McKenzie Lake Star Night - January 2018

We hosted the special Moon Edition of the McKenzie Lake Star Night and had a great time.  Many people turned out with their kids to view our spectacular celestial neighbour!

We spent a few minutes discussing what was shining down on us in the sky.  We covered the typical Winter constellations of Taurus, Orion and Gemini.  We also spent a few minutes talking about the Orion Nebula which is beautiful at this time of year.

We then moved onto the main topic of the Moon.  The first thing we covered was the different phases of the Moon and when they occur.  We discussed the major basins and maria that cover the near side of the Moon.  Next we talked about some of my favourite craters, including: Gassendi, Aristoteles, Ptolemaeus, Plato, Tycho and Clavius.

After the discussion on our Moon we moved to some extraterrestrial moons throughout our solar system.  There are some amazing moons out there that may be a good place to look for life!

After the presentation split into two groups with several people coming outside to view our Moon through the telescopes that were setup.  Another group stayed inside the warm building with hot chocolate and made their own moon!

Making a Moon

The weather was cool but the sky was very clear.  The Bay of Rainbows was beautiful and had some great definition as the terminator cut right through the middle of it.  The image below was an eyepiece projection of the view we had last night.

Waxing Gibbous Moon, January 26, 2018 (Image Credit: Philip Tracey)

A few of the children were able to point out Tycho sitting prominently in the southern hemisphere.  Plato and the mountains to the south of it were spectacular as always.

The moons that were being made inside were amazing!

Moons

Later in the evening we noticed Gamma Tauri nearly occulted by the Moon as it was only a few arcminutes away.  The Orion Nebula was visible but not nearly as beautiful as it could be with the urban and lunar light pollution throughout the evening.  We looked at the Pleiades with a wide field telescope and could see all the significant stars of this great open cluster!

It was a fun night for all who came and we look forward to having another community event in February or March!

2018 Week 5: (January 28-February 3)

We are completing the first month of 2018 and there will be an amazing event in the sky.  There will be a total lunar eclipse visible throughout most of North America and Asia.  The chart below highlights the activities in the sky for next week.

Date	Event
January 31	Ceres at Opposition
January 31	Total Lunar Eclipse
January 31	Full Moon
February 1	Regulus 1°S of Moon
February 2	Zodiacal Light visible in evening twilight for next two weeks

The dwarf planet (same classification as Pluto) Ceres will be at opposition on Wednesday.  Asteroid hunters may wish to see if they can find it through binoculars or a telescope.  It will be in the same binocular field as Kappa Leonis but about 9 times dimmer.

If you are going to hunt for this dwarf planet check out the map below for just after midnight, the morning of January 31, 2018.  A binocular field of view below is circled.  In the southern sky use the two stars at the head of Leo to point you toward Ceres.  Under good weather conditions, this should be fairly easy to find in binoculars.

Ceres Opposition Map

Before we discuss the main event next week I just want to cover a few other minor things.  On February 1, Regulus (Alpha Leonis) will be 1°S of the Moon and will look great in a telescope.  Last Friday we caught Gamma Tauri in the same telescopic field and it looked as though the Moon would eat the star!

The zodiacal light may be visible to observers in dark sites throughout the next two weeks.  Look for a dim cone of light in the direction of the sunset after most of the twilight has cleared.  For more information, click on the zodiacal light link at the beginning of this paragraph.

Zodiacal Light

The event many people have been looking forward to is the total lunar eclipse.  We have not had one visible from Calgary since 2015, so this is exciting.  The weather is looking absolutely atrocious so we are going to need a bit of luck to have clear skies or a sucker hole in the clouds.  As discussed in a previous blog, linked below:

http://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2018/01/total-lunar-eclipse.html

it will be a 'Super Blue Blood Moon' and will appear as a dark red colour. 

Total Lunar Eclipse (Image Credit: NASA)

Get out your zoom lenses or hook up a camera to your telescope.  If you don't have equipment, just enjoy it with your naked eye.  The progress times are listed below.  You'll be most interested in the partial and total phases as the penumbral eclipse is difficult to delineate from a regular Moon.  Between 4:48am and 8:11am on the morning of Wednesday, January 31 you should have a good view.

