Wa 064 january 2014

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The Southern Astronomer No.64 - January 2014

SOUTHERN ASTRONOMER THE

NEWSLETTER OF WORTHING ASTRONOMERS & WORTHING SKYWATCHERS LOOKING UP IN 2014

This issue Looking up in 2014 Review of 2013 Workshop Report Jade Rabbit Globe At Night Stargazing Live Changing Moon Observing Notes Astronomy In The Pub

pages 1- 3 page 3 page 5 page 6 page 7 page 7 page 7 page 10 page 12

Astronomy Meetings Worthing Astronomers (WA) occasionally meet at the Worthing Society of Model Engineers, Field Place, Durrington, Worthing BN13 1NP. Details of meetings, as and when, are further on in the newsletter. Adur AS (AAS) meet at Southwick Christian Community Church, 1-5 Roman Crescent, Southwick BN42 4TY. Foredown Tower Astronomers (FTA) at Emmaus Charity Premises, on the corner of Manor Road and Drove Road, Portslade Old Village, BN41 2PA. Worthing Astronomical Society (WAS) meet at Emmanuel URC, St.Michaels Road, Worthing BN11 4SD. AAS, FTA, and WA venues have off road parking facilities and grounds adjacent for setting up telescopes when conditions allow. At door charges: WA £2 admission, FTA charge £3 for non-member, Adur charge £5 (£3 for members) while WAS charge £4 at the door for non-member. All the above meetings above begin at 19.30hrs. WA members will always be made welcome at these groups. More information 01903 521205 or 07801 692244. Fuller details of what our colleagues in neighbouring societies are doing at their monthly meetings is on the page 2 Quick View Diary. Worthing Astronomers is a free to join society with a membership of over 280 persons all interested in the same hobby of Astronomy. With the aid of this newsletter, regular star parties, workshops and public observing events we hope to encourage and share our interests in observing the sky with the public and our colleagues both in our own group and with neighbouring societies.

There are always events that amateur astronomers can look forward to in the coming year and this year is no different. Sadly there are no aspects of solar eclipses visible for us and neither are there any aspects of lunar eclipses visible either though we come close on the morning of April 15 when the penumbral phase of a lunar eclipse commences just after UK moon-set. The year really kicks off on January 5 when Jupiter comes to opposition during the evening when it reaches its closest point to Earth – 4.2 astronomical units. Jupiter's angular diameter is 46.8” and will present a good object even in a small telescope while moderate to large instruments will show detail in the cloud belts that make up the visible portion of the planet. A good opportunity for imaging or even good old fashioned disk drawings. During that evening the four bright satellites will be on the western side of the planet with Io and Europa close to each other. At the same time, the Great Red Spot will also be in evidence. The planet is also quite high in the northern hemisphere sky this year and is the campaign object for National Astronomy Week that is being held during the first week of March.

Jupiter on January 5 at 2100UT rising in the southeast. The planet will be bright at -2.6m

Mars comes to opposition on March 8 but the planet will be low in the sky during this time, but every opportunity to see this planet is a good one. Again, imaging or observational disk drawings are well worth doing if only to keep a personal record of the event. Venus and Mercury continue their dances around the Sun as the year goes on. Best evening views of Mercury will be from mid-January to early February and then during May while best morning views will be in July and then late October to mid-November. Mercury is occulted by the Moon on June 26 at 1153UT. The Moon will be just short of new (hence a very fine and thin crescent), plus the proximity of the Sun (almost noon) makes this event a difficult (but not impossible) one to observe if sunlight precautions are taken. During early January Venus passes from an evening object to a morning 'star' where it will remain for much of the year, going from a thin crescent to 'full' in late October until once more becoming an evening object in November.

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