pegasus Jan 1-6 peaking Jan 3 at ~ 60/hr.

Featured Constellation for Familiarization:

Pisces

Featured Bright Star in Constellation:

SAO 128085 Spectral: Magnitude: 3.9 RA, Dec: 23h 17m 27.6s , 3d 18m 51s N Az, Alt: 231d 35m 1s , 40d 39m 56s N Rise:10h 6m Transit:16h 19m Set:22h 32m Source Catalog GSC RA, Dec: 23h 17m 9.9s , 3d 16m 56s N (E2000)

Moonsky Study:

NGC 744 Open cluster bright scattered. Constellation Per Dreyer Descr. CL,PL,PRI,IF,*11..13 Magnitude: 7.90 RA, Dec: 1h 58m 47.3s , 55d 30m 48s N Az, Alt: 17d 32m 43s , 73d 26m 43s N Always above, transit at 19h 19m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 11.0 RA, Dec: 1h 58m 23.9s , 55d 29m 0s N (E2000)

Double Star (Legend: Name, SAO Number, Separation, PA, Mag1, Mag2, RA, DEC):

7 Tau 75999 22.5 55 5.9 9.9 03:34.5 +24:27 A3V

NOTE: The Moon is now becoming a factor here and along with the need to conserve studies we drop back to one deepsky (a faintish cluster) and a double star. Asteroid: Vesta, the third largest asteroid, is at magnitude 6.2 (the only naked eye asteroid) is at opposition in Gemini at 2300 UT January 5th.

NOTE: Vesta data not available using Orion software.

Saturday, January 7, 2006 6:30pm RA Culminating=1:00 RA Entering=3.00

Moon Data:

Moon RA, Dec: 2h 0m 0.6s , 14d 0m 16s N Az, Alt: 160d 55m 10s , 62d 52m 26s N Rise:11h 54m Transit:18h 50m Set: 0h 51m RA, Dec: 1h 59m 41.1s , 13d 58m 31s N (E2000) Phase: 63.3% Horiz. Parallax: 0.961 Distance (km): 380347.6 ( 236337.6 miles) Angular Size : 0d 31m 53s RA, Dec: 2h 0m 0s , 14d 0m 15s N (E2006)

6:15EST

Moon Day 6: 3 12am Feature: Crater Plinius

Featured Constellation for Familiarization:

Cetus

Featured Bright Star in Constellation:

Mira SAO 129825 Spectral: Magnitude: 2.0 RA, Dec: 2h 19m 39.3s , 2d 56m 58s S Az, Alt: 168d 19m 35s , 46d 25m 25s N Rise:13h 25m Transit:19h 17m Set: 1h 13m Source Catalog GSC RA, Dec: 2h 19m 20.7s , 2d 58m 38s S (E2000) Angular Separation: 45d 57m 16s (Prior Object)

Moonsky Study:

NGC 957 Open cluster dense. Constellation Per Dreyer Descr. CL,PL,PRI,*13...15 Magnitude: 7.60 RA, Dec: 2h 34m 1.5s , 57d 33m 39s N Az, Alt: 26d 57m 31s , 69d 6m 58s N Always above, transit at 19h 55m Source Catalog NGC Size (mins) 11.0 RA, Dec: 2h 33m 36.0s , 57d 32m 0s N (E2000) Angular Separation: 12d 53m 5s (Prior Object)

Double Star (Legend: Name, SAO Number, Separation, PA, Mag1, Mag2, RA, DEC):

86-ZETA PISCIUM 109739 23.6 63 4.5 5.5 01:13.7 +07:34 A7IV F7V

NOTE: Changed out with 31 Tau. Widish bright pair more easily found.