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Look Up!

Planetary Treats
Saturn's Rings Turn Black
Mercury ~ More Like Mars than the Moon
Jupiter’s Impressive Impact
Morning's Shape-Shifting Red Triad and Venus
Celestial Delights
Sirius Reappears ~ The Dog Days End
The Sirius ~ Leo Festival
Plus ...
Sky Lights
Printable Date Table
Moon Dances 7/21-8/20
The Night Sky ~ Home Page
Leo Navigation Page

Planetary Treats

Saturn’s Rings Turn Black Early August ~ Bye-Bye Rings!
The Changing Aspects of Saturn's Rings

The images in the boxes show how Saturn looks from Earth as both Earth and Saturn orbit around the Sun. Saturn makes an orbit around the Sun 29.457 Earth-years.

Saturn images modified from Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
Sun image modified from SOHO

Image: © thChieh 2008

Consider the following:

First of all, Saturn’s rotation axis is tilted, just like Earth, but with a slightly bigger angle of 27 degrees (Earth’s tilt is 23.5 deg). Since the rings of Saturn are around its equatorial plane, the rings are also tilted relative to the Sun/Earth.

Refer to the diagram above, as Saturn moves around the Sun with its tilted rings, there will be times when the rings are tilted maximum to us, and times when we will see the rings edge-on. Since Saturn’s rings are so thin (about 0.2 to 3 km only!), when they are edge-on to us, it seems that the rings have disappeared when viewed through small telescopes. Hui Chieh

Every 14-15 years, during the mid-point of Saturn’s 29.5-year orbit around the Sun, a ring plane crossing occurs. During this time the Sun and Earth appear directly over Saturn’s equator, where the rings encircle the planet (the ring plane). This “high noon” position of the Sun marks the planet’s equinox. At this time the rings appear black, when viewed from Earth because they tip edge-on to the Sun and no longer reflect light. With the Earth in this “high noon” position, Saturn’s stunning rings, in their edge-on position, disappear from our telescopic view. Unfortunately, in 2009 Saturn is too close to the Sun to be seen during this time.

The rings will turn edge-on to the Sun and go black on August 10th. They'll turn edge-on to Earth on September 4th, but by then Saturn will be lost in the sunset. Sky at a Glance 7/17-25/09

Solar System Simulator
Generate Images of Saturn as Seen from Earth
What do the rings look like on different dates?

The ring plane crossing period allows scientists to see what is normally hidden.

When the rings of Saturn are nearly edge-on to Earth, the glare from the rings is reduced considerably, and faint objects near Saturn are easier to see. Months before and after the ring plane crossings, unique observations of Saturn, its rings and moons can be made from Earth which are available at no other time. Hui Chieh

Recent Observations

Cassini Sees a Ring Plane Crossing

Note: Saturn exactly conjoins the Sun September 17; the rings’ previous disappearance was in 1995; Saturn’s maximum ring tilt (27º) occurred in 2003 and will occur again in 2017.

Edge-On Equinox Rings 1995, 2009

Saturn is sinking in the west and will be lost in the glowing embrace of the Sun by the end of August. To catch Saturn's final evening views, look for its yellowish glow above the western horizon as the sky darkens. The planet sets around 10:45pm in the beginning of Leo and by 9:15pm at its end. Saturn is in exact conjunction with the Sun September 17.

The "Lord of Less Rings" lies at the hindquarters of Leo the Lion and is moving easterly toward the Lion's tail star Denebola. Constellation Image At magnitude 1.1 Saturn is similar in brightness to blue-white Regulus, the Lion's heart star (mag.1.35) and bluish Spica, the brightest star in Virgo the Virgin (mag. 0.98). Saturn lies between the two, with Regulus to the west and Spica to the east. Note: Regulus, closer to the Sun, is a challenge to see and sets about 1 hour before Saturn. Spica is much easier to spot. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there, spike down to blue-white Spica in the south. Helpful Image ~ 8/10 9pm Sky Chart

July 24 a slim Crescent Moon lies below Saturn to the left of Regulus, while Mercury lies further right, on the NW horizon. 7/24 8:45pm Map Click Moon Dances for an additional map and meditative reflections.

