calendar notes

November meteors. On the 17th or 18th of No-

vember there is the potential for a Leonid meteor
storm, the likes of which have been seen only a
few times per century. See page 28 of this issue for
Joe Raos evaluation of the prospects.
Meteor watchers getting ready for that event
can hone their techniques on the Taurids, a weak,
long-lasting shower that produces up to 8 or 10
meteors per hour throughout early and mid-No-
vember. The Taurids are unusual in that as many
meteors can be seen in the evening as in the
morning, since the showers radiant is fairly high
in the sky all night. Moonlight wont interfere at
all this year.
The Taurid meteors are debris from Periodic
Comet Encke. They are the slowest of any major
showers, encountering the Earth at only 28 kilo-
meters per second. The Taurid stream is noted
for its many brightly colored meteors, writes Jeff
Wood in WGN, the newsletter of the Internation-
al Meteor Organization. Although the dominant
color is yellow, many orange, green, red, and blue
fireballs have been recorded.
Jupiters Red Spot. Here are the Universal
dates and times when the center of the Great Red
Spot should cross Jupiters central meridian, the
imaginary line down the center of the planets
disk from pole to pole. The spot has been pale or-
ange-tan in recent years. It appears slightly more
distinct when Jupiter is viewed through a light
green or blue filter.
October 1, 3:14, 13:09, 23:05; 2, 9:00, 18:56; 3,
4:52, 14:47; 4, 0:43, 10:38, 20:34; 5, 6:29, 16:25; 6,
2:21, 12:16, 22:12; 7, 8:07, 18:03; 8, 3:59, 13:54,
23:50; 9, 9:45, 19:41; 10, 5:36, 15:32; 11, 1:28,
11:23, 21:19; 12, 7:14, 17:10; 13, 3:05, 13:01, 22:57;
14, 8:52, 18:48; 15, 4:43, 14:39; 16, 0:35, 10:30,
20:26; 17, 6:21, 16:17; 18, 2:12, 12:08, 22:04; 19,

Advertisement 7:59, 17:55; 20, 3:50, 13:46, 23:41; 21, 9:37, 19:33;
22, 5:28, 15:24; 23, 1:19, 11:15, 21:11; 24, 7:06,
17:02; 25, 2:57, 12:53, 22:49; 26, 8:44, 18:40; 27,
4:35, 14:31; 28, 0:26, 10:22, 20:18; 29, 6:13, 16:09;
30, 2:04, 12:00, 21:56; 31, 7:51, 17:47.
November 1, 3:42, 13:38, 23:34; 2, 9:29, 19:25;
3, 5:20, 15:16; 4, 1:12, 11:07, 21:03; 5, 6:58, 16:54;
6, 2:50, 12:45, 22:41; 7, 8:36, 18:32; 8, 4:28, 14:23;
9, 0:19, 10:14, 20:10; 10, 6:06, 16:01; 11, 1:57,
11:53, 21:48; 12, 7:44, 17:39; 13, 3:35, 13:31, 23:26;
14, 9:22, 19:18; 15, 5:13, 15:09; 16, 1:04, 11:00,
20:56; 17, 6:51, 16:47; 18, 2:43, 12:38, 22:34; 19,
8:29, 18:25; 20, 4:21, 14:16; 21, 0:12, 10:08, 20:03;
22, 5:59, 15:55; 23, 1:50, 11:46, 21:42; 24, 7:37,
17:33; 25, 3:28, 13:24, 23:20; 26, 9:15, 19:11; 27,
5:07, 15:02; 28, 0:58, 10:54, 20:49; 29, 6:45, 16:41;
30, 2:36, 12:32, 22:28.
These predictions assume the Red Spot is at
Jovian System II longitude 66, the most recent
value provided by John W. McAnally of the Asso-
ciation of Lunar and Planetary Observers (www.
lpl.arizona.edu/alpo). If it has moved elsewhere, it
will transit 123 minutes late for every 1 of longi-
tude greater than 66, or 123 minutes early for
every 1 less than 66.
Features on Jupiter appear closer to the central
meridian than to the limb and thus are well
placed for viewing for 50 minutes before and
after their transit times.
Variable-star maxima. October 1, T Hydrae,
085008, 7.8; 6, SS Virginis, 122001, 6.8; 9, T Eridani,
035124, 8.0; 13, R Botis, 143227, 7.2 (see chart,
April 1992, page 429); 21, T Sagittarii, 191017, 8.0;
25? TT Monocerotis, 072005, 7.3; 29, T Centauri,

