1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:11,360 Howdy Stargazers and welcome to this episode of Star Trails. 2 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:16,880 I'm Drew and I'll be your guide to the night sky for the week starting February 23rd through 3 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:19,460 March 1st. 4 00:00:19,460 --> 00:00:23,800 This week we welcome darker skies thanks to an upcoming new moon. 5 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:29,120 Mercury returns to the dusk sky and right now is a great time to hunt for the elusive 6 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,200 zodiacal light. 7 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:36,120 Later in the show we'll cover some low-key deep sky objects that are worth tracking down 8 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:42,840 in binoculars and small telescopes and we'll journey way out to the edge of the solar system 9 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,280 and celebrate the anniversary of Pluto's discovery. 10 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:53,840 But first let's take a look at what you can see from your backyard. 11 00:00:53,840 --> 00:00:59,280 This week the moon will be a thin waning crescent rising just before dawn. 12 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:03,440 The new moon occurs on the evening of February 27th. 13 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,440 Nights around the new moon are perfect for stargazing and astrophotography due to the 14 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,280 absence of moonlight. 15 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:18,280 Mercury returns to our night skies this week completing the parade of visible planets. 16 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:23,560 Look for a close encounter between Mercury and Saturn very low on the western horizon 17 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,880 just after sunset on the 25th. 18 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:31,120 The other planets are strewn out along the ecliptic plain. 19 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:34,880 Venus remains in the west and extremely bright. 20 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:40,560 Jupiter is still nearly directly overhead after sunset and Mars is toward the east in 21 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,800 Gemini. 22 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:48,800 On the evening of February 28th immediately after sunset look towards the west to spot 23 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,960 a wisp of a crescent moon just above the horizon. 24 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:57,680 You'll find Mercury less than 5 degrees above the moon. 25 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:01,280 For a rough estimate hold your fist out at arm's length. 26 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,160 That spans roughly 10 degrees. 27 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:09,440 The brilliant Venus will be easily visible above the moon and Mercury. 28 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:15,200 Plan to start your observations shortly after sunset to catch the planetary alignments. 29 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:20,480 As the night progresses and the sky darkens further shift your focus to constellations 30 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:28,400 and deep sky objects. 31 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:33,400 This is one of the best times of the year to catch the subtle but fascinating phenomenon 32 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:36,000 known as the zodiacal light. 33 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:42,280 A soft ethereal glow that appears in the sky just after sunset or before sunrise. 34 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:49,400 It's often mistaken for lingering twilight but it's actually something much more cosmic. 35 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:55,840 The zodiacal light is a faint triangular glow that extends from the horizon tapering upward 36 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:58,480 along the path of the ecliptic. 37 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:03,680 The same celestial highway where the sun and planets travel. 38 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:08,240 Unlike city light pollution this glow isn't artificial. 39 00:03:08,240 --> 00:03:13,520 It's sunlight scattering off a vast cloud of interplanetary dust. 40 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:20,440 Many particles left behind by comets and asteroid collisions over billions of years. 41 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:25,560 In the northern hemisphere late winter and early spring are the best times to catch the 42 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,240 zodiacal light in the evening. 43 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:34,040 Look to the western horizon about 90 minutes after sunset in a dark sky away from city 44 00:03:34,040 --> 00:03:35,560 lights. 45 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:40,840 It appears as a soft milky glow stretching upward from the horizon. 46 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:45,680 If you're an early riser you can spot it before dawn in the opposite season. 47 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:50,800 So for the northern hemisphere that means late summer and early autumn in the east before 48 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,680 sunrise. 49 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:56,880 The dust creating this glow isn't just floating aimlessly. 