Prepare for grand things in the sky

Here we are, two months left in the year, and all the excitement of the end-of-year activities (Thanksgiving and Christmas if you missed the hint). But that also means there are grand things afoot in the sky.

Specifically the southern area of the sky that we like to call, "The Celestial Ocean" because the constellations there all have to do with water or oceans.

Fortunately we don't have to wait too long to observe the mid-autumn sky. Sunset is at about 5 p.m. MST (you did remember to change your clock back one hour didn't you?) which means the sky will be dark enough for viewing by 6:00 pm.

Go out to your favorite dark-sky location, preferably one with a clear, unobstructed view of the southern horizon at about 6 p.m. MST. If you have a star atlas or a planisphere take it with you.

If you don't have either they can be purchased on amazon.com, astronomy.com, or skyandtelescope.com. Or, if you would like a free star map, point your favorite browser to skymaps.com and print off the current month's star map--they also sell a very nice planisphere for about $15.

Looking due south about halfway up the sky find the boat-shaped constellation Capricornus, the Sea Goat supposedly representing a half-goat, half-fish creature. The outermost end stars on the right end (as you are looking at it) of the boat-shape are both double stars. The outermost is an optical double meaning it only looks like a double because they are both along the same line of sight.

The other one is actually a double, a multiple-star system actually. Both look nice with either binoculars or a telescope

Below, and slightly left, of Capricornus is an almost rectangular shape of the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish. It will be easy to locate because there is only one bright star in that area, Fomalhaut (pronounced Foam-a-lot).

Fomalhaut has also been called the loneliest star in that part of the sky because there are no other bright stars anywhere near it, even the stars of its own constellation do not shine very brightly.

One thing Fomalhaut had going for it was that 3,000 years ago the Persian empire considered it as one of the royal stars stars, guarding the four corners of the heavens.

The other three are Aldebaran in Taurus guarding the east; Regulus in Leo guarding the north; Antares in Scorpius guarding the west and Fomalhaut guarding the south.

I am going to save the other three "ocean" constellations--Pisces, Aquarius, and Cetus until next week because they are all very dim and difficult to locate and will take some explanation. The other reason is there is a meteor shower in a couple of weeks.

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 18, the Leonid meteor shower will be putting on their show. The peak hours for watching are between 1:00 am and 5:30 am MST. The shower will appear to come from within the backward question mark of Leo's head.

The meteors are debris left from comet Tempel-Tuttle as it passes through the inner solar system every 33-years. A Zenith-Hourly Rate (ZHR) of 17-20 per hour is normal. While that is not much, the Leonids are also noted for their bright fireballs, or exploding meteors which make a grand sight.

SKY WATCH: Third-quarter moon yesterday, November 3. The celestial excitement this week is still in the morning skies as Jupiter, Mars, and Venus continue their revolving dance. Pay special attention on the mornings of November 6th when a slender crescent moon passes close to Jupiter and the next morning when the moon has moved on to snuggle up close to Venus with Mars hanging up to the right.

NEXT WEEK: More Celestial Ocean, and more astronomical blathering.