114 November 1999 Sky & Telescope 1999 Sky Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.
133633, 5.5; 29, RR Sagittarii, 194929, 6.8; 30, Omi-
cron (o) Ceti (Mira), 021403, 3.4 (see chart, Febru-
ary 1996, page 72); 30, S Virginis, 132706, 7.0; 30, S
Coronae Borealis, 151731, 7.3 (see chart, June 1988,
page 631).
November 2, R Cancri, 081112, 6.8; 3, X Mono-
cerotis, 065208, 7.4; 12, R Geminorum, 070122a,
7.1; 13, U Orionis, 054920a, 6.3 (see chart, Novem-
ber 1989, page 513); 14? VX Sagittarii, 180222, 6.7;
20, U Cygni, 201647, 7.2; 21, S Herculis, 164715,
7.6; 24? SY Monocerotis, 063201, 7.3; 27, X Cen-
tauri, 114441, 8.0; 27, V Botis, 142539, 7.0; 27, U
Herculis, 162119, 7.5.
The data above are, in order: the day of the
month near which the star should be at maximum
brightness; the stars name; its designation number,
which gives rough equinox-1900.0 right ascension
(first four digits) and declination (boldface if south-
ern); and the stars typical visual magnitude at peak
brightness. The actual maximum may be brighter
or fainter and many days early or late. All predic-
tions are by Janet Mattei using recent data of the
American Association of Variable Star Observers, 25
Birch St., Cambridge, MA 02138 (www.aavso.org).
Stars are listed if magnitude 8.0 or brighter at aver-
age maximum.
Minima of Algol. October 2, 1:35; 4, 22:24; 7,
19:12; 10, 16:01; 13, 12:50; 16, 9:39; 19, 6:27; 22,
3:16; 25, 0:05; 27, 20:54; 30, 17:42.
November 2, 14:31; 5, 11:20; 8, 8:09; 11, 4:58;
14, 1:47; 16, 22:36; 19, 19:25; 22, 16:14; 25, 13:03;
28, 9:51.
These are the dates and times, in Universal
Time, when the eclipsing variable star Algol (
Persei) should be at its dimmest, magnitude 3.4
instead of its usual 2.1. It is nearly this faint for
two hours, and it takes several hours to fade and
brighten. These geocentric predictions are from
Advertisement
the heliocentric elements Min. = J.D. 2,441,598.608
+ 2d.867315E, based on 95 timings from 1972 to
1990 analyzed by John Isles.
Universal Time (UT or UTC) is used worldwide
by astronomers and others to avoid confusion be-
tween time zones. It is expressed in the 24-hour
system, whereby 1:00 p.m. is called 13:00, 2:00
p.m. is 14:00, and so on.
To convert a UT time and date to a standard
time and date in North America, subtract the fol-
lowing hours: to get Eastern Standard Time, 5;
CST, 6; MST, 7; PST, 8; Alaska, 9; or Hawaii, 10. To
obtain daylight saving time (summer time),
subtract one hour less than these values. If you get
a negative number of hours, add 24; in this case
the result is on the date before the UT date given.
For example, 6:45 UT November 9th is 1:45 a.m.
on the 9th EST and 10:45 p.m. on the 8th PST.
You may find it easier just to remember when
0:00 UT happens in your time zone. This is on the
previous date at 7 p.m. EST, 6 p.m. CST, 5 p.m.
MST, or 4 p.m. PST. When daylight saving time is
in effect: 8 p.m. EDT, 7 p.m. CDT, 6 p.m. MDT, or
5 p.m. PDT.
Sky coordinates. Positions of celestial objects
are commonly given as right ascension (in hours
and minutes of time) eastward from the vernal
equinox and declination (in degrees and minutes
of arc) from the celestial equator. A north declina-
tion is positive, south declination negative. The
planetary data table in Celestial Calendar lists posi-
tions with respect to the equinox of date, the nat-
ural system for computing their risings, settings
and meridian transits and pointing a telescope. All
other positions in Sky & Telescope, except as noted
otherwise, are measured from the 2000.0 equinox,