3:51am - Penumbral Eclipse Starts
4:48am - Partial Eclipse Starts
5:51am - Total Eclipse Starts
7:07am - Total Eclipse Ends
8:11am - Partial Eclipse Ends
8:18am - Moon sets

The map of the entire eclipse is provided below.

Map of Lunar Eclipse, January 31, 2018 (Image Credit: Timeanddate.com)

As I mentioned above, the weather is looking quite poor next week.  There will be on and off flurries and cold temperatures.  Dress warmly if you are going to enjoy the sky this week!

Total Lunar Eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon.  The alignment of the three celestial bodies needs to be close to perfect.

The dark part of the Earth's shadow (Umbra) will full encompass a Full Moon for a total lunar eclipse.  Penumbral eclipses occur when the Moon is only within the penumbra of the Earth's shadow.

Umbra and Penumbra (Image Credit: NASA)

When you see a total lunar eclipse you will notice that the Moon will appear red.  The reason for this is the blue part of the electromagnetic spectrum (visible light) is readily scattered by the Earth's atmosphere.  This leaves the red light to refract onto the Moon.  This is the same reason why a sunrise or sunset will appear to be shades of red and why the sky is blue during the day. 

Here is an easy experiment that you can try at home:

Put some water into a transparent drinking glass.  Next put a very small amount of milk into the same glass just so it is slightly cloudy.  Finally, shine a white flashlight up through the bottom of the glass.  The region of the water/milk mixture further away from the light will appear 'redder' while the region closer to the light will appear 'bluer'.

Total lunar eclipses are certainly not as exciting a total solar eclipse with the latter being considered one of the most amazing celestial visuals.  A total lunar eclipse may last more than an hour and be visible across entire continents.  Whereas a total solar eclipse lasts mere minutes in a relatively small zone of totality.

What will you expect to see during a total lunar eclipse?

1. Penumbral Eclipse - The Moon may appear slightly shaded during the first part of the total eclipse.
2. Partial Eclipse - The umbra of the Earth's shadow will be seen on the Moon and it will start to look like a bite of the Moon has been taken out.  The Moon will slowly start getting more red.
3. Total Eclipse - The Moon will be completely in the umbra and will appear very red.
4. Partial Eclipse - The eclipse will start to cycle out with the umbral bite getting smaller and smaller.
5. Penumbral Eclipse - The Moon will progressively get lighter as the eclipse comes to a close.

When the Moon is completely covered by the Earth's umbra it should look something like the image below.

Total Lunar Eclipse (Image Credit: NASA)

There are two more total lunar eclipses visible from Calgary this decade (2010s).  January 31, 2018 and January 20/21, 2019.

The eclipse on January 31, 2018 is quite interesting as it will occur during the second full Moon of the month.  Due to a publication error in the 1940s when there is a second full Moon in a month it has become colloquially known as a 'Blue Moon'.  The original traditional definition of a 'Blue Moon' is the third full Moon in a season that has four full Moons.

Depending on if you accept the colloquial definition this total eclipse will be a Blue Moon total eclipse.  A lot of memes on social media indicate this is the first time in 150 years.  This is not entirely true.  The last one was late in 1982, just not in the timezone of the Americas.  It is true that the last Blue Moon total eclipse in the American time zone was in 1866, just after the Civil War ended.

Another thing that makes the 2018 eclipse interesting is that the Moon will be close to perigee.  This makes it a Super Moon.

The red colour of the Moon cause people to call it a Blood Moon.

The details for the January 31, 2018 eclipse are below:

3:51am - Penumbral Eclipse Starts
4:48am - Partial Eclipse Starts
5:51am - Total Eclipse Starts
7:07am - Total Eclipse Ends
8:11am - Partial Eclipse Ends
8:18am - Moon sets

The eclipse in 2019 will not be a Blue Moon but will be a Super Moon.  In fact, people are referring to it as a 'Super Blood Wolf Moon'.  The 'Wolf' part coming from the Farmer's Almanac which named Full Moons based on learnings from Native American Tribes in the Great Lakes region.  It is important to note that most tribes have different names for the Moons.

These names are merely constructs to add to the hype of a relatively common event.  You will see them used quite a lot in the media.  Astronomers are content to merely call them Total Lunar Eclipses.  However, I like to use them on occasion to get more people out of their homes to astronomers with telescopes!  The more photons from astronomical events hitting eyes the better!

The details for the January 20/21, 2019 eclipse are below:

7:36pm - Penumbral Eclipse Starts
8:33pm - Partial Eclipse Starts
9:41pm - Total Eclipse Starts
10:43pm - Total Eclipse Ends
11:50pm - Partial Eclipse Ends
12:48am - Penumbral Eclipse Ends

I hope to hear your stories about the eclipses!

As always, for up to date information, like our Facebook Page below:

https://www.facebook.com/simonjastronomy/

2018 Week 4: (January 21-January 27)

We are almost through the first month of the year and we have a couple things happening in the sky.  The week after this will be very special as there will be a total lunar eclipse visible from Calgary and throughout Canada.  The chart below highlights the events happening next week.

Date	Event
January 24	First Quarter
January 27	Aldebaran 0.7°S of Moon

The Moon will reach first quarter on Wednesday and an ideal time for observation.  We will be hosting a lunar edition of the McKenzie Lake Star Night which will be a perfect time to bring out the family to a great free event!  On the weekend the bright red star of Taurus will pass just South of the Moon.

The weather for the week looks to be seasonal.  This means it will be fairly chilly with daytime highs below freezing.  There may be a touch of snow throughout the week but nothing significant is forecast.  The McKenzie Lake Star Night will take place inside at the community centre with free hot chocolate and warmth.  We can pop outside in stints to take in a telescopic view of the Moon.  The Moon will be a few days past its first quarter and we should have great views of some of the larger craters such as Copernicus, Plato and Archimedes.  The terminator will be running through the middle of the Bay of Rainbows which will provide a marvelous opportunity to see this amazing lunar feature.

Using the NASA Goddard 2018 Phase Video,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBWeSN66z9M

we can get a good idea of what the Moon will look like throughout the evening of the 26th.

Moon Phase (January 26, 20:00)

We will have a discussion about our nearest neighbour and also talk about other moons throughout the solar system.

For more information about this incredible event check out the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1993774840836998/

We will also be doing a craft whereby we can make our very own Moon that you can take home!

Stay tuned this week for a special blog about the upcoming Lunar Eclipse!  Stay warm!

2018 Week 3: (January 14-January 20)

We are entering the third week of the year with some great things going on in the sky.  The weather is supposed to be above freezing before dropping again the week after.  This may give us some good time under the sky with the Winter constellations.  Also, Jupiter and Mars are still within the same binocular field of view so if you haven't had a chance to see these great planets get out in the morning!

Date	Event
January 14	Saturn 3°S of Moon
January 15	Mercury 0.6°S of Moon
January 16	New Moon

Saturn and Mercury will be dancing with the Moon on the morning of January 15.  Good luck if you attempt to find them rising in the eastern sky prior to sunrise.  The Moon will be a mere 2% illuminated.  Binoculars will help.

The following day the lunar cycle starts again with a New Moon.

If you would like to hunt down some of the winter constellations I've provided a list of my favourites below.

Orion
Canis Major
Canis Minor
Gemini
Leo

Due to the New Moon, it will be a good week to search for these constellations and their associated deep sky objects.  They will appear from overhead down toward the southern horizon in the evening sky.  I would put Cancer on the list but it is quite dim but it certainly is worth seeking with binoculars to find the Beehive Cluster pictured below.

M44 - Beehive Cluster

If you have a telescope, use your widest field of view as it is over 1.5° wide.  Binoculars would be well used in this situation as well.

As for public events next week come down to the Kerby Centre on Thursday, January 18 for the Royal Astronomical Society - Calgary Centre General Meeting.  The main speaker will be Alan Dyer discussing the Milky Way and Northern Lights.  The details and link to the event are shown below.

Looking Up in Wonder: the Milky Way and the Northern Lights

Two great sky sights inspire us to look up in awe: the Milky Way and the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights.

We are fortunate in being able to see both well from Alberta. But seeing the Northern Lights and the Milky Way each at their best can require travel to the opposite ends of the Earth.

In this richly illustrated talk, Alan presents images and movies of the Northern Lights and Milky Way taken from home in Alberta, from the Arctic, and from the Southern Hemisphere. He'll explain the science behind what we see when we look up to the Lights and Milky Way.

For the photographers, Alan will also include tips and techniques for capturing these amazing sky sights. However, this will be largely a non-technical talk suitable for all. Bring your friends and family!

https://www.facebook.com/events/164408310993441

I've had the great pleasure to listen to Alan's talks before and they are absolutely amazing!  We hope to see you out! 

Stay warm and enjoy the sky!

2018 Week 2: (January 7-January 13)

The first week of the year has gone by and most of us who took a long vacation are heading back to work.  We are in for a treat next week as far as things go in the sky!  Be sure to catch Jupiter and Mars hanging out close together in the southern sky in the morning.  They will fit in the same telescope field of view for a couple more days and move out of the same binocular field by the middle of the month.  For more information about this very close conjunction, see the weekly update from last week.

http://simonjastronomy.blogspot.com/2017/12/2018-week-1-december-31-january-6.html

There will be another planetary conjunction happening next week with Saturn and Mercury.  The chart below highlights all the great stuff in the sky!

Date	Event
January 8	Last Quarter
January 9	Venus in Superior Conjunction
January 10	Jupiter 4°S of Moon
January 11	Mars 5°S of Moon
January 13	Mercury 0.6°S of Saturn

On Monday (which gets its name from 'day of the moon') the Moon will be at last quarter and will seem half illuminated in the morning sky.  Later, at midnight, Venus will be in superior conjunction.  This means the planet is directly in line behind the Sun from the Earth.  At inferior conjunction, the planet is directly in line in front of the Sun.  This unfortunately means Venus will not be visible throughout the month, but will come into view in the evening sky late in February.

The Moon appears close to both Jupiter and Mars on the morning of January 11.  It is certainly worth a shot through binoculars.  They will appear in a circle of about 5° in diameter before the morning Sun comes up.  The map below shows you this conjunction.  Look to the southeast sky.

Jupiter/Mars/Moon

Later in the week Saturn and Mercury will pair up.  They will be closer to the horizon and I am not sure how well you will be able to see them in the bright twilight.  Although they are naked eye objects you may require binoculars to cut through the twilight.  If you have a clear view of the eastern horizon it would be worth pointing your telescope as the planets will be approximately half a degree (apparent width of the Moon) away from each other.  An interesting fact is that Saturn's largest Moon, Titan, is about 100km larger in diameter than Mercury.

Saturn/Mercury

The weather for next week starts off warm and then starts to cool down drastically.  I'd get out in the morning early in the week to check out the dance between Jupiter and Mars!  Stay tuned for more great updates about the sky as we move further into 2018!

2018 Preview III: Community Events

The final of our 2018 preview will cover some of the community astronomy events happening around the Calgary area.  Community outreach is important to our society and we try to give you plenty of opportunities throughout the year to enjoy the sky.

Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Open House

The Rothney Astrophysical Observatory hosts many open houses each year.  These events are well attended.  There are several talks provided in the lecture hall with a new keynote speaker every month.  They never disappoint.  Also, you will be able to tour the entire site and check out the large telescopes that are used for research by the University of Calgary.  Members of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Calgary Centre are on hand to introduce you to the sky through their own telescopes.  At this kid friendly event you will learn so much in just a few hours under the stars.

Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Open House

For the 2018 schedule of RAO Open Houses please check out the link below and stay tuned for updates!

2018 Rothney Astrophysical Observatory Open House Schedule

Ralph Klein Park Star Night

This is a wonderfully well attended event that has gained traction in recent years.  The City of Calgary Parks and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada invites you to this beautiful facility in southeast Calgary.  There are many exhibits setup inside for you to learn more about the ecology of the region and also about astronomy.  There are a variety of lectures, hands-on activities, hot chocolate and many telescopes setup in the common grass area.  This event is completely free and is perfect for kids.

Ralph Klein Park Star Night

This year there will be two events occurring on May 5, 2018 and October 6, 2018.  Links to the event are provided below.  It is certainly worth checking out and it is conveniently located near the ring road.

