Article Preview: Looking Up: Looking for the zodiacal light - MailTribune.com - Medford, OR

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2015-03-21

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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation  |  Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Since You Asked: Mistletoe is probably what's up in the tree Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth Emergency Services, March 21 Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services, March 21 Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping Firefighters stop Gold Hill shed fire before it spreads Missing man found dead in forest in Applegate Lake area 'We tried to de-escalate it' Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US Special election: Jackson County voters OK marijuana tax Ex-Merkley aide chosen as Oregon secretary of state Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Education Eight vie for Medford School Board positions Proposed Medford textbook raises constitutional concern North Medford High School principal to retire in June Southern Oregon University's building boom adds up to $130 million South Medford, Ashland, St. Mary's students building video game Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Controversial asphalt plant in Talent wins county planning approval Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Odd visitors found off Oregon Coast Forum explores data gathered in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument State News Bend company's aim: Connect investors to Africa Brown proposes $1 billion in California drought spending Are they decorations or desecration? The Dalles Standoff: Suicide by smoke inhalation Officials urge meningitis shots at University of Oregon Nation - World Obituaries Cornelius John Meany Lewis Mark Applebaker Death Notices David Braden Frohnmayer Ray Houck Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Sports Latest Stories Green Machine Tago nets game-winner, MVP for Siskiyous Panthers kick off year with win Corban takes two from Raiders No. 8 Ducks advance with victory Varsity 541 College Sports Corban takes two from Raiders No. 8 Ducks advance with victory Wiese, OSU top South Dakota State Young, UC Irvine fall just short of upset Despite critics aplenty, UCLA surprises SMU on rare 3-pointer Pro Sports Payton lifts Magic over Blazers Hoffmann goes on birdie run at Bay Hill Harden erupts for 50 in Rockets victory Djokovic reaches semifinals via walkover Grandma dies, then Hoffman takes lead Community Sports Business Latest Stories Blog: Three Cheers for Today! Test Drive: 2015 Subaru Outback Limited Silvio Calabi: 2015 Cherokee is a modern Jeep Oregon winemaking emerges as mighty agricultural force Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Real Estate News East McAndrews Road sees a resurgence in commercial projects Business briefs: March 7 New construction prices jump 18.2 percent in Jackson County People In Business People in Business: Feb. 28 People in Business Transportation Rogue Disposal plans natural gas fueling site Alaska, United Express boost Medford airport to record February CEO Rieder leaving Erickson March 31 Lodging gains bode well for travel industries Agriculture Harry & David announces new president Warm winter has fruit growers poised for action Briefcase: Business briefs for Feb. 21 Opinion Latest Letters to the Editor, March 21 Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Letters to the Editor, March 20 Editorials Other Views: Dave Frohnmayer was a man of honor Our View: Textbook authors' reasoning hard to fathom Our View: White House public records move is less than sunny Our View: Where the wild things shouldn't be Our View: Keeping the light trained on government Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, March 21 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Letters to the Editor, March 18 Letters to the Editor, March 17 Columns Matthew T. Mangino: When is a confession not a confession? Michael Gerson: Hillary Clinton's Nixonian path to office Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Dana Milbank: GOP budget is one big gimmick George Will: Kasich waits in the wings Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Central Point Cemetery needs work and city action Guest Opinion: Return to clearcutting is wrong approach for counties Guest Opinion: Plan a Hawthorne playground for all children Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report GUEST OPINION: Police, community should work to prevent profiling Lifestyle Latest stories Barbara Presnell: Why poetry? And why do it now? Get Out! March 20 calendar of things to do Looking Up: Looking for the zodiacal light Ocean salmon look plentiful off the Southern Oregon coast this year, but next year's a different story Wood bison to roam Alaska again Food Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Eat your sprouts More fast food perils Pork perfection: Consider pork steaks instead of ham for the Easter dinner table Home and Garden Hello, honey: Invite bees for a lush garden Understand home inspection Dear Monty: Tips for checking out an existing septic system Garden Cameos: Now is the perfect time to spot wildflowers Paul Rogers: It’s time to assess the damage to yards Health Health Watch: 5 tips for seasonal allergy relief A better bedtime Studying stress Eat this, not that Peanut allergy breakthrough Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs Religion News: Presbyterian Church gives approval on same-sex marriage Religion briefs: Friday, March 13 More religion events in the Rogue Valley Religion Briefs Milestones and Achievements Haga-Parks Exercise helps special-needs kids adjust to airport procedures Engagement: Workman-Wright Anniversary: Hofer Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Here's five top entertainment