2017 Week 4: (January 22-28)

The weather for the fourth week of the year is looking mainly sunny with above average temperatures.  However, there is nothing spectacular happening in the sky.  The Moon will be within 4° of Saturn and Mercury as a waning crescent on its way to becoming a New Moon on Friday.  The only benefit of a New Moon is there will be less light pollution to aim for some deep-sky objects in a telescope or binoculars.

Date	Event
Jan 24	Saturn 4°S of Moon
Jan 25	Mercury 4°S of Moon
Jan 27	New Moon
Jan 27	New Observers to Visual Astronomy (NOVA) Meeting (19:30-21:30) @ WCO
Jan 28	Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Open House (20:00-23:00)

I would like to spend a little time discussing the RASC General Meeting from last night.  The lecture provided on the Antikythera Mechanism was absolutely amazing.  If you have the opportunity please attend the open house at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory on January 28 where the lecture will be presented again.  Below is a video outlining the mechanism:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpLcnAIpVRA

Antikythera Mechanism (Artist Interpretation)

On Friday, January 27 at 19:30 there will be a New Observers to Visual Astronomy class at the Wilson Coulee Observatory in De Winton.  Many people will have their telescopes out and an instructor will allow us to look through the C-14 at some deep-sky objects.  This class is offered every month, if you are interested please contact me for more details.

I hope you have the opportunity this week to look up and take in the sight of Orion and Canis Major along with Venus and Mars lighting up the southwestern skies.