We should still pay attention to the sky

Now that the equinox is past, I can share my attempt at spring poetry: "Spring has sprung, the grass is rizz, I wonder where the flowers is." Well, make of it what you will.

Folks today don't pay as much attention to the sky as they did say 100 years ago. For them the stars and their movement gave directions as to when to plant, when to harvest, care of animals, and when the seasons were changing.

Today it is a rare thing for some people to even see the stars let alone know what they are and what they are doing.

For example, in ancient Egypt, the rising of the star Sirius with the Sun meant the Nile would soon be flooding and the time for planting crops was near.

For the Greeks it meant the hottest time of the summer -- The Dog Days -- was starting. Even the name "Dog Days" has an astronomical meaning. Sirius is also know as the "Dog Star" because it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, The Big Dog.

For the residents of Polynesia (who were south of the equator) it was the beginning of winter.

If you don't live in a large population center, and are not bothered by city lights, or you live someplace where you can get away from it, then the sky will provide an abundance of year-round entertainment.

For example, we are leaving winter and moving into spring (at least here in the northern hemisphere -- our friends down south are beginning autumn coming out of summer) and the bright stars that have been showing for so long are now leaving the sky.

If you are outside at least an hour after local sunset looking west, Taurus and Orion, the champions of winter, are about halfway up the sky above the horizon. They will be gone from the sky by midnight.

Also at midnight high in the south is our old friend, Leo, the Lion who was one of the indicators of the soon arrival of spring by leaping over the eastern horizon at sunset back in February.

Now, if you are a morning person, you can look above the southern horizon at about 4:00 am MDT and see Scorpius and Sagittarius, the harbingers of summer.

So, really, the night sky is sort of like our morning newspaper. It brings us news of what has happened, what is happening, and what is going to happen. You just have to know how to read it--which is why I am writing this little bit each week.

Okay, the following is not for the faint of heart and those who have a good sized telescope. Tuesday morning, March 29, starting at about 12:15 am MDT, there will be a double-moon shadow transit of Jupiter. That is when the shadow of Io starts across the face of the giant planet. It will be followed at 1:00 am MDT by the larger shadow of Europa.

If you have the equipment, a dark enough sky, want to brave the cold, then this is an event for you. If not, then stay in bed.

SKY WATCH: Full moon, today, Wednesday, March 23. The bright object above the moon when it rises just after sunset is the planet Jupiter. On Monday, March 28, the moon will be floating above the planet Mars high in the south.

Look at about 2:00 am MDT. The next morning, March 29, be out looking at about the same time for the just-past full moon above the ringed planet Saturn. All this will be happening just above the head of Scorpius, the Scorpion.

NEXT WEEK: More astronomical blathering.