Coromandel Life Autumn/Winter 2014 - page 8

A SEASON OF PLANETS
This season gives everyone a chance to view
several planets whether or not they have access
to a telescope. Venus, Jupiter, Sat
and even Mercury…take your pick; there’s
something for everyone. And at the end of the
period yet another total eclipse of the Moon!
VENUS SHINES BRIGHT
Venus remains a very bright star-like object in
the early morning sky. Best seen just before the
Sun rises, it is the brightest thing in the sky and
unmistakable. Its true nature is revealed in even
a small telescope or powerful binoculars (at
least 10x magnification).
It is fascinating to observe how its shape
changes from week to week varying from
slightly more than a half circle in May and
then becoming more and more rounded until
in October is essentially a disc, albeit a small
one, as it is then about to go around the far
side of the Sun. Extreme care must be taken
after August as it will be very close to the Sun in
like all planets, can be easily distinguished from
them as it never twinkles.
SATURN ON DISPLAY
Saturn is undoubtedly the ‘star’ of the sky,
especially if you have access to a telescope,
no matter what size. Its rings are readily visible
even though the planet appears very small
since it lies twice as far away from us as brilliant
Jupiter. A big telescope will reveal up to five of
its 62 moons. It has a lovely golden colour and,
like Mars, does not twinkle. It rises in the east
after Mars getting higher and higher in the sky
with the passing weeks. On August 31 it will be
joined by a crescent Moon and Mars to make a
lovely trio in the evening sky.
ELUSIVE MERCURY
Late September will offer the best chance to see
elusive Mercury in the early twilight. On the 26th
it will be joined by a very thin crescent moon and
the bright star Spica to form an attractive trio.
Mercury will be considerably brighter than Spica
and easily visible to the naked eye if you have
access to a clear view of the eastern horizon. It
will be interesting to follow its motion during late
August to early October as Mercury moves quite
quickly in relation to this stationary star from
night to night.
TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE MOON
Those of us who missed out seeing the eclipsed
Moon in April due to the clouds will have
another chance on October 8. This time the
whole eclipse sequence will be visible with the
maximum occurring at 11:55pm…not quite as
child friendly as the last one!
Our Solar System
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Pluto
Planets to Provide a Stellar Winter Show
Looks like there’s several reasons to look to the
skies this Winter as Alastair Brickell, astronomy
buff and owner of Stargazers B&B and
Astronomy Tours in Kuaotunu shares below.
STARGAZERS
TREATS
from Alastair Brickell
the sky and neither binoculars nor telescopes
should be pointed anywhere near the Sun
without special filters as instant blindness
can result! Nevertheless August will provide a
glorious view of Venus and Jupiter very close
together just before dawn on the 18th and
on the 24th they will be joined by a very thin
crescent Moon.
JUPITER EXITS
Jupiter will still be visible as the brightest thing
low in the north to northwestern sky at dusk
until the end of June. Its four biggest moons will
continue their dance around the planet and
fascinating to watch in powerful binoculars or
telescope.
MARS REMAINS BRIGHT
Mars is now rapidly moving away from the Earth
and getting dimmer every week. However it is
unmistakable and very attractive as the bright
reddish object in the eastern early evening sky
living up to its name of the ‘red planet’. While
there are a few bright red stars in the sky, Mars,
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL • 07 866 5343 •
Stargazing Tours Available Most Clear Nights
Identify Constellations, Planets & Stars From Rotating Dome
Handle Meteorites Older Than The Earth
Astronomy Gift Shop
Luxury B&B With A Difference
ASTRONOMY TOURS
B&B
392 STATE HWY 25 • KUAOTUNU • WHITIANGA
Photo by Peter Drury
We highly recommend a visit to Stargazers B&B and
Astronomy Tours for a ‘tour of the skies’, Alastair has
an impressive observatory and various telescopes,
including the largest one on the Coromandel, for
those who want to learn more about the heavens.
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