Image: gettyimages.com
International Observe the Moon Night (September 14th) is the reason for the South Texas Astronomical Society to be sponsoring a telescope opportunity to see those craters and maria on the lunar surface. Plan to bring the family and join the STARS between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM at the Southmost Branch Library off Southmost Road in Brownsville.
The NASA Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission has some unique offerings to enhance the event. https://www.nasa.gov/calliefirst/ is the site to read or view a graphic story about a fictional character going to the moon and how the mission will be different from the Apollo era missions-for kids and young teens.
It isn’t your imagination; it is darker earlier, so we can see stars earlier since darkness will begin earlier. We can still enjoy our faithful summer constellations though. The Summer Triangle is overhead by full darkness. If you are standing facing west and looking up then Vega in Lyra the harp is low, Deneb is to your right, and Altair is to the left. Bring your gaze down toward the horizon to enjoy the gleam of Arcturus in Boötes, the Herdsman.
Look between Vega and Arcturus to see if you can locate Hercules. It looks like a keystone of the arch of an old stone bridge. Below Hercules you may also be able to see a small delicate curve of stars known as the Corona Borealis. Below Boötes and a bit to the north (right), look for an inverted triad of stars known as the Coma Berenices.
If you turn about and face east, then you will see the Great Square of Pegasus has emerged from the horizon and is about halfway to the zenith. Then imagine you are facing a baseball diamond layout with home plate at the top, then first base to the left, etc. At first base is where Andromeda trails off to the NE. Andromeda’s stars resemble a crooked letter V on its side with the base of the V connected to Pegasus/first base. Look below Pegasus to see if you can find the faint stars of the fish, Pisces. Meet Pisces the Fish, first constellation of the zodiac (earthsky.org)
Pisces is notable for containing the point at which the sun crosses the celestial equator into the Northern Hemisphere around March 20 each year. This point, called the vernal equinox, used to lie in Aries, but has moved into the adjacent constellation Pisces because of the Earth’s wobble on its axis, called precession. None of the constellations of the zodiac are where they were when the ancient astrologers made up their explanations for auspices of fortune for manipulating humans.
Scorpius is still making its way towards the west, but the curved J or S shape is readily visible from a fairly dark site. The ruddy star Antares, the Rival of Mars is at the heart of the scorpion. A decent pair of binoculars will enable you to scan the area to find less bright stars, including the cat’s eyes asterism that marks the stingers.
If you decide to take up moon watching, when the moon is in the first and last weeks of its cycle is the best time to explore with a telescope because a full moon is too bright for your eyes through a telescope. Looking at the shadows along the terminator line of bright and dark is a good way to study the craters along the shadow. You might even be inclined to sketch what you observe as Galileo and so many other astronomers have done over time.
Until next time, KLU
And come by the library on the 14th for a fun family event.
