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EYES TO THE SKY: Autumn stars, new moon 19th, Orionids peak 21st

When planning on being outdoors at dawn for planet- and star-gazing, know that being out just an hour earlier may add shooting stars to your experiences of the heavens.

October 16 – 29, 2017

Let the moon guide your eye to the planets Venus and Mars on the mornings of Oct. 16, 17 and 18. Look east. Image courtesy EarthSky.org

Mount Washington — We’re coming up on the midpoint between the autumnal equinox and winter solstice–and we’re just letting go of summer! The only reason I mention it now, considering that it is three weeks from the posting date of this column, is that these are the final three weeks of Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), ridiculously known as Daylight Saving Time*, during which, from a stargazer’s perspective, it gets easier everyday to see morning stars, planets and meteors. The morning sky is dark later than it will be when we fall back an hour to Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Autumn mornings. Image courtesy EarthSky.org

Sunrise this morning is at 7:07 a.m.; sunrise on the 29th is 7:22 a.m. Planet Venus and the bright stars of the Winter Circle shine for all to see until 45 minutes before sunup and Venus is visible until 15 minutes before sunrise for all who know where to spot it, leading the sun into the sky. Find dimmer planet Mars above Venus as late as 6 o’clock this week and close to 6:30 p.m. at month’s end. On Nov. 5, when we switch to Eastern Standard Time (EST), sunrise will be at 6:30 a.m.; consequently, Mars will disappear into the sunrise glow by about 5:30 a.m.

When planning on being outdoors at dawn for planet- and star-gazing, know that being out just an hour earlier may add shooting stars to your experiences of the heavens. Saturday the 21st is predicted to be the peak of the Orionid meteor shower, which is active now through Nov. 7.

If you are reading this early enough this morning, the 16th–and for sure tomorrow morning, the 17th–treat your eyes to a view of Venus and Mars with the waning crescent moon. New moon occurs on the 19th followed by a week of waxing crescents in the west shortly after sunset. Sunset tonight is at 6:11 p.m.; sunset on the 29th is at 6:52 p.m.

Southeast to south-southeast early evening. Image courtesy EarthSky.org

The Great Square of Pegasus is one of distinct delights of autumn nights; see it in the east as darkness falls. Look up and to the right to encounter another perfect geometric pattern: the great Summer Triangle is still prominent, though leaning toward the west as cold weather arrives.

Below the Great Square, find two bright stars low to the horizon. Deneb Kaitos, left, marks the tail of the constellation Cetus the Whale, also known as the Sea Monster. The brighter star, to the right, is Fomalhaut, Arabic for “mouth of the fish.” Both the Whale and the Southern Fish are otherwise composed of stars of lesser magnitude, visible only in dark-sky locations. Although not the brightest stars in the heavens, Fomalhaut and Deneb Kaitos are riveting objects in the autumn sky.

Resources

*https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/an-extra-hour-of-daylight-thank-the-candy-lobby/?_r=0

Orionid meteor shower details – https://earthsky.org/?p=27937

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EYES TO THE SKY: Planet Venus, the Evening Star, closest, brightest mid-February

At peak magnitude, seek out the goddess of love planet in a clear blue sky in the west-southwest during daylight hours, being extremely careful to keep eyes diverted from the sun.

NATURE’S TURN: Turning the corner to spring — a Valentine for Earth

“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community.” — Aldo Leopold

NATURE’S TURN: Dynamic winter designs in snow, treetops

The first porcupine in a string of winter squatters and the first to enter right beside the doorstep to my home, this entitled individual even tread onto and then sidled sideways off the edge of the lowest steppingstone to my front door to reach the crawlspace.

The Edge Is Free To Read.

But Not To Produce.