As Scheduled Stargazing Kauai Kauai, Hawaii Thanks to minimal interference from city lights, Kauai is an ideal place for viewing night skies. Whether you're planning a Stargazing party, or just wish to observe our magnificent skies with a friend or two, let me be your SKYWATCH GUIDE. I'm Rozlyn Reiner, an astronomy educator, (also known as Rocket Roz), & I maintain this AstroEvents page. I'm quite familiar with our Hawaiian skies & provide exciting & informative guided sky tours. Learn your way around the night sky, as I use a powerful laser & helpful visual aides to point out stars, planets, constellations, & other celestial objects. Then gaze through the telescope and observe double stars, star clusters, distant galaxies, nebulae & other deep space phenomena. The West side of Kauai has the most consistently clear skies (Waimea, Kekaha, Polihale Beach Park), & I will host small groups at my Kekaha home, or at nearby West Kauai viewing sites. I am also available to meet with you at another site if viewing conditions are favorable there. For further info, please contact: roz@rozhome.com June 2009 June Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Warm summer evenings provide excellent opportunities for Stargazing this month. Shortly after sunset, you'll find SATURN more than one-third of the way up from the southwestern horizon, shining brighter than any of the stars in Leo, the constellation which currently hosts the ringed planet. At magnitude 1.0, Saturn matches the bright star Spica, in the constellation Virgo, which lies about 40 degrees to the S.W. A telescope will reveal Saturn's glorious rings and perhaps even Titan & other Saturnian moons. June & July will be our last opportunities to view Saturn before it begins to disappear into the Sun's glare in evening twilight. JUPITER blazes in the early morning sky this month, rising from the Southeast shortly after midnight. Jupiter appears in Capricornus, & shines far brighter than any other object in this dim region of the sky. Look for Jupiter's 4 bright Galilean moons. Galileo first saw them nearly 400 years ago with a 1.5-inch telescope of lower quality than any available today. VENUS & MARS rise within 15 minutes of each other in early June. Both will be up by 4:00 AM, joining Jupiter in the predawn sky. Brilliant Venus shines at magnitude (minus) -4.4 on June 5th & appears nearly 15 degrees high in the east an hour before sunrise. Venus passes 2 degrees south of Mars on June 19th. This conjunction looks especially impressive because a crescent Moon lies nearby. Venus stands 15 degrees above the eastern horizon at 4:30 AM with Mars to its upper left, & the Moon 7 degrees above the pair. THE SOUTHERN CROSS, in the constellation Crux, is currently viewable and is quite impressive. You'll need a cloudless view of the southern horizon. In early June, Crux rises in the southeast, tipped on its left side, at around 7 PM, & is high enough above the horizon to view by 8 PM. The Roman style "cross" asterism stands fully upright, due south, at 8:30 PM. At this time look for 2 bright stars, Alpha & Beta Centauri, "pointing" to it from the east. (Best viewing around 9PM in early June, 8PM from mid-month on. Note that Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For a June sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Saturday, June 20, 2009 KEASA PUBLIC STARWATCH Kaumakani Ball Field The Kauai Educational Association for Science & Astronomy, KEASA, presents its monthly public STARWATCH, beginning at sunset Saturday June 20th, at the softball field in Kaumakani. For more information, including directions to this excellent viewing site, visit www.keasa.org (keasa.org). For recorded directions phone 808.332-STAR(7827). Feel free to call (808)652-2373, on Saturday late afternoon, for weather updates affecting Starwatch for that evening. May 2009 May Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Balmy spring nights provide wonderful opportunities for Stargazing in our magnificent Hawaiian skies. April 30th & May 1st provide the month's best views of MERCURY, which "pops out" of the Sun's glow, low in the West, approx. 30 minutes after sunset. The tiny innermost planet shines brightly (mag. 1.1) & appears close to the Pleiades star cluster (aka: the Seven Sisters), which begins to emerge from twilight soon after Mercury. Having reached it's "eastern elongation" (greatest angular distance from the Sun), Mercury will be now be heading back toward the Sun, & will reappear in the morning sky in June. You will find SATURN high in the South (nearly overhead), just after sunset, shining brighter than any of the stars in Leo, the constellation which currently hosts the ringed planet. Saturn appears South of the lion's hind quarters, slightly brighter than Regulus, the "heart" of the lion. Look thru any telescope to see Saturn's glorious rings. Enjoy viewing the Ringed Planet NOW, as the ring plane will start narrowing in June, & will soon be tilted edge-on to Earth. By late summer, Saturn will orbit to the far side of the Sun where it will not be visible from Earth. JUPITER blazes in the early morning sky this month, rising in the east around 2 AM at the beginning of May, and by midnight at months end. Jupiter appears in Capricornus, & shines far brighter than any other object in this dim region of the sky. Venus & Mars, rise within 20 minutes of each other in mid-May, joining Jupiter in the predawn sky. Hard to miss VENUS in the early morning, as it shines much brighter than any other object in the sky (except the Moon, of course). Venus rises from the east at around 4:15AM at the beginning of May, and by 3:30AM at months end. MARS is a bit more challenging to find, as a pale orange "dot," compared to brilliant Venus & Jupiter. Look for the Red Planet northeast of Venus, rising at around 4:30AM early in May, and by 4AM at the months end. On May 21, a waning crescent Moon stands 7 degrees to the upper left of Venus, while Mars appears 6 degrees directly below the Moon. THE SOUTHERN CROSS, in the constellation Crux, is currently viewable and is quite impressive. You'll need a cloudless view of the southern horizon. In early May, Crux rises in the southeast, tipped on its left side, at around 8 PM, & is high enough above the horizon to view by 9 PM. The Roman style "cross" asterism stands fully upright, due south, at 11:00 PM. At this time look for 2 bright stars, Alpha & Beta Centauri, "pointing" to it from the east. (Best viewing around 11PM in early May, 10PM at mid-month, & around 9PM at months end). Note that Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For a May sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Saturday, May 23 KEASA PUBLIC STARWATCH Kaumakani Ball Field The Kauai Educational Association for Science & Astronomy, KEASA, presents its monthly public STARWATCH, beginning at sunset Saturday May 23, at the softball field in Kaumakani. For more information, including directions to this excellent viewing site, visit www.keasa.org (keasa.org). For recorded directions phone 808.332-STAR(7827). Feel free to call (808)652-2373, on Saturday late afternoon, for weather updates affecting Starwatch for that evening. April 2009 April Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands April provides wonderful opportunities for spring stargazing in our magnificent Hawaiian skies. SATURN puts on a grand show this month & is viewable nearly all night long. You will find Saturn high in the southeast just after sunset, shining brighter than any of the stars in Leo, the constellation which currently hosts the ringed planet. Saturn is just southeast of the lion's hind quarters & appears twice as bright as Regulus, the "heart" of the lion. JUPITER blazes in the early morning sky this month, rising in the east around 4 AM at the beginning of April, and by 2:30 AM at months end. Jupiter appears in Capricornus, & shines far brighter than any other object in this dim region of the sky. Venus & Mars join Jupiter in the predawn sky, easier to spot by mid-April than at the start of the month. Hard to miss VENUS in the early morning, as it shines much brighter than any other object in the sky (except the Moon, of course). It will rise from the east at around 4:40 AM in the middle of April, and by 4AM at the end of the month. MARS is a bit more challenging to find as a pale orange "dot" compared to brilliant Venus & Jupiter. From April 12-16, look for Mars to the right of Venus in the pre-dawn sky. On April 18th the red planet slides below (south) of Venus and remains below Venus for the rest of the month. On the mornings of April 21st & 22nd, look for the waning crescent Moon to join the two planets. April is the best time this year to see MERCURY. Beginning the second week in April, Mercury begins to pop out of the Sun's glow after sunset. Start looking for Mercury around 7:15 PM, very low in the west. After April 8th, the tiny innermost planet appears progressively higher each night, as its angular distance from the Sun increases. On April 9th, Mercury shines as bright as Sirius, the sky's brightest star. From April 25-30, Mercury passes just below the spectacular Pleiades star cluster (AKA: the Seven Sisters). On April 26th look toward the western horizon around 7:45 PM for a stunning sight: a crescent Moon joins Mercury & the Pleiades in the deepening twilight. THE SOUTHERN CROSS, in the constellation Crux, is viewable in the late night & early morning hours. You'll need a cloudless view of the southern horizon. In mid-April, Crux rises in the southeast, tipped on its left side, at around 9 PM, & is high enough above the horizon to view by 10 PM. The Roman style "cross" asterism stands fully upright, due south, at 11:30 PM. At this time look for 2 bright stars, Alpha & Beta Centauri, "pointing" to it from the east. (Best viewing between 11:30PM & 12:30AM in mid April. Note that Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For further details & an April sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). April 16 -25; Peak April 21 - 22 Lyrid Meteor Shower Hawaiian Island Viewing The annual Lyrid meteor shower could be quite good this year as peak activity occurs close to the New Moon. This year the Lyrids are expected to peak in a Moon-free sky, around 1AM (HST) on Wednesday morning, April 22nd. Under clear skies, from a dark viewing location, we might expect to see as many as 20 meteors (shooting stars) per hour. From around midnight, (Tuesday night) thru sunrise Wednesday morning, get yourself comfortably situated in the darkest area you can find. A lounge chair with blankets & a thermos with a hot beverage would be great. You DO NOT need a telescope or binoculars to see this, or any meteor shower. Just make sure you are warm & comfortable, find a dark spot, & scan the sky for streaks of light! Tuesday night into Wednesday morning would be an excellent time for camping under the (shooting) stars.... (While you're out there - look for Jupiter, Venus & Mars in the pre-dawn sky). These meteors will appear to ÒradiateÓ from the constellation Lyra, near it's border with Hercules. While the peak occurs on the morning of April 22nd, the Lyrids are active from April 16-25 so you may see some Lyrid meteors anytime during this period. Lyrids meteors are bright & swift (traveling at an average speed of 30 miles per SECOND!) & often leave trails. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes thru the path of a comet. The tiny bits of debris left behind by comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter (& burn up) in Earth's atmosphere. March 2009 March Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands VENUS continues to BLAZE in the western sky at dusk, although it appears lower in sky each night. Venus sets 3 hours after the Sun at the beginning of March, & just 1 hour after sunset on March 20th. On March 27th, Venus will pass between the Earth & Sun, then reappear in our morning sky, rising in the east at 5:45 AM on March 31st. SATURN is at peak visibility this month, as it reaches "opposition" on March 8th, when it lies directly opposite the Sun. Saturn will be rising at sunset & will be viewable all night, Opposition also brings Saturn closet to Earth, a mere 780 MILLION miles! Saturn appears as the brightest object in its host constellation LEO, beneath the Lion's hindquarters. Saturn's glorious ring system is barely viewable because it currently tilts nearly edge on to our line of sight from Earth. Early in March, look for a "gathering" of Jupiter, Mercury & Mars in the eastern predawn sky (from approx. 