The Great 26,000 Year Cycle. There are North Stars and South Stars!
No, Polaris will not always be the North Star. And Yes, sometimes there is a South Star, but that is not the case at this time. We are fortunate to live during a time when the axis of the Earth in the northern hemisphere points very close to the bright star Polaris (remember, Polaris is not the brightest star in the sky but about the 46th brightest star.). The Earth spins on its axis, just like a top, and because of gravitational tugs from the Moon and Sun, the Earth wobbles on its axis, just like tops--especially when they slow down. The Earth's wobble subscribes a BIG circle in the night sky and it takes about 26,000 years for it to complete one wobble. The diameter of the circle is about 46 degrees which is the distance from the horizon to halfway up the sky. There is fairly good evidence that the ancient Egyptians and other cultures who kept continuous records of the night sky knew about this motion because it represents a movement of about the diameter of the Moon every 100 years, a movement that can be detected easily as long as records are kept.
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JUNE SKY 2010
Last Quarter: Friday, June 4 — New Moon: Saturday, June 12
First Quarter: Saturday, June 19 — Full Moon: Saturday, June 26
Location of PLANETS when it FIRST GETS DARK:
Venus is shining bright and low in the western sky.
Mars is near halfway up in the western sky in Leo.
Jupiter rises due east in Pises at about 2:00 am
Saturn is halfway up in the southwest sky in Virgo..
CONSTELLATIONS visible when it FIRST GETS DARK:
Rising in the east: Aquila
Near the southern horizon: Libra
At the top of the sky: Bootes
Setting in the west : Leo
Clock position of the bowl of the Big Dipper when it first gets dark is 10 o'clock
Meteor Shower: Next up are the Southern AQUARIDS that peak on July 29th and feature 20 meteors an hour.
Want a really nice star chart of the night sky
that also details celestial events?
Visit SkyMaps. |
Great Astronomy Sites to Visit
Astronomy magazine
Sky & Telescope magazine
SkyNews in Canada
Space.com
NASA
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Lunar Picture of the Day
Satellite Tracking
Rainbows & other neat things in the sky
Daily Sunspot Count & other Space Weather (comets plus)
Spacecraft Mission Sites
Images from the Hubble Space Telescope that orbits Earth
Rovers on Mars • Spirit and Opportunity
Phoenix Mars Mission to analyze soil for water
Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn
Messenger spacecraft going to Mercury
New Horizons spacecraft going to Pluto
Questions? • • • Need Telescope Advice?
If you have a question about astronomy or
would like advice on buying a telescope or accessories,
please email me at ASTROINFO.
No charge, no obligation, no hassles.
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JULY SKY 2010
Last Quarter: Sunday, July 4 — New Moon: Sunday, July 11
First Quarter: Sunday, July 18 — Full Moon: Sunday, July 26
Location of PLANETS when it FIRST GETS DARK:
Venus is shining bright and high in the west setting 2 hours after the Sun.
Mars is above Venus in the west and is located in Leo.
Jupiter rises due east in Pisces at mignight.
Saturn is above Mars in west and is in the constellation Virgo.
CONSTELLATIONS visible when it FIRST GETS DARK:
Rising in the east: Pegasus
Near the southern horizon: Scorpius
At the top of the sky: Hercules
Setting in the west : Leo (the hind part)
Clock position of the bowl of the Big Dipper when it first gets dark is 9 o'clock
Meteor Shower: The Southern AQUARIDS peak on July 29th and feature 20 meteors an hours. Next up are the popular PERSEIDS that peak on August 12 and feature 140 meteors an hour!
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Astronomy Books & Star Charts
Ken Press publishes a series of popular
star charts and
beginning astronomy books
for adults and children. Click here for product info.
Click here for a
PDF brochure.
Contact Ken Press at (520) 743-3200 or email.
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Bargain Hunters
As of Jan 18, 2010
Ken Press has a limited number of slightly damaged books and star charts for sale.
To order, call (520) 743-3200. Prices are as follows:
What's Out Tonight (1). Retail $39.95/Two pages torn out but included. $12 shipped
The Next Step (3). Retail $29.95/Slightly skuffed and signed, $15 shipped
The Next Step (1). Retail $29.95/Spine slanted, $10 shipped
The Next Step (2). Retail $29.95/Spine cracked, $10 shipped
Our Galaxy & the Universe (1). Retail $15.95/Cover skuffed, $10 shipped
Touring the Universe (5) . Retail $27.95/almost look new, $14 shipped
Student's Guide to the Stars (6). Retail $4ALmost look new, $1 plus shipping
Included shipping is by US Mail, book rate, which might take up to 2 weeks. |
Children's Star Chart
This is the chart that appears in the May 2007 issue of
Family Fun Magazine.
The David H. Levy Guide to the Stars Children's Star chart is an inexpensive way to introduce youngsters to the night sky. This quality star chart is printed in color and made of durable coated card stock paper. The back is loaded with information including Moon facts, Meteor Showers, Space History, Binocular Objects and additional instructions. Price is $4 each (shipping is $4 for 1, 2 or 3 and $7 for 4 or more). To order, Click Here for instructions.
Click on image below to enlarge.
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