Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine - January 2018
Welcome to Caribbean Compass, the most widely-read boating publication in the Caribbean! THE MOST NEWS YOU CAN USE - feature articles on cruising destinations, regattas, environment, events...
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ALL ASHORE…<br />
JANUARY <strong>2018</strong> CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 36<br />
The Sky from<br />
Mid-<strong>January</strong> to<br />
Mid-February<br />
by Jim Ulik<br />
Once upon a time in ancient Greece a man settled along the western shores of<br />
Ionia. They called him Aristarchus of Samos. This lone man developed a hypothesis<br />
that the Earth revolved around the Sun. Then he died. In 250 BCE, everyone else<br />
thought that the Sun orbited the Earth. That view remained unquestioned for more<br />
than 1,700 years when, around 1500, Copernicus proposed that the Sun was at the<br />
center of the universe. Galileo in 1600 would agree with Copernicus’ theory when the<br />
church instructed him not to teach or defend Copernican theory. The National<br />
Science Foundation sponsored a survey in 2014. Those results showed that nearly<br />
25 percent of the sample from around the world still believes that the Sun revolves<br />
around the Earth.<br />
Tuesday, <strong>January</strong> 16th<br />
There are two planets rising near each other in the eastern sky before dawn.<br />
Saturn will be the first to appear, followed by Mercury. Currently both planets are<br />
located in Sagittarius. Over the next few days Mercury will slowly move away from<br />
Saturn and towards the Sun. Looking a little higher in the southeastern sky this<br />
morning is Jupiter shining brightly just above Mars. It has been nine days since the<br />
conjunction between Jupiter and Mars. Both planets will remain close to each other<br />
over the next few mornings.<br />
Throughout the day the Moon will be in line with the Sun. It is the day of the New<br />
Moon. The alignment of the Sun and Moon will reach its closest point after sunset<br />
around 2217. Venus is also a part of this grouping. The best time to observe faint<br />
objects such as the Andromeda Galaxy or the Milky Way is after 2000 hours. There<br />
will be minimal reflected sunlight in the atmosphere as the Sun will be more than<br />
18 degrees below the horizon.<br />
Monday, <strong>January</strong> 22nd<br />
Fifteen years ago today Earth received its last signal from Pioneer 10. Launched<br />
in 1972, the spacecraft was designed to explore the environment of Jupiter, along<br />
with asteroids, solar winds, and cosmic rays. Aboard is a gold plaque with graphic<br />
messages for alien civilizations. Currently Pioneer 10 is 17,868 million kilometres<br />
from Earth.<br />
Wednesday, <strong>January</strong> 24th<br />
The Moon reaches its first quarter phase this evening. Rising just before noon, the<br />
Moon will become 50-percent illuminated right after happy hour. The Moon will<br />
finally set after midnight.<br />
Friday, <strong>January</strong> 26th<br />
As the Sun begins to set some bright stars will begin to twinkle. Tonight there is<br />
a conjunction between the Moon and Aldebaran. The orange star has a diameter<br />
that is 43 times greater than our Sun. It is positioned eastward off the dark side of<br />
the Moon.<br />
Wednesday, <strong>January</strong> 31st<br />
From Billie Holiday’s version of “Blue Moon” to The Traveling Wilburys “New Blue<br />
Moon” there have been more than 100 artists singing about the Blue Moon phenomenon.<br />
Among other meanings, a Blue Moon also refers to two full moons in a single<br />
month. This month began with a Full Moon and now ends with one. Pick one of those<br />
songs out for background music and watch the moonrise just after sunset. This<br />
Moon also happens to be a Supermoon. The Moon tonight will not appear as large<br />
as the Supermoon that occurred on <strong>January</strong> 1st, but should be impressive as it<br />
climbs above the horizon.<br />
Arrival of the projectile in ‘From Earth<br />
to the Moon’ by Jules Verne<br />
Thursday, February 1st<br />
About once every 20 years, February does not have a Full Moon. When there is a<br />
calendar month without a Full Moon, a Black Moon can be said to occur. Looking at<br />
the Moon tonight you will see a dim point of light just above or west of the Moon.<br />
That is Regulus, a multiple star system, and the heart of Leo.<br />
—Continued on next page<br />
Bocas Marina<br />
Safe Haven in Paradise<br />
“The Undiscovered d <strong>Caribbean</strong>”<br />
Bocas Del Toro, Panama<br />
Full Service Marina • Calypso Cantina<br />
www.bocasmarina.com • bocasyachtclub@yahoo.com<br />
Haul Out Yard • 60-Ton Travelift<br />
www.bocasboatyard.com • bocasyachtservices@yahoo.com<br />
9°20’.05”N, 82°14’.45”W<br />
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