A poetic pairing, planet Jupiter, a sparkling gem, follows the Full Hunter’s Moon from dusk today until dawn tomorrow, October 29. Observe the moon wane ever so slowly and rise about half an hour later each evening in the coming days. Note that Jupiter rises only minutes later each evening and so leads the moon tomorrow and at an increased distance until Halloween and beyond.
The Hunter’s Moon reaches full phase at 4:45 p.m. this afternoon, promising a precisely round orb as it climbs above the east-northeast horizon at 5:45 p.m. Opposite, in the west-southwest, enjoy the progress of sunset, 5:53 p.m. at horizon views. Looking back to the moon, observe planet Jupiter, at its brightest, -2.9 magnitude, appear below Luna at 6:08 p.m. This choreography is true by the numbers but can vary widely in relation to the Berkshire’s hilly terrain. For example, enjoy the colors of sunset in the west-southwest until the moon and Jupiter appear above the opposite hills, awhile later than at horizon views. Each evening going forward, a waning moon rises about half an hour later. As shown in the diagram below, Jupiter climbs above the horizon earlier each evening, leading the moon.
Halloween is an astronomical holiday, a cross-quarter day recognized since ancient times, the name having roots in the autumn celebration of All Hallows’ Eve and All Hallows’ or All Saints Day. Cross-quarter days are traditional holidays that mark the mid-point between the quarter days: equinoxes and solstices. Halloween lies roughly between autumn equinox and winter solstice. The next cross-quarter day, between winter solstice and spring equinox, is Groundhog Day on February 2. Then, there is May Day between spring equinox and summer solstice. Lammas, on August 1, celebrates the grain harvest halfway between summer solstice and autumn equinox. Quarter-day holidays are another story. What winter solstice holiday do you celebrate?
Holidays are rooted in our relationship to the progress of the Sun, of the seasons. On Halloween we recognize the dark time of year and may take the opportunity to parade with skeletons, so as not to fear death and darkness. As stargazers, we reach out to the lights of distant suns and relatively nearby planets, basking in cosmic light from early nightfall until late sunrise.
So-called Daylight Saving Time ends on November 5, when we return to following time by the Sun, Eastern Standard Time. Sunrise on November 4 is 7:30 a.m.; sunset is 5:45 p.m. Sunrise on November 5 is 6:31 a.m.; sunset is 4:44 p.m. EST. Let’s vote to keep EST year ‘round.
Paraphrased from EarthSky.org: Jupiter is generally closest to Earth around opposition. And it is precisely closest one day before opposition, overnight (by American clocks) on November 1–2. Brightness at opposition: magnitude -2.9. Through binoculars (anytime): Jupiter reveals a bright disk. If you look closely, you will see several of its four Galilean moons appearing as pinpoints of light, arrayed in a line that bisects the giant planet.
Mark your calendar: On Thursday morning, November 9, about half an hour before sunrise, planet Venus and the crescent moon almost touch.
Everyday: Prevent light pollution, go to darksky.org and act.darksky.org.