Ralph Klein Park Star Night - May 5, 2018
Ralph Klein Park Star Night - October 6, 2018

Star Parties

If you are looking for a really great astronomical experience there are a couple star parties occurring in southern Alberta throughout the year. 

In July the RASC-Calgary Centre hosts the annual Alberta Star-B-Q at the Eccles Ranch Observatory in Caroline.  This runs from Friday to Sunday (July 13-15).  I you are interested in more information or would like to preregister check out the official site below.

Alberta Star-B-Q

The other party in hosted by the Calgary Centre is the Alberta Star Party.  It takes place at the Starland Recreational Campground next to the Saskatchewan River just north of Drumheller.  This is a beautiful location to set up telescopes and have an enjoyable astronomical experience.  For more information, guidelines and preregistration please check out the official site below.

Alberta Star Party

RASC General Meetings

The general meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada - Calgary Centre are held most months throughout the year on the evening of the third Thursday.  The following dates are for 2018.

January 18, 2018
February 15, 2018
March 15, 2018
April 19, 2018
May 17, 2018
September 20, 2018
October 18, 2018
November 15, 2018

These meetings are free and open to the public and are a great way of networking with astronomers in Calgary.  Each meeting has a feature speaker who will be discussing an interesting colloquial topic in astronomy.  Following the feature speaker, members of the society discuss topics they are interested in and some of the observations they have made.  The parking is free and the meeting is held at the Kerby Centre Gymnasium on the West side of downtown starting at 7:30pm.  A link to the website is provided below which continually gets updated as speakers are confirmed. 

RASC - Calgary Centre General Meetings

McKenzie Lake Star Night

This is a free event that I host down in the southeastern suburbs of Calgary on a monthly basis.  We hold the meetings in the eastern room at the McKenzie Lake Community Centre (opposite side of the road to the lake).  It is typically held on a Friday or Saturday with the date planned a few weeks in advance.

Each meeting begins with a short lecture on interesting things we can see in the sky that evening.  It also covers current space news that is happening throughout the world at the time.  Following the lecture we go outside with telescopes and binoculars and look at some great objects in the sky.  There is a warm lecture room with free hot chocolate if you would like to come back in to avoid the cold!  During the viewing we typically have a craft for children that they may take home.  Each craft is based on the topic discussed that evening and provides a hands-on learning opportunity.  If there is time left we have a Q&A session and show some educational videos on the sky and missions to space.

If the weather outside is not conducive to viewing through a telescope we still go through the indoor agenda and provide you with a great astronomical experience.

Making Nebulae at the December McKenzie Lake Star Night

The webpage for this event is our Facebook page which you can use to RSVP.  Stay tuned as the event usually pops up a few weeks in advance of the date.  Also, if you have any ideas for topics you would like to learn about, please leave a message on the page!

www.facebook.com/simonjastronomy

It is also good to keep posted as there will be more events planned throughout the year in Calgary.  Occasionally there are special viewing days based on what is happening in the sky.  Also, I am certain to have likely missed one in this blog!  I wish you clear skies this year and hope to see you out at one of these great events!

2018 Preview II: The Night Sky

The night sky throughout 2018 is going to be remarkable!  We are going to be treated to a lunar eclipse, some close planetary conjunctions, the opposition of Mars and several comets worth checking out.  In no particular order, I would like to cover some of the sights that I am excited for in the next twelve months.

Lunar Eclipse

We have not had a total lunar eclipse in Calgary since September of 2015.  We will be treated to one during the morning of January 31, 2018.  We will begin to see the partial eclipse begin at 4:48am with the total eclipse beginning just over an hour later at 5:51am.  The total eclipse will last until 7:07am with the peak occurring at 6:29am.

This is Calgary's only eclipse of the year so it would be worth getting up early to watch this one.  Assuming the sky is clear you'll be able to watch this eclipse as the Moon progresses to set in the West.  The partial eclipse ends mere minutes before the Moon drops below the horizon.  This may be ideal conditions for some great photographs.

