THE CHANGING SKY NEVER ENDS

From my stand point here at the LASS observing site it does seem like the sky is always changing although it sometimes seems to do so very slowly.  It is very much like watching a child grow up.  If that child is yours or if you have the opportunity to observe him/her on a regular basis the changes are usually very subtle from day to day or even month to month.  But if you don't see that same child for 4 or 5 months or maybe even a year or so, the change is very apparent.  A one month baby is very, very different in appearance and actions than a 9 month old. 


 The sky that we observe doesn't change in the same way that a child might change but if you haven't been outside and looked at the various constellations and other fine objects in a few months you will be rewarded with a complete new set of objects to observe.  So much of the time our local star parties last until about 12 PM and anything that graces the night sky after that hour has to wait until the next time we venture out.


 I had a great opportunity to look at a lot of objects that I haven't seen in a long time this morning when I got up early to check on the pre-dawn temperature in my greenhouse. As I casually looked at the cool, crisp early morning sky I remembered the recent public star party I attended at Mineral Wells State Park.  The moon was about 1st quarter phase and Jupiter was well up in the eastern sky. They made great targets but several folks asked if they could see Saturn and Orion as well.  Naturally I responded that we certainly could---if we wanted to wait until about 2AM when they would be rising in the eastern horizon.  That put an end to that discussion very quickly.  But about 4AM this morning both of those objects were high in the sky and just waiting for me to put my scope on them.  Of course I didn't but it won't be very long until both are visible during my normal observing hours.


The thought of all this made me recall the thrill of an all night star party.  Most of the time around the LASS site we only attempt to say up all night for the annual Messier Marathon in mid March.  Some of the guys venture to Ft Griffin for an all night stand at various times during the year but the last time I did that was during December and I thought I was going to freeze to death.  I vowed to never do that again.  But if you do want to stay up all night the best time is during the late fall to early spring months.  Some of you might question why then?  Just think for a minute---there are more hours of darkness during those months hence more time to see things.  


Remember the terms "spring/fall equinox and spring/winter solstice"?  For astronomy purposes (and mine for simplification) the term "equinox" whether is be spring or fall means that the number of hours of daylight and night are roughly the same. These dates fall in mid March and mid September.  On the other hand, the summer solstice is that time when the daylight hours (mid June) are at their maximum and the winter solstice is when the night time hours (mid December) are at their maximum.  It stands to reason that you can get in more observing time during the long winter nights than you can during the short summer nights.  Just remember---you need to dress for the occasion.


But getting back to my original thought for this rant.  I have only been in the observing business since '97 but the simple wonder of the way our view of the sky changes keeps me on my toes for what is coming up next.  Maybe you don't forget all the fine details of what you normally see during the four major seasons of the year but I do.  Therefore it is always like a new adventure for me. I do admit that I sometimes get a little impatient for the next group of new target to make their appearance but I can usually satisfy that by staying up and observing all night---not that I do that but at least I know that for the most part that is an option.   I might even give it a try in a couple of nights.