Dec 23 - 27 - Christmas cloudy

Brought telescope to Kitchener, but the sky was grey. Rain, snow, never a day of star.

But I got some astronomy books and online courses as Christmas gifts. Also, I remembered more greek charactors and constellations.

Dec 16 -- 8:30 pm

-3 degrees, clear.Didn't see full moon yesterday because the storm. Saw moon in Waning Crescent.

saw Orion and Taurus -- v-shape bull head (Haydas).
Saw rabbit ears of Mars -- I think they are aries.

Toronto Latitude & Longitude: 43°41' N79°38' W

http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/uncgi/Yoursky
basic sky knowledge
http://homepage.mac.com/kvmagruder/bcp/aster/general/bowl.htm

tip -- Declination: whether a star is visible from a location

VISIBLE WHEN: (90 - latitude + declination) > 0

1. Subtract your latitude from 90 degrees. This result is your co-latitude.
Example: 90 - 40 = 50
The co-latitude of 40 degrees north is 50 degrees.
2. To your co-latitude, add the declination of your star/constellation. South is negative.
Example: 50 - 53 = -3
3. If your co-latitude plus the declination of the star is greater than zero, then it will rise above your horizon at least sometime during the year.

Declination = degrees measured north or south of the celestial equator.

Dec 13 -- 6 - 8pm

Cold. Perfect clear sky. Moon is quite bright. Waxing Gibbous. Mars is about 25' near, can be seen in telescope but not clear.

Orion on the east sky, should see cetus, pisces, but the moon is too bright. Mars has 2 bright stars on its top, like rabbit ears, - might be aries.