·
OK, now, let’s
remember not to believe everything in email
forwards. The recent internet flurry about Mars
is a case in point. Sure, Mars made close approaches
in 2004 and again in 2005. At those approaches, Mars
appeared bright, like a very bright star. It
definitely did not look as bright or as big as a
full Moon as claimed in the email that seems to
circulate every year around this time. I’m still
wondering where that hoax came from.
·
The
planet Jupiter is very brightly visible in
the south and southwest sky after sunset. It will
continue to sink lower as the weeks progress. A
small telescope, or even binoculars, if held
steadily, can offer you a view of Jupiter’s four
largest moons. Jupiter is above the teapot shape of
the constellation Sagittarius.
·
For
the first two weeks of September, Venus,
Mercury and Mars are very near the
western horizon just after sunset. Venus is quite
bright, but Mercury and Mars are quite dim and
binoculars may be necessary. On September 1 a very
thin crescent Moon is below them. On tne next
night the crescent Moon has moved to their left.
·
On
September 10 and 11, Venus and Mars
reach conjunction, a very close approach.
Very dim Mars is just below Venus. The star Spica
(in the constellation Virgo) is to their
left.
·
By
the middle of September, Venus moves a bit
higher in the west, while Spica, Mars
and Mercury are sinking lower, soon to move
below the horizon. Venus will continue to rise
higher and higher as the weeks progress. It will
move closer and closer to Jupiter. At the end of
November, they will form a spectacular conjunction.
·
Saturn
will be visible very near the eastern horizon before
sunrise. Regulus, in the constellation Leo,
is to the upper right of Saturn.
·
The
Orionid Meteor Shower makes its yearly
appearance for those with a dark sky.
·
The
summer sky begins to slowly move into the fall sky.
·
The
Summer Triangle is still easily visible for
many more weeks, even into winter. Look for the
stars Deneb at the upper left, Vega to
its right and Altair. The Summer Triangle
points roughly south. Deneb is the top of the
Northern Cross, (official name Cygnus,
the swan.) Vega is part of Lyra the harp and
Altair is part of Aquila the eagle. Vega is
nearly overhead for much of the month of September.
·
Facing south, look slightly to the left of the
Summer Triangle for a very dim group of stars. This
is Delphinus the dolphin.
·
In
the northeast we can view the constellation
Cassiopeia, which is shaped like the letter “W”.
·
The
fourth line of the “W” that forms Cassiopeia points
“up” to the crooked house shape of Cepheus
the king.
·
The
third line of the “W” points “downward” toward the
Great Square of Pegasus the winged
horse.
·
The
corner of the Great Square nearest Cassiopeia begins
a line of stars that underlines the “W.” This line
of stars is Andromeda, the daughter of
Cassiopeia and Cepheus.
·
If
you are observing from a dark location you may be
able to see the Andromeda Galaxy which looks
like a very dim Moon-sized fuzzy patch below the “W”
and above Andromeda. Binoculars will probably be
necessary unless you are observing from a very dark
location.
·
Following the second line of the “W” of Cassiopeia
“downward” leads to the constellation Perseus,
the hero.
·
If
you have a very good view of the horizon or wait
until later in the evening you may be able to see
the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, which
is a dim but easily visible cluster of stars.
·
In
the west look for the bright star Arcturus
which is the bottom of the kite shape of Bootes
the shepherd. If you are observing from a fairly
dark sky, look above Arcturus for the faint little
constellation Corona Borealis, the
Northern Crown. It is a semicircle of dim stars.
The semicircle opens to the upper right.
·
To
the right of Arcturus is the Big Dipper,
(official name Ursa Major, the Big Bear.) The
handle of the Big Dipper “arcs” to Arcturus. At this
time of year, the big dipper is moving lower and
lower in the northwest.
·
Between the kite shape of Bootes and the big bear,
is a dim constellation called Canes Venatici.
These are the hunting dogs.
·
The
Pointer Stars of the Big Dipper point to
Polaris, the North Star which is the end
of the handle of the Little Dipper, Ursa
Minor. The stars of Ursa Minor are fairly dim
and difficult to spot. Many wrongly believe that the
North Star appears very bright. However, from our
vantage point on Earth, the North Star appears
rather dim.
·
In
the southwest near the horizon is the reddish star,
Antares, the heart of Scorpius the
scorpion.
·
As we
progress into October, the star Capella, in
the constellation Auriga is visible in the
northeast.