1999 Sky Publishing Corp. All rights reserved. Sky & Telescope November 1999 115
celestial calendar

ILLUSTRATION BY JAY RYAN, WWW.SKYWISE.COM

the standard for modern star atlases and reference small telescopes, this star takes a little more than
14, 0:18; 15, 4:59; 16, 9:40; 17, 14:21; 18, 19:02; 19,
works. This year and next, equinox-of-date and two hours to fade and two more hours to recover
23:43; 21, 4:24; 22, 9:06; 23, 13:47; 24, 18:28; 25,
equinox-2000.0 positions agree within about 1 arc- 23:09; 27, 3:50; 28, 8:31; 29, 13:12; 30, 17:54.fully. The changes are most dramatic within an
minute. These are the Universal dates and times when hour of minimum light. These geocentric predic-
Accurate time signals. Astronomers often tions are from the heliocentric elements Min. =
the eclipsing variable star RZ Cassiopeiae should
need to time events to an accuracy of better than be dimmest, magnitude 7.7 instead of its usual J.D. 2,443,200.3063 + 1d.195247E, as given in the
a second. With a shortwave radio you can receive General Catalogue of Variable Stars (4th edition,
6.2. Well suited for checking with binoculars and
continuous time signals by tuning to WWV, 1984). Can readers confirm that this stars minima
which broadcasts at 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 MHz, or are now occurring 20 to 30 minutes late?
to CHU at 3.330, 7.335, and 14.670 MHz. Signal AstroAlert News Service. Amateurs every-
clarity varies with atmospheric conditions and where are invited to join Sky & Telescopes
time of day or night. e-mail network for quick notification of
Those in the United States without shortwave ra- RZ 76 fleeting astronomical events. For ex-
dios can get accurate time ticks over the telephone ample, time-critical observations are
RZ
for three minutes by calling 900-410-8463 via 81 needed by professional astrono-
AT&T. This number gives access to the U.S. Naval 73 mers if and when the next super-
ADAPTED FROM MILLENNIUM STAR ATLAS DATA

Observatory master clock in Washington, D.C. The SU nova goes off in our Milky Way or
call is automatically routed through land lines to the Local Group. A bright comet
ensure 140-second accuracy in the contiguous Unit- CASSIOPEIA
may suddenly appear, or a solar
ed States. The charge is 50 cents for the first minute 66 flare may mean that an auroral dis-
and 45 cents for each minute thereafter. play is imminent.
A note on sky positions. In Sky & Telescope To begin receiving AstroAlert messages,
descriptions of where things appear with respect visit www.skypub.com/news/ astroalert.html
to the horizon or zenith are written for the 60 and follow the instructions. This service is further
worlds midnorthern latitudes. Descriptions that Cas described in the August issue, page 34.
also depend on longitude are for North America, Skyline: our telephone news service. To pro-
except as otherwise noted. vide all readers with access to fast-breaking news
Minima of RZ Cas. October 1, 23:38; 3, 4:19; 4, such as comet and nova discoveries, Sky & Tele-
9:00; 5, 13:41; 6, 18:22; 7, 23:04; 9, 3:45; 10, 8:26; To follow RZ Cassiopeiae through an eclipse, scope maintains Skyline, a dial-up news service.
11, 13:07; 12, 17:48; 13, 22:29; 15, 3:10; 16, 7:51; 17, use binoculars or a small telescope and the The three-minute voice recording is updated every
12:32; 18, 17:13; 19, 21:54; 21, 2:35; 22, 7:16; 23, comparison-star magnitudes given here (to Friday afternoon, or more often if news warrants.
11:58; 24, 16:39; 25, 21:20; 27, 2:01; 28, 6:42; 29, Call 617-497-4168.
11:23; 30, 16:04; 31, 20:45. tenths with decimal points omitted). SU Cas- The Skyline text (Weekly News Bulletin) and
November 2, 1:26; 3, 6:07; 4, 10:49; 5, 15:30; 6, siopeiae, also in the field, is a Cepheid vari- much more can be found at our World Wide Web
20:11; 8, 0:52; 9, 5:33; 10, 10:14; 11, 14:55; 12, 19:36; able that ranges from magnitude 5.9 to 6.4. site, www.skypub.com.

116 November 1999 Sky & Telescope 1999 Sky Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.