THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
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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: 2459274.18
2020-2021: XCVII
THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Wednesday, March 3, 2021
March 2021 Night Sky Calendar Part II
__________
Sick day yesterday.
Right as rain today.
__________
*THURSDAY, MARCH 11: MOON NEAR MERCURY*
One will find Mercury and the moon close together in the eastern sky this
morning. Observers will see both worlds after 5:20 a.m. As the moon
will be passing through the latter part of the waning crescent phase (6%
illuminated), one might be able to see "Earthshine," the reflection of
Earth's reflected sunlight onto the moon's dark regions. Earthshine is
generally visible when the moon is less than 11% illuminated, either in the
early days of the waxing crescent phase or in the latter days of the waning
crescent phase.
[image: earthshine.jpg]
Have you ever noticed that the entire moon is visible when it appears as a
thin crescent? Earthshine is the reflection of Earth's reflected sunlight
off the moon's dark region. When the moon is less than 11% illuminated,
all of the moon can be seen. One might notice that the moon exudes a
subtle bluish glow when illuminated by Earthshine. As the image above is a
time exposure photograph, the color appears enhanced.
*SATURDAY, MARCH 13: NEW MOON*
Beginning of lunation cycle 1215
*SUNDAY, MARCH 14: THE "ARC TO ARCTURUS" TRICK*
Spring's return is imminent and so, too, is the ascent of Virgo the
Maiden. Virgo is associated with Persephone, whose abduction by Hades
caused her mother, the harvest goddess Demeter, to lapse into a state of
deep despondency. Consequently, all the world's vegetation withered and the
lands grew cold. Zeus, desperately afraid that the human race would
perish, brokered an arrangement with Hades so that Persephone would remain
with him for part of the year and would spend the remainder of it with her
mother. When Persephone was in her mother's company, the land grew warm
and crops flourished. When she was returned to the underworld, the crops
withered and the world became frozen and snow-covered. Persephone's
vacillation between the underworld and Earth was the mythological
explanation for the seasons.
[image: unnamed.jpg]
Now that spring is about to begin, Virgo the maiden rises around sunset and
remains visible all night. Virgo's brightest star, Spica, represents an
ear of what she holds in her hand. One can find this star by first
finding the Big Dipper, which begins the night in the northeastern sky.
Follow the handle's arc down toward Arcturus, the bright star at the
southern tip of Bootes. Continue the arc until you encounter Spica,
Remember the famous mnemonic, 'Arc to Arcturus; Speed to Spica.'
*MONDAY, MARCH 15: THE IDES?*
When that troublesome soothsayer -is there any other type?- advised Julius
Caesar to "beware the Ides of March," the dictator was initally curious and
then, when the sage simply repeated the warning, dimsissive and decided to
move on. Or, so was the account handed down to us by William Shakespeare.
Of course, the ill-fated Julius was assassinated on the Ides of March,
or March 15th.
What are "Ides?" Simply, divisions. In the Roman Calendar, Ides
divided the month in half. In March, May, July and October, the Ides fell
on the 15th. During every other month, the Ides occurred on the 13th.
Had it not been for this famous Shakespearean soothsayer, the term "ides"
might be wholly unknown to us. Remember that the Roman (or Julian)
calendar was replaced by the Gregorian version in the 16th century. All
the same, the ides are an interesting part of historical calendar
reckoning. You have reached the Ides of March today, or the mid-way
point. You likely would have known we were halfway through March, anyway,
without necessarily knowing it was the Ides.
*TUESDAY, MARCH 16: WHERE'S THE SUMMER TRIANGLE?*
Now that we're less than a week away from spring, where will one find the
Summer Triangle? This triangle consists of three bright stars, each of
which belongs to a different constellation. Vega, the brightest star,
forms the northern tip of Lyra the Harp. Altair, the southern summer
triangle star, represents the eye of Aquila the Eagle. Deneb marks the tail
of Cygnus the Swan, also known as the Great Northern Cross. One will
find this triangle in the eastern early moerning sky. Best to venture out
around 3 - 4 a.m. If you're not inclined to rise that early, just realize
that the Summer Triangle will become a promiment evening sky sight by late
spring, early summer, hence the name.
[image: 1_aJbFaH-LHvg4vQR4KyiwhQ.png]
*FRIDAY, MARCH 19: THE MOON NEAR MARS*
Find the red planet near the waxing crescent moon (31% illuminated). One
will see them both set just after midnight.
Part III tomorrow.
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