This column was provided by San Benito County resident and amateur astronomer David Baumgartner as part of a local series on astronomy. Lea este articulo en español aqui.
For some reason the Human Species feel that they have to name everything around them. And when they do, they seem to always exaggerate with the task whether it is with the size, color or whatever; it never seems to look natural or real life to me.
Have you ever seen a Red Breasted Robin? I haven’t. Though I have seen an Orange Breasted Robin. So how about a Blue Moon? I have been viewing the Moon all my life, and have yet to glance upon one that was blue.
So the name “Moon” or “Satellite” just wasn’t good enough for our Earth’s little partner, we needed to give it more names. How about if we give the Moon a different name for each month? Well, too late, that has already been done.
There are many traditional names for the Full Moons of each month of the year. It is doubtful that they have much meaning in our society today, except for the “Harvest” and “Hunter’s” Moons, and the more popular “Blue Moon”, which we have already figured out isn’t really blue.
So, for your interest only, or for those crossword puzzle enthusiasts, here are the monthly up to date Full Moon names, feel free to rename them if you so desire: January: Old Moon, or Moon after Yule. Yule is Christmas, aren’t you glad I pointed that out to you? February: Snow Moon, Hunger Moon, or Wolf Moon. March: Sap Moon, Crow Moon, or Lenten Moon. April: Grass Moon, Egg Moon, Easter Moon, or Paschal Moon. May: Planting Moon or Milk Moon. June: Rose Moon, Flower Moon, or Strawberry Moon. July: Thunder Moon or Hay Moon. August: Green Corn Moon or Grain Moon. September: Fruit Moon, or Harvest Moon. October: Hunter’s Moon. November: Frosty Moon, or Beaver Moon, probably because beavers are active in preparation for winter. December: Moon before Yule, or Long Night Moon, a name appropriate because the midwinter night is long and the Moon is above the horizon for a long time.
Well, there you are. Very interesting for what it’s worth. Go out and spread the word. Maybe we need to give that a name as well???
Constellation of the month: Aquarius
In the hot dry countries of the Middle East, many eons ago, it was common to hear the calls of men going through the streets carrying bladders or jars full of cool water, which they will pour out for you into a cup for a minimal fee, maybe a Quid or a couple of Pesos. I may have that wrong. Aquarius is the Latin word for such a water seller. It is like an aquarium, or a water zoo, they come from aqua, the word for water.
In this constellation the man is quite thin, just a long line of three stars. His jar is a small triangle of stars with a fourth star in the middle. This is the one part that is easy to pick out. It lies on the equator of the sky. The water pouring from the jar is some fine lines of stars stretching south. Not the most exciting constellation in the sky but it still might be exciting knowing that you can find it among the more famous ones. Aquarius won’t be showing up until the end of the year, but I thought it would be appropriate being all this hot weather we are having now looking for that skinny water guy dying for a cup of his cool water.
So get out those dusty old telescopes and point them to the sky and see what you can see. There is more than just that skinny guy running around quenching everyone’s thirst to view out there. Don’t forget family and friends when you do go. You don’t have to worry about telling them what they are looking at, the sky is perfectly capable of speaking for itself. I heard that saying many years ago from a deer old friend of mine. I think I knew what he was trying to tell me, it’s just that I’ve never heard the ski speak to me in all these years. Although looking at the skies through my eyes I’ve learned volumes. Now that last part was from me.
Clear skies.
July Sky Watch
July 1 Moon passes 4° north of Mars
July 2 Moon passes 4° north of Uranus
July 3 Moon passes ° north of Jupiter
July 5 Earth is at aphelion (94.5 million miles from the Sun
July 5 New Moon
July 7 Moon passes 3° north of Mercury
July 12 Moon is at apogee (251,259 miles from Earth)
July 13 Jupiter passes 5° north Aldebaran
July 13 First Quarter Moon
July 13 Moon passes 0.9° north of Spica
July 15 Mars passes 0.6 south of Uranus
July 17 Moon passes 0.2° north of Antares
July 21 Full Moon
Juy 24 Moon is at perigee
July 24 Moon passes 0.4° north of Saturn
July 25 Moon passes 0.6 north of Neptune
July 27 Mercury passes 3° south of Regulus
July 27 Last Quarter
July 29 Moon passes4° north of Uranus
July 30 Moon passes 5° north of Maars
July 30 Moon passes 5° north of Jupiter
Juy 30 Southern Delta Aquarid meteor shower peaks
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