Applegater Fall 2016
7
THE STARRY SIDE
Total solar eclipse in 2017
BY GREELEY WELLS
I can’t talk about fall 2016 until I tell
you about fall 2017 because, if you want
to see what I’m about to describe, you
must be very clever and plan as far ahead
as you can. Find some friends north of
us—like in Bend—and stay with them
in order to drive about an hour farther
north on Monday, August 21, 2017, to
see the total solar eclipse. It will start on
the Oregon coast, go through Salem,
then completely across the country, and
leave the east coast off South Carolina.
Most likely, there will never be another
eclipse in our lifetime that is so close to
us and so perfect.
I ventured to Guadalajara, Mexico,
in 1991 to see the last eclipse that was
somewhat close to us, and it was well
worth the trip. I will see this one, too,
especially because it is so in reach. It
is being said that this will be the most
observed celestial event in known history.
This experience is next to none other
that you can imagine. There’s something
inexplicable about being in the 90-mile-
diameter black shadow of our moon
around 10 in the morning that races at
over 1,000 miles per hour past you to
give you a perfect “almost night” with
planets and stars for two minutes, then
leaves as fast as it came. Your sense of the
solar system will never be quite the same.
Share this stupendous event with your
partners, kids, and friends—it’s a once-
in-a-lifetime experience! Google “2017
total solar eclipse” for more details.
Now back to fall 2016. The
summer triangle will still be up, but
Illustration: Guy Ottewell’s Astronomical Calendar 2016.
moving westerly; by December only two
of the three constellations will be visible.
Bright Vega will be on the northwest
horizon line along with the Northern
Cross. The cross is really Cygnus the
Swan, the long-necked goose, who will
have its head on the horizon with its
neck, tail, and wings forming a perfect
cross standing close to upright. This
summer icon dips northwest as our fall
constellations rise.
In September, Pegasus the Horse
is well up from the eastern horizon. It
passes the zenith next month and is in
the west in November. The big dipper
is swinging under the North Star and
taking bright Arcturus out of sight from
the west-southwest, while Cassiopeia
rises up to and over the North Star,
Polaris. With her comes the Milky Way
with Perseus (a large curved V -like shape
pointed toward Cassiopeia), bright
Capella in Auriga (the five-sided box),
Taurus (that small V shape), and the
familiar hunter Orion with his belt of
three stars.
Other events of note
The Orionids meteor shower peaks
on October 21, but is really around in
a lighter form from October 2 through
November 7. More than half of all
meteors leave a train or trail behind, with
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typically about
20 meteors
occurring per
Greeley Wells
hour at the peak
on the 21st. The last quarter moon sets
around midnight so morning viewing is
still the best time.
Some planet and moon events: On
September 3 and 4, a half hour after
sunset, the crescent moon passes by
Venus and Spica, respectively. Yes, Venus
is back with us heading up into the sky
at dusk. Jupiter is setting behind Venus
and is soon gone. Mars and Saturn are
in the southwest near the constellations
Sagittarius and Scorpius. In October,
Mars starts moving east, speeding up
by late October along with Venus, who
also leaps up from the horizon line and
catches up with Saturn on the 29th. In
November, Venus and Mars continue
rising higher and higher in the southwest
and then south. And Saturn goes behind
the sun for a while.
Now here’s a strange one for you:
a full moon playing with Aldebaran—
that bright star in that beautiful V of
Taurus—twice in the same day! Yes, at
dawn and dusk on November 15! The full
moon moves into the tip of the V about
an hour before sunrise; three hours after
sunset it is just below it. Watch this travel
on the days on either side of the 15 th , too.
It’s a rare treat for star and moon lovers.
Here’s to clear dark night skies and
bright stars for you.
Greeley Wells
greeley@greeley.me