This column was provided by San Benito resident and amateur astronomer David Baumgartner as part of a local series on astronomy. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
“Mercury at its best”, that sounds like it could be astronomically exciting to one who searches the skies at night. But when it pertains to the little planet mercury you don’t get too excited. Let’s just say we all give the little planet no respect. Maybe because Mercury is too small, or maybe because it just looks too much like our own moon. Whatever the reason is, little, plain Mercury rarely receives much of the limelight, certainly no respect. Just ask Rodney.
So by now you are wondering who is Rodney. Well, it really isn’t your fault you are not aware of Rodney. Let’s blame your parents for having you so late in life. If you had been born earlier, say the forties, you would know exactly who Rodney is. He was only one of the best standup comedians of all time. Example of his work: “My psychiatrist told me I was crazy and I said I want second opinion. He said okay, you’re ugly too” Who ever knew you could have fun mixing Comedy and Astronomy together. I tried to work them together all my life, and as you can see; it really hasn’t worked out that well for me.
Aside from the planet Pluto, Mercury is the least studied and most likely the least appreciated planet in the solar system. Mercury rarely tops the “Best of” list when it comes to the planets we know. Alright, I’m aware that Pluto is no longer listed as a rock planet such as the inner planets. Scientists have to excuse Sister St. John, my 8th grade teacher, and I that we happen to disagree. I would like to see these scientists convince Sister otherwise. Even though Mercury is the closest to our sun, it is not the hottest. That award goes to its neighbor Venus. It’s not even the smallest planet around. Pluto wins that contest. I guess the only reason why Mercury even makes it into the top ten lists of planets in our solar system is because there are only nine planets to begin with. Just no respect.
A very pleasing sight on the early September mornings, should you decide to get up before sunrise, is the wonderful crescent moon adjacent to Mercury. They are well above the eastern horizon an hour before sunrise. Mercury shines at magnitude 0.5 just over 4° to the lower right (south) of the moon. I know my clock will be set. Now is a good time to give Mercury its due respect.
This month is the time you want to view both Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn rises at sunset and is up all night, while Jupiter rises around midnight. I still don’t know which one of these two wonders I enjoy looking at the most. The rings of Saturn or the ever changing moons of Jupiter. They both are spectacular sights, and very hard to pull your telescope away from. I often wonder what Galileo would say if he had the chance to press his eyes against the eyepiece of my telescope? Probably much the same as I would looking through the eyepiece of the new Web Space Telescope.
The other morning while observing I kept going back and forth between the two and forgetting the rest of the sky. Oh yes, at the same time the other great favorite of mine, the great Orion Nebula in the constellation Orion, popped his head up. Between those three you can spend the whole night giving it all the respect they deserve.
Take the time, take a friend and take some warm clothing and enjoy the wonders of the stars. It is very relaxing.
Happy stargazing.
Sep. 01: Moon passes 5° North of Mercury
Sep. 02: New Moon
Sep. 05: Moon passes 1.2° south of Venus
Sep. 05: Moon is at apogee (252,408 miles from Earth
Sep. 06: Moon passes 0.5° north of Spica
Sep. 08: Saturn is at opposition
Sep. 09: Mercury passes 0.5° of Regulus
Sep. 10: Moon passes 0.1° south of Antares
Sep. 11: First Quarter Moon
Sep. 17: Moon passes 0.3° north of Saturn
Sep. 17: Venus passes 3° north of Spica
Sep. 17: Full Moon
Sep. 18: Moon passes 0.7° north of Neptune
Sep. 18: Moon is at perigee (222,007 MILES FROM “Earth)
Sep. 22: Moon passes 5° north of Uranus
Sep. 22: Autumnal Equinox occurs
Sep. 23: Moon passes 6° north of Jupiter
Sep. 24: Last Quarter Moon
Sep. 25: Moon passes 5° north of Mars