Since this is the second Full Moon in the month of January it is also known as a 'blue moon'.  However, this does not mean the Moon will appear blue, it will actually appear red.  The Sun's light is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere to illuminate the Moon. Blue light gets scattered by the Earth's atmosphere leaving the red light transmitted through to the Moon.

Total Lunar Eclipse (Image Credit: NASA)

I am certainly hoping the weather will be reasonable so I can obtain my own image of this event.

Planetary Conjunctions

There are several close planetary conjunctions happening throughout 2018.  There will be more details about them as the time arrives.  A list is provided below with images.  The images have two circles at 1° and 4.4° (common field of view of telescope and binoculars).

January 7 - Jupiter/Mars

Jupiter/Mars Conjunction

January 13 - Saturn/Mercury

Saturn/Mercury Conjunction

March 5 - Venus/Mercury

Venus/Mercury Conjunction

March 28 - Uranus/Venus

Uranus/Venus Conjunction

April 2 - Saturn/Mars

Saturn/Mars Conjunction

December 7 - Neptune/Mars

Neptune/Mars Conjunction

December 21 - Jupiter/Mercury

Jupiter/Mercury Conjunction

The Uranus/Venus conjunction at the end of March will be very close.  However, it will also be close to the twilight.  If you try to capture them in your telescope I wish you the best of luck.  The Neptune/Mars conjunction during the middle of December is also going to be a particularly close one.  Both planets easily fit inside the 1° circle.  This will help you to find Neptune since it is now more than a basic field of view outside of its friend for the past couple years -- Lambda Aquarii.

Mars Opposition

This is a good news/bad news kind of situation.  The good news is that Mars will be at its closest point to Earth during and will appear bright and large.  However, its declination will be almost 20°S, straddling the southern sky.  The atmosphere may interfere with good viewing for observers in northern latitudes.  Also, a Full Moon occurs on the same day which will add a significant amount of light pollution to the sky.  Its magnitude will be -2.8 and it will appear as a 24.2" disk.  Mars spends most of its time as a tiny red dot barely noticed in the sky.  Near opposition you have the opportunity to look through a telescope and see some of the terrestrial features on the diminutive planet.  Even though it will be further away at its 2020 opposition us northerners may get a better view.

Mars Oppositions (Image Credit: Martin J Powell, www.nakedeyeplanets.com)

Comets

There are a couple comets that I am interested in hunting down this year.  Throughout September, Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner will be well positioned for a visual attempt.  Also, a few months later, in December 46P/Wirtanen.  21P is predicted to reach a magnitude of around 6 which is easily reached in backyard telescopes or binoculars.  46P may even approach magnitude 3 which puts it within the realms of naked eye observation.

Of course there are many more sights that will be available for observers throughout 2018.  Jupiter will have many double shadow transits of its moons across the planet's face in August.  The annual meteor showers will hopefully put on a show.  The Perseids occur during a New Moon and the Geminids will peak after the waxing crescent Moon has set.  This should provide some decent conditions to catch some 'shooting stars'.

There are also exciting transient events that may occur throughout each year.  Supernovae from far away galaxies may become visible in telescopes, a bucket list item on many astronomers mind.  You may catch a giant bolide fireball explosion crossing the sky as a large meteor rains down on us.  The aurora is a flaky beast that provides little warning as to when it will appear.  Monitor local solar forecasts to determine if you should head out to chase it!

All I can suggest is you keep your eyes on the sky and open your mind to the wonder of the universe.

2018 Preview I: Space Missions

This upcoming year has some amazing space missions that will excite the world!  Highlighted below are a short-list of missions launching in 2018 that captured my attention.

Chandrayaan-2

This is a mission being conducted by the Indian Space Research Organization and is slated to launch in March.  It will consist of a lunar orbiter, lander and rover.  The scientific payloads will have a variety of different spectrometers, cameras and radar.  The 44 pound rover will be able to perform chemical analysis of the Moon's surface and relay it back to the orbiter.  Also, using radar it is hoped that further evidence can be provided for water ice throughout regions of the Moon.

