Open House Program
Please join us—clear skies permitting—for one of our upcoming MTS Observatory open house programs.
January Highlights: This is the third of three great months to observe Jupiter. It now lies in Taurus and so is high in the ecliptic and hence, when due south, at an elevation of ~60 degrees. It is looking somewhat different than in the last few years as the north equatorial belt has become quite broad. The Great Red Spot is currently a pale shade of pink but can be easily seen as a large feature in the South Equatorial Belt. Jupiter was at opposition on the 3rd of December so, this month, will cross the meridian in the mid-evening - ideal for observing! After its apparition next year it will be moving towards more southerly parts of the ecliptic so will be at lower elevations when crossing the meridian and will thus be seen through thicker layers of the
atmosphere.
The features seen in the Jovian atmosphere have been changing quite significantly over the last few years - for a while the South Equatorial Belt vanished completely but has now returned to its normal wide state. The diagram on right shows the main Jovian features as imaged by the author at the beginning of December 2012. (Monthly Sky Watch)
A few notes for those planning to attend our Open House programs:
¤ Check for cloudy conditions before departing.
¤ Dress very warmly.
¤ Young astronomers (K-2) are welcome, but please monitor closely.
Astronomy Dates 2012-2013
• Thursday, September 27 (7:00-8:00PM) |
• Tuesday, March 19 (Following Spring Concert) |
• Monday, December 3 (6:00 – 7:00PM) |
• Monday, April 29 (7:30-8:30PM) |
• Tuesday, January 29 (Following Voice Recital) |
• Wednesday, May 15 (Following Band Concert) |
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Founded in 2005, the MTS Observatory is a 12' x 17' roll-off roof observatory located on the MTS campus. Featuring a Celestron 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with an adjustable height pier, the MTS Observatory affords High School-caliber observation and study of stars, planets, nebulae, galaxies, the Sun and other celestial objects.
The MTS Observatory will complement our academic curricula while enabling students and adults alike to see stars, planets, sunspots, moons, rings, nebulae and galaxies with their "own eyes." Our goal is to enrich students' education and personal experiences and rekindle awareness of the universe around us that is too often hidden from our view.
If you would like to receive brief email notifications regarding the new MTS Observatory and our Open House programs, please send fill out the form with your name and email address. After subscribing you will be sent a confirmation email within 24 hours. The MTS Observatory will send occasional email reminders to all subscribers about Open House programs, last minute closure notices when the fog rolls in, and other simple email messages regarding the Observatory program.
"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day." - Albert Einstein
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