6:00-6:15 AM). JUPITER shines brightly (mag. minus -2.0), & can be seen even as the rising Sun begins to lighten the sky. Jupiter remains in morning twilight throughout the month, climbing slowly higher as the month progresses. MARS returns to our sky this month, rising in the east just prior to sunrise. Mars is still quite faint, due to its great distance from Earth, however it will be rising earlier & brightening steadily as the month progresses & throughout the rest of the year. Using brilliant Jupiter as a guide, you can find Mars in binoculars, approx. 6 degrees to Jupiter's lower left. Look for the waning crescent Moon between Jupiter & Mars on the morning of March 23rd & next to Mars on March 24. MERCURY will appear lower & lower in the sky at daybreak. March 10th will be our last opportunity to view the tiny innermost planet before it's lost in the glare of daybreak. Until then, Mercury will appear substantially brighter than Mars & just below (N.E. of) Mars on the eastern horizon. The Southern Cross, in the constellation Crux, is viewable in the early morning & late night hours. You'll need a cloudless view of the southern horizon. At the beginning of March, Crux rises in the southeast, tipped on its left side, at around 11:45 PM, & stands erect when due south by 2:15 AM. By the end of the month, Crux rises at 9:45 PM, & will be due south by 12:15 AM. When the Cross stands fully upright, look for 2 bright stars, Alpha & Beta Centauri, "pointing" to it from the east. Note when viewing that Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." Enjoy viewing the splendid constellations of Winter, with some of the brightest stars in our sky: Orion, Taurus, Leo, Gemini, Canis Major, Cassiopeia, & other Winter favorites. Download a March skymap from Bishop Museum Planetarium (below), hold it over your head with the N. pointing North, & watch the sky come alive as you locate & identify these constellation "asterisms" (patterns) & learn to make sense of our magnificent Hawaiian night sky. For further details & a March sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). February 2009 February Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands VENUS continues to BLAZE in the western sky at dusk. Venus remains brilliant for the entire month, dominating our evening skies, brighter in mid-February than at any other time this year. Venus will set at around 9:30 PM early in the month, & by 9PM at month's end. As Venus descends in the west, look for SATURN rising in the east. Saturn appears in the back end of the constellation Leo the Lion, rising at 9PM at the start of the month, & nearly 2 hours earlier by the 28th. It appears as the most conspicuous object between Regulus, Leo's brightest star, and Virgo's luminary star Spica. Saturn's glorious ring system is barely viewable because it currently tilts nearly edge on to our line of sight from Earth. Look for a nearly Full Moon near Saturn on Feb. 10th & 11th. At the end of February, our 3 other "naked-eye" planets will gather in the pre-dawn sky. On Feb. 22nd, just after 6AM, look for JUPITER, MERCURY, & a slim crescent Moon to line up in the southeastern sky. Mercury will be to the left of the Moon, & Jupiter (much brighter) to the left of Mercury. And if you have clear skies, you might even spot MARS, to the left of Jupiter. Look for this three-planet gathering from Feb. 22nd thru the end of the month, from 6 AM to about 6:20. Mercury will pass below Jupiter on Feb. 23rd, & will be in between Jupiter & Mars for the remainder of the month. The Southern Cross, in the constellation Crux, is viewable in the early morning, prior to dawn. You'll need a cloudless view of the southern horizon. At the beginning of Feb., Crux rises in the southeast at around 2AM, & is due south (& upright) by 4:30AM. By the end of the month, Crux rises at midnight, & will be due south by 2:30AM. Suggest viewing before 5AM, as the later it gets, the Cross starts to sink into the southwestern horizon. Note when viewing at this time of morning, that Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For further details & a February sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). February 28, 3:00PM - 9:00PM The Hawaiian Sky Tonight: A Starwatch Program Waimea High School & Kaumakani Ball Field Kauai Community School for Adults is offering this one night course, taught by astronomy educator Rozlyn Reiner, an opportunity to learn about & visually explore our magnificent Hawaiian skies. There will first be an exciting multimedia presentation, at Waimea High School, from 3:00 - 5:45 PM. Discover the life cycle of stars & our Sun's place in the Milky Way Galaxy. Learn to recognize the constellations as they appear in the sky. Learn to use a sky map to locate & identify stars, constellations, planets, & other celestial objects. The class will then drive to Kaumakani (10 minutes) to participate in the KEASA public starwatch (weather permitting). Enjoy a guided sky tour led by astronomy educators using sky maps, laser pointers & helpful visual aids, as well as telescopes & binoculars. Hear legends about the stars & explanations of special "events" of the solar system. Fee for the course is $18.00 plus $3 lab fee. Class size is limited & ADVANCED REGISTRATION REQUIRED, by calling KCSA at (808) 274-3390. For further info, please call (808)652-2373, or email: roz@rozhome.com Feb.9th; Moon darkest at 04:30AM Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Hawaiian Islands Viewing There will be a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, viewable from Hawaii, in the early morning hours of February 9th. (Monday MORNING). In a penumbral eclipse, the full Moon passes into the outer or penumbral shadow of the Earth. While many penumbral eclipses have few observable effects, the February 9th lunar eclipse will carry the Moon far enough into the light gray shadow to produce a distinctive darkening of the northern half of the Moon. While we will NOT see the Moon turn a deep copper color, as we often experience during a full lunar eclipse, a dusky shading of the Moon's northern half should be easily visible to the naked eye. The darkening will start around 2:45 AM on Monday morning. The Moon will appear darkest at around 4:30AM, & the eclipse will be over about 6:30 as dawn begins to break. Keep in mind that the beginning & end of a penumbral eclipse are not visible to the eye. In fact, no shading can be detected until about 2/3 of the Moon's disk is immersed in the penumbra. Best viewing then would be between 4AM and 5:20. (While you're out there observing the eclipse, look to the southern horizon for the Southern Cross (Crux) - See notes below). January 2009 January Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Behold our Winter skies! It's wonderful to view Orion & his faithful hunting dogs, as well as Taurus, Gemini, Pegasus, Andromeda & other Winter constellations in our night skies. Following the JUPITER/MERCURY conjunction in early January (see below), both of these planets will be setting with the Sun. & by mid-month leave VENUS to BLAZE alone, high in the Southwestern sky at dusk. On Jan. 14th, Venus reaches its greatest distance from the Sun, 47 degrees, & appears brighter than any other point of light in the sky. Throughout the month, Venus will brighten steadily to a magnitude of minus 4.7 by month's end, and will set in the west at approximately 9:30 PM. Watch after sunset on Jan. 29th, when a small crescent Moon lies 6 degrees west of Venus. By mid-month, look for SATURN to rise due east at around 10 PM, and by 9 PM at months end. Saturn appears as the most conspicuous object between Regulus, Leo's brightest star, and Virgo's luminary star Spica. Saturn's glorious ring system is barely viewable because it currently tilts nearly edge on to our line of sight from Earth. MARS passed on the far side of the Sun in early December & will remain out of sight throughout January. Mars will not be viewable until early March when it returns to our predawn sky. The Southern Cross, in the constellation Crux, is viewable in the early morning, prior to dawn. You'll need a cloudless view of the southern horizon. At mid-month,the Southern Cross rises around 3 AM & by 2 AM at the end of the month. Note at this time of morning, that Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For further details & a January sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Dec. 25th - January 4th Jupiter - Mercury Conjunction Hawaiian Islands While we recently experienced a conjunction of Venus & Jupiter (from late November thru early December), watch for yet another "planetary gathering" as Jupiter pairs with Mercury, viewable from Dec.25th thru Jan. 4th. While brilliant Venus blazes high in the Southwestern sky after sunset, Jupiter & Mercury will appear lower toward the southwestern horizon, from around 6:40 PM until 7:15, when Jupiter sets. On Monday night, Dec. 29th, look toward the southwest at 6:40. To view the low, lovely conjunction, you'll need a flat, cloudless view of the SW horizon. (Looking out to the ocean from south or west Kauai is ideal). Jupiter, (mag. -2.0) is quite bright (tho' not nearly as bright as Venus, mag. -4.4). As the sky darkens, Mercury (mag. -0.7) will appear just slightly SW of Jupiter. The slim crescent Moon will be just (NE) above the pair, between Venus & the conjunct planets. On Dec. 30, the Moon moves up to visit Venus, well above Jupiter & Mercury, which will appear to be side by side. On Dec. 31, Jupiter & Mercury will still appear close, while the Moon will be just NE of Venus. Each night after Jan. 1st, Jupiter sinks lower in the western sky at sunset & becomes more difficult to see. Meanwhile, Mercury climbs higher until it reaches its January 4th eastern elongation (furthest distance from the Sun), when it's viewable for 90 minutes after sunset. January 2-3, 2009 Quadrantid Meteor Shower Hawaiian Islands & Mainland U.S. The beginning of January can be an exciting time for meteor watchers as the Quadrantid meteor shower is one of the strongest meteor showers of the year. This year, the Quadrantids are expected to peak in a Moon-free sky, around 3AM (HST) on Saturday morning, Jan. 3rd. Under clear skies, from a dark viewing location, we might expect to see as many as 100 meteors (shooting stars) per hour. From around 3:00 AM, thru sunrise Saturday morning, get yourself comfortably situated in the darkest area you can find. A lounge chair with blankets & a thermos with a hot beverage would be great. You DO NOT need a telescope or binoculars to see this, or any meteor shower. Just make sure you are warm & comfortable, find a dark spot, & scan the sky for streaks of light! Friday night into Saturday morning would be an excellent time for camping under the (shooting) stars.... These meteors will appear to ÒradiateÓ from the constellation Boštes, the constellation in which Hawaii's beloved zenith star, Hokule'a (Arcturus) resides. Boštes will be fully up in the Northeast by 3AM on the morning of January 3rd. Look in the direction of the Big Dipper & let the light show begin! Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes thru the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter (& burn up) in Earth's atmosphere. There is evidence that Quadrantid meteors come from "2003-EH1", an "asteroid" that is probably a piece of a comet that broke apart some 500 years ago. Earth intersects the orbit of 2003-EH1 at a perpendicular angle, which means we quickly move through any debris. That is why the shower is so brief, lasting only a couple of hours. December 2008 December Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Behold our Winter skies! It's wonderful to view Orion & his faithful hunting dogs, as well as Taurus, Gemini & other Winter constellations, returning to our night skies. VENUS & JUPITER still appear close to each other in early December. Our two brightest planets sparkle in the southwest after sunset. Following a spectacular conjunction on Nov.30th, the pair now appear to be drawing apart, further by approx. 1 degree each evening. While Venus, our brightest planet, climbs higher in the western sky, Jupiter appears to descend lower & lower into the twilight. Around Dec. 15th, look for Venus & Jupiter from about 6:45 PM until 8 PM, when Jupiter sets. Jupiter remains in Sagittarius throughout the month, while Venus crosses Capricornus & ends the year in Aquarius. MERCURY joins Jupiter for yet another "planetary gathering," visible by Dec. 25th. Look for Mercury about halfway between Jupiter & the western horizon around 6:25 PM. Easy to spot the pair Dec.29th, when a faint crescent Moon lies nearby. On Dec. 31st, Jupiter & Mercury will appear side by side in conjunction, with the Moon above the pair & adjacent to Venus. You'll need to view between 6:30 PM, when it's dark enough to see Jupiter & Mercury, and 7PM when these planets set. SATURN is the only planet visible in the morning sky. Saturn rises almost exactly due east at 2AM in early December, and by 12:15 AM at months end. You'll find it high in south prior to dawn, near the border between Leo & Virgo. Saturn appears dimmer now (mag. 1.1) as it's glorious rings, which typically reflect more light than the planet's disk, appear almost edge-on to our line of sight from Earth. MARS will be traveling behind the Sun this month & will not be viewable until it returns to our morning sky in March. From Dec.10th into January, we'll be able to view Crux, the Southern Cross, in the early morning prior to dawn. You'll need a cloudless view of the southern horizon. Around Dec. 10th the Southern Cross rises around 5:45AM & the sky starts to lighten by 6. On Dec. 25th, it will rise at around 4:45 so you'll have over an hour to spot it before daybreak. By New Year's Eve, Crux is up by 3:45 AM. For further details & a December sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). November 2008 November Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Shortly after sunset, it's hard to miss VENUS, gleaming brilliantly in the southwest, the brightest object in the night sky, other than the Moon. At the same time, look for JUPITER, the second brightest object, high in the southwest, to the upper left of Venus. Jupiter appears among the stars of eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism. In early November, Venus & Jupiter will appear approx. 30 degrees apart, (Venus the brighter & lower of the two). Watch as the two planets seem to move closer to each other, narrowing the gap between them by about 1 degree each night. On Nov. 30th, Venus & Jupiter will "meet" for a "conjunction." Just after sunset, Venus appears only 2 degrees south of Jupiter, with a lovely crescent Moon just below the pair. Catch this trio before it sets, at around 8:15 PM. SATURN, will be rising in the east by 3:00 AM in early November, & by 1:15 AM at month's end. Saturn appears to be dimming, as the angle of its rings to our line of sight is steadily decreasing. The rings typically reflect more light than the planet's disk, & since we are approaching a time when the rings will appear edge-on as viewed from Earth, the entire planet seems to fade. Saturn currently appears in the southern part of the constellation Leo, slightly brighter than Regulus, the star which is the "heart" of the Lion. MERCURY is visible in the morning sky for the first few days of November, rising in the east at 5:45AM. The tiny innermost planet stands 4 degrees to the left of Spica, and clearly outshines this brightest star in Virgo. On Nov. 2nd, you'll have about 45 minutes to view Mercury before the rising Sun begins to lighten the sky. However, the planet rises later each day and, by Nov. 5th, will be lost in the glare of the rising Sun. MARS is traveling behind the Sun this month, & will not reappear (in our morning sky) until the end of 2008. Bid farewell to Scorpius & other Summer constellations, & welcome the stars of Winter. As the giant Scorpion (Maui's Fishhook) sets with the Sun, look overhead & use a skymap to locate & view the Great Square of Pegasus, Andromeda & Cassiopeia (to the North). The Summer Triangle stars & constellations are still viewable until the end of the month (Vega in Lyra the Harp, Deneb in Cygnus the Swan, & Altair in Aquilla the Eagle). Taurus the Bull, with the Pleiades (7-Sisters) on his back, is up by 8PM, and Orion the Hunter is viewable, rising in the East by 9PM. For further details & a November sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). November 29, 5:45 PM KEASA PUBLIC STARWATCH Kaumakani Ball Field The Kauai Educational Association for Science & Astronomy, KEASA, presents its monthly public STARWATCH, beginning at sunset Saturday November 29th, at the softball field in Kaumakani. For more information, including directions to this excellent viewing site, visit www.keasa.org (keasa.org). For recorded directions phone 808.332-STAR(7827). Feel free to call (808)652-2373, on Saturday late afternoon, for weather updates affecting Starwatch for that evening. Nov.1st-10th Taurid Meteor Shower Hawaiian Island Viewing A lesser known meteor shower, the Taurids, may put on a nice show this year, with more activity than usual & lots of bright fireballs. With a small crescent Moon setting before midnight the first week of November, & under dark, clear skies, we might be able to view as many as 12 meteors ("shooting stars") per hour, including numerous slow-moving fireballs. Best viewing after midnight & just prior to sunrise Nov. 1st - 10th, with peak activity expected before dawn on Nov. 5th. Taurid meteors are so named because they appear to originate or "radiate" from the constellation Taurus, the Bull, which sits low in the east a few hours after sunset, & is almost directly overhead by around 1:30 AM. Most of us are more familiar with the Leonid Meteor Shower, which peaks on November 17th. However this year a bright gibbous Moon might interfere with our chance to see all but the brightest Leonid meteors. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes thru the path of a comet. Every year in late October and early November, Earth passes through a river of space dust associated with Comet 2P/Encke. Tiny grains hit our atmosphere at 65,000 MPH. At that speed, even a tiny smidgen of dust makes a vivid streak of light--a meteor--when it disintegrates. October 2008 October Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Our two brightest planets, Venus & Jupiter, grace our early evening sky this month. Shortly after sunset, it's hard to miss VENUS, shining brilliantly low in the west-southwest. Venus (at magnitude -3.9) appears as the brightest object in the night sky, other than the Moon. At the same time, look for JUPITER, the second brightest object, about halfway up in the southwestern sky at dusk. Jupiter appears among the stars of eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism. In early October, Venus & Jupiter will appear approx. 60 degrees apart, (Venus to the right/west of Jupiter). Watch how the two bright planets seem to move closer to each other as the month progresses to where, at the end of the month, they will appear only about 30 degrees apart. On Oct. 26th, Venus will pass just 3 degrees north of Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. (AKA: Maui's fishhook). On Oct. 31st, Halloween night, at around 6:45 PM, look for a slender crescent Moon just below Venus and to the left of Antares. Venus will be setting around 8 PM throughout October. Earlier risers will be able to view SATURN, rising in the east by 4:50 AM in early October, & by 3 AM at month's end. Saturn appears to be dimming, as the angle of its rings to our line of sight is steadily decreasing. The rings typically reflect more light than the planet's disk, & since we are approaching a time when the rings will appear edge-on as viewed from Earth. the entire planet seems to fade. Saturn currently appears in the constellation Leo, slightly brighter than Regulus, the star which is the "heart" of the Lion. MERCURY will be visible in the morning sky later in October. From Oct. 22-31, Mercury seems to hang below Saturn, rising just before 5:30AM, nearly due east. On Oct. 25 & 26, look for a crescent Moon between Saturn & Mercury at around 5:50 AM. By month's end, the tiny innermost planet shines as bright as Sirius, the brightest star in our sky. MARS is traveling behind the Sun this month, & will not reappear (in our morning sky) until the end of 2008. On Thursday Oct. 16th, from 10-11:45 PM, the Moon will move across the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters & Makali'i ("little eyes"). This beautiful open star cluster, on the back of Taurus the Bull, is easy to spot with naked eye, & a superb sight through binoculars. It contains about 100 stars (relatives & extended family of the sisters perhaps?) & lies approx. 395 light years from Earth. Watching the Moon glide thru the Pleiades is truly a sight to behold! For further details & an October sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). October 25, 6:00 PM KEASA presents PUBLIC STARWATCH Kaumakani Ball Field The Kauai Educational Association for Science & Astronomy, KEASA, presents its monthly public STARWATCH, beginning at sunset Saturday October 25th, at the softball field in Kaumakani. For more information, including directions to this excellent viewing site, visit www.keasa.org (keasa.org). For recorded directions phone 808.332-STAR(7827). Feel free to call (808)346-5796, on Saturday late afternoon, for weather updates affecting Starwatch for that evening. Before dawn, Oct. 21st Orionid Meteor Shower Hawaiian Island Viewing Although the last quarter Moon might wash out our view of all but the brightest Orionid meteors this year, we may be still see increased meteor activity for a few mornings on/around Oct. 21st. The Orionids peak before dawn on October 21st. (Best viewing perhaps between 2AM - 5AM). We might expect to see 10 or more meteors ("shooting stars") per hour during this peak, from a dark, clear viewing site. The Orionids typically produce swift, bright meteors, traveling at a velocity of about 41 miles/sec or 190,000 miles/hour! Orionid meteors appear to originate or "radiate" from the constellation Orion, "the hunter" which will be rising in the east at around midnight(HST). Activity increases during the early morning hours when Orion is overhead & the Earth turns skywatchers into the oncoming stream of comet debris. Note that the meteors are visible to the naked eye; no special equipment is required. (A reclining chair perhaps?) Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by the comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The Orionids occur every October as we pass through debris left over by Halley's Comet, which last visited our region of the Solar System in 1986. Halley's comet returns to orbit the Sun approximately every 76 years. (Due back in 2061). September 2008 September Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Four of the five "naked-eye viewable" planets grace the sky after sunset in early September. Brilliant VENUS appears in the darkening twilight, hanging low in the western sky. Hard to miss our brightest planet, which can serve as a beacon to locate fainter Mercury & Mars, as long as you have a clear view toward the western horizon. Just to the left/south of blazing Venus look for MERCURY. In early September the two planets appear within 3 degrees of each other. The two move in step nightly as they appear to close in on MARS which shines much fainter. Mars starts off the month approx. 