picks for the coming week Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Theater Andrew Lloyd Webber's lush musical 'Sunset Boulevard' opens at Camelot Theatre in Talent Review: Thanks for the Memories pulls off challenging 'Anastasia' Review: 'Same Time' after all these years Randall Theatre presents playwright Bernard Slade's comedy Thanks for the Memories presents 'Anastasia' Music Live Music in Local Clubs Alt-rock band Key of Three is a contender this weekend at Rising Stars Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Kites & Crows, Ryan Marchand and Mercy Duo face-off this weekend at Rising Stars music competition in Jacksonville Rogue Valley Chorale presents 'A Festival of Choirs' at the Craterian Theatre Community Events Rogue Valley artist Linda Evans' pastel paintings capture landscapes of Southern Oregon Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup OSF Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jesse Lawson and Joe Moxley host 'Barkeeper' Dining Jasmine Thai Cuisine Restaurant Inspections Agave offers gourmet tacos, tamales, ensaladas and more Serra storms Seattle Sakura Japanese Sushi Restaurant opens in new location Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED   » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW   Since You Asked: Mistletoe is probably what's up in the tree       ...       Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth       ...       Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping       ...       Since You Asked: Mistletoe is probably what's up in the tree       ...       Court awards $1 million to Jackson County 6-year-old injured at birth       ...       Talent father faces assault charges in alleged whipping       ...           Looking Up: Looking for the zodiacal light By Peter Becker More Content Now MailTribune.com By Peter Becker More Content Now Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Peter Becker More Content Now Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am »  Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> All too often we must be content with a sky compromised by light pollution. Fortunately you still enjoy much of the sky not far from the cities, and even from the city you can see the bright stars, planets and Moon. Be thankful if you have a good, dark rural sky, or can travel to see it. From a reasonably dark site, when the moon is not around, look for the faint tapestry of light that joins the starry host. It has been said that most Americans have never seen the Milky Way Band. This is not surprising, and it isn’t just because most people live in congested areas where there is more light pollution. If the sky is good and clear, prepare by letting your eyes adjust to the dark for a few minutes. Then look up and see if you can see the dim, billowing Milky Way Band. While more prominent in the summer evening sky, you also can see the band in the winter. In March, the Milky Way stretches from the south-southeast, passing to the northwest. The bright winter constellation Orion, marked by its famous “belt” of three stars, is immediately right of the Milky Way Band. Nearly overhead, the bright yellow star Capella is right in the Milky Way. The zodiacal light is about as bright as the Milky Way Band. This phenomena is much closer to home, being a cloud of tiny dust particles encircling the sun, spread beyond the Earth’s orbit and in the same plane as the Earth and other planets. It is dimly visible from a dark site, just after evening twilight in the west, or before morning twilight in the east. Late winter and early spring evenings are favored for seeing the evening zodiacal light, in the Northern Hemisphere. This is because the narrow path of the planets, known as the “ecliptic” and sometimes as the “zodiac” is steeper with respect of the west horizon this time of year. The zodiacal light then “stands up” the straightest, further away from the horizon where the Earth’s atmosphere is thickest. Stars, the Milky Way and zodiacal light are much harder to see near the horizon, even at a dark site; in addition, any light pollution from a distant town will wipe it out close to the ground. Note that the zodiacal light appears as a dim cone of light, broader near the bottom. I have not had the opportunity to see this phenomena from home, given the amount of light pollution, but I had a wonderful view a few years ago looking from an airliner far above ground haze and streetlights. With a jacket pulled over my head, I could plainly see the cone of light reaching up and was surprised at how bright it was. Much harder to see than the zodiacal light is the continuation of this glow, which stretches completely around the sky. At a very dark site, at around midnight and when the ecliptic is high up, it is possible to barely detect a slight brightening of this ghostly band of solar system dust, a fuzzy oval of light known as the Gegenschein. Ideal conditions are needed to successfully detect it. The Milky Way Band must not be in the vicinity, as this is enough to hide the overlapping Gegenschein. Around midnight in late winter may be a good time, if you look about half way up in the south. This oval is slightly more luminous than the rest of the almost invisible band, because it is directly opposite the sun and each dust particle is facing you in “full phase” in the same way the moon is brightest when full. First-quarter moon is on March 27. Keep looking up! By Peter Becker More Content Now MailTribune.com By Peter Becker More Content Now Posted Mar. 20, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments   /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ »  STAY INFORMED   Email NewsLetter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed   Email newsletter   Sign Up Today   Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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