·
If
you are observing from a very dark area, the
Milky Way may be visible. The Milky Way, our
galaxy, looks like a cloudy or fuzzy patch through
the sky. Every individual star we see is actually a
part of the Milky Way. When we see the fuzzy patch
through the sky, we are looking toward the densest,
most intense parts of our galaxy.
September/October
2008 Astronomical Events
·
Sept. 2
Just after sunset, look for the star Spica
(in the constellation Virgo) to the upper
left of the Moon very low near the western
horizon. To their lower right, you may be able to
spot three planets. Venus will be very
bright. Next in brightness is Mercury. Even
dimmer is Mars. Binoculars will probably be
necessary to see all of these.
·
Sept. 6
The Moon has moved to the upper left. It is
just below the star Antares, the heart of
Scorpius, the scorpion.
·
Sept. 8
The Moon has moved to the right of very
bright Jupiter.
·
Sept. 9
The Moon has moved to just below Jupiter.
·
Sept. 10
Mercury is at its greatest elongation for
this appearance. That is, it is at its farthest
distance from the Sun as seen from Earth. Even
though it is at greatest elongation, Mercury is
still very near the horizon and difficult to spot.
It is very near the bright planet Venus.
Binoculars will help you spot Mercury.
·
Sept. 12
The planet Uranus is at opposition.
That is, it is opposite the Sun as seen from the
Earth. It will rise as the Sun sets. It is so dim,
that it looks like a faint blue-green dot.
·
Sept. 14
The Moon will barely miss Uranus.
·
Sept. 22
Autumn officially arrives at 11:44 a.m. EDT.
At this moment, called the autumn equinox,
the Sun is crossing the Equator heading south for
the winter. This event defines the start of fall in
the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern
hemisphere.
·
Sept. 26
The Moon has moved to about one degree from
the star Regulus (in the constellation Leo
the lion) near the eastern horizon. One degree is
about a finger-width at arm’s length. They will rise
about two hours before sunrise.
·
Sept. 27
The Moon has moved to the right of Saturn
near the eastern horizon before sunrise.
·
Oct. 2
The Moon has moved to the “evening” side of
the Sun. It is now visible well to the left
of very bright Venus very near the southwest
horizon just after sunset.
·
Oct. 4
The Moon has moved to the left of the star
Antares. Antares is the brightest star in the
constellation Scorpius the scorpion. Antares
represents the heart of the scorpion.
·
Oct. 6
The Moon has moved near the very brilliant
planet Jupiter.
·
Oct. 14
The Orionid Meteor Shower may begin to be
visible. Please see the Oct. 21 note.
·
Oct. 16/17
The Moon has moved very near the dim little
Pleiades star cluster, also known as the
Seven Sisters. They will rise in the evening of
the 16th. From some parts of North
America, the Moon will move in front of some of the
Pleiades stars.
·
Oct. 21
The peak of the Orionid Meteor Shower occurs.
Meteor showers occur when the Earth travels through
an area near which a comet has traveled. The debris
left by the comet burns as it enters our atmosphere.
These are shooting stars, or more correctly,
meteors. Meteor showers are, at times, visible for a
week or so before and after their peak. The
direction to watch is wherever your sky is darkest.
With a good dark sky, you may be able to spot a
meteor every few minutes.
·
Oct. 22
Mercury is at its greatest elongation for
this appearance. That is, it is at its greatest
distance from the Sun as seen from Earth. Even
though Mercury is at its greatest elongation, it is
still difficult to spot, very near the eastern
horizon, about 45 minutes before sunrise.
·
Oct. 23
The Moon has moved to above and right of the
star Regulus, the dot in the backward
question mark of Leo the lion before sunrise.
The planet Saturn is below them.
·
Oct. 24
The Moon has moved to the upper right of
Saturn before sunrise.
·
Oct. 25
The Moon has moved to the lower right of
Saturn before sunrise.
·
Oct. 26
With binoculars, you might be able to spot
Mercury to the lower left of the Moon
near the eastern horizon before sunrise.
·
Oct. 27
With binoculars, you might be able to spot
Mercury to the upper left of the Moon
near the eastern horizon before sunrise.
·
Oct. 31
The Moon has moved just to the left of the
Moon near the southwest horizon just after
sunset. Very bright Venus is above them.
·
Happy Halloween!
Have a great autumn season!
This information is adapted from Star
Date magazine with their permission.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to
call the Midpark planetarium: 216-676-8400.
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