Feature Article March 20, 2003
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Jupiter dominates the night skyby Leo EnrightAt the beginning of this month, sunsets were a few minutes before 6:00 p.m., and by the end of March they will be at about 6:30 p.m., i.e. about one minute later each night. The end of evening twilight moves from about 7:30 p.m. to about 8:10 p.m.
Beginning even before the end of twilight, we can still see on every clear night the great winter constellations that last month appeared high in the southern sky. Now, however, they have moved to the southwestern part of the sky and they set at about midnight. Leading these winter groupings of stars is the V-shaped configuration comprising the Head of Taurus, the Bull; then comes Orion the Great Hunter, and Canis Major, the Great Dog whose eye-star Sirius is the brightest star in the sky; and up highest of all is Gemini, the constellation with the gleaming twin stars called Castor and Pollux. These four constellations and several others near them contain more bright stars than any other part of the sky. No wonder it is quite disappointing to think of their disappearing from the evening sky in the next two months. The great consolation is that they will be replaced by other interesting, though less brilliant, star patterns, as spring and summer approach.
Among the five bright planets, two dominate the evening sky, two rule the morning sky, and one is not easily seen at all this month. In the evening, our solar systems largest planet, Jupiter, is much brighter than any star in the sky and it is easily found in the evenings very high in the east, about half-way between the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, and the large sickle of stars that forms the head of Leo, the Lion. Careful observers may note that this planet Jupiter is very close to a cluster of stars that is sometimes called the Beehive Cluster. Even though this stellar group is visible to the unaided eye, a pair of binoculars will better show what looks like a swarm of bees hovering near the brilliant planet. In the western sky, and up almost as high as Jupiter is in the east, is our solar systems second largest planet, Saturn, which appears bright but not as bright as Jupiter. Saturn is now found near the head of Orion the great giant whose outline of stars dominates the south-western part of the sky. Those who are able to glimpse this planet through binoculars or a small telescope will likely see its distinctive ring system and one or several of its many moons.
Beginning an hour and a half before sunrise, reddish Mars may be seen in the south-eastern sky among the stars of the constellation Sagittarius. The brightest planet of all, far exceeding the evening brilliance of Jupiter, is Venus, which now rises about an hour and a quarter before sunrise, and may be viewed right up to the time of sunrise. Those who want to view Mercury will have to wait until next month when that planet will put on its finest display of the year.
In the latter part of this month the moon in its orbit provides us with some interesting sights. The Last Quarter Moon passes near Mars on the morning of March 25. On March 28, those who have a very good view of the eastern horizon may see the waning crescent moon to the right of Venus about 40 minutes before sunrise; perhaps an even thinner crescent moon may be seen just below Venus at the same time on the following morning, March 29.
The Beginners Observing Guide contains star maps and other information for the entire year, and is available at the Sharbot Lake Pharmacy.
