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Árbol del Sol
Thought for the Month Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you.
What Happened in May
A Day in La Luz Canyon in The Sacramento Mountains Following our months of non-events (or events with light or no attendance possibly due to the cost of vehicle fuel discouraged travel to San Antonio or to San Diego) we have a delightful opportunity for a potluck and discussion type event in the local area. At least it is as local as we can get here in New Mexico. Club members and guests are invited to spend a day in La Luz Canyon in the Sacramento Mountains. This will take place on 7 June. There is not a lot of room for overnight guests or campers, so plan a round trip, or plan to arrange for you own lodging in the area on the evening of 7 June. This will be a potluck meal event with a lot of sitting around outside in conversation at the home of the hosts. Note that they live at 6,300 feet above mean sea level so you need to come prepared with sunscreen and even in June, a light cover might be advised when the sun moves you into a shadow. If you plan to go, be sure to contact SunTree to tell us when you plan to show up and what you plan to bring for the potluck meal. You can get directions at that time.
A Blazing Light Can Be Found in the Evening Sky, by Jupiter Morning : It will not be until late in the month before one of our neighboring planets shows up in the morning sky. That will be little Mercury in the last week of the month. Look for it in the predawn sky toward the East Northeast that last week. Venus will not be seen at all since it will be hiding behind the Sun this month. I am mentioning her in the Morning section only because that is where she has been living for the last few months. The next time that we will see her will be in August when she will take up her role as evening “star”. Evening : Early this month will find Mars in the western sky after sunset. Mars will not be very bright though (below magnitude 1.5) and might be difficult to find. You get some help from the crescent Moon on the evening of 7 June. That orange spot just above the Moon’s upper horn is Mars. The only other planet in the evening sky in the early month will be Saturn. The Moon will act as an aid for finding it on 8 June when you can see the star Regulus directly above the moon about 90 minutes after sunset. Saturn will be above and to the left of Regulus. Saturn, at magnitude 0.8 will be brighter than either Mars or Regulus. The major role in the sky’s June performance will be Jupiter, but he will not step upon the stage until mid-June when he pops up over the eastern horizon about 90 minutes after sunset. It will be quite an entrance, though when he blazes in the sky at a magnitude -2.7. The only problem with Jupiter’s performance this month will be his placement in the sky. He will be traveling, in his nightly journey across the sky along a path just above the southern horizon. If you can see the southern horizon from your viewing spot, though, it should be a beautiful, bright picture. If you have binoculars, you might be able to see some of Jupiter’s details. The Moon will attempt to help you on 19 June when it has a scheduled meeting with Jupiter around 11 PM. The two will grab the world’s attention that night as they parade together in the midnight sky. Summer begins with the solstice on 20 June at 5:59 PM MDT (For SunTree members in Argentina, that will be the beginning of Winter).
© 2004 SunTree Travel Club - Site updated Winter 2012 |
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May Club Doings