Download Mon Oct 15, 2012 NEW MOON SYNOD When I was a college

Mon Oct 15, 2012
NEW MOON SYNOD
When I was a college student, I tried out for one of the theater department’s plays – Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors. I
didn’t get the part I wanted, that of the Duke, which was kind of a shame since I had memorized his lines, part of which,
if memory serves me, went something like this: “For, since the mortal and intestine jars 'Twixt thy seditious countrymen
and us, It hath in solemn synods been decreed, To admit no traffic to our adverse towns.” So then you have to ask
yourself, what the heck is a solemn synod? For that matter what’s a synod, solemn or otherwise? It’s a meeting, usually
a religious council, but also a civil meeting, that’s held at a pre-arranged time, say during a new or a full moon. Today
there is a new moon, and if we were using a lunar calendar, today would mark the first day of the month. The synodic
month then, is a period of time marked by a complete cycle of moon phases, which is 29½ days in length.
Tue Oct 16, 2012
THE GOLDILOCKS PLANET
In the fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the young lady in the story looks for porridge that’s not too hot or too
cold, and a bed that’s not too big or too small. Likewise, when we search for other planets out there, we are looking for
one that, like the earth, is just right – an atmosphere that’s not too thick or too thin, that’s of the right temperature for
liquid water to exist, so necessary for life as we know it, and so on. In our own solar system there is only one Goldilocks
planet, and we’re on it. But there may be other earthlike worlds out there in the stars. And with the Kepler spacecraft,
we’re beginning to find them! Come join us in our search at Indian River State College’s Hallstrom Planetarium for “The
Goldilocks Planet,” this weekend: shows are on Friday at 7 and 8 PM and Saturday at 1 or 2 PM. 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.
Wed Oct 17, 2012
FOMALHAUT
As the month of October enters its second half, sky-watchers may have noticed a fairly bright star in the southeastern
sky after sunset. It’s not the brightest star in the sky; over in the east, the planet Jupiter outshines all other stars; but in
the southeast, there’s really nothing else around anywhere near as bright as this one little star, which is not really such a
little star once you get to know it. The star is called “fish-mouth.” Well, that’s the English translation of the Arabic word.
Its real name is Fomalhaut (“foe ma low,”) usually pronounced “Fomal-howt” here in America. It marks the mouth of
Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish, and as you may have guessed, it’s south of the better known zodiacal constellation of
Pisces the fish, which has no bright stars at all. In mythology Piscis Austrinus is the parent of the Pisces, and it drinks
from the stream that flows from the water jug of Aquarius. By mid-evening, say around 9 pm, you’ll find Fomalhaut due
south.
Thu Oct 18, 2012
MOON AND MARS NEAR ANTARES
Over the course of a month the moon slowly drifts against the background of distant stars. If you hold your hand out at
arms’ length, then make a fist and sight along it toward the moon, the moon’s revolutionary motion will carry it from the
bottom of your fist to above the knuckle of your thumb over the course of a single day. This moon drift causes it to be
seen nearby any stars or planets that lie along its orbital path. Tonight, if skies are clear, you’ll find the moon over in the
southwestern sky after sunset. Its appearance will be a slender crescent, with the bow of the moon angled toward the
nearby horizon. Down below the moon you should find two red-tinted stars: the one on the left is Antares - its name
means, the “rival of Mars,” as it was often mistaken for the red planet. Now the star on the right actually is the planet
Mars, so you can compare the two yourself! Be sure to look for Mars, Antares and the moon right after sunset. By nine
pm, Mars will set below the western horizon, and the moon will set less than an hour later.
Fri Oct 19, 2012
THE GOLDILOCKS PLANET
In the fairy tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, the young lady in the story looks for porridge that’s not too hot or too
cold, and a bed that’s not too big or too small. Likewise, when we search for other planets out there, we are looking for
one that, like the earth, is just right – an atmosphere that’s not too thick or too thin, that’s of the right temperature for
liquid water to exist, so necessary for life as we know it, and so on. In our own solar system there is only one Goldilocks
planet, and we’re on it. But there may be other earthlike worlds out there in the stars. And with the Kepler spacecraft,
we’re beginning to find them! Come join us in our search at Indian River State College’s Hallstrom Planetarium for “The
Goldilocks Planet,” this weekend: shows are tonight, Friday, at 7 and 8 PM and tomorrow, Saturday, at 1 or 2 PM. 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.