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Mercury ~ More Like Mars than the Moon!
Mercury’s Rembrandt Impact Basin

Image: MESSENGER

Rembrandt Basin’s Size Compared to East Coast USA

More Like Mars than the Moon

Even though Mercury looks like the Moon at first glance, scientists from the MESSENGER mission say it's becoming apparent that Mercury is an amazingly dynamic planet, and is actually more like Mars. For example, before this mission, scientists weren't sure if volcanism even existed on Mercury, but from the spacecraft's two flybys, they now know it is a very important part of the planet's history. Additional new findings from the second flyby of Mercury in October 2008 show that the planet’s atmosphere, magnetosphere, and geological past are all characterized by much greater levels of activity than scientists first suspected. Universe Today

Rembrandt Impact Basin

One of the most exciting results from the second flyby of Mercury is the discovery of a previously unknown large impact basin. The Rembrandt basin is more than 700 kilometers (430 miles) in diameter, and actually, to see the entire basin, it took combined images from both the first and second flyby to create the stunning picture above. Rembrandt is a relatively young impact basin, and forming about 3.9 billion years ago, is younger than any other known impact region on the planet. It shows pristine terrain on the outer portion of the crater, as well as unusual tectonic fault features, not found in any other big crater.

“This is the first time we’ve seen terrain exposed on the floor of an impact basin on Mercury that is preserved from when it formed” says MESSENGER scientist Thomas Watters. “Landforms such as those revealed on the floor of Rembrandt are usually completely buried by volcanic flows. We know that after Rembrandt formed, the planet was still contracting, so it is an exciting and unique new member of planetary craters we can study." Universe Today

Mercury's Craters Get Artsy New Names

Mercury’s Activity: More than First Suspected

NASA Sends a MESSENGER to Mercury!
This is NASA’s first trip to the planet in 30 years.
Successful Launch ~ August 2/3, 2004
Orbital Arrival ~ March 2011
News Center

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Scientists at Keck Observatory confirmed early on the morning of July 20, 2009 Hawaiian Standard Time, that something slammed into Jupiter leaving a dark bruise in the planet’s atmosphere. This infrared image of the gas giant, taken by the Keck II Telescope shows how the diameter of the impact site compares with the size of Earth.

Anthony Wesley, an amateur astronomer, a well-known Australian astrophotographer and a planetary observer was the first to discover the dark mark, which suddenly appeared July 17-19. Wesley photographed it July 19 and five days later, July 24, he saw that it had about tripled in size. Images The original photo spurred amateur astronomers around the world to train their telescopes on Jupiter. They soon confirmed Wesley’s discovery. Mike Hood’s July 28 Photo from Kathleen, Georgia shows it growing and developing 2 lobes. Raffaello Lena’s July 30 Image, a south polar projection from Rome, Italy also shows these changes.

NASA scientists have interrupted the checkout and calibration of the Hubble Space Telescope to aim the recently refurbished observatory at a new expanding spot on the giant planet Jupiter. The spot, caused by the impact of a comet or an asteroid, is changing day to day in the planet's cloud tops. The Hubble picture, taken on July 23, is the sharpest visible-light picture taken of the impact feature. The observations were made with Hubble's new camera … not yet fully calibrated. Hubble New Release: 7/24/09

The changes are caused by turbulence and especially high-altitude winds in Jupiter's atmosphere. Polar winds blowing 25 m/s and faster could stretch the [debris] cloud all the way around Jupiter's south pole in the weeks ahead. Whether such a stretched-out cloud will be visible in small telescopes remains to be seen. Spaceweather.com 7/30/09

Jupiter’s south polar scar resembles the planet’s 1994 Shoemaker-Levy Comet Impacts. No other such features have ever been sighted on Jupiter.

The [2009] impactor is estimated to be the size of several football fields. The force of the explosion on Jupiter was thousands of times more powerful than the suspected comet or asteroid that exploded in June 1908 over the Tunguska River Valley in Siberia. Hubble Release Images: 7/24/09

Stay tuned to spaceweather.com for updates and if you’ve got a telescope, check it out! The impact debris cloud crosses the planet's central meridian, 2 hours and 6 minutes after Sky and Telescope's predicted transit times for Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Jupiter is at its highest in the south around 1:00am during August. Sky Chart

Jovian Impact A Lucky Strike For Science
Anthony Wesley recounts his discovery.
Planetary scientist Leigh Fletcher talks about
what he hopes to learn by studying it.

Jupiter, the brightest, biggest, and closest to Earth for the year, is at its dazzling best during the summer nights of Leo. The planet can be viewed all night long, reaching opposition August 14 at 11:00am PDT (18:00 UT).  Jupiter rises in the southeast around 9:30pm in the beginning of Leo and at 8:00pm by its end. It can be seen at its highest in the southern sky 1:00am-2:00am and in the southwest afterwards. 8/15 1am Sky Chart

August 14 ... Jupiter appears larger (48.9" [*] across) and shines brigher (magnitude -2.9) than at any other time since October 1999. Astronomy Magazine 8/09

The planet, a brilliant beacon of light at magnitude -2.9, is located in the dim constellation Capricornus and far outshines any stars in its vicinity. Positioned in Capricornus, the planet lies higher in the sky than it did the previous two years; this promises sharper views of our gaseous giant. Jupiter is the brightest light in the sky until Venus rises in the wee hours of the morning.

Jupiter began moving in a backwards, westerly, retrograde motion June 15 and continues in this fashion until October 11. The planet's easterly and westerly movement keep it in close proximity to telescopic Neptune with both in exact conjunction May 27, July 10 and Decenber 21.

The Full Moon August 5 lies west of Jupiter 8/5 9:30pm Sky Chart. The following night it passes east of Jupiter 8/6 10:30pm Map The Moon paired with Jupiter can be observed until sunrise. Click Moon Dances for a Full Moon sky chart and meditative reflections.

Telescopic Jupiter

A small telescope shows Jupiter's bright equatorial zone and its two dark equatorial belts above and below it. The planet's turbulent clouds provide colorful and energetic performances for small scope observers.

At opposition ... [Jupiter is] an impressive 49"[*]across. The large size makes this a great time to track atmospheric features across Jupiter's disk. You can see them move noticeably within just 10 to 15 minutes as Jupiter's fast rotation carries them around. Astronomy Magazine 8/09

Neptune, reaching oppositon three days after Jupiter, is also at peak visibility. The two planets are separated by only 3º * mid-August. Image

Glowing at 8th magnitude, Neptne appears as dot through binoculars. A telescope shows a blue-gray disk 24" across. Astronomy Magazine's 2009 Sky Guide

In 2009 the Earth is moving through the plane of Jupiter's satellites, allowing the planet's moons to line up in their special 6-year geometry.

Between April and December of 2009, observers around the world can see Jupiter's moons passing one in front of another as they circle the giant planet. As part of the International Year of Astronomy, professional astronomers are organizing a worldwide observing campaign to record as many of these events as possible. Click here for details. spaceweather.com 5/10/09

Jupiter's 2009 Satellite Phenomena ~ Complete List

Jupiter’s Moons
Sky & Telescope’s JavaScript utility helps
locate Jupiter’s four brightest satellites anytime
between January 1900–December 2100.
It also lists the satellite phenomena for the chosen day.

BTW: The four largest and brightest moons of Jupiter can be seen in a dark country sky with binoculars. They were first discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610. Click Galilean Moons to see what they look like and to learn more.

Note: On the nights of August 2/3 and 4/5 Jupiter looks like it has 5 moons. The 5th one is a star, 6th-magnitude 45 Capricorni. Image

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Morning's Shape-Shifting Red Triad and Venus
August 1 - 5:15am	August 16 - 5:15am
Image: Starry Night Online / Adapted with Adobe Photoshop
* Printable Image *	* Printable Image *

Note: Venus in the constellation Gemini gives one the understanding of the spiritual purpose behind any relationship. This celestial partnership can blend two diametrically opposed forces into a harmonious third. Venus in Gemini aids the healing of any conflicts that arise, by increasing creative loving action.

