Sensational sunrises and the dance of the seasons

There have been some absolutely fabulous sunrises during the past few days. Now, a sunrise is not an event that I would normally go out of my way for as I am, by self-proclamation, not a morning astronomer. However, if one is leaving work and heading home at 6 a.m. you can't hardly miss them.

The entire eastern horizon is a stunning blaze of color indicating the impending arrival of the sun, and any clouds that may be there are rimed in gold looking for all the world like a veritable celestial treasure chest.

A slender crescent moon, complete with earthshine (I am writing this before the Sept. 29 new moon), is hanging in the still darkened pre-dawn sky and there is one bright star hanging in the south. That star is Sirius, the brightest star in Canis Major, the Big Dog, who accompanies Orion the Hunter through the winter skies.

Even though autumn is barely a week old, celestial winter is creeping over the morning horizon and by 6 a.m. the astronomical symbol of winter, Orion, is standing upright high in the south.

And, conversely, as the autumnal sun rises in a blaze of glory in the east, the stars of autumn are quietly passing from the sky in the east. Pegasus with Andromeda astride his back looking for all the world like two arms reaching out to her hero, Perseus, as they drop below the horizon.

But there is hope. That same autumnal Sun is preceded by our old friend, Leo, the Lion, who is a glorious harbinger of spring.

Now here is something curious. If you go out to observe just after sunset, the stars of summer will be low in the west with the stars of autumn taking their rightful place overhead.

As the evening wears on, the stars of winter sneak onto the stage and in the early hours of the day try to take the places of prominence they will have later in the year only to be pushed off, stage left, by the arrival of the promise of the spring season to come. Viewing all four seasons in one night. Boy, it just doesn't get any better than this.

If you want to take part in the annual "Great World-wide Star Count," now is the time to get the information guide available online.

From that location, you can download and print the information booklet giving directions as to what needs to be done. Cygnus, the Swan, which includes the asterism of the Northern Cross, is the constellation that will be used in the northern hemisphere for the count. The star count is an easy and fun activity for the entire family. So, get your information material and be ready when the count starts on Oct. 20.

The star count will run from Oct. 20 to Nov. 3, so there will be time to make and report your observations.

SKYWATCH:

Jupiter is the bright object in the south after sunset. It currently resides in the western edge of Sagittarius. Saturn has returned to the morning skies rising just after 5 a.m. with our good friend Leo, the Lion.

You might remember several months ago when Saturn was paired with Regulus, the heart star of Leo. Now Saturn can be found tangled up in the hind legs of the beast.

On Friday, look in the southwest for a slightly thicker crescent moon about 5 degrees to the lower right of Antares, the heart star of Scorpius, the Scorpion.

On Monday, the moon will be 5 degrees to the lower left of Jupiter. First quarter moon on Tuesday.

NEXT TIME:

More astronomical blathering.