Skywatch: September 7, 2005
7th Sep 2005, 21:19 GMT
MONDAY: The first crack at sighting the young crescent moon occurs this evening for most of the U.S. About 30 minutes after sunset look just to the left (south) of due west. The moon sits 4 degrees (less than half a fist width) above the horizon. Venus and Jupiter reside to the upper left of Luna, 15 and 11 degrees, respectively. Notice the star Spica, less than 2 degrees to the lower left of Venus. TUESDAY: Celestial Scenery Alert. Four bright objects perch within 5 degrees of one another in tonight's early evening sky. The event is best observed about 45 minutes after sunset. Look low in the west-southwest. Venus and Jupiter appear almost horizontal, about 5 degrees apart. Below and between them sits a stunning crescent moon. Faintest of the quartet, Spica hangs 4 moon diameters directly below Venus, the leftmost and brightest planet. WEDNESDAY: Tonight, for your observing pleasure, the moon, Venus, and Jupiter align. If you have lost track of who's who in the shell game of moving planets, Venus is brightest and centermost. Jupiter appears 6 degrees (half a fist) to the right, and the crescent 8 degrees left. Can you spot Spica? Look 2 degrees to the lower right of Venus. THURSDAY: Mars watching is now becoming convenient. The planet rises less than 3 hours after sunset, so it is visible before most people's bedtime. The brilliant red-orange point of light is easy to find in the eastern sky. Mars is almost as bright as Jupiter, and nothing in its immediate vicinity compares. The Pleiades star cluster rises about the same time as Mars, 12 degrees to the planet's left (north). FRIDAY: Perhaps you came across a hoax e-mail regarding Mars that circulated throughout the summer. It described an incident in late August when Mars was to appear as bright and big as the full moon. No such event occurred, nor is it even possible. Mars will be passing relatively close to Earth this year, but in early September. It is already a pleasing naked-eye object and will become a reasonable telescope target for experienced observers. More on that topic next month. SATURDAY: The moon, almost First Quarter, perches near Antares tonight. Look for the star 3 degrees (6 moon diameters) to Luna's right. Antares marks the heart of the constellation Scorpius. Earlier in the day the moon occulted (passed in front of) Antares for locations in the southeastern U.S. Daytime occultations such as this one are great for experienced telescopic observers. SUNDAY:
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