3 degrees above (east of) Mercury & Venus. On Sept.10th, 11th & 12th, look to the west from about 7:15-7:45PM, for a fascinating conjunction; a planetary "gathering" of Venus, Mars, & Mercury near the bright star Spica, in the constellation Virgo. Venus & Mars will appear very close to one another (a mere 0.3 degrees apart), while Mercury hangs just below & to the left/south of the pair. Toward the end of the month, Mercury & Mars will be lost in the evening twilight while Venus will climb higher in the southwest evening sky. Stunning JUPITER dominates the southern half of the sky all night, gleaming brightly in the south at dust. Jupiter appears among the stars of eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism. SATURN reaches solar conjunction September 3rd, when it lies on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth, & thus not visible. It then passes into the morning sky, where it rises just before 5 AM, low in the east, by month's end. Scorpius, the giant scorpion is easily recognizable, as a "J" or fish-hook shape, (Ka Makau Nui O Maui), in the southern sky. Antares, the red supergiant star which is in the middle of the scorpion's curving body, is one of the largest stars in our stellar neighborhood. You'll find Scorpius & Antares just to the right /west of Jupiter. The Autumnal Equinox occurs on Sept. 22nd here in Hawaii. This is the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the change in seasons from summer to fall. On the day of the equinox, the Sun rises exactly in the East, & sets exactly in the West, & day & night are the same length. After the equinox, the Sun will appear lower & lower in the sky & the days will grow shorter. For further details & a September sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). August 2008 August Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Brilliant JUPITER dominates the southern half of the sky all night. The gas giant gleams from high in the southeastern sky at sunset. Jupiter appears among the stars of eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism. Four planets are viewable in the Western sky for a short period just after sunset. VENUS stands out as the brightest object in the western sky after sunset. In the first week of August, look to the West at around 7:45 PM & you may be able to spot SATURN as a white dot to the upper left of Venus. Watch during the first 2 weeks of August as Venus & Saturn close in on each other. (The 2 planets appear closest on August 13th). Look for the pale orange glow of MARS to the upper left of Saturn. Watch for MERCURY to join the planetary "gathering" August 14th -16th. On August 15th, at around 7:30 PM, look for a tight clustering of Venus, Saturn, & Mercury, low on the Western horizon, with Mars to the upper left (SE) of the trio. Venus will be relatively easy to spot, while Saturn & Mercury, just below Venus, might require binoculars. (Mercury is the brighter of the two). The 3 conjunct planets will be setting by 7:45. Scorpius, the giant scorpion is easily recognizable, as a "J" or fish-hook shape, (Ka Makau Nui O Maui), in the southern sky. Antares, the red supergiant star which is in the middle of the scorpion's curving body, is one of the largest stars in our stellar neighborhood. For further details and an August sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Aug. 11th-12th, Midnight Perseid Meteor Showers Hawaiian Island Viewing The Perseid Meteor Shower is expected to peak the evening of Monday-Tuesday, August 11-12. The best time to view the meteors ("shooting stars") is after 11:30 PM on Monday night & especially after the Moon sets at around 2:00 AM Tuesday morning. The Perseids typically produce lots of bright meteors, many leaving luminous trails visible for several seconds. These are fast meteors with a velocity of about 36 miles/sec or 130,000 miles/hour! We can expect to see between 60 & 100 meteors per hour from a dark, clear viewing site. Perseid meteors appear to originate or "radiate" from the constellation Perseus, "the hero" which will be rising in the Northeast at around 11:30 (HST). Activity increases during the early morning hours when Perseus is overhead & the Earth turns skywatchers into the oncoming stream of comet debris. Note that the meteors are visible to the naked eye; no special equipment is required. (A reclining chair perhaps?) Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by the comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The Perseids' parent comet is 109/P Swift-Tuttle, which last visited our region of the Solar System in 1992. It returns to orbit the Sun approximately every 130 years. July 2008 July Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Perhaps the most exciting celestial event of the summer is the conjunction of Mars & Saturn in Leo. (See notes above). Watch nightly as Mars slowly catches up to Saturn (July 10th) and overtakes the orbit of slower moving Saturn. MARS will pass through Leo on the way to Virgo by month's end. This is the last month to view SATURN before it slips into the solar glare, to reappear in about 2 months in the morning sky. Brilliant JUPITER is in opposition now, which means it is on the opposite side of our sky from the Sun. The gas giant rises in the east as the Sun sets & appears at its biggest & brightest, dominating the sky all night long. Jupiter appears among the stars of eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism. VENUS is slowly pulling away from the Sun & returning to the evening sky, though it will be difficult to spot until mid-month. Watch for Venus, (on the west-northwest horizon at sunset) to track through the Beehive star cluster in Cancer (M44) on July 18th, then cross into Leo on the 26th, when it will set 50 minutes after the Sun. MERCURY is visible in the morning sky in early July, rising around 4:30 AM in Taurus, the Bull. By mid-month, the innermost planet drops out of visibility as it moves back toward the Sun, to reappear in the evening sky in early September. Scorpius, the giant scorpion is easily recognizable, as a "J" or fish-hook shape, (Ka Makau Nui O Maui), in the southeast at sunset. Early in the month, you'll be able to see the Southern Cross viewable just after sunset, low on the southern horizon. The two bright stars above the southern horizon, Alpha & Beta Centauri, "point" to the Cross to their west. By mid-month, "Crux," (the proper name for this constellation), will be setting with the Sun. Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For further details and a July sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). July 5th, 9th & 10th Mars & Saturn Conjunction in Leo Hawaiian Islands & Mainland U.S. On the evening of July 5th, a thin crescent Moon hangs below Saturn, Mars, & Regulus (the brightest star in the constellation Leo), creating an intriguing Òcelestial line-up.Ó Viewing from west to east, you will see the Moon next to Regulus, followed by Mars & then Saturn. Mars appears a ruddy rust color, between blue-white Regulus, & pale yellow Saturn (the brightest of the 3). Under clear skies, the line-up should be viewable in the west as soon as itÕs dark enough after sunset; (by 8:15 PM). YouÕll want to view early however, because this gathering will set by 10PM. On July 9th & 10th, there will be a conjunction of Mars & Saturn in Leo. While the planets are actually separated by 817 million miles, they are currently placed in their orbits so that, as viewed from Earth, they appear close to each other. While Saturn takes 29 years to orbit the Sun, Mars completes an orbit in 687 days. Over the past few weeks, Mars has been slowly creeping closer to Saturn. Observe as the Red Planet moves closer each night, catching up with slower orbiting Saturn on July 9th-10th. (I think of the planets as being on concentric race tracks, with faster moving Mars overtaking slower Saturn). Mars then pulls away from Saturn as they both drop closer to the western horizon at sunset. On July 10th the 2 planets will APPEAR to be separated by only 42 arc minutes. Although the planets will be closest on July 10th, the 9th is also good for viewing. June 2008 June Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Three planets adorn our night skies this month. As the sky darkens in early June, Saturn & Mars appear high in the southwestern sky. SATURN sits just east of Regulus, Leo's brightest star, & easily outshines the "heart" of the Lion. On June 7th & 8th, watch for the Moon to pass just south of Regulus & Saturn. Saturn's ring system is beginning to tilt "edge-on" to our view from Earth. In late 2008, & through much of 2009, the rings will disappear from our view. This month, however, the rings are magnificent! You'll need at least a 30x telescope to view them. MARS crosses from Cancer into Leo this month, & will close within 0.7 degrees of Regulus by June 30th. Watch as the Red Planet edges closer towards Regulus & yellowish Saturn, as it moves toward a conjunction with Saturn in July. Brilliant JUPITER, rises in the southeast by 10PM early in the month, and by 8PM at month's end. Jupiter appears among the stars of eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism, and dominates the sky all night long as the brightest object except for the Moon. (VENUS shines brighter but is currently behind the Sun & will not be viewable for another month). MERCURY is passing in front of the Sun for most of June & will reappear in the morning sky during the last few days of the month, hanging to the lower left of Aldebaran, the red eye of Taurus the Bull. Look for the Southern Cross viewable just after sunset, low on the southern horizon. Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." The SUN reaches its northernmost declination along the ecliptic on June 20th, the summer solstice. This is when our Sun crosses the celestial equator, from the southern hemisphere into the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year (greatest number of daylight hours). For further details and a June sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). May 2008 May Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands As the sky darkens in early May, Saturn & Mars are high in the southwestern sky. SATURN, almost directly overhead at sunset, easily outshines nearby Regulus, the "heart" of Leo the Lion, which sits just west of the ringed planet. Saturn's ring system is beginning to tilt "edge-on" to our view from Earth. In late 2008, & through much of 2009, the rings will disappear from our view. This month, however, the rings are magnificent! You'll need at least a 30x telescope to view them. (Join us at a KEASA Starwatch & SEE for yourself). MARS appears near the head of Gemini brother Pollux at the beginning of May, then crosses into Cancer. On May 9th, look for the waxing Moon 6¡ to the west of Mars, & on May 10th, 6¡ to the east. May 21-23, Mars passes through the Beehive star cluster (M44) in Cancer, offering some great binocular viewing; the ruddy Red Planet shining brightly against a background of the Beehive's few hundred stars. The constellation Cancer has few bright stars discernible from the city, though under dark skies, I'm usually able to find the Beehive. With naked eyes it appears as a hazy patch or "smudge" between Pollux (in Gemini) & Regulus (in Leo). Try locating Cancer by following Mars on its path through the Beehive May 21-23. Watch for brilliant JUPITER, rising in the southeast by midnight early in the month, and by 10PM at month's end. Jupiter appears among the stars of Eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism, and dominates the night sky as the brightest object except for the Moon. MERCURY reaches its eastern elongation this month, when the innermost planet is at it's greatest distance from the Sun. Early May is a good time to view the tiny but bright planet, in Taurus, just 2¡ south of the Pleiades star cluster (M45). Best views come through binoculars as twilight falls, just slightly above the west-northwestern horizon. On May 6th, you'll find Mercury 3¡ to the lower left (south) of the crescent Moon. VENUS is moving back around the Sun & will be challenging to view until it reappears in the evening sky in late summer. Look for the Southern Cross to rise by around 8:30PM in early May, & by 7 PM, late in the month, low on the southern horizon. Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For further details and a May sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). May 5th, 2:30 A.M. - Sunrise Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Hawaiian Islands The Eta Aquarid meteor shower could prove exciting this year, as the May 5th peak coincides with the new (dark) Moon. On this moonless night, away from city lights, observers might expect to see between 20 & 70 meteors/hour, between 2:30 A.M and sunrise on May 5th. These meteors are bright and fast moving; burning up as they make contact with our atmosphere, at approx. 41 miles/second. They appear to "radiate" from the constellation Aquarius, which rises almost directly due east by 2:30A.M. Most meteor activity expected just prior to dawn - look to the east. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The parent comet for the Eta Aquarids is Comet Halley. April 2008 April Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Behold our beautiful spring skies! As the sky darkens, you'll find our signature winter constellations nearly overhead: Orion, Gemini, Taurus, Canis Major (toward the south) & Auriga (toward the north); with Cancer & Leo just to the east. Early evening, look for the unmistakable orange glow of MARS, still in Gemini, high up at nightfall. The Red Planet sits along side of Gemini brother Castor in early April, then appears to move toward the other twin, Pollux. At the end of the month Mars is nearly in line with Castor & Pollux, & appears like a third "brother" or triplet in the constellation. SATURN shines brightly, 2.5 times brighter than Regulus, the "heart" of Leo the Lion, which sits 2 deg. west of Saturn. Watch for the Moon to visit Saturn & Regulus on April 14th, a stunning trio! Saturn's ring system is beginning to tilt "edge-on" to our view from Earth. In late 2008, & through much of 2009, the rings will disappear from our view. This month, however, the rings are magnificent! You'll need at least a 30x telescope to view them. (Join us at a KEASA Starwatch & SEE for yourself). Early mornings, look for brilliant JUPITER, rising in the southeast by 2 AM early in the month, and by midnight at month's end. Jupiter appears among the stars of Eastern Sagittarius, near the handle of the "teapot" asterism, and dominates the early morning sky as the brightest object except for the Moon. The gibbous Moon dangles just below the giant planet the morning of April 27th. MERCURY will be traveling behind the Sun this month, and then reappear early evenings in late April, shining low in the west (at magnitude -1.4) about 30 minutes after sunset. On April 30th, as the sky begins to darken, look for Mercury, 10 deg. above the WNW horizon, just below the Pleiades star cluster. Like Mercury, VENUS is moving back around the Sun & will be challenging to view until it reappears in the evening sky in late summer. Shortly after sunset, April 8th, the crescent Moon crosses the glistening Pleiades star cluster, a striking event to observe. Watch for the Southern Cross to rise around 10:00 PM in early April, and by 8:30 PM, later in the month, low on the southern horizon. Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from the North Star, Polaris (Hokupa'a), to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigational "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." For further details and an April sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). March 2008 March Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands The Vernal Equinox occurs on March 19th here in Hawaii, at 7:49 P.M. HST. This is the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, marking the change in seasons from winter to spring. On the day of the equinox, the Sun rises exactly in the East, & sets exactly in the West, & day & night are the same length. After the equinox, the Sun will appear higher & higher in the sky & the days will grow longer. SATURN is already in the eastern sky at dusk & remains visible nearly all night long, among the stars of Leo. It outshines Leo's brightest star, Regulus, the "heart" of the lion, which lies a few degrees to the west of the ringed planet. On March 18th, watch for an almost-full Moon right next to the pair. Early evening, look for the unmistakable orange glow of MARS, nearly overhead right after sunset. Mars crosses from Taurus into Gemini on March 4th, & sits above the horns of bull & next to legs of Gemini brother Castor throughout March. On March 9th & 10th, watch for an attractive binocular pairing as Mars passes north of Gemini's bright open star cluster, M35. Early mornings, look for JUPITER rising in the southeast by 4 AM early in the month, and by 2:30 AM at months end. Jupiter appears near the handle of the Sagittarius "teapot" asterism, & is the brightest object aside from the Moon, until VENUS rises two hours later. In early March, VENUS and MERCURY appear together, low in the predawn sky. On March 5th, a thin crescent Moon will join the pair, but you may need binoculars to see them both, low in the eastern sky, about 45 minutes before sunrise. Look for the Southern Cross to rise around midnight in early March, and by 11:00 PM, later in the month, low on the southern horizon. Hawaii is one of the few places where we can see all the way from Polaris, the North Star, to the Southern Cross, a Polynesian navigation "star line" called Ka Iwikuamo'o, "The Backbone." Earlier in the evening, you can still see the signature winter constellations: Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Auriga, & Canis Major (Orion's "Big Dog"). For further details and a March sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). February 2008 February Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands The month begins with a spectacular predawn conjunction of VENUS & JUPITER on February 1st. The two brightest planets are above the southeastern horizon by 6:00 AM beginning in late January. Watch how they appear closer & closer to each other each morning until, on Feb. 1st, they appear just 0.6 degrees apart, slightly more than the width of a Full Moon. Although the planets appear close to each other in the sky, VENUS is far closer to Earth (124 million miles away compared with 562 million miles for JUPITER) & shines brighter than the much larger gas giant. SATURN reaches opposition on Feb.24th, when it lies opposite the Sun in our sky & remains visible all night. This is a good time to view the ringed planet as it lies closest to Earth (771 million miles) & appears biggest & brightest. Watch for Saturn rising in the east shortly after sunset, with the stars of Leo, the Lion. On Feb.1st, you'll find MARS glowing brightly,high in the southeastern sky after sunset, between the stars which mark the horns of Taurus the Bull. Mars will appear to move eastward and, on the 29th, the Red Planet will form a nearly perfect equilateral triangle with 2 red giant stars; Betelgeuse (which marks Orion's shoulder) & Aldebaran (the eye of the Bull). There will be a total lunar eclipse on Feb.20th, tho' unlike the August 2007 eclipse, we will be unable to view this one from Hawaii, as it occurs before the Moon rises here. (We WILL be able to see the end of the PARTIAL eclipse, from Moon-rise at 6:40PM HST until 7:10). If you happen to be on the West Coast mainland, the eclipse will begin at 5:43 PST, just as the Sun sets. Totality starts at 7:01 & lasts 51 minutes. Then it will take another 78 minutes for the Moon to leave the Earth's shadow (partial eclipse). (Adjust for other mainland time zones accordingly). For further details and a February sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). January 3rd-4th, 2008 Quadrantid Meteor Shower Hawaiian Island Viewing The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on Jan.3rd, at approx. 8:30 PM (HST). This is one of the year's strongest showers, with a rate of 120 meteors/hour. There will be little interference from the waning crescent Moon, so if we have clear skies, we should see quite a display! The radiant will not rise until after midnight, so the best viewing will be closer to the early morning hours on Jan.4th. January 2008 January Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands January is an exciting month for stargazing! MARS is still glowing brightly, dominating the night sky, between the horns of Taurus the Bull & the feet of Gemini. The Red Planet rises just after sunset and, as twilight ends, is already more than 30 deg. above the Eastern horizon. At midnight, look for Mars almost directly overhead. Mars is visible all night long, however it won't be as bright at the end of the month, as Earth speeds away from the Red Planet in its orbit. Luminous VENUS, rises in the East around 4:30 A.M., more than 2.5 hours before the Sun. Hard to miss the brilliant planet, which is often mistaken for a UFO! Venus is viewable in the Eastern sky through sunrise. By mid-month, Venus is joined by the gas giant JUPITER, as the two planets prepare for a spectacular conjunction on February 1st. Look for the pair in the Eastern sky at dawn, beginning the second week of January. Notice how the two bright planets appear closer & closer each morning until, on Feb. 1st, they lie 0.6 degrees apart, slightly more than the width of a Full Moon. SATURN rises in the East around 10 PM in early January, & 2 hours earlier by month's end. The ringed planet lies more than 8 deg. below Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. MERCURY starts to become visible in the West, shortly after sunset, by mid-January. On January 9th, you might be able to spot Mercury at twilight, below & to the right of a tiny crescent Moon. Look for the pair in binoculars. Mercury sets 80 minutes after the Sun on January 15th. On January 21st, Mercury reaches its greatest angle East of the Sun (19 deg.) & remains above the horizon 90 minutes after sunset. For further details and a January sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Dec. 23, 6:55 PM International Space Station (ISS) Pass Above Kauai, from NW moving SW then SSE On Dec. 23rd, from 6:55 Ð 7:01 PM, there will be a very bright (-2.1), 5+ minute pass of the International Space Station over Hawaii. Look to the Northwest at 6:55 PM. The ISS looks like a bright star, only itÕs moving very fast. It will appear larger & brighter as it climbs overhead to maximum altitude of 68 degrees at 6:58, moving toward the SW. It will then continue toward the SSE where it will disappear from view. (Times are for Kauai viewing. For local info check www.heavens-above.com) December 2007 December Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands December is MARS' month to shine. The Red Planet reaches opposition on the 24th when Mars rises as the Sun sets & is visible all night. Six days earlier, on Dec. 18th, Mars will reach it's closest point to Earth (approx. 54.8 million miles away), as Earth catches up to Mars' slower, longer orbit around the Sun. While not as close as in the 2003 or 2005 approaches, Mars' disk will appear larger than it will for the next 9 years, and gleams brighter than any star, dominating the sky from dusk to dawn, in the constellation Gemini. On Dec. 23, look for the Full Moon near Mars and just Southwest of the "heads" of Gemini twins Castor & Pollux. SATURN rises by 12:30 A.M. on Dec. 1st, & 2 hours earlier by month's end. Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion, rises about 40 minutes ahead of Saturn. Luminous VENUS, rises in the east around 4 A.M., 3 hours before the Sun. Hard to miss the brilliant planet, which is often mistaken for a UFO! Venus is viewable in the eastern sky through sunrise, in line with Virgo's brightest star Spica. A slim crescent Moon joins the pair on December 5th, a site well worth rising early to see. Watch for the Geminid meteor showers to peak on Dec. 14th & 15th (see notes below). December 21st marks the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the Sun reaches its maximum distance south of the celestial equator. For further details and a December sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium(bishopmuseum.org). December 13/14/15 Geminid Meteor Showers Hawaiian Island Viewing The Geminid Meteor Shower will be active from December 7th thru 17th, expected to peak on Dec.13th/14th. After the crescent Moon sets mid-evening on the 13th & 14th we could see as many as 120 meteors/hour from a dark site. The meteors appear to originate or "radiate" from the constellation Gemini, the Twins, which rises shortly after sunset. Best viewing will probably be between 2 AM the morning of Friday, Dec. 14th, when Gemini is directly overhead, & dawn that morning. Start watching for meteors at/after 10PM on Thursday night,Dec.13th. Of course MARS is dominating the night sky, also in Gemini, and the streaking meteors will only serve to highlight our viewing of the bright Red Planet, nearing it's closest point to Earth. November 2007 November Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Throughout November, watch for MARS to nearly double in brightness, as Earth's orbital motion catches up to the orbit of Red Planet. Mars appears brighter during these next 3 months than at any time in the past 2 years, with its upcoming opposition in December. Mars rises at 10PM in early November, & by 8PM at the end of the month, in the constellation Gemini, the Twins. SATURN rises around 2:30AM on Nov.1st, & just before midnight by the end of the month. Look for Saturn just east of the Regulus, the brightest star & "heart" of Leo, the Lion. Saturn will appear brighter than any of the surrounding stars & therefore should be fairly easy to spot. In early November, luminous VENUS, rises in the east around 3:30 AM, 3 hours before the Sun. Hard to miss the brilliant planet, which is often mistaken for a UFO! Venus is viewable in the eastern sky through sunrise. MERCURY, puts on its best predawn show of year, rising in the east just before sunrise, at around 5:30AM. November 3-8, look for the tiny yellow planet next to & OUTSHINING Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Morning skywatch treat: On November 7th, in the pre-dawn eastern sky,(approx. 5:40 AM), look for a sliver of crescent Moon just south of Mercury & Spica. At the same time, you'll be able to view Venus, as well as Saturn in Leo & Mars in Gemini, AND Arcturus (Hokule'a) to the north of the ecliptic. JUPITER will soon be be leaving our evening skies, setting by 8:30PM early in November & before 7PM by the end of the month. Just below/south of Jupiter is Antares, the red supergiant star star which is the heart of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Notice that as Scorpius is setting in the west, Orion, the great Hunter, is rising in the east. For further details and a November sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium(bishopmuseum.org). November 17th-18th Leonid Meteor Shower Hawaiian Island Viewing Looks like a good year to view the Leonid Meteor Shower, from sunset on Saturday, November 17th, through sunrise on Sunday morning. Under a dark sky, the meteor rates should range from 20 to 40 per hour, with peak activity expected after 3AM. These are fast moving meteors, striking Earth's atmosphere at 38 miles/second, & appear to originate or "radiate" from the "sickle" shaped head of Leo, the Lion. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The parent comet for the Leonids is 55P/Temple-Tuttle, which returns to orbit the Sun every 33 years & last visited our region of the solar system in 1997-98. As comet Temple-Tuttle nears the Sun, like any comet, it heats up and leaves a trail of debris behind it. It is these debris that the Earth intersects which produce the Leonids meteor showers. October 2007 October Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Behold our Autumn skies! The first week of the month you might be lucky enough to spot MERCURY, low in the west just after sunset. On Oct. 12th, you may spot the tiny planet adjacent to the thin crescent Moon, setting shortly after the Sun. As the sky darkens, look for the brightest "star" in the Southwest. This is actually the PLANET JUPITER. Jupiter appears northeast, or just above Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT scorpion (aka: Ka Makau Nui o Maui: the giant fishhook of Maui). Notice how Jupiter, reflecting the light of our yellow Sun, gleams a lustrous golden color, in contract to the ruddy glow of red Antares. On Oct. 15th, watch for a crescent Moon to pass between Jupiter & Antares. Jupiter will slowly be leaving our night sky. Best views of the gas giant occur at twilight. By October 31st, Jupiter sets before 9PM. In early October, bright orange MARS rises before midnight. On Oct. 3rd, the Red Planet rises with the last quarter Moon, & appears near the open cluster M35 at the curved foot of the constellation Gemini. Mars willl continue to rise earlier & become bigger & brighter daily, as Earth slowly catches up to the orbit of the Red Planet, which will reach opposition in December. Plan to awaken early on Oct.7th to view a spectacular conjunction in the eastern sky: At around 3:30 AM, Venus, Saturn & the Moon will be rising in the east, near the bright star Regulus in Leo; all appear as a cluster, within a 6 degree circle. You can view this stunning arrangement until approx, 5:45 AM (sun rises at 6:30), & take note of Mars overhead at this same time! The Moon leaves the scene the following morning, but the other three bright objects will stay together for at least a week afterward. This month look for SATURN, and a bright shining VENUS, in the east before dawn. For further details and an October sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium(bishopmuseum.org). Oct. 20-22, 3:00AM - 5:30 AM Orionid Meteor Showers Hawaiian Islands This year, the peak of the Orionid meteor shower occurs 5 days before Full Moon. However the bright Moon sets by 2AM, so early-morning observers should be able to catch some meteor action. From moonset until sunrise, pre-dawn hours offer the best viewing. The meteors appear to originate or "radiate" from a spot in northeastern Orion, near it's border with Gemini. These are fast moving meteors, striking the Earth's atmosphere at 41 miles/second! Rates can reach 20 meteors/hour & occasionally more. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The Orionid shower occurs when Earth's orbit intersects debris left behind by Halley's Comet, during its many passages through our solar system. Oct. 13th, 6:15 PM KEASA presents PUBLIC STARWATCH Waimea High School Playing Field Please join us for our monthly STARWATCH, beginning at sunset Saturday, October 13th, at the playing field of WAIMEA HIGH SCHOOL. Note that this is a change of viewing site, for the October Starwatch ONLY. Proceed WEST on hwy.50, thru the town of Waimea. Past Big Save, turn right on Ola Rd., at the Boys & Girls Club (across from Waimea Library). Park along the fenceline, across from the Boys & Girls Club, just below the tennis courts. Please dim headlights when approaching the playing field. For more information, visit www.keasa.org (keasa.org) or call 808.332-STAR(7827). Feel free to call (808) 652-2373, on Saturday late afternoon, for weather updates affecting Starwatch for that evening. September 2007 September Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands During the summer, the Sun's path appears high in the sky & the days are long. On the day of the equinox, the Sun rises exactly in the East, & sets exactly in the West, and day & night are the same length. Our autuminal equinox occurs on Sept. 22nd, at 11:51 p.m. HST, marking the change in seasons from summer to fall. After the equinox, the Sun will appear lower & lower in the sky & the days will grow shorter. As the sky darkens, look for the brightest "star" to the South. This is actually the PLANET JUPITER. Jupiter appears north, or just above Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT scorpion (aka: Ka Makau Nui o Maui: the giant fishhook of Maui). Notice how Jupiter, reflecting the light of our yellow Sun, gleams a lustrous golden color, in contract to the ruddy glow of red Antares. Jupiter, currently the brightest object in our night sky (except for the Moon), sets by midnight in early September & by 10:30 PM at the end of the month. The red beacon that you see in the East after midnight is MARS. Watch it ascend into the southeastern sky in the hours before dawn. By the 20th, Mars will be rising before midnight, just above the raised arm of Orion. Mars is getting brighter as Earth slowly catches up to the orbit of the Red Planet, which will reach opposition in December. In the morning, VENUS & SATURN pair up in the East, emerging into pre-dawn skies against the starry backdrop of Leo the Lion. Early risers can see VENUS, the brightest planet, rise before dawn all month; at 4:45 AM at the start of Sept. & by 3:30 AM at month's end. SATURN seems to follow Venus in its climb into the morning sky before dawn. It rises about 45 minutes before the Sun on the 1st, but a full 3 hours before the Sun by month's end. Watch throughout the month as the ringed planet closes the gap between itself & Venus. By the end of the second week of September, you might be lucky enough to spot MERCURY, low in the west at sunset. On the 12th & 13th, look for the little planet next to a thin crescent Moon. On the 21st, Mercury will appear close to Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, low in the West 45 minutes after sunset. For further details and a September sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). August 27-28 TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE Hawaii & West Coast U.S. The night the Moon turns RED. A spectacular TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE will be visible for 1.5 hours on Aug. 27-28, viewable in its entirety from Hawaii & the West Coast mainland. The totality phase of the eclipse, when the Moon will turn a deep red, begins at 11:52 PM on Aug. 27 in Hawaii, & at 2:52 PM Aug. 28th PDT. A lunar eclipse can only occur at Full Moon, when the Moon passes thru some portion of the Earth's shadow, as the Sun, Earth & Moon all line up on the same plane. A total lunar eclipse occurs when the entire Moon passes thru Earth's umbral shadow; the Earth blocking the sunlight normally reflected by the Moon. Although the Moon is in Earth's shadow, some sunlight is refracted, or bent as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere, and still manages to reach the Moon. Our atmosphere filters out most of the blue light. The remaining red light that reaches the Moon's surface, illuminates it to a coopery glow. During the August eclipse, the Moon's northern edge will pass directly through the center of Earth's shadow, (a central eclipse), resulting in a longer lasting eclipse & a more darkly colored Moon at totality. Lunar eclipses occur on average between 0 and 4 times per year. Less than half of these are total eclipses, and are truly extraordinary events to observe. August 2007 August Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands As Saturn & Venus slip into evening twilight, Jupiter will rule as the only naked-eye planet visible in our night sky. Brilliant JUPITER dominates the southern sky, just northeast of Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT scorpion (aka: Ka Makau Nui o Maui: the giant fishhook of Maui). At the beginning of August, Jupiter & Antares are just south of overhead at sunset, & are visible most of the night. Notice how Jupiter, reflecting the light of our yellow-orange Sun, gleams a brilliant golden color, in contract to the ruddy glow of red Antares. MARS will be rising just after midnight in early August, close to the Pleiades star cluster (AKA: Seven Sisters, or Makali'i). Mars is getting brighter as Earth slowly catches up to the orbit of the Red Planet, which will reach opposition in December. Watch as Mars approaches Aldebaran, the red giant star which is the "eye" of Taurus, the bull. Around Aug.20-23, Mars appears as the "other eye" of the bull and, by the end of the month, appears between it's two horns. For the first week of August, early risers might catch a view of MERCURY in the pre-dawn sky, rising in the east just after Castor & Pollux, Gemini's brightest stars. After Aug. 8th, Mercury is lost in the Sun's glare. Be sure to mark your calendar for two special August AstroEvents: Aug.11-13: the Perseid Meteor Showers, and Aug. 27-28: Total Lunar Eclipse. (See notes). Take the time to appreciate our gorgeous summer skies, rich in star clusters, nebulae & other deep space objects. Lucky we live in Hawaii! For further details and an August sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). July 31st, 8:16 PM International Space Station (ISS) Pass Above Kauai, from SSW, moving SE & then ENE There will be a 4-minute bright pass(-2.0) of the International Space Station (ISS) on Tuesday, July 31st, starting at 8:16 PM. The ISS should first become visible at 10 degrees altitude above the SSW horizon. It will be moving toward the SE, reaching a max. altitude of 40 degrees (SE) at 8:19, then move toward the ENE where it will fade from view at approx. 