Download NIE10x301Sponsor Thank You (Page 1)

“What’s Up”
Galileo and the 400th
Anniversary of the Telescope
N
however you need to catch it just after sunset and it will only be
seen as a small reddish dot. The moon will be rising in the south
east and will be almost full. Exercise: ( Did you notice that the
moon and all the planets fall on the same line in the sky? What is
this line call and why is this true? What other planets appear in
the sky at this time?)
C
W
E
Go outside after
dark and point
this astronomical
chart toward North.
S
b
The phases of Venus may also be seen in a small telescope or
binoculars. A “phase” would be the portion of Venus which is lit
by the Sun and which faces the Earth. Everyone is familiar with
the phases of the Moon. Sometimes the moon appears as a thin
crescent, and sometimes the Moon is completely full; well the
same thing happens with Venus. Exercise: (See if you can
identify the current phase of Venus. Why can’t you see any
features on Venus with your telescope?)
Pictured to the right,
Galileo’s drawings
of the phases of Venus
A view of the evening sky for Friday January 9, 2009
at about 5pm is shown in the following drawing. Venus
will be the brightest star seen in the south west and it
may be easily observed with either a telescope or
binoculars. Jupiter will be the second brightest object in
the south west and will only be briefly visible after
sunset and very close to the horizon. Trees or buildings
may make it unobservable. You may also be able to see
Mercury, the smallest planet and the closest to the Sun,
For more information about the RASC or the International
Year of Astronomy please go to www.rasc.ca/stjohns. Answers
to the questions in parentheses can be found by clicking on
'Galileo's Universe' or the NIE icon.
If you make any of the observations suggested in this article,
even identifying the planets with the unaided eye, this counts as
an IYA 2009 Galileo Moment. The Canadian national goal is
through the promotion of astronomy to inspire one million
Galileo Moments during 2009. Also, if you register for a Galileo
Moment on the Canadian national website for IYA 2009
(http://www.astronomy2009.ca/ ) you will get your name
launched into space during a future Canadian Space Agency
mission!
Greg Baggs
Education/ IYA Director
RASC, St. John’s Centre
ACTIVITIES
1. In The Telegram you can find the time of sunrise and
sunset for that day. See if you can find where that information
is located in the newspaper.
2. During the month of January, check the Weather Map in
The Telegram to determine nights that may be good for
astronomical observations.
For more activities go to
www.thetelegram.com and click on
Brought to you by
Moon
Waxing
First Quarter
Full
Last Quarter
Waning
New
Jan. 2
Jan. 4
Feb. 2
Jan. 11
Feb. 9
Jan. 18
Feb. 16
Jan. 20
Feb. 18
Jan. 26
Feb. 25
2009 will have its largest full moon on Jan. 10 . The Moon is at perigee (closest) 357,497
km from Earth. On Jan. 11 the Moon passes nearby open cluster “The Beehive” by 1.5º
Comet
Viewable in a pair of Binoculars or small telescope
C/2007 N3 ( Lulin )
Low in the southern sky during
morning twilight. Look for it with
binoculars in the constellation Libra.
In early February the comet will move
higher into the sky into the
constellation Virgo and will be a naked
eye object. Use the chart to the right.
North is up.
LIBRA
N
m
of co
Path
et
Illustration by: Shawn Martin
tr
Illus
n
atio
Mercury - (January) Low in the southwest after sunset, to the lower right of
Venus. (Mid Feb.) Can be viewed in the morning sky, meeting with Jupiter and
Mars.
Venus - (January) The dazzling "Evening Star" in the southwest during and
after twilight. On Jan. 22 Uranus will be just over 1º from Venus to the south
west.
Mars - (January) Remains hidden deep in the glare of sunrise. (Mid Feb.) Will
be viewable in the morning sky, meeting with Jupiter and Mercury.
Jupiter - (January) Sinking below the horizon far to Venus's lower right, and a
little to the lower right of Mercury. (Mid. Feb.) Can be viewed in the morning
sky, meeting with Mars and Mercury.
Saturn - (January) Can be seen late evening near the constellation Leo.
Saturn’s rings are now tilted to their minimum and the thinnest you can see
them until 2038!
Uranus and Neptune - (January) Are in the constellations Aquarius and
Capricornus, seen in the southwest right after dark. Neptune is near Venus.
Uranus will be just over 1º to the south west of Venus on Jan. 22.
Vi
rg
o
y:
S
ha
wn
M
artin
Illustration by: Shawn Martin
Planets
Viewable in a pair of Binoculars or small telescope
WARNING!“ When using a telescope or binoculars, always be sure NEVER TO LOOK
AT THE SUN! This can cause serious and permanent eye damage. To be safe, always make
sure the Sun is fully set below the horizon before going outside with your telescope or
binoculars.”
n
pe
pa
news
pe r s. Open m
in
ds
O
Some of the most important things Galileo discovered during
1609 with his telescope were the rings of Saturn, the moons of
Jupiter, and the phases of Venus and craters on the moon. These
observations began the human exploration of the Universe with
the aid of telescopes and the modern science of Astronomy.
With even the smallest telescope, or
possibly an ordinary pair of binoculars,
you may be able to see the four
largest moons of Jupiter. These
moons have been called the
Galilean Satellites in honour of
Galileo. They appear as very
faint stars, often in a row and
very close to the planet. Jupiter
can easily be identified in a
telescope or binoculars by two
large stripes across the middle
which make it look a bit like a
rubber ball. Exercise: (What are the
names of these four moons of Jupiter?
On which of these moons is there thought to be a
sea of liquid water under a cover of ice?)
ar
Newspaper In Education
THE TELEGRAM
0-3433148
Galileo is a very important person in the history of science,
known for many significant contributions but possibly best
known as the inventor of the Galilean Telescope. This was not
the very first type of telescope as spyglasses were invented
shortly before 1609, but Galileo designed the first telescope with
enough magnification power for astronomy and he was the first
person ever to do astronomy with the aid of a telescope.
t
rS
e
nt
t
har
Wi
This year has been declared
the International Year of
Astronomy (IYA) by the United
Nations, with over 100 nations
participating. The reason that
2009 has been chosen for IYA is
that it marks the 400th Anniversary
of the invention of the telescope and the
first astronomical observations made during
1609 by Galileo Galilei.
January 9 - Mid February
Shawn Martin Observing Director RASC, St. John’s Centre