Download Mon May 28, 2012 FIRST QUARTER MOON AND MARS IN LEO

Mon May 28, 2012
FIRST QUARTER MOON AND MARS IN LEO
There’s a half moon in the sky this evening. Oddly enough, this is also known as a quarter moon. The half moon part
makes sense - I mean, if you just go out and look at the moon in the sky at sunset, you'll see that it looks like the right half
of the round moon is illuminated by sunlight, while the left half is in shadow. But the reason why astronomers also call
this a quarter moon is because it's a quarter of a circle, or 90 degrees away from the sun in the sky - check it out, the sun is
at the horizon at sunset, and the moon is well up in the south sky. Divide the moon's orbit into four quarters, and today
the moon has gone one fourth of the way. This is the only instance I can think of where one-half also equals one-fourth!
As darkness sets in, you should also find a bright star above and to the left of the moon – but it’s not a star, it’s the planet
Mars! Both are in the constellation Leo the Lion.
Tue May 29, 2012
MT EVEREST ANNIVERSARY
On May 28th, 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal, became the first explorers to reach
the summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth. This great peak is over 29,000 feet above sea level – that’s
almost five and a half miles up, the highest point on earth. And yet that elevation is a mere trifle to the largest mountain in
the solar system. Mount Olympus is a gigantic extinct volcano on the planet Mars. Its over fifteen miles high, about three
times taller than Mount Everest! In order to reach the summit of Mount Everest, Hillary needed an oxygen supply at the
top. On Mars he would have needed oxygen at the bottom too, as Mar’s thin carbon dioxide atmosphere is only one
percent the thickness of earth’s air. Another breath-taking event tonight is the monthly meeting of the Treasure Coast
Astronomical Society; they’ll be at Indian River State College’s Fort Pierce campus – the public is invited to attend.
They’ll be meeting at 7:30 PM at the Hallstrom Planetarium.
Wed May 30, 2012 MEMORIAL DAY
May 30th is the original date for Memorial Day, also known as Decoration Day. It’s been observed since 1868, as those
who fought and died on both sides of the American Civil War, the “War Between the States,” were remembered. Oliver
Wendell Holmes, in an 1884 Memorial Day address, reminded us that both …private and general stand side by side.
Unmarshalled save by their own deeds, the army of the dead sweep before us, "wearing their wounds like stars." In
another eulogy written by an unknown author, we are told that those who fought for our country are as the soft stars that
shine at night. According to legend, General George Washington made the first sketch of a starry flag. But more likely it
was Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who first urged the use of stars in our flag’s design.
We invoke the stars as our beacons in the dark. They shine on us all, the astronomer, the poet, those who labor, those who
create, those who fight to keep us safe, both in the sunlit day and in the starlit night.
Thu May 31, 2012
THALES’ SOLAR ECLIPSE, MOON AND SATURN
There was a solar eclipse on May 28th - no, not this past Monday; this eclipse happened way back in the year 585 B.C.,
which is a little before my time. What was noteworthy about the eclipse is that this celestial event brought two opposing
armies to a standstill! As the historian Herodotus tells us: “Just as the battle was growing warm, day was suddenly
changed into night. When the Lydians and the Medes observed the change, they ceased their fighting and were anxious to
conclude peace.” The sun-worshipping armies recognized divine displeasure when they saw it, and a six-year war came to
an end! Interestingly, this eclipse was accurately predicted by Thales, the father of Greek astronomy. Luckily, the Lydians
and the Medes were not familiar with this new science. Now I will make a scientific prediction for this evening: the star
Spica in the constellation Virgo will be right next to the moon tonight. And just above the moon and Spica, you’ll also be
able to see another star, which is actually the planet Saturn!
Fri June 1, 2012
PLANETARIUM SHOW: THE DIPPERS AND THE DIAMOND
The Big Dipper is high in the northern sky after sunset tonight. This is a pretty easy group of stars to find: it’s made up of
seven fairly bright stars which trace out the pattern of a saucepan. In the early evening the dipper is upside down, as if it
were spilling its contents out onto the northern horizon. A line drawn through the two stars in the front of its bowl will
point the way to the North Star, Polaris, which is at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper. If you’d like to see a show
about the Dippers, as well as a star group known as Virgo’s Diamond, then join us at the IRSC Hallstrom Planetarium this
weekend for, “The Dippers and the Diamond.” These star talks are given on Friday night or on Saturday afternoon. Call
the IRSC Box office at 462-4750 to get tickets and more show information, or from Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee
counties call toll free: 1-800-220-9915. If skies are clear tonight, the Treasure Coast Astronomical Society will provide
telescopic views of the moon and planets outside.