THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
207-780-4249   www.usm.maine.edu/planet
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70 Falmouth Street   Portland, Maine 04103
43.6667° N                   70.2667° W
Altitude:  10 feet below sea level
Founded January 1970
Julian Date: 2458850.16
2019-2020:  LXXVIII
                   "Heavens below!"


THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Thursday, January 2, 2020
January 2020 Night Sky Calendar
Part II



*FRIDAY, JANUARY 17:  LAST QUARTER MOON*
So, why do we call the half moon a "quarter" moon? Half of the moon's disc
appears illuminated now, after all.  The word "quarter" refers to the
orbital position.    The moon's four cardinal points are conjunction (new
moon), first quadrature (first quarter), opposition (full moon) and second
quadrature (last quarter).    The quarter refers to one fourth of the
moon's orbit.   It has moved one quarter of its orbit away from the
opposition point.

*SATURDAY, JANUARY 18:   MARS 4.7 DEGREES NORTH OF ANTARES (SILVER EVENT!!)*
Heavens, do we love it when this event happens!   The apparent close
approach of Mars and Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius the Scorpion.
     Antares is one of the four bright stars that are positioned so close
to the ecliptic path that they will sometimes draw close to planets (and
rarely will be occulted by them).  The other stars are Spica (Virgo),
Aldebaran (Taurus) and Regulus (Leo.)   We are particularly pleased when
Mars and Antares experience an appulse because Antares' name literally
means "Martian rival," due to its reddish color.    The planet and star
certainly do resemble each other, although Mars doesn't twinkle, as it is a
disc shaped planet instead of a pinpoint star.  Also, the planet and star
appear red for different reasons.    Mars is red because its surface is
coated with iron oxide, known to us terrestrial sorts as "rust." Antares is
red because it is a comparatively cool star: 2,300 is the effective
temperature of its photospheric layer.  Mars will appear slightly dimmer
than its rival Antares.  See them both in the pre-dawn eastern sky.
[image: scorpius_02.jpg]
*Antares: * the bright red star marking the heart of Scorpius, a
constellation
currently visible in the eastern pre-dawn sky.

*MONDAY, JANUARY 20:  MOON NEAR MARS*
The waning crescent moon loiters near the planet Mars in the eastern
pre-dawn sky tonight.    While this close encounter isn't as spectacular as
the close approach of the moon and Venus, the sight is still eye candy for
the star-minded.   Moreover, the moon will help you find Mars, which still
isn't particularly bright or high in the sky.

*THURSDAY, JANUARY 23:  MOON NEAR JUPITER  *(BRONZE EVENT!)
Jupiter has just returned to the early morning sky.   Find it tonight close
to the thin crescent moon.     The moon and its giant planet companion will
be about 21 degrees from the Sun when they attain their minimum separation
distance.  One will have to rise early to observe this planet-moon appulse.

*FRIDAY, JANUARY 24:  NEW MOON*
Beginning of lunation cycle 1201

*TUESDAY, JANUARY 28: MOON NEAR VENUS* (GOLD EVENT!!!)
The sight of the moon close to brilliant Venus is so gorgeous and
delightful that even many people who consider astronomy to be a
preposterous waste of time can't help but cast a second glance.    See the
crescent moon and Venus in the western evening sky tonight.  The moon and
Venus are the night sky's two brightest objects:  see them together tonight!

PLANET WATCH

*MERCURY* is even more elusive than usual this month.   At month's
beginning, it is too close to the Sun to be seen.   Mercury returns to the
evening sky by late January.  VERDICT:  Don't bother trying to find Mercury
until the very end of the month.   Even then, Mercury will prove difficult
to find

*VENUS* (Pick Planet!)   Venus is a marvel to behold in the western evening
sky.  One will have no difficulty finding our sister world in the west soon
after sunset.   VERDICT:  Venture out  in the early evening to find Venus
any time this month!  Brilliant, beautiful and easily accessible.

*MARS *promises to be a spectacle in the autumn.   For now,  Mars remains
low in the pre-dawn eastern sky.  The red planet rises earlier each day and
is growing gradually brighter.    VERDICT:  Mars is still only for early
morning risers.  Find it low in the eastern sky after 4 a.m.

*JUPITER* finally returns to the early morning sky by late month.    Best
date to find it will be January 23rd, when it appears close to the moon.
 VERDICT:  Start searching for Jupiter by the second half of the month.
Remember that Jupiter will be rising earlier each day and will become a
prominent planet again much later in 2020, so you'll have plenty of
opportunities to see it.

SATURN isn't truly visible this month.  It technically inches up into the
eastern sky in late January, but don't look for Saturn until February.