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Planets in the Morning


Download this month's
star chart!

September begins with a total lack of planets in the evening sky. September ends the same way, too! To see any planets at all, you'll have to get up early in the morning. On September 1, you'll find Saturn and Venus close to each other, rising in the east around 2:45 AM. Don't get up then, but wait until 4 or 5 when the pair are higher in the sky. Venus is by far the brighter of the two. Saturn will appear just a little above and to the left of Venus - but it won't stay that way for long.

Each night Saturn rises earlier and earlier. By the end of the month it rises just shy of 1:00 AM. Meanwhile, Venus is heading back in the direction of the Sun, so it rises later each morning. By month's end, it waits until 3:30 before making an appearance. If you can face the prospect of getting up early every clear morning, you can watch these two planets gradually drift apart. Be sure to catch the mornings of the 9th, 10th, and 11th, as a thin crescent Moon passes by.

Saturn continues to rise earlier over the next few months, but it won't be until late November before we see it (or any other planet) at a reasonable evening hour.

Stars in the Evening

Fortunately there are plenty of other celestial sights vying for your attention in the evening sky. Among the easiest stars to spot this time of year are the three that form the Summer Triangle, which stand out even under moderately light-polluted skies. Despite the name, the Summer Triangle is perhaps easiest to locate during the autumn, when it appears almost directly overhead shortly after sunset.

Each corner of the Triangle is part of a separate constellation. The brightest of the three stars, Vega, is part of the relatively small and inconspicuous Lyra, the Harp. Next in brightness is Deneb, in the tail of Cygnus, the Swan, which appears to be soaring toward the southern sky. Third, and the pointy end of the triangle, is Altair, in Aquila, the Eagle. Learning how to spot just three bright stars is a great way to start exploring the summer and autumn skies. Once you've found the Triangle, look for some of the prominent constellations that surround it: Cassiopeia in the northeast, Hercules to the west, Scorpius setting in the southwest, and Pegasus just rising in the east.

You don't want to miss the
Tennessee Star Party 2004

September 17-19, 2004

The Barnard-Seyfert Astronomical Society (BSAS) invites everyone to attend the Tennessee Star Party 2004 (TNSP) which will be held at beautiful Camp Nakanawa near Cookeville, Tennessee. This will be the fifth year for this exciting event that just keeps getting better.

Whether you are just learning the constellations or have your own personal observatory, there will be something for all ages and levels of interest. Introductory classes taught by amateur astronomers from local clubs, hands-on workshops, and talks by leading astronomers will fill the daylight hours. For children and adults just getting started in astronomy, there will be plenty of opportunities to develop a broad base of knowledge: from recognizing constellations to binocular astronomy to an introduction to telescopes and how to buy one.

However, the real highlight of TNSP is observing the night sky - weather permitting.

All night Friday and Saturday night, dozens of telescopes will be set up on the observing field which features dazzling stars from horizon to horizon and a prominent Milky Way overhead. TNSP participants will have the opportunity to wander from telescope to telescope and observe objects such as planets, star clusters, galaxies, and much more. Some avid astronomers will be taking amazing images with CCD or video cameras.

Camp Nakanawa is located about a one and a half-hour drive east of Nashville, close to I-40. This is an ideal place for the TNSP because it features spectacular dark skies.

For details, visit www.bsasnashville.com.

Total Lunar Eclipse

October 27, 2004

Mark your calendars now for Wednesday, October 27 for a Total Lunar Eclipse! Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth casts a shadow on the Moon. This upcoming eclipse begins at 8:14 PM Central time, with totality starting at 9:23 PM. It's perfect prime-time viewing!

To celebrate the eclipse, we're having a free star party in front of Adventure Science Center, from 8-10 PM that night. Members of the Barnard Seyfert Astronomical Society will be on hand to provide telescopic views and answer questions. We hope to see you there!

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