Feature Article September 4, 2002
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Three bright planets in the September skyby Leo EnrightThose who enjoy natures beauty at night as well as in the daytime are usually pleased with the coming of September, which brings longer nights and better chances of having a night sky without hazy conditions.
The Milky Way still sweeps overhead in the late evening hours, a stunningly beautiful sight. As our eyes move along its wide pathways, through such constellations as Cassiopeia, Cygnus, Aquila and Sagittarius, we should keep in mind that these thousands of stars are only a part of the 200,000,000,000 stars that make up our home galaxy, and our galaxy is only one of billions of galaxies. In the middle of the Milky Way and now almost directly overhead is the easily recognized constellation Cygnus, the Swan. This starry bird seems to be flying south and reminding us of the imminent autumn flight of our Canada Geese and other such fowl. The cross-like appearance of this large star-pattern explains why it has also been called The Northern Cross. The star which appears to mark the head of this southward-flying bird, or the foot of this large cross, is a very special one, well-known to astronomers, and one that had special appeal to members of the public seeing it for the first time at two recent observing sessions at local provincial parks; this star as seen in good binoculars or a small telescope is shown to be actually a double star, one of which is a beautiful golden yellow and the other a bright blue, a tremendous contrast in the appearance of what looks like a single star to the unaided eye.
Among the bright planets, brilliant Venus dominates the western evening sky as it has done since February. It is now becoming so bright that some people who know exactly where to look above the western horizon, may actually be able to spot it BEFORE sunset. During September, Venus actually becomes brighter, reaching its greatest brilliancy in the last week of the month. As the month progresses, it appears lower in the sky, a reminder that by next month it will disappear completely from the evening sky. Those who direct a good pair of binoculars or a small telescope toward this planet will notice that its disk becomes noticeably larger and its crescent (of light from the bright side) becomes thinner and thinner. Remember, if such equipment is used near the time of sunset, NEVER to look at the sun with your equipment, for fear of instant and permanent eye damage!
Two other bright planets may be observed later in the night. Saturn is seen in the constellation Orion, near the head of the Hunter for those familiar with this large winter constellation. It rises in the east about 1 a.m. in early September and about 11 p.m. at the end of the month, appearing a few minutes earlier each night. Jupiter rises even later, appearing on the eastern horizon at about 3 a.m. and dominating the eastern sky until well into morning twilight. During the first two weeks of the month, try to examine with binoculars the area surrounding this brilliant planet. You should easily see the large star cluster called The Beehive Cluster, which appears very close to Jupiter. This cluster is usually easily seen naked-eye, but the glow from nearby Jupiter may make it a bit more difficult to see. If you are able carefully to observe the planet in the last two weeks of the month, you will then notice that its planetary motion is carrying it downward and eastward away from the Beehive.
The very thin crescent moon may be seen about 30-45 minutes after sunset on September 8. Binoculars may help in spotting the crescent to the right of brilliant Venus by about twice the width of a fist held at arms length. On September 9, the thin crescent will be just above and to the right from Venus at the same time in the evening. Dont miss that view of the night skys two greatest luminaries appearing so close together! On September 21 the Full Moon is the annual Harvest Moon. We can all marvel, as the people of ancient times did, that for several days before and after this date, the full, or almost full, moon rises very quickly from one night to the next, almost appearing to try to assist the farmers with the job of harvesting their crops by granting an extension to the daylight hours. A week later, on the night of September 28-29, try using binoculars to observe the moon as it passes in front of, and hides, some of the stars of the cluster called M35. Many astronomers try to record the exact second at which certain stars disappear behind the moon, and then reappear later. Careful observing is required for an exact timing. That night the moon will also appear quite close to Saturn.
During the coming month spend some time looking for meteors. There are no showers listed for this month that are as famous as the Perseids of August, the Leonids of November, or the Geminids of December, but I do have a list of no less than nine meteor showers that should make their appearance in this September. Also remember also to glance to the north every clear night for the very real possibility of seeing a display of the Aurora Borealis.
More information is to be found in The Beginners Observing Guide, available at the Sharbot Lake Pharmacy. Area residents who are interested in a short, practical, one-night-a-week astronomy course devoted to observing the autumn sky and beginning on September 24, should call Algonquin College in Perth (267-2859) as soon as possible.
