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Night Sky Visitors ...

I've been inspired to take a well-deserved vacation and spend some time away from the computer relaxing. In this abbreviated edition of the Virgo Night Sky "Planetary Treats" has a couple of links that will keep you current. "Sky Lights" and the "Printable Date Tables" will fill in the blanks. Continue to enjoy the rest of the links and remember to Look Up!

Clear skies,
Susan Sun

Earth-Mercury-Venus-Mars Alignment
Nick Fiorenza gives insight to Virgo's unique
planetary conjunctions and solar system line-up.

Look Up!

Planetary Treats
Search Universe Today for any planet; learn the latest!
Star Gazer's Show Scripts highlight planets in the night sky.
Celestial Delights
The Moon Sheds Light on Our Harvest
Who's Changing Celestial Hemispheres?
Plus ...
Sky Lights
Printable Date Tables
Moon Dances 8/1-30
Moon Dances 8/30-9/29
The Night Sky ~ Home Page

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? Click here. ... Learn what a plutoid is.

Celestial Delights

A Full Moon near the autumn equinox lies low in the south along an ecliptic that forms a very shallow angle to the horizon. This results in the Moon rising very quickly around the time of sunset ... also rising only 20 to 30 minutes between consecutive moonrises instead of the typical 50 minutes. Before electricity this additional light late into the evening allowed farmers more time to gather their harvest. For latitudes farther north the effect is more pronounced with less time between moonrises each night. It is not surprising that the name "Harvest Moon" originated in the northern European latitudes.

The Harvest Moon because of its closer angle to the horizon appears to loom extra large when it rises ... a well known illusion. In fact the Moon is actually closer to the earth when it is highest in the sky!

Try this experiment as you watch the Moon rise from the horizon to overhead. Place your thumb and index finger a pencil width apart, at arm’s length. You should always be able to fit the Moon between your fingers no matter where it is! The Moon will always look bigger next to objects than when it is seen overhead in a dark sky. The Moon Illusion

Harvest Moon Images: Michael Myers

... traditionally the Harvest Moon lasts more than one night. And includes the two almost full Moons two nights before the official full Moon and the two almost full Moons two nights after. So we have five nights of the Harvest Moon. Star Gazer 2005 script 9/12–18

This Moon looms larger than usual because Friday, September 19, it is at perigee, closest to the Earth for this lunar cycle, 229,215 miles, at 8:27pm PDT; 03: 27 UT 9/20. BTW: Watch out for those high tides!

Strengthen the light grid of planet Earth by participating in the Virgo Full Moon Radiant Life Global Meditation.

May your harvest be delicious and bountiful.
May it serve the greatest good!

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The Sun Changes Celestial Hemispheres
Autumn Equinox ~ September 22, 2008
Sol Crosses the Celestial Equator for Some Southern Exposure!

Image: Bad Astronomy

* Printable Image *

The Autumn Equinox in the northern hemisphere occurs Monday, September 22, at 8:45am PDT; 15:45 UT, when the Sun enters the sign of Libra. It is one of the two days of the year that the Sun moves across the celestial equator.

The Autumn Equinox
The Sun "falls" below the celestial equator.
The true equinox cannot be observed.
The Sun transits the celestial sphere signaling the seasons.
Auroras increase around the autumn equinox.
The world participates in three Global meditations.

Have an Awesome Autumn!

Printable Date Tables

Lunar cycle 8/1/08-8/30/08

Lunar cycle 8/30/08-9/29/08

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I'd like to know your thoughts about The Night Sky and
if you'd like reminders to Look Up! ...
send me an email.
May your Night Sky traveling always be filled
with Celestial Delights and Treats!
Susan Sun

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Getting Started in Astronomy
Download a free flyer of bimonthly star maps.

Link to Sky and Telescope's This Week's Sky at a Glance

Click here for NASA's solar weather report and more!

Inspired? We invite you to participate! There are several ways to support our work.

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