EYES TO THE SKY: Autumnal equinox and supermoon eclipse

September 21 – October 4, 2015

“These are the days of miracle and wonder……” Paul Simon, Graceland

Eyes to the skies, fellow Earthlings! Celestial events that nourish our spirits and become a part of our life histories are at play through the coming weeks. Experience sunrise and sunset on the autumnal equinox this Wednesday, the 23^rd. On Thursday and Friday, the 24^th and 25^th, gaze with delight as Mars and Regulus, Leo the Lion’s heart star, rub shoulders at dawn. Most outstanding of all, the world will be watching on Sunday the 27^th when the sun, Earth and Harvest Moon line up to create a phenomenal, prime time disappearing act. Coast into October’s dawn following the movements of Jupiter, Mars, Regulus and Venus as the foursome draws closer together.

The autumnal equinox (equal night) occurs at 4:21 a.m. on the 23^rd, the moment the sun crosses from north to south on the celestial equator. Pause to face east at sunrise, which takes place at 6:41 a.m. if your perch has a view to the horizon. If hills, forest or buildings make for a later sunup, you will still locate the approximately due east direction on your skyline. Gazing west at sunset, 6:51 p.m., we again orient to our place in the landscape. The due east and due west points are the astronomical markers of the changing season and our guide to the cardinal points for the year’s sky watching. Actual equal day and night occurs over the weekend of the 26^th – 27^th. For an explanation of why there is a delay in arriving at equal day and night, please see the diagram.

A picturesque conjunction (close meeting of two celestial bodies) of Mars and Regulus, occurs on the mornings of the 24^th and 25^th, perhaps to be seen most evenly side by side on the 25^th. Startlingly luminous planet Venus beams 25 degrees above the eastern horizon at 5:40 a.m. Mars and Regulus, much dimmer points of light, appear below and left of Venus. Red-orange Mars, left, is slightly dimmer than blue-white Regulus. Jupiter, brighter than these two, appears below and to the left of the pair, except if you observe before Jupiter climbs above your skyline, in which case, keep looking!

Wish for clear skies again on Sunday the 27^th when the Full Harvest Moon rises in the east at 6:34 p.m. This is an exceptional perigee (closest to Earth) full moon, popularly known as a supermoon. It is the closest perigee full moon of the year and measures larger than other full moons, although an individual may not perceive it as larger. Farmers and gardeners beware, just when you might begin to rely on the moon to light your way while taking in the harvest it will be eclipsed, or darkened, by Earth’s shadow! The supermoon will begin to dim slightly at 8:11 p.m. Total eclipse will start at 10:11 p.m. and last 72 minutes. The eclipse concludes when the moon is fully lit at 1:23 a.m. on Monday morning the 28^th. Follow Fred Espenak’s diagrams for the complete course of the eclipse. For eclipse times for various locations, please refer to the chart at the end of this column.

As September ends and October begins the allure of the foursome in the dawn sky continues. Mars and Regulus are visible later, until about 6 a.m.; Jupiter is higher above the horizon and Venus can be seen above dawn’s pink gossamer until close to 6:30, once you’ve experienced where to look.

Resources:

Friday, October 2 at 7 p.m., NASA Astronaut Stephanie Wilson, Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, Great Barrington. Free Admission.

https://www.space.com/30567-supermoon-lunar-eclipse-science-explained.html

https://main.slooh.com/event/live-show-september-equinox-2015/?event_date=2015-09-23

https://main.slooh.com/event/supermoon-eclipse-september-28-2015/

https://eclipsewise.com/

* Event occurs on morning ofSeptember 28, 2015