8:20. Watch for the ISS to pass just South of Jupiter & Antares (the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion). For more information, or to view from Hilo or other sites, go to: www.heavens-above.com(heavens-above.com). July 2007 July Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands July opens with Saturn & Venus appearing close together in the western sky for about 2 hours after sunset (see "conjunction" notes). During the first week of the month, watch as the two planets drift apart. Venus moves toward Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion, & Saturn sinks toward the west. On July 16th, a crescent Moon lies between Venus & Saturn, & makes for a stunning view with Regulus. VENUS is at its brightest this month as it passes us on the inside track of its orbit around the Sun. This is the last chance to view SATURN, as it's glow is lost in twilight by month's end, until mid-September when it reappears in the morning sky. JUPITER dominates the southern sky, just northeast of Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT scorpion (aka: Ka Makau Nui o Maui: the giant fishhook of Maui). At the beginning of July, Jupiter & Antares are already halfway up in the eastern sky at sunset, & are visible most of the night. Notice how Jupiter, reflecting the light of our yellow-orange Sun, gleams a brilliant golden color, in contract to the ruddy glow of red Antares. MARS appears in the morning sky, rising by 2 A.M in early July and at 1 A.M. at month's end. Mars is beginning to brighten as Earth slowly catches up to the orbit of the Red Planet, which will reach opposition in December. Early risers will have one of the year's best morning views of MERCURY, as it reaches its greatest elongation west of the Sun on July 20th. On July 18th, look for the innermost planet rising with Betelgeus in the east, one half hour before sunrise. Take the time to appreciate our gorgeous summer skies, rich in star clusters, nebulae & other deep space objects. Lucky we live in Hawaii! For further details and a July sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). June 29 -July 1st; 8:00 PM Conjunction of Venus & Saturn in Leo Western sky; viewable for approx. 2 hrs. after sunset Watch as Venus, unmistakably the brightest planet, highly visible at sunset in the Western sky (WSW), meets up with Saturn. As soon as it's dark enough to see Saturn (around 8PM), on June 29th, look for the 2 planets closely aligned. On June 30th & July 1st, the planets will appear from Earth to be so close as to seem like a single object. Just east of the pair is Regulus, the bright star which is the heart of Leo the Lion. Venus makes one orbit around the Sun in 225(Earth)days, while Saturn takes 29.5(Earth)YEARS. What we see as a "conjunction" of the 2 planets is the faster moving Venus catching up with the slower orbiting Saturn. The two planets are actually over 800 million miles apart, but in our "line of sight" from Earth, they appear close to one another & even "conjunct" in these 3 nights. June 2007 June Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands What a great month for observing the planets! Mercury & Venus appear high in the Western evening sky at the beginning of the month, Jupiter lights the sky nearly all night, & Saturn puts on its last display before slipping into twilight. MERCURY continues to gain altitude above the horizon through June 2, when it reaches eastern elongation (its greatest angular distance from the Sun). It remains visible through the first week of June, in the constellation Gemini, outshining both Castor & Pollux, Gemini's two brightest stars. VENUS, high above Mercury, moves from Gemini through Cancer & toward Leo, shining brightly until almost 10PM throughout the month. On June 17th, a thin crescent Moon will appear just to the west (right) of Venus. On the June 18th, look for the Moon nestled between Venus & Saturn. Watch Venus & Saturn move closer together during June, & on the 30th, meet in Leo, just 41' apart! SATURN appears in the gap between Venus & Regulus, Leo's brightest star, & by the end of the month appears just 7 degrees from the "heart" of the Lion. JUPITER rises as the sun sets early in June, northeast of Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT scorpion (aka: Ka Makau Nui o Maui: the giant fishhook of Maui). MARS appears in the morning sky, rising around 2:30 A.M. in early June & by 1:45 A.M. at months end. Mars continues to brighten as Earth starts to catch up with Mars' slower orbit. It's bright, ruddy glow makes Mars easy to spot in Pisces, with no bright starts around it. For further details and a June sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Sunday June 3rd, 8:13 PM International Space Station (ISS) Pass Above Kauai, from SSW, moving SE & then NE There will be a 5.5 minute bright pass(-0.9) of the International Space Station (ISS) on Sunday, June 3rd, starting at 8:13 PM. The ISS should first become visible at 10 degrees altitude above the SSW horizon. It will be moving toward the SE, reaching a max. altitude of 56 degrees (SE) at 8:15, then move toward the NE where it will fade from view at approx. 8:18. For more information, or to view from Hilo or other sites, go to: www.heavens-above.com(heavens-above.com). May 31st rising at Sunset BLUE MOON For those of you curious about the BLUE MOON, which will occur for us in Hawaii & mainland U.S., this Thursday, May 31st, here's some info: Once in a Blue Moon ... is a common way of saying not very often, but what exactly is a Blue Moon? According to the popular definition, it is the second Full Moon to occur in a single calendar month. The average interval between Full Moons is about 29.5 days, whilst the length of an average month is roughly 30.5 days. This makes it very unlikely that any given month will contain two Full Moons, though it does sometimes happen. On average, there will be 41 months that have two Full Moons in every century, so you could say that once in a Blue Moon actually means once every two-and-a-half years. For more info check: www.obliquity.com/astro/bluemoon.html. May 2007 May Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Elusive MERCURY puts in its best evening appearance of the year this month. On May 11th, try spotting the planet as a small, bright yellow "dot" 30 minutes after sunset, a few degrees above the Western horizon. On May 17th, a thin crescent Moon passes 2.5 degees north of Mercury. Mercury continues to gain altitude above the horizon through June 2, when it reaches greatest eastern elongation (its greatest angular distance from the Sun), & remains visible through the first week of June. VENUS remains the highlight of May evenings, sparkling high above Mercury's position. In early May, Venus shines like a beacon, high in the west for 3.5 hours after sunset. On May 19th watch for a spectacular pairing as the crescent Moon passes within 1 degree of Venus. SATURN continues to grace our evenings skies, directly overhead (at zenith) at sunset, early in May. Saturn appears in the constellation Leo, the Lion, and is now creeping toward Regulus, Leo's brightest star. As the month goes on, Saturn, moves steadily westward, and by June the ringed planet will appear just 24 degrees from Venus in the western sky. A telescope reveals Saturn's magnificent ring system, & perhaps even Titan & other Saturnian moons. JUPITER rises by 9:30 PM early in May, east or left of Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT scorpion. By the end of May, watch for Jupiter to rise by 7:30 PM, to join Mercury, Venus, & Saturn in evening twilight sky. (Jupiter in the Southeast; Saturn, Venus & Mercury in the West). MARS appears in the morning sky, rising around 3:30 A.M. in early May & by 2:45 A.M. at month's end. Mars appears small & faint in the morning sky. On May 13th the red planet appears next to a crescent Moon in the eastern sky before dawn (approx. 4:30 AM) making it easier to spot. We will have a Blue Moon on May 31st, (the second full Moon in the month). For further details and a May sky map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). April 2007 April Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Brilliant VENUS dominates the early evening sky this month. Except for the Sun & Moon, it is the brightest object in the sky; shining at magnitude -4.0, bright enough to see in daylight! It stays above our western horizon for up to 3 hours after sunset. In early April, Venus lies 12 deg. south of the Pleiades star cluster, the "Seven Sisters" (Makali'i - M45), on the back of Taurus the Bull. On April 11th look for Venus just 2.6 deg. south of the Pleiades. Then on April 19th the crescent Moon appears directly between Venus & the Pleiades. These events are excellent as viewed thru binoculars; the dazzling stars of the Pleiades appear like a cluster of jewels, with nearby Venus a 4-carat gem! SATURN rises before sunset & doesn't set until early morning. It passes almost directly overhead, in the constellation Leo, the Lion, nearly 12 deg. to the right of Regulus, Leo's brightest star. A telescope reveals Saturn's magnificent ring system, & perhaps even Titan & other Saturnian moons. JUPITER rises in the southeastern sky just before midnight. The gas giant joins its smaller neighbor Saturn in the night sky, with Jupiter in the east & Saturn in the west. Jupiter sits approx. 10 deg. east or left of Antares, the red supergiant star which is the "heart" of Scopius, the Scorpion. (Using Jupiter to locate Antares, look for the "J" or "fishhook" shape of the GIANT Scorpion). MARS rushes across the constellation of Aquarius during April, rising around 4 A.M. in early April & by 3:30 A.M. at month's end. Mars appears small & faint in the morning sky. On April 13th a thin crescent Moon passes .5 deg. north of the red planet, making it easier to spot. Watch for the Lyrid Meteor Showers April 16-25, due to peak on April 22. (See notes below). For further details and a April Sky Map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). April 16 -25; Peak April 22 Lyrid Meteor Showers Hawaiian Island Viewing Favorable conditions for viewing the Lyrid Meteor Showers this year, with a first quarter Moon setting early. The peak of this shower is at NOON HST on Sunday, April 22, so best viewing (most meteors) would be early mornings, a few hours before dawn, on either Sunday or Monday. This is when the constellation Lyra, (from where these meteors appear to "radiate") is high in the sky. From a dark, clear viewing site, we can expect to see between 10 - 20 meteors per hour around the peak. Lyrid meteors are fast, (30+ miles/sec), & average as bright as the Big Dipper's stars. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by the comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The particles we see as Lyrid meteors originated from Comet Thatcher (C/1861 G1), which returns to our area of the solar system about every 415 years. March 2007 March Skywatch Highlight Hawaian Islands There will be a total lunar eclipse on March 3rd which, unfortunately, we will be unable to view from Hawaii. The Full Moon will have passed out of the Earth's shadow, before it has risen above our horizon. The event will be highly publicized, so it will be easy to view images from parts of the 7 continents where it is visible. The Spring or Vernal Equinox, when the Sun crosses the celestial equator,(length of day & night are approx. equal), will fall on March 20th at 2:07 PM in Hawaii. (Most mainland areas will be changing to daylight-savings time on Sunday morning, March 11.) *** The evening's first glowing attraction is VENUS, climbing higher in the western sky after sunset, unmistakably the brightest planet. Look for a thin crescent Moon close to Venus on March 20 & 21st. SATURN shines brightly (at magnitude 0), rises well before dark & remains visible nearly all night. The ringed planet appears 9 degrees west of Leo's brightest star, Regulus (the "heart" of the Lion). Thanks to Saturn's axial tilt, the rings, & perhaps even Titan, Saturn's brightest moon, should be viewable through even a small telescope. JUPITER rises by 1:30 AM in early March; & 2 hours earlier by March 31. The giant planet blazes with a yellowish glow in the morning sky, contrasting with the red supergiant star, ANTARES, just 10 degrees to Jupiter's right. Use Jupiter to locate Antares, the "heart" of Scorpius, the scorpion, & see if you can discern the famous "J" or fishhook shape of this stunning constellation; (AKA: Ka Makau Nui O Maui = Giant fishhook of Maui). MARS is faintly visible in the southeast morning sky, rising approx. 