Download Planet Observing 24 Oct 2015

Astro Advisory
Notice of an upcoming
astronomical event.
Contact: Bob Hayward, Astronomer/Educator
828-862-5554 ([email protected])
John Avant 919-848-1153 ([email protected])
PISGAH
ASTRONOMICAL
RESEARCH INSTITUTE
PARI TO HOLD EARLY MORNING PLANET OBSERVING SESSION
Rosman, NC (October 14, 2015) – Astronomers at the Pisgah Astronomical Research
Institute (PARI) invite the public to join them for an early morning observing session on
PARI’s campus from 6 to 8 a.m. on Saturday, October 24.
To the ancients there were seven “planets” in the sky. These were celestial bodies that
moved while the stars remained fixed in the permanent patterns of the constellations.
These “planets” were the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. (Our
days of the week are named after these seven celestial bodies.) Of course, in those days
the earth was the stationary center of the universe and Uranus and Neptune awaited the
invention of the telescope to be discovered. Today we don’t consider the sun and moon
planets and of the eight planets in the solar system only five are visible to the naked eye.
This week and next four of these five planets are gathered in the predawn skies. Two of
these, Venus and Jupiter, are brighter than any star in the sky and the weekend of the
24th-25th they will appear just over 1° apart as the swiftly moving Venus passes the more
slowly moving Jupiter. Because of this gathering the astronomers at PARI will hold a
planet observing open house at their new observing deck starting at 6 a.m., on Saturday,
October 24. At that time Venus, Mars and Jupiter will be well up in the eastern sky with
Mercury scheduled to rise shortly after 6:30 a.m. (Saturn, by the way, is still visible in
the evening twilight but will move into the predawn skies in late December.)
Reservations can be made by calling PARI at 828-862-5554 or visiting PARI’s website at
www.pari.edu . The program will take place whatever the weather. Assuming skies are
clear, observations will be made with PARI’s telescopes to see the phases of Venus and
Mercury and the moons of Jupiter. In case of inclement weather, a sky software will be
used by PARI astronomers to show visitors how to observe these beautiful planets
through the end of the year. Visitors are invited to bring their own telescopes or
binoculars.
About PARI
PARI is a public not-for-profit public foundation established in 1998. Located in the Pisgah National
Forest southwest of Asheville, NC, PARI offers STEM educational programs at all levels, from K-12
through post-graduate research. For more information about PARI and its programs, visit www.pari.edu.
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