September 28 – October 5
The Major League Baseball playoff season kicks off, or rather throws out the first pitch, this week and they always arrange to have the Great Square of Pegasus form a diamond in the eastern sky for evening games. At home plate is Algenib, the third brightest star of the constellation. Who’s on first? Yes, that is Markab, the brightest star of Pegasus. On second base we have its second brightest luminary, Sheat, which is probably what he mutters when he makes an error. On third is a star brighter than the other three, Alpheratz, who was traded to Andromeda but still likes to whip the ball around the horn with his former teammates.
Trailing off toward the dugout from third is a string of stars that forms the left side of Princess Andromeda. The second in the string is no second string player. Mirach is as bright as Alpheratz and shows a distinct orange colour in binoculars. A little more than one binocular field above the string from Mirach will bring M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, into your view, and from a dark sky that is a view you don’t want to miss. It might resemble a pool of champagne on the clubhouse floor of the World Series champions. Why am I seeing more blue jays at my feeders?
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:14 and sunset will occur at 7:03, giving 11 hours, 49 minutes of daylight (7:19 and 7:09 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:23 and set at 6:50, giving 11 hours, 27 minutes of daylight (7:28 and 6:56 in Saint John).
The Moon is new on Wednesday and near Venus in the early evening sky next Saturday. Saturn is at its highest and best for observing at midnight, around which time Mars will be rising. Jupiter rises around 10 pm midweek, and at 10:45 Tuesday evening telescope users might see its moon Ganymede disappear behind the planet and emerge from the other side two hours later. Mercury is at superior conjunction on Monday. For two weeks beginning on Tuesday rural observers can look for the subtle wedge of the zodiacal light in the east 90 to 60 minutes before sunrise,
Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the YouTube channel and Facebook page of Astronomy by the Bay. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on October 5 at 7 pm.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at [email protected].
September 21 – September 28
This is a good time of year to double your sky observing time. For the next several weeks, before we return to Standard Time, the sky is dark and the stars are blazing when most people are up to start their day, and it is not bitterly cold or snowbound. Orion and his dogs are prominent to the south, with Taurus, Auriga and Gemini arching over them. Sirius, Rigel, Procyon and Betelgeuse are the first, seventh, eighth and tenth brightest stars in the night sky.
In early evening you can see the 4th, 5th and 6th brightest stars. Look for yellow Arcturus sinking to the west, blue-white Vega overhead and Capella in Auriga rising in the northeast. Capella is our brightest circumpolar star; it never sets for most or all of New Brunswick. Later, notice the positions of the circumpolar Big Dipper, Little Dipper and Cassiopeia. The next morning go outside and see how they have changed. Sometimes it is nice to have a little assurance that the world keeps right on turning.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:05 and sunset will occur at 7:17, giving 12 hours, 12 minutes of daylight (7:10 and 7:22 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:14 and set at 7:03, giving 11 hours, 49 minutes of daylight (7:19 and 7:09 in Saint John). The Sun crosses the equator around 9:44 am Sunday, beginning the colourful autumn season.
The Moon visits the Pleiades this Sunday and Jupiter on Monday. It reaches third quarter phase Tuesday and is above Mars Wednesday. Venus rides low in the west-southwest after sunset but it can be spotted if you have a clear view to that direction. Saturn is at its highest and best for observing at midnight, and by that time Jupiter is high enough in the east for good viewing. Mars rises just after midnight and is seen best in early morning. Mercury rapidly approaches the Sun this week and will be out of sight for the next few weeks.
Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the YouTube channel or Facebook page of Astronomy by the Bay.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at [email protected].