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As fall approaches and the sky clears up, you may have noticed a bright star in the east and a bright star in the west at sunset. Well, it’s not stars but planets. To the east is the giant planet Jupiter, and a little to the right is the darker ringed planet Saturn. As the evening progresses, Jupiter and Saturn rise higher in the sky, while in the West, the brilliant goddess of love and beauty, Venus, sets. Between the planets are the constellations of Sagittarius, the teapot, and Scorpio, the scorpion. The strip of planets and the easily recognizable teapot and scorpion are a stunning sight. For you, early risers, later in the month, Mercury makes its appearance as the morning star.
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and by far the largest. It’s a swirling ball of poison gas. The Giant Red Spot is a high pressure storm with winds of up to 268 mph. It can be seen in small amateur telescopes and has been observed for hundreds of years. Galileo’s observation of four moons surrounding the planet was one of the last nails in the coffin of the idea that the Earth was the center of the universe, that everything revolved around the Earth. The four Galilean moons are barely seen with 10X50 binoculars and are easy to see in small telescopes. The Galilean moons are so bright that you could observe them with the naked eye without the glow of Jupiter.
Saturn to the right of Jupiter is darker and slightly reddish. The ringed planet is the sixth from the Sun and the second largest. The rings are made mostly of pieces of water ice. Some scientists believe that the pressure and composition of Saturn’s atmosphere causes diamonds to fall like hail into the atmosphere.
Venus, the beautiful Venus, is the third brightest object in the sky, eclipsed only by the Moon and the Sun. Under ideal conditions, you can observe Venus in the light of day. To give it a try, start when Venus is a morning star and follow it closely as the dawn breaks. Although it is a beautiful sight, Venus is not a place to picnic. The atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, and the average surface temperature is 867 degrees Fahrenheit. There is sulfuric acid in the atmosphere, and its pressure is 92 times that of Earth.
Mercury is the first planet from the Sun. The term planet comes from ancient Greek for “vagabonds” as they moved against a background of fixed stars. Mercury moves quickly and is named after the Roman messenger at the feet of the gods’ fleet. Have you ever seen Mercury? It’s relatively easy if you know where and when to look. Mercury is well placed for observation as a morning star from October 21 to 27. Look down to the eastern horizon just before dawn. Mercury rises higher at dawn, but is quickly lost as the day clears.
Mars appears too close to the Sun for easy observation. However, the October Planetary Parade is your chance to enjoy four of the five bright planets.
