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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2018)
Wednesday, May 2, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon 13 Stars over Sisters By Amy Hills Correspondent Spring in Central Oregon cannot only bring bipolar weather patterns and tourism, but also bright and beauti- ful night skies as the winter hexagon begins to set and the familiar constellations of early summer once again become visible. The Eta Aquarid meteor shower will peak on the eve- ning of May 6 and morning of May 7, normally producing 15-20 meteors per hour. Light from a last-quarter moon, however, will reduce those numbers this year. These “shooting stars” are caused by debris shed from Halley’s Comet that enter the earth’s atmosphere and are inciner- ated by the heat of friction. The meteors appear to origi- nate from a point in the sky near Eta Aquarii, a relatively bright star in the constellation Aquarius. Look just above the dark southern horizon. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere will get a much better view of the event. Most of us are familiar with the fact that the plan- ets in our solar system, and even the sun, rotate, or spin, about an axis. In the case of the earth, the northern axis of rotation points toward Polaris (North Star). In the same way, our Milky Way galaxy rotates about an axis. The band of light that we see on dark nights in the summer and winter is caused by the glow of faraway stars in the disk of the galaxy. This is analogous to the equatorial region of a spinning sphere, such as the earth or sun. By striking a 90-degree angle to the plane of our galactic disk, we find that the galactic North Pole points to the constellation of Coma Berenices, located near the meridian about 70 degrees above the southern horizon in May. More specifically, it lies about two degrees north of the one-armed spiral galaxy NGC 4725. Along the ecliptic the zodiacal constellations of Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, and Libra will be visible, with Scorpius rising above the southeastern horizon near the end of the month. They are joined by Bootes the Herdsman and Hercules the Strongman, familiar stellar groupings that signal the tran- sition from spring to summer. Hercules contains two of the finest globular star clusters in the sky in M13 and M92. Venus, the brightest planet that can be seen from the earth, continues to rise higher above the western horizon after its superior conjunction with the sun on January 8 of this year. The brilliant orb’s eastward motion among the stars will allow it to further distance itself from the sun until reaching greatest eastern elongation on August 17. It should pop into view at about 8:30 p.m. local daylight time in mid-May, standing about 19 degrees above the horizon. Jupiter will be at opposi- tion on May 8, the closest it has been to the earth since February 2015. Located in Libra all month, the colos- sal gas giant will rise in the southeast at 8:30 p.m. on May 1, earlier as the month progresses. It will be visible all night long, but be highest in the sky at about midnight; by 10 p.m. toward the end of May. Saturn is next in line as the parade of planets contin- ues. The strikingly beautiful ringed planet rises shortly after midnight early in May, reaching the meridian by about 5 a.m. just before being washed out by dawn. It is slowly creeping eastward amid the stars of Sagittarius and will be well-placed to put on quite a show later this summer. Finally, Mars will appear above the southeastern hori- zon just before 1:30 a.m. as May opens. Unlike slowly plodding Jupiter and Saturn, the Red Planet will zip through eastern Sagittarius and cruise into Capricornus by the end of the month. It will brighten dramatically during May and June before reaching opposition on July 27. At that time Mars will be closer to the earth than it’s been since August of 2003 and outshine all but the moon and Venus. Our moon will be on the wane during the first half of the month before going dark (new moon) on May 15. This will produce optimal viewing of deep-sky objects or dim planets that would otherwise be overlooked by the naked eye. The moon becomes fully illuminated again on May 29. To learn more about the night sky, join the Sisters Astronomy Club for a public starwatch on May 12. It will begin at 9 p.m. with a presen- tation in the Sisters Park & Recreation District building, located at 1750 W. McKinney Butte Rd. in Sisters. After PHOTO COURTESY NASA The North Galactic Pole lies two degrees north of NGC 4725, a one-armed spiral galaxy (pictured here) in the constellation of Coma Berenices. the presentation, telescopes will be made available in the northwest corner of the high entertainment & EVENTS Sisters School Sports Fields WED...MAY 2 Sisters Annual Lacrosse Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. Get ready to party on CINCO DE MAYO! Saturday, y , MAY 5 SPECIALS! Tacos • Cerveza • Tequila • 8PM to 1AM 1AM, no cover for DJ BOOGIE! 