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Astronomy

Planets lie low and give Jupiter the limelight

By DARYL L. SCHRADER
Published September 2, 2006

The autumnal equinox occurs at 12:03 a.m. Sept. 23, marking the start of autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere. This day will have an equal amount of daylight and darkness.

Jupiter is the only planet easily seen in the evening sky. Find it shining brightly in the southwest. It is near the crescent moon on the evening of Sept. 26.

During the last week of the month, Mercury, low in the west-southwest at dusk, is a difficult object to see.

Venus hugs the east-northeastern to eastern horizon in the predawn sky for the first three weeks of the month. Notice that Saturn moves farther away from the upper right of Venus each day. After Sept. 7, the star Regulus will be between Venus and Saturn. The last week of September finds Venus lost in the morning glare of the sun.

At the planetariums

Science Center of Pinellas County, 7701 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg: Family Astronomy Night celebrates "Back to the Moon" with viewing through telescopes and planetarium shows. Mark the calendar for 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 30.

From September through May the Science Center will be open to the public on Fridays from 1 to 4 p.m., with planetarium shows at 3 p.m. Seating is limited to 30.

Learn how to build a telescope at the ongoing classes on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. in the optical laboratory in the annex building (behind the main building). The St. Petersburg Astronomy Club meets at the Science Center the fourth Friday of each month at 8 p.m. Visit the club's Web site at www.tampabay astronomy.com.

For more information, call (727) 384-0027 or visit www.sciencecenter ofpinellas.com.

St. Petersburg College, Fifth Avenue and 69th Street N, St. Petersburg: The planetarium on the St. Petersburg campus will offer free planetarium shows on Friday nights at 7 and 8:15 p.m.

When the skies are clear, telescopes will be set up after the second show.

Call (727) 341-4320 for details.

Gulfport: Telescopes will be set up Sept. 2 and 16 at dusk at Stargazer Quilting, on the corner of Beach Boulevard and Delett Avenue S, but only if skies are clear.

South Florida Museum and Bishop Planetarium, 210 10th St. W, Bradenton: The Bradenton planetarium reopens Sept. 5. The planetarium shows are "Passport to the Universe," "Search for Life: Are We Alone?" and "The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket," for junior astronomers.

For details, call (941) 746-4131 or visit www.southfloridamuseum.org.

Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa: The planetarium continues with "More Than Meets the Eye" and "MOSI's Tonight Show," on the current night sky. The IMAX Dome Theater presents Superman Returns, Ride Around the World, Wired to Win, Forces of Nature and Dolphins. Check the Web site, www.mosi.org, for current listings and times.

At 7 p.m. Sept. 1, Jimmy Thomas will give a free library lecture on "Constellations and Their Lore" in the Saunders Planetarium. The astronomy club meets at the planetarium from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Sept. 8. Al Peche will speak about the seasonal sun and provide an update on the new planetarium.

The astronomy club (M.A.R.S.) and MOSI offer free telescope viewing the nights of Sept. 2 and 30, starting at 7 p.m., weather permitting. This event is outside the butterfly garden.

Call (813) 987-6100 or visit www.mosi.org for more events.

Sky calendar

TODAY: SideWalk astronomical viewing at dusk for Gulfport's Gecko fest. SkyWatch astronomical viewing from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at MOSI. Uranus at opposition (opposite the direction of the sun).

MONDAY: Brilliant Venus near the star Regulus, low in the east-northeast.

WEDNESDAY: Venus and Regulus closest this morning at 0.8 degrees.

THURSDAY: Closest and largest full moon for 2006. Moon is at perigee, 221,938 miles away.

FRIDAY: Tampa astronomy club meets at MOSI at 7:30 p.m.

SEPT. 14: Last-quarter moon.

SEPT. 16: SideWalk astronomical viewing in Gulfport at dusk, if the skies are clear.

SEPT. 18: In the east, before sunrise, you can see Saturn below the crescent moon.

SEPT. 19: In the east before sunrise, Saturn will appear at the upper right of a thin crescent moon.

SEPT. 20: In the east, before sunrise, Venus, the crescent moon, Regulus and Saturn form a straight diagonal line.

SEPT. 21: Low in the east, before sunrise, Venus is next to a very thin crescent moon.

SEPT. 22: New moon. Most distant moon for 2006 at 252,587 miles (apogee). St. Petersburg Astronomy club meets at the Science Center of Pinellas County at 8 p.m.

SEPT. 23: Autumnal equinox at 12:03 a.m. Mercury just above a very thin moon, quite low in the west and not easy to find.

SEPT. 26: Look to the southwest after dusk to see Jupiter to the upper right of the crescent moon.

SEPT. 27: Antares to the upper left of the crescent moon in the southwest at dusk.

SEPT. 30: Family Astronomy Night from 7-11 p.m. at the Science Center of Pinellas County. There will be planetarium shows, and the observatory will be open. SkyWatch astronomical viewing at MOSI from 7 to 10 p.m. Excellent time at both these events to see the moon up close with a telescope. First-quarter moon.

Daryl L. Schrader is an astronomy and mathematics professor at St. Petersburg College and teaches astronomy at the University of South Florida.

[Last modified August 31, 2006, 10:23:06]