Stars over Sisters

Draco the dragon may breathe fire early in October.

Some planetary scientists think that on the evening of October 8 the earth will pass through a particularly dense portion of space debris left behind by comet Giacobini-Zinner. The result could be a grand display of meteors that might top 600 per hour.

That's the good news. The bad news is two-fold: the timing of the shower's peak favors observers in Europe and the Middle East, and the light from a waxing gibbous moon will tend to wash out all but the brightest meteors. Still, if it is clear, a brief glance skyward may be in order.

The lunar cycle starts off with a waxing crescent, growing to first quarter by October 4. The full moon this month, called the Hunter's Moon, falls on October 12. From here the moon begins to wane with last quarter occurring on October 20. New moon falls on October 26, providing us with a lightless night.

Venus will be very low in the west just after sunset all month. A still relatively dim Mars will ride high in the sky just before dawn. Saturn will become a morning object after mid-month, making an appearance in the east before sunrise. Finally, the brightness of Jupiter will dominate the night sky.

On October 29, the largest planet in our solar system will be at opposition, meaning that it will be at its closest to the Earth, making it an opportune time to view the planet.

Our featured constellation this month is Cassiopeia. In mythology she was the vain wife of King Cepheus. She proclaimed that she was more beautiful than the Nereids, the daughters of the sea god Poseidon. To punish her conceit, Poseidon sent a sea monster after them. To appease the monster, Cassiopeia and Cepheus allowed their daughter Andromeda to be tied to a rock as a sacrifice. But Andromeda was rescued by Perseus the hero and afterward the two were

married.

Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Andromeda and Perseus are all placed in the same part of the sky. You can find Cassiopeia in the north near Cepheus. She is in the shape of a "W', though half of the year she is upside down like an "M', as punishment for her vanity.

If you are interested in learning more about astronomy, the next Sisters Astronomy Club meeting is Tuesday, October 18 at Sisters Park & Recreation District (SPRD), beginning at 7 p.m. They are held on the third Tuesday of every month. The next Stars over Sisters star watch will be Friday, October 21 at SPRD, starting at 7 p.m.