Village Stargazing


How a Mars helicopter might look (Image courtesy of NASA)


Mars is star of show S


eptember, and we’re halfway between the longest day and the shortest, or between


Midsummer and Christmas, with the Autumnal Equinox at 02:54 on the 23rd (although the day when day and night are closest to equal is the 25th). If you’ve a good view of the south-


western horizon, you may still catch a brief glimpse of Venus, very low in the glow of the sunset. There will be a very slim crescent Moon just above on the 12th but you will need a keen eye. I think we can say goodbye to the silvery planet in our evening skies for this year. Jupiter doesn’t fare much better as


it too sets not long after the Sun. At least it is a little higher in the sky. The Moon is above and to the left on the 14th. Interesting to notice how close Venus and Jupiter got before they disappeared, hand in hand, into the sunset. As soon as the sky starts to prop-


erly darken, Saturn takes centre stage in the south at the same altitude as Jupiter. This most wonderful object to see through a telescope has had only a minor role this year, being outshone by all the other planets. The Moon gives it a brief cuddle on the 17th. Then to the left and closer to the


horizon, we have the star of the show and the cause of Saturn’s diminution, Mars. It really has been spectacular, having swung close to the Earth in its


The Village September 2018 57


Amateur astronomer Brian Watkiss peers into the Village night sky.


orbit. It continues to be really bright with its orange colour very obvious even though we are moving away from it now in our smaller, faster or- bit. A big, bright Moon is close by on the 19th and 20th. Interesting to see that NASA is


hoping to develop a helicopter for use on Mars. As the atmosphere there is equivalent to 100,000 feet here on Earth, the rotors will have to spin at amazing speeds to generate enough lift. It is scheduled to accompany the next rover to be launched to the red planet in 2020.


Closer to Earth, Japan launches


the “Kounotori7” HTV-7 cargo vessel to the ISS on the 14th. If the Space Station is visible at this time, look for a small satellite just ahead of it at this time. As ever, www.heavens-above. com is the site to consult. When the sky is properly dark,


Jupiter is long gone – and in Greek mythology Jupiter, known to them as Zeus, also disappeared on one occa- sion. You see, he had taken rather a shine to the wife of another: a beauti- ful lady called Leda, and in order to, er. . . pay her a visit, he transformed himself into a swan. He’s there now, high overhead,


visible as a cross of stars flying along the Milky Way with one of the most luminous stars in our galaxy, Deneb, on his tail.


Cygnus, the swan with a guilty secret!


Deneb Albireo


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76