| For the Northern Hemisphere September 22 - October 23, 2010 All times are local unless otherwise specified. Look Up!
Planetary Treats Extraordinary
Jupiter: + Two Red Spots – One Stripe + One Moon South is down. Io lies to the upper right. Jupiter is extraordinary for several reasons.
Jupiter, having just reached opposition September 21, gives night sky travelers a BEST performance during Libra. Look Up! The King of Planets at magnitude -2.9 is the brightest point of light in the night sky after Venus sets. Jupiter's brilliance is easily seen in the southeast not long after sunset. The planet travels high above the southern horizon as the night progresses, setting in the west at 6:30am in the beginning of Libra and at 5:00am by its end. Jupiter and Uranus remain near one another all through 2010. Their easterly (prograde) and westerly (retrograde) motion have brought them particularly close, in an exact conjunction, June 8 and September 18/19. Their final close encounter occurs January 4, 2011. Jupiter is retrograde 7/23-11/17. Uranus is retrograde 7/5-12/4. During Libra, in the dim constellation of Pisces, both Jupiter and Uranus are at their closest, biggest and brightest for 2010. Uranus at magnitude 5.7 is now easily seen with binoculars and without an optical aid in a dark sky. Uranus and Jupiter, in close proximity to each other, are also in close proximity to the Harvest Full Moon. 9/23 9pm Map Click Moon Dances for an additional map and meditative reflections. Jupiter ~ The Fun To Watch Planet Transit Times of Jupiter's Great Red Spot Printable Great Red Spot Transit Table 2010-2011 Jupiter’s
Moons [Return to Menu at top]
Venus and Mars are sinking in altitude toward the light of the setting Sun. Venus sets at the beginning of Libra at 8:00pm and Mars 30 minutes later. At the end of Libra, Venus sets with the Sun and Mars sets about 45 minutes after sunset. Venus is retrograde October 8-November 17 and in inferior conjunction October 28. Venus, moving closer to Earth, is growing bigger and brighter; at magnitude -4.8 the planet pierces the twilit sky and briefly blazes low on the southwestern horizon. Mars, moving away from Earth, is gradually diminishing in size and brightness; at magnitude 1.5 it is challenging to see at dusk. The planetary pair reside in the constellation Libra, near the star Zubenelgenubi (zoo-BEN-al-je-NEW-bee) . These 3 celestial bodies form a difficult to see shapeshifting triangle in the southwest just after sunset. Zubenelgenubi at magnitude 2.7 is quite a bit dimmer than the planets and may be impossible to see without the right optical aid. Best viewing opportunities occur in September if you have clear skies, an unobstructed horizon and right timing; binoculars are helpful in drawing these celestial bodies out of the twilight. October viewing is more challenging as the planets sink lower and set earlier. The further south your location the higher these planets appear. Mark Your Calendar September 23, Thursday, Venus is at its greatest brilliancy, setting an hour after the Sun. 9/23 7:30pm Map (The Zuben-star lies above and closest to Venus.) October 1, Friday, Venus and Mars are in close proximity. 10/1 7:30pm Map by Sunday October 3 Venus and Mars are in exact conjunction. October 9, Saturday, young Luna nestles between Venus and Mars. 10/9 Map (Mars lies to the left of the Zuben-star.) Click Moon Dances for meditative reflections. Venus and Mars are in exact conjunction three times within nine months: August 20/21, 2010, October 3, 2010, May 22, 2011.
Venus Has Phases Like the Moon You can see these phases and more in this Venus 2010 Animation. As Venus gets closer to Earth and bigger in disk, size its illuminated phase decreases; during Libra Venus wanes from a 27% - 2% illuminated Crescent. You can see this demonstrated in APOD's animation of the phases of Venus and in this montage. Image the Phase & Apparent Disk Size of Venus [Return to Menu at top]
APOD: Mercury's Horizon from MESSENGER - 2008 January 21
Mercury brightens with each new day, however it is now sinking back toward the sunrise horizon having achieved greatest elongation, and a best morning performance September 19. In the beginning of Libra elusive Mercury rises at 5:45am. October 1 the planet lies 5 degrees above the eastern horizon and can be seen piercing the morning twilight 30 minutes before sunrise. During the first week of October Mercury rapidly sinks out of sight. By October 16 the planet is in superior conjunction. [Return to Menu at top]
The
Planets [Return to Menu at top]
Celestial Delights
The Harvest Full Moon rises as the Sun is setting. A Full Moon near the autumn equinox lies low in the south along an ecliptic that forms a very shallow angle to the horizon. This results in the Moon rising very quickly around the time of sunset ... also rising only 20 to 30 minutes between consecutive moonrises instead of the typical 50 minutes. Before electricity this additional light late into the evening allowed farmers more time to gather their harvest. For latitudes farther north the effect is more pronounced with less time between moonrises each night. It is not surprising that the name "Harvest Moon" originated in the northern European latitudes. The Harvest Moon because of its closer angle to the horizon appears to loom extra large when it rises ... a well known illusion. In fact the Moon is actually closer to the Earth when it is highest in the sky! Try this experiment as you watch the Moon rise from the horizon to overhead. Place your thumb and index finger a pencil width apart, at arm’s length. You should always be able to fit the Moon between your fingers no matter where it is! The Moon will always look bigger next to objects than when it is seen overhead in a dark sky. Fun
With The Harvest Moon Illusion Harvest Moon Images: Michael Myers 5 Harvest Moon Nights?! Check it out September 21-25! Traditionally the Harvest Moon lasts more than one night. It includes the two almost Full Moons two nights before the official Full Moon and the two almost full Moons two nights after. Note: These 5 rising Moons tend to be more colorful because we see them through a thicker atmosphere than when they are overhead. The more polluted the atmosphere the more Luna blushes! A large, colorful Luna for 5 nights is definitely a treat to be harvested! Every Year ... Vega the fifth brightest star lies overhead during the first few weeks of autumn between 8:00pm and 9:00pm. Learn more about this "super bright star" in the fun and informative 5-minute Star Gazer Video. BTW: Vega is the western star of the Summer Triangle and when Vega is above your head, our brightest star Sirius is below your feet! ;-) When Vega sets in the west between 4:30am and 3:30am during the first few weeks of autumn, Sirius is rises in the east. In 2010 ...
Jupiter and Uranus, in exact conjunction September 18/19, lie in close proximity to each other and to the Harvest Full Moon. 9/23 9pm Map Jupiter, a beacon of light, shines brighter and larger September 21 than it has anytime since October 1963! Jupiter is at its best now. In fact, a couple of weeks before or after the Harvest Full Moon its change in brightness and size are negligible. Uranus is also at its brightest and biggest for the year the same day Jupiter is, making Uranus a naked eye and binocular celestial object in dark skies rather than a telescopic one! 9/21 9pm Map Click Moon Dances for a map and meditative reflections. BTW: The night of the Harvest Full Moon, September 23, sunset Venus is at greatest brilliancy, magnitude -4.8. 9/23 7:30pm Map You can help strengthen the light grid of planet Earth by participating in any of the following global meditations during this time. International
Day of Peace Vigil 2010
Libra Global
Meditation Global Meditations ~ Autumn Equinox
May
your harvest be delicious and bountiful.
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