This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2023 Sept. 9 – Sept. 16
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2023 Sept. 9 – Sept. 16
Two stellar crowns are included among the 88 official constellations. Both are above our horizon around 9 pm but one requires an unobstructed and near-pristine sky to the south. Both crowns arise from mythological tales of the popular demigod Dionysus (Bacchus in Roman mythology), the god of wine.
Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, is a pretty semicircle of stars situated high in the west, one third of the way from Arcturus to Vega. In mythology, Ariadne was the daughter of King Minos of Crete. She helped Theseus slay the bull-headed Minotaur and escape from the Labyrinth, and she accompanied him and his crew on a voyage home to Athens where they were to wed. Along the way they stopped at the island home of Dionysus, who was a great and wily host. After a night of revelry Theseus was forced into leaving without Ariadne, and Dionysus presented her with a beautiful crown if she would be his bride. The crown was placed in the sky to commemorate their wedding.
The Sagittarius teapot asterism is low in the south at 9 pm this week, and Corona Australis, the Southern Crown, rides the horizon below. This semicircle of stars is sometimes called the lemon wedge asterism, to go with the teapot and the teaspoon above the teapot’s handle. Dionysus was the result of an affair between Zeus and a mortal woman. The gods had to be careful in such affairs as mortals could not withstand the full passionate heat of their embrace. Vengeful Hera, the wife of Zeus, tricked the now-pregnant woman into requesting Zeus hold her as he would a goddess, and as expected she did not survive. The unborn child was sewn into the thigh of Zeus and raised by his aunt after birth. Later, Dionysus honoured his mother by placing a wreath in the sky. Such a start in life would drive anyone to drink.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:49 am and sunset will occur at 7:42 pm, giving 12 hours, 53 minutes of daylight (6:55 am and 7:47 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:58 am and set at 7:29 pm, giving 12 hours, 31 minutes of daylight (7:02 am and 7:33 pm in Saint John).
On Sunday morning the waning crescent Moon is below Gemini’s bright star Pollux and above Venus. It reaches the new phase on Thursday. Saturn is well-placed for evening observing, and at its best around midnight. Jupiter is rising by 10 pm, so if you are observing Saturn at midnight then Jupiter will be high enough for good views. Mars is lost in evening twilight but on September 16 it will be occulted in daylight by the Moon, offering a difficult challenge for skilled observers. Venus dominates the morning sky, rising around 4 am. Mercury rises at 6:30 am this weekend and on Wednesday it forms the lower point of a triangle with the Moon and Regulus.
The RASC NB star party in Fundy National Park has been postponed to a one-evening event later this month or in October.