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Current Solar X-rays: Current Geomagnetic Field: |
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Sunday, February 2: The nearly 25 percent waxing crescent moon has now moved high above Venus, Neptune, and Saturn and can be viewed in a completely dark sky around 7 p.m. If the air is transparent, binoculars should quickly reveal earthshine along with the unaided eye if averted vision is used. Faint objects are more easily seen if the eye's rods are engaged in trying to make the observation. Requiring more light to trigger the receptors, the central vision composed mostly of cones is designed for color and clarity of vision. The rods mostly positioned away from the cones require less light for activation allowing them to discern much fainter targets. They are also not adapted for color.
Wednesday, February 5, 8 p.m.: During the past two days, the moon has journeyed across the constellations of Pisces the Fish and Aries the Ram. This evening, it is crossing into the constellation of Taurus the Bull. The moon has transitioned from a crescent into a waxing gibbous phase, meaning that more than 50 percent of the surface that faces Earth will be sunlit. The moon is positioned just under four degrees from the star cluster of the Pleiades (Seven Sisters), a nice view through binoculars, and 5.5 degrees above the planet Uranus. Keeping the moon at the top end of your binoculars, two stars close together and at nearly the same brightness should be visible close to the upper middle of the field of view. Center those stars in your binoculars, and below will be a single star like object about the same brightness. That will be the planet Uranus. By midnight, the moon will have moved within three degrees of the Pleiades and will, unfortunately for us, begin to occult or pass in front the star cluster just after local moonset. The West Coast, Alaska, and especially Hawaii are in better locations to watch some of the Pleiades hiding behind the passing moon.
Thursday, February 6: This evening, the nearly 70 percent sunlit moon stands six degrees above the mightiest planet in the procession, Jupiter, best seen with just the unaided eye. Use binoculars to move from the moon to Jupiter and then continue in the same direction to spot yellowish Aldebaran, the Alpha Star of Taurus the Bull. Sunday, February 9: An hour after sundown, check on the 93 percent sunlit moon because it will be just under three degrees from Mars. You should be able to see the pair with the unaided eye. You can also block the moon with several fingers. Near and above the moon will be the heads of the Gemini Twins, Castor and Pollux. Pollux will be closest to the moon. Earlier in the day, at about 1:15 p.m., the moon occults the planet Mars. Again, we miss this rare event because Mars does not rise until 2:20 p.m. after the occultation has concluded, and the moon is about one degree from the Red Planet.
Wednesday, February 12: The moon is full tonight and rises next to Regulus, the brightest star of Leo the Lion. By 8 p.m., the pair is 25 degrees above the eastern horizon and separated by just under two degrees. Regulus is to the right of the moon. Binoculars will be needed because of the extreme difference in brightness between the pair.
Again, I wish everyone success in observing the moon gliding through the procession of planets and past several bright stars. It is a great way to get to know the heavens. Ad Astra!
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February 1 Moon, Venus, Neptune Conjunction: Venus and the moon are obvious. Below and slightly to the left of the moon is a right triangle. Neptune is the lowest star like object on the right side of that triangle. Venus, the moon, and Neptune were in the constellation of Pisces near the asterism of the circlet. Gary A. Becker image... |
Define a Question to Investigate: Scientists conduct research, make observations, collect data, and see relationships.
Make Predictions: Scientists will often develop a hypothesis based on research and observations.
Gather Data: Test the prediction.
Analyze the Data: Does it confirm the original premise?
Draw a Conclusion and communicate with others.
On the second evening that we met, I proposed to my astronomy class that there was a relationship between dating and the scientific method. I have an interesting population of learners this semester. There are 12 females and five males in my class, so I was particularly interested in the reactions of the women to my observation. In addition, how I met my wife is a question I am usually asked as the semester progresses. The story will be told analytically.
I Defined a Question. It was October 3, 1978, and I was giving a talk on the moon for the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society, Inc. When I entered the meeting space, I surveyed my audience as I always did when presenting, and my gaze fell upon a young woman sitting quietly in the center of the room. She was beautiful, and all sensors went on high alert as I visually gathered data about her. Nonetheless, there was a nagging question that brought me back to reality. Was she wearing a ring? I sat down behind her to investigate, and eventually, she raised her left hand. Her ring finger was devoid of any ornamentation.
I Made A Prediction: This woman might be responsive to conversation and possibly a date.
I Continued to Gather Data. I was introduced as the speaker and called forward to give my talk. I have always focused holistically on my audiences, so I did not pay much attention to her until the Question and Answer Section. Her hand was up, but she had changed her position to the front of the room. She asked if the moon had caves. Yes, lava tube caves but not karst caves where acidic water (carbonic acid) has dissolved soluble limestone. After my talk, a small group gathered to query me further, and she was present for the first three or four questions. I tried to get closer to her but was unsuccessful, and then she was gone. After another ten minutes of discussions with this small cadre of people, I packed up my gear and left. When I exited the building, she was waiting for me. We talked for nearly two hours on that cold, blustery October evening. She gave me her phone number, and she accepted my invitation for a date the following day.
I Analyzed the Data: The first date was to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. We ate dinner that evening at a local restaurant called "The Load of Mischief." Unbeknownst to me, there was a teacher in the section of Dieruff High School where I taught astronomy, and he was there with his wife. He flagged me down the following day, pointing his finger at me as he approached and said, "Someday, you're going to marry that woman." He then continued by saying he had never seen two people focused on each other as we were that evening. Date after successful date followed. We traveled to Maine over the Winter Break and the Southwest the following summer and had many other adventures, including a trip to Egypt over the next three years.
I Drew a Conclusion: "I think I could live with this person for my entire life." She agreed that I was the special one, too. We communicated that message to our family and friends, and Susan and I were married on June 25, 1982. We will be celebrating our 43 anniversary this coming summer.
I am not trying to convince anyone that this is the perfect example of the scientific method. Still, it does give students a hook to understand that we are constantly exploring, gathering data, and drawing conclusions about the world around us. My music and art majors continuously tell me that they abhor mathematics, and yet, for musicians, harmonics is all about math. Concepts like the golden triangle and the golden rectangle are mathematical constructs instilled innately within my learners who want to become artists. The scientific method is not just for scientists to explore and utilize, but also for everyone to employ as we navigate the world around us. Ad Astra!
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