Long summer nights bring celestial highlights
Published: Mon, Jun. 30, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Mon, Jun. 30, 2008 03:54AM
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closeBeginning Tuesday, look west about an hour after sunset to see a celestial ballet that will continue for the next two weeks.
The performance features the great ringed planet, Saturn, and our dusty red neighbor, Mars. Saturn will be shining brightly low on the western horizon after sunset. Mars is in the constellation of Leo the lion. You can recognize Leo by his signature triangle and sickle pattern. Studded in the handle of the sickle is the bright, blue-white star Regulus.
The show becomes more dramatic Saturday, when the planets and Regulus are joined by the waxing crescent moon. After sunset, Saturn, Mars, Regulus and the moon will align in a diagonal toward the western horizon. The gap between the two planets will close over the next few days until, on the evenings of July 9 and 10, Saturn and Mars will be about the width of the full moon apart.
LOOK UP, BE AWED
You can join Morehead Planetarium's monthly skywatching session at Jordan Lake's Ebenezer Church Recreation Area from 9 to 11 p.m. Saturday. Visit www.moreheadplanetarium.org and click on the "Events and Activities" tab and select "Skywatching Sessions" for more information.
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The planetary alignment will be the closest conjunction of Mars and Saturn until April 2022.
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