Observing
Calendars
Some notes about the Observing Calendars:
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I will try to describe positions of objects around the date I expect Smoke Signals to be published and the earliest time for viewing after twilight.
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These are forward looking calendars, so the May issue of Smoke Signals is keyed to the June Calendar and so on.
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Remember, star positions move to the west at the rate of 15 degrees an hour. That means they will be further east of my description before the publish date, and west after the publish date.
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Prior month’s calendars may be used if this is kept in mind.
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The time is set around the time of first star light.
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A good planisphere is essential if you are doing any serious viewing. I cannot devote enough space to do a detailed job of star-hopping here. I will attempt to give you a sufficient road map for casual viewing.
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I will pick objects and topics which I think will be of interest to the general public. Your favorite object (and mine) may be overlooked.
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Commonly used definitions can be found in the "FAQ" section. An FAQ button is provided at the bottom of each calendar. Return by clicking the "Back" button on your browser.
