OutdoorsAugust 20, 2009

Commentary

Tom Niemann
Starweek
Starweek

For the week of Aug. 20 -26

Question of the week

The point in the sky directly overhead is known as what? The answer will be in next week's column.

Last week's question: Name the 5,000-kilometer gap in Saturn's ring system that are observable through small telescopes. Answer: Cassini Division. A 5,000-kilometer gap in Saturn's ring system observable through small telescopes and clear skies. G.D. Cassini discovered this dark gap in Saturn's rings in 1675.

The winner this week is Vaughn Jasper of Lewiston.

Answers may be e-mailed to starweek@lmtribune.com, dropped off at the Tribune switchboard or mailed to Lewiston Tribune, Starweek, 505 Capital Street, Lewiston, ID 83501. Entries must be at the Tribune by noon Monday. Please include your mailing address. The winning entry is drawn from a pool of all correct answers and will receive a sky map for the current month.

TODAY - The moon is absent from the sky tonight because its "new" at 3:02 a.m. as it crossed the line between Earth and Sun. It will return to view as a thin crescent in the western sky after sunset by Friday or Saturday. Last Monday, Aug. 10, the sun passed through Saturn's ring plane, which it hadn't done since November 1995 and it won't do it again until May 2025.

FRIDAY - Venus is 7 degrees south of Pollux at 9 p.m. and the moon is 7 degrees south of Saturn at 11 p.m. The star known as Epsilon Lyrae consists of two pairs of stars, which together are known as the Double Double. Epsilon Lyrae is visible to the unaided eye near brilliant Vega, which is high overhead at nightfall. Binoculars split Epsilon Lyrae into two stars, while small telescopes show all four stars.

SATURDAY - The moon passes 3 degrees south of Mercury at 5 a.m. The moon, Mercury, and Saturn line up left to right very low in the west about 30 minutes after sunset. You may need binoculars to see the planets through the fading twilight. Mars is passing between the horn tips of Taurus, and is high to the upper right of Venus before dawn. To its own upper right is similar-looking Aldebaran. To its lower right is similarly colored Betelgeuse.

SUNDAY - The brilliant star Vega stands high overhead as darkness falls and low in the northwest at first light. It is so bright that it's visible from just about anywhere, including light-polluted cities. Bright Vega crosses the zenith soon after dark this week as seen from mid-northern latitudes. When Vega is highest overhead, you know that the Teapot of Sagittarius, rich with telescopic wonders, is at its highest in the south.

MONDAY - Mercury and Saturn appear near each other in bright twilight just above the horizon due west. Use binoculars to look for them about 30 minutes after sunset. At the beginning of the week Saturn is above Mercury; later it's to Mercury's upper right. Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation, 27 degrees at 9 a.m. With summer growing late, bright golden Arcturus is shining ever lower in the west after dark. And the Big Dipper is swinging lower in the northwest.

TUESDAY - The Milky Way cuts the sky almost in half on August nights. To its east is an area known as "the sea" because many of its constellations are named for sea creatures. One example is Delphinus, the dolphin, which is on the edge of the Milky Way.

WEDNESDAY - Jupiter, located in Capricornus, reached opposition on Aug. 14. It comes into view low in the southeast early in twilight, the first "star" to appear after sunset. It's higher in better telescopic view by 11 or midnight. The shadows of Europa and Ganymede fall on Jupiter simultaneously from 7:20 p.m. tonight to 10:12 p.m. tomorrow evening.

International Space Station

Thursday

Appears at 4:56 a.m. 16 degrees above WSW

Disappears at 4:59 a.m. 41 degrees above ENE

Friday

Appears at 3:48 a.m. 30 degrees above ESE

Disappears at 3:50 a.m. 13 degrees above E

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Appears at 5:20 a.m. 10 degrees above W

Disappears at 5:24 a.m. 31 degrees above NNE

Saturday

Appears at 4:12 a.m. 59 degrees above WSW

Disappears at 4:14 a.m. 31 degrees above ENE

Sunday

Appears at 4:36 a.m. 23 degrees above WNW

Disappears at 4:39 a.m. 30 degrees above NNE

Monday

Appears at 5:00 a.m. 10 degrees above WNW

Disappears at 5:04 a.m. 25 degrees above NNE

Tuesday

Appears at 3:53 a.m. 39 degrees above N

Disappears at 3:54 a.m. 24 degrees above NE

Appears at 5:26 a.m. 12 degrees above NW

Disappears at 5:29 a.m. 24 degrees above NNE

Wednesday

Appears at 4:17 a.m. 23 degrees above NW

Disappears at 4:19 a.m. 25 degrees above NNE

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Niemann is the editor of the newsletter for the Lewiston Astronomical Society. He may be contacted at starweek@lmtribune.com.

Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM