Evening Planets

On Monday evening, June 30, 2008, as the sky gets dark shortly after sunset, keen observers will want to look low in the west, just above the horizon. The red planet Mars will appear right next to the blue-white star Regulus, which marks the heart of Leo the lion. The contrast in colors makes this an interesting pair.

Above and to the left of this dynamic duo is the pale yellow dot of the planet Saturn. If the weather cooperates over the next two weeks, watch as Mars slowly pulls away from Regulus moving toward a close pass by Saturn on July 10, 2008. When two astronomical objects appear near each other, astronomers call the event a conjunction.

During this time, all the objects involved are moving. Earth is orbiting the Sun while Mars and Saturn do the same. The distance between Earth and Mars is increasing because of their orbital motions. Mars moves much much faster through our sky than Saturn not only because it’s closer to us, but also because it orbits the Sun more quickly.

On Wednesday evening, July 9, go out after sunset, turn around and face east. Jupiter will be rising as the Sun sets in the west. Astronomers would say that Jupiter is now at opposition. Opposition occurs when a planet or other object is directly opposite the Sun as seen from Earth.

As the month draws to a close, Regulus, Mars, and Saturn will start to become lost in the glare of the setting Sun. Mighty Jupiter will begin to dominate the evening sky as it rises in the east. However, its ascension will be challenged by Venus as it peaks above the western horizon on its way to becoming the evening star. Over the next few months, Venus will be higher in the sky when the Sun sets and will be a center of attention through the end of the year.

Evening Stars

Sunset is fairly late this time of year, so you can enjoy dinner and even do the dishes in plenty of time to take in the night sky. Before heading outside to do any stargazing, be sure to apply some insect repellant. Get a cool drink and lawn chair and a friend or two. Turn off your cell phone, and relax.

High in the eastern sky, opposite from where the Sun sets will be three bright stars that form a triangle. Together they’re called the Summer Triangle because these three stars are up all night during the summer. The brightest star in the triangle is Vega in the constellation of Lyra the Harp. Vega is the fifth brightest star visible in the night sky of Earth, but Lyra itself is not such an impressive star pattern.

The faintest star in the triangle is Deneb which marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan. With Deneb at the tail, it’s not too hard to draw an imaginary line through the body down the long neck to the head of the swan as it flies toward the south. Wide wings stretch out to either side, and if your sky is dark enough, it looks like the swan is flying along the path of the Milky Way.

The last star in the triangle is Altair, marking the shining eye of Aquila the Eagle. Aquila is flying north along the Milky Way, toward a head-on collision with Cygnus.

The summer is also the only time Middle Tennessee gets a good look at Scorpius and Sagittarius as they drift just above the southern horizon. Scorpius is supposed to be a scorpion in the sky, but some people find it easier to imagine a giant fish hook or a saxophone in this group of stars.

Summer Star Parties

The next FREE public star party is scheduled for Saturday, July 12, from 8:30 - 10:30 PM at the Visitors Information Center at Longhunter State Park. The next one after that is Saturday, August 9, from 8:30 - 10:30 PM at the special events field in Edwin Warner Park. For those who have never attended a star party before, members of the Barnard- Seyfert Astronomical Society (BSAS) will set up their telescopes to provide views of the Moon, Jupiter, and other summer splendors.

If it is cloudy or raining, the star party will be cancelled. If the weather is questionable, call AstroLine at (615) 401-5092 or check our home page before leaving home.