2 hours ahead of the Sun. The Red Planet slowly brightens & grows larger throughout 2007, as it makes another close approach to Earth in December. On March 15th, Mars appears 8 degrees east of a thin crescent Moon. The following morning, look for MERCURY & Mars on either side of the Moon. Don't miss the fabulous "family" of Winter constellations, viewable this month in our Hawaiian night skies: Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Cassiopeia, Ursa Major (Big Dipper) & Ursa Minor (Little Dipper). Also look for Sirius, (A'a), the brighest star in the night sky, rising East-Southeast of Orion's belt, in the constellation Canis Major (Orion's hunting dog). For further details and a March Sky Map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). February 2007 February Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands Mercury, the innermost planet is viewable early in the month, in the West just after sunset, to the lower right of the much brighter, sparkling planet Venus. Mercury reaches it's greatest eastern elongation on Feb. 7th, when it appears 18 degrees East of the Sun, small & dim compared to Venus. Venus continues to rise higher & stay out longer after sunset, it's dramatic glow dominating the western sky. On Feb. 19th, look for a thin crescent Moon right above Venus. February is the best month this year for viewing magnificent Saturn. The ringed planet is at opposition on Feb. 10th, rising as the Sun sets & remaining in view all night. (Best viewing around midnight, with Saturn nearly overhead). Saturn appears in the sickle shaped "head" or "face" of Leo the Lion, close to blue-white Regulus, Leo's brightest star. Telescopic viewing will reveal Saturn's spectacular system of rings, & possibly Titan & other saturnian moons. Jupiter dominates the morning sky. Look for the brilliant gas giant to the left of Scorpius, the Scorpion, around 3:30 A.M. in early Feb. & by 2:00 A.M. at the end of the month. Jupiter's yellowish hue contrasts nicely with the ruddy glow of nearby Antares, the red super-giant star which is the "heart" of the Scorpion. Mars appears in the morning sky, rising approx. an hour & a half before the Sun in the East. On Feb. 14th, a thin crescent Moon lies 9 degrees to Mars' right. The Red Planet slowly brightens & grows larger throughout 2007, as it makes another close approach to Earth in December. Don't miss the fabulous "family" of Winter constellations, viewable this month in our Hawaiian night skies: Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Pisces, Ursa Major (Big Dipper) & Ursa Minor (Little Dipper). Also look for Sirius, the brighest star in the sky (except for our Sun), rising East-Southeast of Orion's belt, in the constellation Canis Major (Orion's hunting dog). For further details and a February Sky Map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). (Courtesy Bishop Museum Planetarium) Jan 31, 2007 - 12:00pm January Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands SATURN shines brightly (magnitude 0.1), rising by 10PM early in the month, & by 8PM at months end. The ringed planet lies well below Castor & Pollux, the bright stars of Gemini, the Twins; and is 6 degrees above Regulus, the "heart" of Leo the Lion. Saturn lies 770 million miles from Earth in mid-January, which means the light we see takes more than an hour to reach us. Saturn's rings span 45" east to west, offering spectacular views, especially once the planet is directly overhead. Look for the gibbous moon next to Saturn on January 5th. MERCURY skips from evening to morning sky this month and, in the process, performs a rare transit of the Sun, passing directly between the Sun & Earth. The entire 5-hour transit can be observed from Hawaii, but you'll need to USE APPROVED SOLAR FILTERS, as sunlight, especially focused through a telescope or binoculars, can BLIND you! JUPITER is just barely visible the first few days of November, setting just after the Sun. The giant planet will re-emerge in the morning by early December. MARS & VENUS are currently "traveling" around/behind the Sun (from our perspective) & are not viewable this month. January 2007 January Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands SATURN shines brightly (magnitude 0.1), rising by 10PM early in the month, & by 8PM at months end. The ringed planet lies well below Castor & Pollux, & outshines these bright stars of Gemini, the Twins. It appears 6 degrees above Regulus, the "heart" of Leo the Lion. Saturn lies 770 million miles from Earth in mid-January, which means the light we see takes more than an hour to reach us. Saturn's rings span 45" east to west, offering spectacular views, especially once the planet climbs high above. Look for the gibbous Moon next to Saturn on January 5th. JUPITER is up by 5:00 AM in early January & an hour & a half earlier by the end of the month. The giant planet blazes in the morning sky! Look for a waning crescent Moon next to Jupiter on Jan.15th, lined up with Antares, the "heart" of Scorpius, the Scorpion. There's no way you can miss VENUS, the brightest planet, low in the western sky, setting shortly after the Sun. January 20th, look for a conjunction of Venus with the crescent Moon. By the end of January MERCURY joins Venus in the evening twilight. On January 22nd, you can spot Mercury just 10 degrees below Venus. MARS rises just ahead of dawn in the east, following Jupiter in the morning sky. The Red Planet traverses the Milky Way in Sagittarius during January. For further details and a January Sky Map, visit Bishop Museum Planetarium www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Jan 06, 2007 - 6:00am Moon Occults Saturn & Regulus Hawaiian Island Viewing Early on Saturday morning, Jan. 6th, Saturn & the Moon will lined up with Regulus (the bright star which is the "heart" of Leo, the Lion). From approx. 5AM until sunrise (7:19 AM) you can spot the trio high in the Western Sky. Saturn & the Moon with go into conjunction on that morning at about 6:30 am. The Moon will pass between Earth & Saturn, & an "occultation" will occur. The Moon will cover 1/2 of Saturn at 7 AM; and occult the entire planet at 8:50 am, as the Moon & Saturn set in the Western sky. The Moon will also occult Regulus, but this will occur during daylight hours in Hawaii, so we will be unable to view this event. Nov 18, 2006 - 11:59pm Leonid Meteor Shower Hawaian Islands The annual LEONID METEOR SHOWER is expected to peak around November 18th this year, concurrent with our KEASA public Starwatch & close to new Moon, which means the sky will be dark the entire night. The Leonids are expected to put on a good show, with predictions that observers may see as many as 100 meteors/hour. Leonids are fast meteors, with a velocity of about 44 miles/second! Leonid meteors appear to originate or "radiate" from the constellation Leo, "the lion," which will be rising (from the East) shortly after midnight. You may want to start watching for meteors late night & early morning hours of the 16th & 17th as well as the 18th. Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the path of a comet. The bits of debris left behind by the comets, most no larger than a grain of sand, create a spectacular light show as they enter the Earth's atmosphere. The parent comet of the Leonids is Tempel-Tuttle. This year Earth passes through a debris trail left by the comet's 1932 passage through our Solar System. Nov 08, 2006 - 9:12am Mercury Transits the Sun Hawaiian Island Viewing On Wednesday, Nov.8, Mercury will transit, or appear to pass across the face of the Sun, over a period of nearly 5 hours, & Hawaii will have an ideal view for the entire transit. The event will begin at 9:12 AM and end at 2:10 PM HST. You'll need to USE APPROVED SOLAR FILTERS, as sunlight, especially focused through a telescope or binoculars, can BLIND you! AstroDay will be presenting a video feed webcast, from the summits of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea, & Haleakala. Visit: www.astroday.net (astroday.net) This event is fairly rare, on average only 13 or 14 times a century. The last Mercury transit, in 2003, could not be seen from Hawaii, & the next one in 2016, will only be visible during the last few minutes before sunset. For further details visit the November Skywatch page at www.bishopmuseum.org/planetarium (bishopmuseum.org). Nov 01, 2006 - 6:00pm November Skywatch Highlights Hawaiian Islands SATURN is returning to the night sky, rising by 1:30 AM in early November, & by midnight at Thanksgiving. The ringed planet lies inLeo, "the lion," close to Regulus, the lion's "heart," & brighest star in this constellation. Saturn lies 5 degrees Northwest of Regulus & appears to shine about twice as brightly as its steallar companion. Early morning Nov. 13, look for the waning crescent Moon, forming a trio with Regulus & Saturn from 1:00 AM until sunrise. Best time for telescopic viewing of Saturn's rings is at pre-dawn, when the planet has climbed high in the Southeastern sky. MERCURY skips from evening to morning sky this month and, in the process, performs a rare transit of the Sun, passing directly between the Sun & Earth. The entire 5-hour transit can be observed from Hawaii, but you'll need to USE APPROVED SOLAR FILTERS, as sunlight, especially focused through a telescope or binoculars, can BLIND you! JUPITER is just barely visible the first few days of November, setting just after the Sun. The giant planet will re-emerge in the morning by early December. MARS & VENUS are currently "traveling" around/behind the Sun (from our perspective) & are not viewable this month. Oct 31, 2006 - 12:00pm October Skywatch Hawaiian Islands JUPITER the giant gas planet, will set by 8:30 at the beginning of October & by 7:00 PM by Halloween. Look for it low in the southwest at sunset, the brightest object in the night sky, other than the Moon. Jupiter, currently in the constellation Libra, appears just west of Scorpius, the Scorpion (Ka Makau Nui o Maui: the giant fishhook). Speaking of the Moon... the October 7th full Moon, the Harvest Moon, coincides with perigee, the closet point in its orbit around the Earth. Watch for accentuated tides, enhanced by intensified gravitational pull of the Moon & Sun on the Earth. Check out the waning gibbous Moon Oct. 9/10 when it rises close to the Pleiades star cluster (Makali'i), aka: the Seven Sisters, on the back of Taurus, "the bull." SATURN rises around 3 A.M in early Oct., & by 12:30 A.M. on Oct. 31st. Saturn lies in Leo, "the lion," close to Regulus, the brighest star in this constellation. A waning crescent Moon passes just 2 degrees north of Saturn, the morning of Oct. 16th. Try looking for MERCURY Oct. 18th, when it lies 4 degrees directly belowJupiter (approx. 30 minutes after sunset). A crescent Moon joins Mercury & Jupiter on Oct. 24th, with Antares (the red supergiant "heart" of Scorpius) just above and East of the trio. Oct 21, 2006 - 10:00pm Orionid Meteor Showers Hawaiian Island Viewing The annual ORIONID METEOR SHOWER peaks on October 21 this year, concurrent with our KEASA public Starwatch & during new Moon, which means the sky will be dark the entire night. The Orionids are a great fall shower - lots of meteors, many leaving persistent trains, & longer nights. Orionid meteors appear to originate or "radiate" from the constellation Orion, "the hunter," which will be rising (from the East) by 10:00 PM. The actual "peak" of the shower is at approx. 4 AM the morning of Oct. 21st, so you may want to start watching for meteors late night & early morning hours of the 20th as well as the 21st. We might expect to see approx. 20 meteors/hour