50 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:01,960 It's caught in the gravitational grip of the sun forming a disk shaped cloud along the 51 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,440 plane of our solar system. 52 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:10,800 NASA's Juno spacecraft even detected signs that some of this dust originated from Mars. 53 00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:16,640 Meaning our cosmic neighborhood is constantly exchanging material. 54 00:04:16,640 --> 00:04:22,920 This same dust also plays a role in meteor showers when Earth plows through denser regions 55 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:24,640 of it. 56 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:30,580 Ancient sky watchers noticed the zodiacal light long before we understood its origin. 57 00:04:30,580 --> 00:04:35,200 Some early astronomers thought it was part of the milky way while in the middle ages 58 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,080 it was sometimes linked to supernatural omens. 59 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:45,240 The name zodiacal comes from the fact that the light follows the zodiac constellations, 60 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,640 the backdrop for the sun's annual journey across the sky. 61 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:55,200 Remember you'll need very dark, clear skies to catch it so make sure you let your eyes 62 00:04:55,200 --> 00:05:06,280 adjust the darkness when you go out to try and observe it. 63 00:05:06,280 --> 00:05:11,720 This week's new moon brings some of the darkest skies of the month so what better time to 64 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,240 chase down some deep sky objects? 65 00:05:15,240 --> 00:05:21,280 While the Orion Nebula or the Andromeda Galaxy are always standouts, I want to highlight some 66 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:24,280 hidden gems that are often overlooked. 67 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:29,720 The best part is that you don't need a giant telescope to see them, just grab your binoculars 68 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:31,720 or a small scope. 69 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:36,160 For best results use 10x50 or larger binoculars. 70 00:05:36,160 --> 00:05:40,600 The Fainter targets will require a 4-6 inch telescope. 71 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:47,040 A quick side note, many of these objects are from the New General Catalog of Nebula and 72 00:05:47,040 --> 00:05:54,040 Clusters of Stars, which contains some 7,840 objects. 73 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:59,840 So when we refer to items as NGC, followed by a number, know that it's from the New 74 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:02,240 General Catalog. 75 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:07,960 Many of you are probably familiar with the Messier Catalog and those objects simply start 76 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:09,760 with an M. 77 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:19,320 The first target on our list is NGC 2362, also known as the Tau Canis Majoris Cluster. 78 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:25,520 This bright open cluster sits in the constellation Canis Major, not far from the brilliant star 79 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,520 Sirius. 80 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:34,240 What makes it special is that a single intensely bright blue star, Tau Canis Majoris, sits 81 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,800 at its center, outshining the surrounding stars. 82 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:43,840 This cluster almost looks three-dimensional as if the stars are floating at different 83 00:06:43,840 --> 00:06:46,200 depths in space. 84 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:51,640 It's sometimes called the Mexican Jumping Star because the central star appears to hover 85 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,280 or jump out of the neighboring stars. 86 00:06:55,280 --> 00:07:00,960 To find it, look just south of Sirius and a pair of binoculars will reveal a tight glowing 87 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,200 cluster of stars. 88 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:08,640 In a small telescope, the surrounding stars become sharper, giving the cluster a jewel-like 89 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,640 appearance. 90 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:19,600 If you're a Star Trek fan, you'll love this next object, NGC 1662, also known as the Klingon 91 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:22,400 Bird of Prey Cluster. 92 00:07:22,400 --> 00:07:28,600 This small open cluster is located in Orion, near the bright star Bellatrix, which marks 93 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:31,200 Orion's left shoulder. 94 00:07:31,200 --> 00:07:37,400 What makes it unique is its distinctive V-shape, which strongly resembles a Klingon Bird of 95 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:40,680 Prey from the Star Trek universe. 96 00:07:40,680 --> 00:07:47,040 With binoculars, you'll notice a scattered V-shaped group of stars, but in a small telescope, 97 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,040 the pattern stands out even more clearly. 98 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,720 It's a fun target and an easy one to find. 99 00:07:53,720 --> 00:08:02,400 Now, let's take a look at NGC 2232, a fantastic open cluster that often gets overlooked because 100 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:07,660 it sits in the faint constellation Monoceros, the unicorn. 101 00:08:07,660 --> 00:08:14,120 It lies roughly between Betelgeuse in Orion and Procyon in Canis Minor. 102 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:19,320 Through binoculars, you'll see a beautiful, loose scattering of stars with one noticeably 103 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,600 bright central star. 104 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:26,960 A small telescope will enhance the fainter members of the cluster, but it's truly a binocular 105 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:31,960 friendly target that's easy to spot even in suburban skies. 106 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:37,320 If you're looking for an open cluster that's simple but rewarding, this is a great choice. 107 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:45,520 Now, if you're looking for a challenge, try tracking down NGC 247, also known as the 108 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:48,680 Needle's Eye Galaxy. 109 00:08:48,680 --> 00:08:54,680 This elongated spiral galaxy is located in Cetus, south of Pisces. 110 00:08:54,680 --> 00:09:01,260 What makes it interesting is that it appears lopsided with a dark void on one side. 111 00:09:01,260 --> 00:09:07,600 Under dark skies, a small telescope will show an oval-shaped patch of light, though binoculars 112 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:11,160 may only reveal a faint smudge. 113 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:16,040 This galaxy is part of the Sculptor Group, a collection of galaxies that includes the 114 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:21,280 brighter Sculptor Galaxy NGC 253. 115 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:27,520 So if you're in a truly dark location, it's worth scanning the area for more galaxies. 116 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:36,440 Up next, we have a two-for-one special, M46 and M47, a stunning pair of open clusters 117 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:38,520 in Pupus. 118 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:43,920 These two clusters are located close together and look fantastic in binoculars. 119 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:52,560 M47 is bright and sparse, while M46 is fainter but more densely packed with stars. 120 00:09:52,560 --> 00:10:01,280 Inside M46, a small telescope reveals a faint planetary nebula, NGC 2438. 121 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:08,180 It appears as a tiny glowing disk, almost like a ghostly bubble floating among the stars. 122 00:10:08,180 --> 00:10:13,760 This is a fun target to observe because it lets you see both a young star cluster and 123 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:18,040 the remnants of a dying star in the same view. 124 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:26,000 For something unique, check out NGC 2683, often called the UFO Galaxy. 125 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:32,220 This spiral galaxy is located in the constellation Lynx, which sits between Gemini and the Big 126 00:10:32,220 --> 00:10:33,720 Dipper. 127 00:10:33,720 --> 00:10:42,320 NGC 2683 is seen edge-on, meaning it looks like a classic saucer-shaped UFO. 128 00:10:42,320 --> 00:10:48,440 On a small telescope, you'll see a thin elongated glow with a slightly brighter center. 129 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:52,960 It's a great alternative to the Andromeda Galaxy, especially if you're looking for a 130 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,640 new galaxy to track down. 131 00:10:55,640 --> 00:11:03,520 The final target on our list is NGC 281, also known as the Pac-Man Nebula. 132 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:10,600 This faint emission nebula is located near Shadar, the brightest star in Cassiopeia. 133 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:15,640 It gets its nickname because a dark notch in the nebula gives it the shape of Pac-Man 134 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,520 from the classic arcade game. 135 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:24,120 While binoculars won't reveal much, a small telescope equipped with a nebula filter, like 136 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:30,200 an O3 or UHC filter, will bring out its faint glow. 137 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:35,120 If you've already observed the Orion Nebula and want to try something more subtle, the 138 00:11:35,120 --> 00:11:38,440 Pac-Man Nebula is a fun challenge. 139 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:43,200 As always, to get the best views, find the darkest sky possible. 140 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:46,320 Use low magnification for clusters. 141 00:11:46,320 --> 00:11:51,000 And if you're looking at nebula, a filter will improve contrast. 142 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:56,520 Remember to consult with a night sky app like Sky Safari or Stellarium if you're having 143 00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,200 trouble locating your target. 144 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,680 That wraps up this week's hidden deep sky gyms. 145 00:12:02,680 --> 00:12:14,200 If you happen to catch any of these objects, let me know what you saw. 146 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:19,040 In case you missed it, February 18 was Pluto Day. 147 00:12:19,040 --> 00:12:25,480 On that day in 1930, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh made history when he discovered Pluto at the 148 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,480 Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. 