175 N. Larch St. . 17 1 541-549-6114 5 5 96 4 hardtailsoregon.com May 3-5 / 7:30 PM Silent Echo Theater “Now You’re Talking” Come see 7 Oregon (2 world) premieres of 7 one-act plays written by 8 playwrights, led by 7 directors. . THURS...MAY 3 The Belfry “Now You’re Talking” One-Act Plays 7:30 p.m. Presented by Silent Echo Theater Company. $13 online at bendticket.com ($10 students & seniors). For additional information go online to belfryevents.com. Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. Vaccination & Microchip Clinic Saturday, May 5 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Questions? Call 541-699-9149. Dirty Revival May 18 / Fri / 8 PM The soulful sounds and energetic beats of this Portland-born 7-piece outfi t will enrapture any audience. PUB OPENS 1 HR PRIOR TO SHOWS Hosted by Sisters Feed & Supply and Sunshine Vet Services 102 E. Main Ave. | 541-549-4151 BelfryEvents.com 541-815-9122 Invitational (SALI 2018) 14th annual event! For additional information go online to salilax.com or sistersrecreation.com or call Sisters Park & Recreation District at 541-549-2091. The Belfry “Now You’re Talking” One-Act Plays 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Presented by Silent Echo Theater Company. $13 online at bendticket.com ($10 students & seniors). For additional information go online to belfryevents.com. Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every Saturday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go to hardtailsoregon.com. FRI...MAY 4 SUN..MAY 6 Sisters Fire Hall Author Slideshow with William Sullivan 8 p.m. Paulina Springs Books and Sisters Trails Alliance present hiking guru Sullivan. Learn about the best hikes in Oregon! He’ll also share his book, “Little Travelers Guide to Europe with Kids.” Free! For additional information call 541-549-0866 or go online to paulinasprings.com. The Belfry “Now You’re Talking” One-Act Plays 7:30 p.m. Presented by Silent Echo Theater Company. $13 online at bendticket.com ($10 students & seniors). For additional information go online to belfryevents.com. Hardtails Bar & Grill Karaoke Night 9 p.m. Every Friday (if no live music is scheduled), no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go online to hardtailsoregon.com. Sisters School Sports Fields Sisters Annual Lacrosse Invitational (SALI 2018) 14th annual event! For additional information go online to salilax.com or sistersrecreation.com or call Sisters Park & Recreation District at 541-549-2091. SAT...MAY 5 Low-Cost Dog & Cat school parking lot for view- ing the night sky. The event is free. Sisters Saloon Live Music with Burnin’ Moonlight 7 to 10 p.m. No cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. Cork Cellars Live Music with Jim Cornelius & Mike Biggers (in sombreros!) 7 to 9 p.m. No cover! For additional information call 541-549-2675 or go online to corkcellarswinebistro.com. MON...MAY 7 Hardtails Bar & Grill Open Mic & Jam Night 7 p.m. Every Monday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-6114 or go online to hardtailsoregon.com. Sisters Saloon Painting Party 6 to 8 p.m. $35, every Monday! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. TUES...MAY 8 Sisters Saloon Trivia Night 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at 6:15 p.m. Free, every Tuesday! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. WED...MAY 9 Sisters Saloon Poker Night 7 p.m. Every Wednesday! $20. For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go online to sisterssaloon.net. THURS...MAY 10 Sisters Saloon Karaoke Night 9 p.m. to midnight. Every Thursday, no cover! For additional information call 541-549-7427 or go to sisterssaloon.net. Event listings are free to advertisers. Submit items by 5 p.m. Fridays via email to teresa@nuggetnews.com
