Libra's Planetary Treats and Celestial Delights
September 23 - October 22, 2007

Mercury can be seen hugging the southwestern horizon after sunset. The planet, positioned far in the south, gives a poor performance for Northern Hemisphere observers. Mercury reaches greatest elongation 9/29 and inferior conjunction 10/23. It sets in the beginning of Libra 50 minutes after the Sun around 7:50pm. Mercury lost in the Sun's glaring light, sets only 10 minutes after the Sun around 6:40pm by the end of Libra. Mercury is retrograde 10/12-10/31.

Jupiter paired with Antares is sinking toward the southwestern horizon giving us roughly 2 1/2 hours viewing time. Jupiter's steady and brilliant yellowish glow contrasts with the twinkling reddish gleam of Antares positioned below and just west of the planet. Use binoculars to view the planet's 4 Galilean moons. Jupiter sets in the beginning of Libra around 10:30pm and by its end at 9:00pm.

Mars now an evening planet, rises in the northeast at 11:15pm in the beginning of Libra and by its end at 10:30pm. The planet moves toward the south as the morning progresses. Mars lies near the feet of the Gemini Twins, as it moves toward a direct alignment with red Betelgeuse to the south. Map Look for the red triangle formed by Aldebaran, Mars and Betelgeuse; compare the color, brightness and size of each. 10/1-3 a waning Moon transits the triad, first aligning with Aldebaran, then Mars and finally Betelgeuse. Watch Mars grow redder, brighter and bigger as its distance from Earth decreases over the next few months. Mars is at its closest 12/18 and reaches opposition and peak brightness 12/24.

Venus and Saturn are in a stiking predawn encounter along with Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion. Venus, achieving greatest brilliancy 9/23 at magnitude -4.8, is stunning as it first approaches Regulus then Saturn from the west and finally passes both of them to the east. 10/7 a waning crescent Moon joins the trio near Saturn. Map Venus lies very near Saturn 10/13-14. In the beginning of Libra Venus rises at 3:45am followed by Saturn at 4:25am. By Libra's end Saturn rises at 3:15am followed by Venus at 3:30am.

The Big Dipper is in the northwest as night falls. How many evening stars can you still find using Big Dipper Navigation? Its maximum navigation is shifting to the early morning hours.

Vega is the brightest star overhead as night falls. It is the western point of the Summer Triangle and sets well after midnight. Altair is the triangle's southern point and Deneb the eastern point. The Milky Way sweeps through this triangle from teapot-shaped Sagittarius in the southwest to M or W-shaped Cassiopeia the northeast.

The Keystone of Hercules is a fat, four star trapezoid or wedge located about a third of the way from Vega to Arcturus. Draco now lies to the north of Vega and Hercules. The Big Dipper is above this Dragon. Star Map

Fomalhaut is the brightest star low on the southern horizon from 9:00pm to midnight. it is the Southern Royal Star and the brightest star in the constellation Pisces Austrinus below Aquarius. Star Map

Capella is the bright star rising in the northeast about an hour and a half after sunset. Capella is the brightest star seen the most often.