Trinidad & Tobago Astronomical Society

A regular meeting of the Society will be held on Saturday 27 November at 6.45pm at the Sir Frank Stockdale Building, UWI, St Augustine. We wll continue with the programme of learning the skies and you are reminded to bring your binoculars and telescopes.

COSMOLOGY GROUP

The Cosmology group met at the home of member Mark Mohammed on Sunday 17 October. Honorary Life President Dr Maura Imbert spoke on ‘Goldilocks Planets’, that is, planets just at the right distance from stars for their existence. A lively discussion followed which invcluded other astronomical topics. A delicious tea courtesy Mr & Mrs Mohammed was enjoyed by all following the meeting.

MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 25

Due to inclement weather, viewing was not possible on this night. Also, only a few members showed up and there were some brief discussions on varied topics before closing.

SKY PHENOMENA – November

3 Wed (10UT)                The equation of time is at maximum for the year 16.48 minutes. That is

                                    the Sun is running fast (ahead of its average position). At noon in mean

                                    solar time it has already passed the meridian about 16 minutes ago

7 Sun                            In North America, first Sunday in November change clock back 1 hour

                                    from daylight saving time to standard time. In Europe, this is done on

                                    last Sunday in October:- ‘Spring forward, Fall back’

7 Sun    (23UT)              Moon 1.7° SSE of Mars (about 22° from Sun in evening sky)

14 Sun (18UT)               Mercury, Mars and Antares within a circle of diameter 4.85°;

                                    28° East of the Sun

17 Wed                         Leonid meteors. Quite favourable year for this sometimes spectacular

                                    shower (no enhanced activity is predicted)

20 Sat (16UT)                Mercury 1.7° S of Mars ; 19° from Sun in evening sky. Mag -0.14 and 1.4

22 Mon (7UT)                Venus (at end of its retrograde loop) 14.3° ESE of Saturn (32° and 46° from Sun in morning sky; mag -4.6 and .9

CONSTELLATIONS, STARS

Risha, ‘Knot’ of the strings holding the two Fishes. Close above the neck (Mira) of Cetus. Pisces around corner of the Square. Square is Pegasus’ torso; though a large constellation, he has no hindquarters; is upside down; arc of the neck to Enif (Arabic ‘nose’). Left side of Square points up on line through Caph to Polaris. Sirrah (navel) used to be part of both Pegasus and Andromeda. To find Great Galaxy: Sirrah along line of Andromeda, two stars, turn right, shorter line; points back other way to the 3^rd ‘star’ is it.

Clear skies!!

Mona Rahamut

                                                                                                Secretary

                                                                                                274 Gopaul Circular Drive

                                                                                                Marabella

                                                                                                Tel 658-2527

Visit us at www.tt-astrosociety.com

Note: Information in the above SKY PHENOMENA is taken from Astronomical Calendar 2010 by Guy Ottewell. Printed in USA.