Dark Sky Maine Newsletter #7/A New Website
Winter Milky Way, looking north by northwest over Belgrade, Maine.
Cross Quarter Greetings!
February 2 is popularly known as Groundhog Day, but did you know it’s also a Cross Quarter Day? Cross Quarter Days mark the mid-point of a given season. Originally it was called Imbolc Day (referring to lambs’ milk) because the lambing season begins at this time. It was said to be better luck if it were overcast on Imbolc, suggesting the clouds bring warmth and rain the would soften the ground for spring planting. This ancient Celtic tradition is maintained in popular culture today with us wondering if the Groundhog will see his shadow, if he does, winter will last longer; if he doesn’t, spring will come sooner. Not much science there, but the cultural roots are deep indeed.
The other Cross Quarter Days are May 1 (May Day or Beltane—a celebration of fertility), August 1 (Lammas—probably the most obscure of the four Cross Quarter Days today, it marked the maturing of corn and other crops), and October 31 (Halloween or Samhain—which marks the death of the previous year).
News:
Dark Sky Maine has a new website, DarkSkyMaine.com. Check it out and let us know what you think. The old .org site is now defunct.
We welcome to new members to DSM’s board. Shawn Laatsch, Director of the University of Maine’s Versant Power Astronomy Center and Jordan Planetarium, joins us as our new treasurer. And Richard Lueke, a talented amateur astronomer who regularly does presentations at the Acadia Night Sky Festival and Stars Over Katahdin star parties, among many others, is now the first member of our Advisory Board. Welcome aboard Shawn and Dick!
Feb. 4 Join Rangeley Lake Heritage Trust for a night sky tour led by Dark Sky Maine and Northern Stars Planetarium’s director John Meader. To join in, register with RLHT or call (207) 864-7311 for more information. Be sure to check in that day to make sure the event is on, as it is weather contingent.
February Astronomical Highlights:
February will see four planets in the predawn sky. Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn all reappear from the Sun’s glare in the predawn sky. While Venus, which has dominated the predawn sky, will be slowly moving toward the Sun where it will ultimately disappear into its glare in March.
February 11 Venus will pass 0.4° south of Jupiter, best seen about 20 minutes before sunrise in the eastern sky.
Mars is the dominant evening planet throughout February in Ares the Ram. Its brightness slowly fades from magnitude 0.5 to 0.9. Not far to the east of Mars the observer might notice the ruddy red star Aldebaran shining at magnitude 0.8. The astute observer will notice Mars starting the month slightly brighter, ending slightly dimmer. Perhaps you can determine which day they are the same brightness.
Moon Phases This is key information to know if you want to enjoy a truly dark starry night, the Third Quarter through the New Moon phases gives nice dark skies during the early evening hours.
Third Quarter Feb. 4
New Moon Feb. 11
First Quarter Feb. 19
Full Moon Feb. 27
Keep looking up to the skies!
~The team at Dark Sky Maine