Chandrayaan-2 (Image Credit: India Today)

Chang'e 4

China is anticipating launching a lunar orbiter during the Summer of 2018.  Late in 2018 or early 2019 they will deploy a lander with a rover on the far side of the Moon.  Anticipated to land in the crater known as Von Kármán in the South Pole-Aitken Basin.  This will be the first landing on the far side of the moon, a vastly unexplored region.  With a significant payload of scientific instruments the outcome of this mission is quite positive.  The lander will also contain potato seeds and silkworm eggs.  The idea is to have the carbon dioxide from the worms sustain the plants while the oxygen will sustain the worms.  Possibly by 2019 the Chang'e 5 mission will return the first lunar samples back to Earth since 1976.

Chinese Yutu Rover on the Moon (Image Credit: CSNA)

Space-X Falcon Heavy

This mission has received a lot of media attention over the past few weeks.  The anticipated launch date is January 2018.  Space-X is looking to launch their Falcon Heavy from Complex 39A; the most powerful rocket launch from there since the legendary Saturn V.  The inaugural payload will be a Tesla Roadster on a trajectory towards Mars.  If successful it is anticipated a manned mission will send space tourists on a flight to see the Moon.  Harnessing Space-X's capacity for reusing rockets the three Falcon 9 cores will return to Earth to be used again.  A huge rocket, it will have a payload capacity close to 150,000 pounds!

Falcon Heavy on 39A (Image Credit: NSF, Derrick Stamos)

Juno

Juno has been orbiting Jupiter since July 5, 2016 and has provided the world with many amazing pictures and scientific data.  The mission is planned to last until July 16, 2018 when its primary mission comes to an end.  However, based on funding, it may be extended for another 3 years.  At the end of the mission, much like Cassini, it will be placed in a controlled deorbit to burn up in the atmosphere of Jupiter.

Juno (Image Credit: NASA)

TESS

The transiting exoplanet survey satellite is a space telescope anticipated to launch in March.  With state of the art CCD cameras TESS will search for exoplanet candidates based on the transit method.  As an exoplanet transits the face of its star it causes a measurable dip in the magnitude of observable light.  As an added bonus it will also seek transient stellar activity such as gamma ray bursts.  Nearly half a million stars will be analyzed and it is hoped that planets similar to Earth will be found in the habitable zone of the target stars.  TESS will also act as a prequel to the James Webb Space Telescope by developing a list of targets that will be examined further.

TESS (Image Credit: MIT)

Insight

This will be the only mission travelling to Mars during this opposition window.  The next window will be in 2020.  Due to the orbits of Earth and Mars, missions are only launched when the planets are on the same side of the Sun to each other.  This mission consists of a lander that will be stationary on the surface of the red planet.  It will have a sensitive seismometer and a burrowing heat probe that can go five meters below the surface.  It will also be equipped with a interior structure experiment that will narrow down the density of our rocky neighbour.  Launching in May of 2018, it is projected to have a mission length of 2 years.

InSight (Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)

Parker Solar Probe

A mission to the Sun will launch during the middle of the northern hemisphere Summer from Cape Canaveral.  With a mission duration of nearly 7 years we should get some really good data about our own star.  At its closest approach it will be only 6 million kilometers from the Sun.  For general reference, the closest Mercury gets to the Sun is 46 million kilometers.  At approximately 8.5 solar radii the Parker Solar Probe will study the solar wind at its source.  By learning more about space weather we will be better able to protect the Earth and satellites in orbit from solar radiation.

Parker Space Probe (Image Credit: John Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory)

BepiColombo

A joint venture between the European Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency to the planet Mercury.  Set to launch in October 2018 it is slated to arrive at our Solar System's smallest planet in 2025.  It will consist of two orbiters, a planetary orbiter and a magnetospheric orbiter.  The main goals of this mission is to analyze the geology and evolution of Mercury.  Also, it is designed to investigate Mercury's tenuous atmosphere which will provide insight into the atmosphere of planets close to their home star.  Russia is providing spectrometers that will be used to look for water in polar craters that do not face the Sun.

BepiColombo (Image Credit: Astrium)

As you can see 2018 will be an interesting year for space exploration.  I am excited for these launches and for the data that will be returned.  Even though we are not currently setting foot on objects throughout the solar system we are still doing amazing science with the most technologically advanced tools we can produce.  Mark your calendar for these events and stay tuned to our Facebook page for updates!