Wonders in the night sky

My purpose in starting this blog years ago was to show my family and friends back home what New Zealand looks like and what we were seeing as we began our lives here; our interaction with it.  I didn't feel capable of writing continuous individual emails to each person or couple and showing the same batch of pictures over and over.  How much better I thought, if I were to put our experiences into a blog that they would all have access to.  And if other people happened to see and enjoy it, well, that was just icing on the cake.  

That having been said, I have to admit that this particular post is one that I'm doing mostly for myself. I'm hoping of course that family and friends enjoy it, but I've come to love planet and stargazing and I wanted to put some of my latest successes together into a post.  Right now, they're kind of spread out through several files in my computer's picture archive. This is a good way of consolidating and storing them.

I've said before in various posts that I want to spend my retirement years appreciating our world. I'm 70 now, and while I am currently healthy, I don't know when that could change and my abilities might then be compromised. Therefore, during this golden time while I can still explore our world, and have plenty of time to do so, I intend to enjoy the wonders that we have been given.  

This first picture is one I took in February of 2022. It shows the Southern Cross. You may already know that this constellation helps navigators find the southern celestial pole.  You may not be aware that there are two 'pointer stars' that seem to show where the Cross is in the sky. 

Do you understand what I mean by pointer stars? They are the two just to the left and above the center of this picture.  If you were to draw a line through them and extend it to the right, the line would pass very close to the top of the cross.    

This second shot is of the same constellation, but taken in August of '22.  You'll notice that the cross and it's 'pointer stars' rotate with time. The pointer stars are now at a downward angle and the cross is lying on its side.  And of course I have zoomed in on it a bit on this second photo. The stars are easier to see.  Take a moment to notice the pointer stars, especially the top one. 

The two pointer stars are named Alpha (it's the higher one) and Beta (the lower) Centauri. 

Alpha Centauri happens to be one of the stars that is fairly close to earth, but more about that later.  Alpha Centauri also happens to be very special in another way as well.  It is actually a binary star. 

A binary star is made up of two stars which orbit a central point located between the two of them.  It may look like one star at a distance, but it's not.  In the case of Alpha Centauri, its two stars are named Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B, and they complete their circling of one another every 79 Earth years.   

I decided recently that I would try to photograph the pair of stars, Alpha Centauri A and B, and show their separation. But would it be possible? Take a look at what I got.

This is the first picture I took, early in August, 2022.  The humidity was very high that night and that affects the clarity, but I think you can see that it appears there are two stars. And that's not camera wiggle. I had a solid rest. I was encouraged to keep trying. 

Alpha Centauri A is 1.1 times the size of our sun and Alpha Centauri B is 0.9 times our sun.  I'm guessing that 'A' is the star to the left, but I don't know that for sure. 

The picture below was taken on August 12th, McKenzie's birthday. The humidity that night was 71%, an improvement on the previous shot and look at that.  That's what I have been hoping to see and it thrills me. I did it.  

Alpha Centauri A and B are approximately 4.3 light-years away from us.  The distance between them is about the distance from our Sun to Uranus.  

That we are able to see such a wonder amazes me, delights me. 

I can see a very slight color variation between the two. The one on the right is a little redder than the other, and that matches what I read in Wikipedia about the pair.  Alpha Centauri B is slightly smaller, as I mentioned before, and it is cooler, than Alpha Centauri A is. Therefore, it would show as slightly less white, just as we see here. It think that's Alpha Centauri B on the right. I love it.   

I have included a link below which will show you Hubble's photograph of Alpha Centauri A and B. if you want to see the ultimate view.  I think I did pretty well with my 'backyard' shot from sea level. 

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_feature/public/thumbnails/image/hubble_friday_09022016.jpg  Furthermore, I think my shot shows the color variation more than Hubble's photo does. 

This next picture really excites me.  But it is a bit of a mystery. I don't know positively what I have. I know what I hope this is, but I have no proof as yet.  I am hoping that what you see here, below the  bright Alpha Centauri in the upper center, is Proxima Centauri. It's located at about 7 o'clock to A.C.  (disregard the star off to the right) 

You have already met Alpha and Beta Centauri, the pointer stars.  Well, this, I'm hoping, is the third star in the Centauri Cluster, Proxima Centauri.  While Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri shine brightly, little Proxima Centauri is just 1/8th the size of our sun and is classified as a red dwarf.  It may be small, but it holds the distinction of being the star that is the closest to Earth. It is 'only' 4.24 light-years away.  
I have been trying for the last few days to determine if this is in fact Proxima Centauri, by looking at star charts and comparing my picture, but have come no closer to proving it to myself. I think it ought to be, it must be, according to what I've seen, but ???  Therefore, I contacted the Auckland Star Dome, which houses our local planetarium, and which also has some astronomers on staff, and asked if one of them could help me identify this small red star.  I'll let you know what happens.  

Update: As of today, 8/22/22, when I published this post, I have not heard back from the "Ask an Astronomer"  person at the Star Dome.  However, I have been through quite a few star charts, and specifically looked for red dwarf stars.  To date, I have not found another one shown as being anywhere near Proxima Centauri.  Therefore, I feel more confident that I did get a picture of it here. Until proven otherwise, I am going to believe that I did. 

You'll have no problem with identifying the planet is the picture below.  Saturn is in opposition right now, meaning that it is directly opposite the Sun and as close to Earth as it gets. A great time to get a picture of it. 

This photo was also taken on McKenzie's birthday. and is about as good a shot of that planet as I've ever been able to take to this point. Saturn was in the northeast sky and the Southern Cross was in the, well, south.  

My next picture will show you another view of what I saw that night as I took this picture. 

That is a completely full, intensely bright moon. That's Saturn off to the left and very slightly above it.  They have both just cleared the top of our Millbrook Building, part of which is being renovated.  

My final picture for this post will show you what I deal with all too often in my role as planet and stargazer. They're the bane of astronomer's, the curse of Moon lover's, the presence that 'puts the cap back on the lens': clouds.  

Not long after I took the pictures that you've been looking at, this cloud bank moved in from the east across the entire sky.  

"That's it buddy, the curtain is coming down on this show," I seemed to hear.

Rats.  

Thanks for letting me share Henderson's night sky with you all.    

And don't forget, your night sky is filled with stuff too. Get out there, give your camera a real solid rest, and take some pictures.  

BTW, on September 10th, the Moon will pass within 0.02 degrees of Saturn.  Wow.  I hope I get the chance to record it.  -djf