DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS
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MARS PASSES SATURN IN LEO
(June 18, 2008) – Astronomers at the Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute have been watching two planets in our evening skies over the past couple of months.
The planet Saturn has been seen in the eastern part of Leo the lion and has been moving westward until it stood very close to the bright star Regulus, the heart of the lion. This pair has been noticeable after sunset and now is high in the west as the sky darkens. However, on May 3 Saturn appeared to stop and then start moving back to the east. Since Saturn is the farthest planet from the Sun visible to the naked eye, it appears to move very slowly. However, roaring in from the west has come the red planet Mars. Mars is much closer to the Sun than Saturn and, thus, moves much more quickly. It crossed the entire constellation of Gemini the twins in the month of April. In May it entered Cancer the crab and on June 10 entered the eastern part of Leo. It is now quickly approaching both Regulus and Saturn.
So, what do we have to look forward to? On the evening of June 30, the red planet will be less than a degree north of Regulus. On June 5 the waxing crescent moon will be to the west of Regulus but by the following evening it will be to the east of Saturn. Then, on the evening of June 10, Mars will pass less than a degree below Saturn. So, from about June 29 through July 11 watch this ballet of the planets in the west after evening twilight.
Realize of course, that while the planets themselves are, in fact, moving, much of what we see is due to the fact that we are observing these celestial bodies from a moving platform, namely the surface of the Earth. So, go out and enjoy the show!
About PARI
PARI is a not-for-profit foundation established in 1998. Located in the Pisgah Forest southwest of Asheville, NC, PARI offers educational programs at all levels, from K-12 through post-graduate research. The institute is affiliated with the 16-campus University of North Carolina system through PARSEC, a UNC Center hosted at PARI, and is a member of the NC Grassroots Museum Collaborative. For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu.
So, what do we have to look forward to? On the evening of June 30, the red planet will be less than a degree north of Regulus. On June 5 the waxing crescent moon will be to the west of Regulus but by the following evening it will be to the east of Saturn. Then, on the evening of June 10, Mars will pass less than a degree below Saturn. So, from about June 29 through July 11 watch this ballet of the planets in the west after evening twilight.
Realize of course, that while the planets themselves are, in fact, moving, much of what we see is due to the fact that we are observing these celestial bodies from a moving platform, namely the surface of the Earth. So, go out and enjoy the show!
About PARI
PARI is a not-for-profit foundation established in 1998. Located in the Pisgah Forest southwest of Asheville, NC, PARI offers educational programs at all levels, from K-12 through post-graduate research. The institute is affiliated with the 16-campus University of North Carolina system through PARSEC, a UNC Center hosted at PARI, and is a member of the NC Grassroots Museum Collaborative. For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu.