Image source: European Space Agency
Change Over Time in Our Solar System
Have you ever stopped to think about how time is interconnected to the rotation and revolution of our home base? Or why the face of an analog clock is designed the way it is? If so, you are not alone. The humble amazing protractor used in every geometry lesson measuring angles and arcs is the base of the clocks I grew up learning to read. I doubt if many students today even could make the connection given that nearly all timepieces are digital now. Yet the hour and minute intervals coincide with the angles made by the hands of the clock connected at the center of the clock face. Earth rotates on its axis fifteen degrees each hour of the 24 hour period. Time didn’t really matter until vehicles were invented that could travel farther across the surface of the planet than the Sun did as Earth rotated on its axis. I wonder what our faster times of travel across the Solar System will change in the future?
You have probably noticed it is now almost fully dark by eight thirty now and the Sun is rising later as well. Our trip around the Sun and our tilt of twenty-three and a half degrees off perpendicular create our seasons which are created by those hours of daylight and darkness. Simple and yet so complex.
As I stepped outside after supper this past week about nine o’clock I was able to locate the huge Summer Triangle asterism heading across the eastern sky towards the zenith in the south. Altair was leading the way, the eye of the Eagle, drawing along Vega in Lyra, and Deneb in Cygnus. Soon the Great Square of Pegasus will emerge from the eastern horizon in time for the baseball World Series playoffs. I enjoy thinking about how modern sky-watchers consider the ancient star pattern as a baseball diamond in the sky. It just tickles me for some reason. Perhaps because it brings back a memory of sitting in my high school mandatory study hall listening to the games on Coach Schultz’s radio on a hot fall day here in the RGV.
Early morning risers have commented about the increasing distance between Venus and Jupiter which were so close together just a few weeks ago. As our Solar System bodies are constantly changing location racing along their respective orbital paths it does make sky watching interesting. Saturn is between the constellation Pisces and Cetus, just beneath the ecliptic, the path the Sun and Moon travel. An hour after sunset on the 7th, the Full Moon will outshine Saturn in the same region about an hour after sunset. Many stars of Pegasus, Capricornus, and Aquarius will be there, but difficult to see since the lunar surface we see will be 100 percent reflecting sunlight. A good telescope will add to the pleasure of observing Saturn and its splendid ring system. By the 21st the ringed planet will be the nearest to Earth that it ever is, a mere 785 million miles away-makes those ‘are we there yet’ plaints from the backseat while driving across Texas more acceptable doesn’t it?
The planet local space fans seem to long for, Mars, is visible low in the west in Virgo. It will be near Spica in Virgo later in the week. Get out early though, because both will set before 9 P. M. and unless the horizon is clear of trees or buildings, not to mention glaring street lights, you won’t see them.
Teachers and middle school students will be able to view Venus in the predawn sky. It rises about 4 AM about two and a half hours before local sunrise. It will be blazing away with all its diamond ring sparkle-impossible to miss with clear skies. Venus will move eastward into the constellation Le, increasing its illumination throughout the month.
Those of you with children in the upper elementary/lower middle school grades might want to check out the astronomy program with the San Benito Public Library. It is early for families, from 5-6 PM on the second Tuesday of each month. Although usually the focus is on stars and planets, this month’s focus will be on the United States Space Force and include hands-on things to do as well as discussion about the organization itself. I never dreamed there would be such a thing, and I suspect neither did many others, but it is happening and is growing and progressing, making itself part of our security as a nation.
If you have comments or questions about the column you can reach me via email: carolutsinger@att.net
Until next week, KLU.
