Conjunction: Jupiter-Venus
Constellation: Puppis, Taurus, Virgo
Asterism: Winter Circle
Cluster: Hyades
Messier Objects: M42 (Orion Nebula), M43, M45 (Pleaides)
Location: Peggy's Cove, NS
Date: 2017-11-13
Time: 5:45 AM - 7:30 AM AST
Equipment: Visual + new Binoculars, 10x42 IS
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: -1º C
Some cloud on the horizon that disappeared shortly after our arrival. Light wind. Our older granddaughter, Brianne, was interested in what we did and she arrived shortly after we did to enjoy an early morning view of the skies.
![]() |
![]() ©Jerry Black. Nikon D600, ISO 250, 6.0 sec @ f/4.5 |
Conjunction: Jupiter-Venus (in Virgo) Planets came up and peeked through the clouds before rising above them. Venus was very bright in comparison. For some reason, I could not find Mars near the star Porrima ("above" Spica in the morning skies).
|
![]() ©Jerry Black. Coolpix P900, ISO 800, 0.8 sec @ f/3.5 |
Winter Circle M42 & M43 |
![]() |
Puppis
Time: 6:30 AM AST
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars, 10x30 IS
S&T Chart Reference: 26, 27, 28, 29
This constellation is normally seen in the Southern Hemisphere, and represents the stern of a ship. It was part of a larger constellation "Argos Navis" before it was divided into Puppis (the poop deck), Carina (the keel) and Vela (the sails). I saw a triangle below Sirius that was not much above the horizon. This unknown triangle piqued my curiosity. Had to use SkySafariPro to help establish the identify of the three stars. Surprised, or what!
Taurus & the Hyades
Time: 6:30 AM AST
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars, 10x42 IS
S&T Chart Reference: 14, 15, A
Aldebaran was still bright in the morning sky so showed Brianne some of the stars in the constellation but focused on the Hyades open cluster, using my new 10x41 IS binoculars. What a difference from the 10x30 IS!!
M45 (Pleaides)
Time: 6:30 AM AST
Equipment: Visual + Binoculars, 10x42 IS
S&T Chart Reference: 14, 15, A
After pointing g out Aldebaran and the Hyades to Brianne, I showed her the Pleaides. We could very easily see this cluster. She had seen it before but hadn't known what it was.