Viewing Venus in a dark sky is stunning — at magnitude -4.0, it beats everything in the night sky except the Moon. Astronomy Magazine 8/09

The Planets
Is it a planet? ... What planet? When you look up at the night sky, how do you know you are looking at a planet? Learn what a plutoid is. Click here.

 

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Celestial Delights

Sirius Reappears in the East Just before Sunrise
Thursday, August 7, 2008 - Pacific Time Zone
The Dog Days Come to an End

Image: Classical Astrologer

Sirius Reappears briefly in the morning sky August 7 for observers in the Pacific Time Zone. This brightest star in the heavens has been in the embrace of the Sun for 75 days, hidden from our view. Sirius can be seen rising around 5:40am PDT very low on the southeastern horizon. On this morning it is separated from the Sun by 7 degrees. This heliacal rising of Sirius marks the ending of the Dog Days.

Dog Days
What are they? How long do they last?
How did these canicular days affect Egypt?
What is the heliacal rising and setting of Sirius?
What does any of this have to do with the 13 Moon Calendar?

In celebration of our evolutionary link to Sirius and in preparation for becoming the Shining Ones on Earth, I offer this excerpt from the Invocation of Osiris.

I am He who is clothed with the body of flesh yet in whom flames the spirit of the eternal Gods. I am the Lord of Life. I am triumphant over Death, and whosoever partaketh with me shall with me arise. I am the manifester in Matter of Those whose abode is the Invisible. I am the purified. I stand upon the Universe. I am it's Reconciler with the eternal Gods. I am the Perfector of Matter, and without me the Universe is not.

 

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Sirius ~ Leo Festival
Wednesday, August 5-6, 2009
An Artist's Impression of Sirius A and Sirius B

Image: ESA Hubble: NASA / ESA / G. Bacon (STScI)

This picture is an artist's impression showing how the binary star system of Sirius A and its diminutive blue companion, Sirius B, might appear to an interstellar visitor. The large, bluish-white star Sirius A dominates the scene, while Sirius B is the small but very hot and blue white-dwarf star on the right.

The two stars revolve around each other every 50 years. White dwarfs are the leftover remnants of stars similar to our Sun. The Sirius system, only 8.6 light-years from Earth, is the fifth closest stellar system known. Sirius B is faint because of its tiny size. Its diameter is only 7,500 miles (about 12 thousand kilometres), slightly smaller than the size of our Earth.

The Sirius system is so close to Earth that most of the familiar constellations would have nearly the same appearance as in our own sky. In this rendition, we see in the background the three bright stars that make up the Summer Triangle: Altair, Deneb, and Vega. Altair is the white dot above Sirius A; Deneb is the dot to the upper right; and Vega lies below Sirius B. But there is one unfamiliar addition to the constellations: our own Sun is the second-magnitude star, shown as a small dot just below and to the right of Sirius A.

The Sirius ~ Leo Festival occurs at Leo's Full Moon on Wednesday, August 5 at 5:55pm PDT (00:55 UT 8/6). This Festival is dedicated to the task of making contact with Sirian force. It is said that all great Avatars and evolutionary energies originate from Sirius, the brightest star in our heavens. The influences of Sirius are focused through Regulus, the heart of the Lion, found in the constellation of Leo. According to the works of Alice Bailey, the Leo-Sirius connection is key to humanity's spiritual evolution and the building of a new unifying world religion. This Sirius ~ Leo Festival offers a great and unique opportunity, to become aware of these cosmic energies.

These words from Marianne Williamson capture the essence of the Leo mysteries. "... We are born to make manifest the Glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own Light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." When Leo is in its strength and power this energy knows and remembers its radiant and shining divine essence shared by all life. Shamanic Astrology 7/03

Leo the Lion ~ Zodiacal Deity

The Sirius ~ Leo Festival Global Meditation

Click Moon Dances for a Full Moon sky chart and meditative reflections.

