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The Sky at NightThe Story So Far | Visualizing Our Galaxy Report on Total Solar Eclipse of 1999. I'm a naked eye astronomer, as were all astronomers before the invention of the telescope, four centuries ago. I love to watch the sky at night, observing the slow dance of the planets amongst the stars. Today we get only a dim glimpse of what earlier peoples must have seen in skies unfettered by dust pollution and, in urban areas, the light pollution that bleaches out all but the moon and brightest stars. (See: How Astronomy Begat Astrology) Here are some things you can see in the night sky as the never-repeating, never-ending, cosmic dance continues. The Dance So Far A journal of the planets' dance together over the last 25 years. The Ongoing Dance This year sees a second sepectacular dance of Jupiter and Venus. Begining in late June, Jupiter rises in the East at sunset, while Venus appears in the West. They rise together towards each throughout the summer and fall, the two brightest objects in the sky, finally meeting again in late November. "Again", because the two had another spectacular conjunction in the morning sky at the begining of the year. The first was 32 days into the year, the second 32 days before end of year. At the same time, Mars and Saturn share their own little dance. Closing in together on Regulus, the bright star in Leo through June and July. Because this is happening low on the Western horizon, it is not so remarkable, but if you follow them from earlier months, you will find it easy to recognize them. Planet Positions Mercury is usually hard to see because its stays close to the sun. Its orbits the sun once every 88 days, and so alternates between evening sky and morning sky approximately every 6 weeks. Its next good evening appearance is late April and early May. Brightest on Apr 29, although it climbs higher over following ten days. Look for a silver dot just above and to south of sunset. Venus Venus is once again set for one of her magnificent appearances in the evening sky. She appears above the sunset in late June, and climbs up through the evening sky through the rest of the year. On Nov 30 she passes Jupiter who has been approaching her from the opposite horizon. Mars is ending its pass across the sky, sinking down with the sun after mid-summer. But on its way it meets up with Saturn, as the two close in on Regulus. Jupiter, in the head of Scorpio, rises in the evening sky a few hours after sunset in April, but earlier each month till in mid-summer it rises at sunset. Through the rest of the year it marches across the evening sky, on its way for another spectacular meeting with Venus on Nov 30. Saturn is close to Regulus, the front paw of Leo. It is high in WSW after sunset in April, moving closer to the sun as the summer progresses, and catching up with Mars in June. More Info: Sky at a glance for current week. NASA Solar System Simulator for a view of the planets and their moons at any time, and almost any angle. Total Lunar Eclipse Feb 20, 2008. With Saturn close by. Meteor Showers Quadrantids. Maximum at January 3-4
The Ecliptic The twelve Zodiacal constellations (Taurus, Pisces, Gemini, etc.) also lie on the ecliptic -- they are the constellations the planets pass through. |