Astronomy Day was first celebrated on California in 1973. It was developed as a program to share information about astronomy with the general public. In 1973, astronomy day was only held in the fall. Today, it is held in the fall and the spring.
This year’s Spring International Astronomy Day is scheduled for April 29. Throughout the world, thousands of people will have an opportunity to learn about astronomy and, weather permitting, look through telescopes at the sun and the nighttime sky. These events are sponsored by groups such as astronomy clubs, observatories, planetariums, libraries and other entities that promote astronomy and space science.
This year, the Francis Malcolm Science Center, the UMPI Astronomy Club and the Aroostook County Astronomy Club are teaming up to bring the Spring International Astronomy Day to Aroostook County.
The event begins on Friday night, April 28, 201,7 at 7 p.m. (8 p.m. AT) when the Francis Malcolm Science Center in Easton, Maine, presents 2 SMALL PIECES OF GLASS! Join Mr. B as he takes us on a trip to investigate the wonders of four centuries of telescope investigation. Please call (207) 488-5451, or e-mail tricia@francismalcolmsciencecenter.com for reservations. Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for children, $20 for a family. FMSC is located at 776 Houlton Road, Easton, Maine.
Astronomy Day continues on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 2 p.m. with the UMPI Astronomy Club and the Aroostook County Astronomy Club holding a club meeting and educational sessions in UMPI’s Folsom Hall room 105. Sessions on How to join the UMPI Astronomy Club; How to join the Aroostook County Astronomy Club; Upcoming Astronomy Club Events; Observing the May Sky; Make your own sky chart (planisphere) ages 6 and up; A workshop on buying your first telescope; and a workshop on setting up different telescopes will be presented.
If the skies are clear on April 29, we will be holding an observing night at one of the member’s houses.
For more information on Astronomy Day, please go to https://www.astroleague.org/astronomyday/facts.
For more information on the UMPI Astronomy Club or the Aroostook County Astronomy Club, join our Facebook page “Aroostook County Astronomy Club.”
The night sky over Aroostook County
The International Space Station is visible as follows:
ISS visible in the morning sky from May 5 through May 31.
ISS visible in the evening sky from May 21 through May 31.
For the times of other events, go to www.calsky.com. You will need to register at this site and load your location to be able to get exact times. The University of Maine at Presque Isle is located at 68d00m7.8s west longitude and 46d40m45.6s north latitude.
To get a free sky chart go to www.skymaps.com
Sun and Planet Visibility
April 30, 2017
05:18 Sunrise.
19:40 Sunset.
Not visible Mercury.
03:54 – 05:18 Venus.
20:12 – 21:54 Mars.
19:54 – 04:36 Jupiter.
23:30 – 04:48 Saturn.
May 10, 2017
05:03 Sunrise.
19:53 Sunset.
Not visible Mercury.
03:30 – 05:06 Venus.
20:30 – 21:48 Mars.
20:12 – 03:54 Jupiter.
22:42 – 04:30 Saturn.
Upcoming events
04/22 04:00 April Lyrids – 7 meteors per hou.r
04/22 10:00 April Lyrids Maximum.
04/23 04:00 April Lyrids – 6 meteors per hour.
04/23 05:30 Moon 8.5 degrees from Venus.
04/24 50th anniversary of the first person to die on a space mission – Vladimir Komarov (1967).
04/26 08:16 New Moon.
04/26 11:12 Venus reaches its brightest in the evening sky (mag -4.75).
04/27 12:08 Moon at perigee – closest to the Earth.
04/27 21:18 Moon 8.4 degrees from Mars.
04/28 10:49 Mercury 0.1 degrees from Uranus.
04/29 Astronomy Day.
04/30 50th anniversary of the first photo of the Earth from the surface of the moon (1967).
05/02 13:35 First Quarter Moon.
05/06 19:27 Mercury at Aphelion – farthest from the sun.
05/09 04:00 ISS passes 0.5 degrees from Altair (Alpha Aquila).
05/10 01:20 Mercury 2.4 degrees from Uranus.
05/10 16:17 Full Moon.
05/12 15:37 Moon at Apogee – farthest from the Earth.
05:13 23:12 Moon 3.5 degrees from Saturn.
05/14 01:16 ISS passes 1.13 degrees from the moon.
05/17 19:24 Mercury at greatest western elongation – 25.8 degrees – best viewing in the morning sky.
05/18 20:32 Last Quarter Moon.
05/22 11:24 Moon 2.8 degrees from Venus.
05/24 03:49 ISS passes 0.5 degrees from Arcturus (Alpha Bootus).
05/24 04:12 Moon 4.3 degrees from Mercury.
05/25 15:44 New Moon.
05/25 21:14 Moon at Perigee – Closest to the Earth.
05/25 21:26 ISS passes 0.45 degrees from Jupiter.
05/31 19:15 ISS passes 1.25 degrees from the moon.