Way up there,
Where peace remains,
Where silence thunders,
Angels sing.
Imagination and amazing grace
Brings us closer to our home in space.

Verse from: NASA

Saturn lies above the western horizon until it sets around 10:45pm in the beginning of Leo and by 9:15pm at its end. Saturn at the hindquarters of Leo the Lion is moving easterly toward the Lion's tail. Its yellowish glow at magnitude 1.1 is similar in brightness to blue-white Regulus, the Lion's heart star, which shines at magnitude 1.35 and bluish Spica, the brightest star in Virgo the Virgin at magnitude 0.98. The planet's rings are nearly closed at a 1.9º ring tilt and pretty much disappears by 8/10. They close to exactly edge-on 9/4, when the planet is out of sight in conjunction with the Sun. The maximum ring tilt of 27º occurred in 2003. Saturn exactly conjoins the Sun 9/17. The diminishing reflective surface of the rings and Saturn's increasing distance from Earth create a dimming of the planet. 7/24 a slim Crescent Moon lies below Saturn to the left of Regulus, while Mercury lies further right, on the NW horizon. 8:45pm Map

Mercury hugs the sunset horizon at an altitude of a mere 5 degrees, 30 minutes after sunset during Leo. Afterwards the elusive planet sinks back toward the horizon. 7/22 Mercury joins the youngest Moon in the northwest. As the weeks unfold, the planet moves south along the western horizon. 8/2 it lies above Regulus, shining 5x brighter than the twinkling heart star of Leo the Lion. By 8/15 Mercury is directly below Saturn shining 2.5x brighter than the "Lord of Less Rings". 8/22 Mercury can be seen to the left of Saturn. Mercury reaches greatest elongation (27º) 8/24.

Jupiter is at its best during Leo. It is at its brightest and closest and can be viewed all night long. Jupiter rises in the southeast around 9:30pm in the beginning of Leo and at 8:00pm by its end. It can be seen in the southern sky 1:00am-2:00am and in the southwest afterwards. Jupiter reaches opposition 8/14 at 11:00am PDT (18:00 UT) and is retrograde 6/15-10/11. It is located in the dim constellation Capricornus and far outshines any stars in its vicinity. The planet is a  brilliant beacon of light at magnitude -2.9. Telescopic Neptune lies very near Jupiter; both are in exact conjunction 5/27, 7/10 and 12/21. The Full Moon on 8/5 lies west of Jupiter 8/5 9:30pm Sky Chart. The following night it passes east of Jupiter 8/6 10:30pm Map The Moon paired with Jupiter can be observed until sunrise.

Arcturus is the bright golden star seen in the west. Use the handle of the Big Dipper to arc down to Arcturus from there, spike down to blue-white Spica in the south. Helpful Image The westward movement of Arcturus and the Big Dipper can be observed in the beginning of Leo until 2:00am and by its end until 12:45am. Notice the seasonal position of the Big Dipper's bowl.

Scorpius the cosmic scorpion, a sprawling j-shaped constellation, is seen in the south at sunset. Antares is the red heart star of Scorpius. With binoculars on a moonless night you can spot the star clusters M6 and M7 above the Scorpion's stinger. These Maps/Text from 2008 are helpful. Throughout the year you can Track Bunny's Footprints in Scorpius!

The Summer Triangle a stellar right triangle is high in the northeast at sunset. Vega is the brightest star and western point; Deneb the dimmest star and eastern point, Altair is the southern point. Hercules the Strong Man lies about a third of the way from bright white Vega to golden Arcturus in the northwest. Look for his four star wedge-shaped torso. Star Chart

The Milky Way appears like a faint cloud extending from Scorpius on the southern horizon, to the Summer Triangle high overhead, and onward toward Cassiopeia (M or W shaped) on the northern horizon. Star Map.

Printable Date Table

Lunar Cycle 7/21/09-8/20/09
(Can be used through 8/22)

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May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun

Getting Started in Astronomy
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