149 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:36,080 At just 24 years old, Tombaugh had been systematically searching for a ninth planet, known then as 150 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:42,720 Planet X, which had been predicted by Percival Lowell in the early 1900s. 151 00:12:42,720 --> 00:12:48,200 Tombaugh used a device called a blink comparator, which allowed him to compare photographic 152 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:55,240 plates taken on different nights to spot moving objects against the background of fixed stars. 153 00:12:55,240 --> 00:13:01,000 After months of painstaking work, he noticed a tiny dot shifting across the plates. 154 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:02,880 That was Pluto. 155 00:13:02,880 --> 00:13:09,040 The discovery was formally announced on March 13, 1930, which happened to be both Percival 156 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:14,800 Lowell's birthday and the anniversary of William Herschel's discovery of Uranus in 157 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,800 1781. 158 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:23,400 The name Pluto was suggested by an 11-year-old girl from England, Venetia Bernie, who was 159 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:25,880 fascinated by mythology. 160 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:31,440 The name was fitting as Pluto, the Roman god of the underworld, matched the distant and 161 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:37,920 mysterious nature of the new planet, plus its first two letters, P.L., honored Percival 162 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:39,640 Lowell. 163 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:46,320 For 76 years, Pluto remained the ninth planet in our solar system, but as astronomers discovered 164 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:53,800 more Pluto-like objects in the Kuiper Belt, like Eris, discovered in 2005, it became clear 165 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:57,920 that our definition of a planet needed refining. 166 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:06,760 On October 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union redefined what it means to be a planet. 167 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:13,160 Under the new criteria, a planet must, one, orbit the sun, two, be massive enough to be 168 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:20,000 rounded by its own gravity, and three, have cleared its orbit of other debris. 169 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:26,040 Pluto failed the third criterion as it shares its orbit with other Kuiper Belt objects. 170 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:32,000 It was reclassified as a dwarf planet, sparking widespread controversy. 171 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:36,760 The debate continues to this day, with some scientists arguing that Pluto should still 172 00:14:36,760 --> 00:14:43,800 be a planet due to its complex geology, atmosphere, and possible subsurface ocean. 173 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:49,960 Interestingly, Pluto never completed a single orbit around the sun in the 76 years it was 174 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:52,200 considered a planet. 175 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:57,480 While Pluto may have been demoted, the New Horizons spacecraft, which flew past Pluto 176 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:04,360 in July 2015, revealed it to be one of the most fascinating objects in the solar system. 177 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:10,080 We now know Pluto has towering mountains made of water ice, nitrogen glaciers that flow 178 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:15,120 like rivers, and a thin atmosphere that changes over time. 179 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:22,080 Pluto's surface even features a giant heart-shaped plane called the Tombow Regio, in honor of 180 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:24,240 its discoverer. 181 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:29,280 So while Pluto's classification may have changed, its status as one of the most interesting 182 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:34,080 worlds in our solar system remains unchallenged. 183 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:39,440 And every February, we can celebrate the discovery that forever changed our understanding of the 184 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:44,920 outer solar system. 185 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,280 If you enjoyed this episode, let me know. 186 00:15:47,280 --> 00:15:52,960 The easiest way to do that is by visiting our website StarTrails.Show. 187 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:57,320 This is also a great way to share the show with friends, and you can find transcripts 188 00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,160 of every episode. 189 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:05,160 You can also find us on Blue Sky and Mastodon, and if you'd like to support the show by 190 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:11,160 buying me a cup of coffee, be sure to visit the links in the show notes and on the website. 191 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:15,240 Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the night sky. 192 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:18,020 28 5 KAZA 193 00:16:18,020 --> 00:16:29,960 Another top watching episode is coming up soon. 194 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:35,080 0 TAUN