The Sky This Week, 2012 August 27 - September 4

Neil Armstrong, forever on the Moon

The Moon waxes in the evening sky this week, gradually climbing through the dim constellations of the autumnal sky. The month’s second Full Moon occurs on August 31st at 9:58 am Eastern Daylight Time. The second Full Moon to fall in a calendar month has now become popularly known as a "Blue Moon", although skylore experts don’t necessarily agree on this. The term initially referred to the third Full Moon in a season with four Full Moons (normally there are three.) However, a misinterpretation of the 1937 "Maine Farmer’s Almanac" in a popular magazine in 1946 led to the current definition. Either way the event is comparatively rare, occurring seven times in a 19-year cycle. By either definition the "Blue Moon" resets the monthly calendar of popular Full Moon names, so the next one, which will occur on September 29th, will be the fabled "Harvest Moon".

We cannot talk about the Moon this week without paying homage to the first person to tread on its surface, American astronaut Neil Armstrong. He took his first tentative steps onto Luna’s dusty soil just over 43 years ago, and those of us who witnessed the event will never forget the moments of the landing of the Lunar Module "Eagle" as well as Armstrong’s "Small Step". I was in high school at the time and spent the evening waiting for the Moon walk dashing in and out of the house between the television set and my 3.5-inch telescope, trying to wrap my head around the concept that the Moon I was looking at outside had two people on its surface and one orbiting above. It was a profound moment, and I have never looked at the Moon the same way since. Years later I had the chance to meet and chat with Mr. Armstrong. Despite being the first person to step on another world, he was one of the most "down-to-Earth" people I have ever met. Fittingly, his family has asked for a humble tribute: "For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty, and the next time you walk outside on a clear night and see the Moon smiling down at you, think of Neil Armstrong and give him a wink." I’ll be winking at the Moon every time I see it from now on.

You’ve probably noticed the rapidly shortening days by now, with sunset occurring about two minutes earlier each evening. This is giving a couple of evening planets something of a reprieve from twilight as mars and Saturn hang low in the southwest after sunset. During August ruddy Mars passed by golden Saturn and the blue-tinted star Spica, forming a number of attractive triangles along the way. Now Mars is fleeing eastward from the ringed planet, and Saturn in turn is slowly receding from the star. You might still be able to catch a glimpse of each planet in the telescope shortly after sunset, but the Earth’s turbulent atmosphere will play havoc with any high-power views. You should still be able to discern Saturn’s rings, but Mars will be a featureless pink-orange dot. That said, the wildly successful landing of the Mars Curiosity rover will open a new window to the red planet’s surface, so I’ll be observing it vicariously until the next opposition in 2014!

While I was away on vacation I managed to enjoy a few nights of dark sky observing which kept me up until the wee hours. By the time I turned in for a few hours’ sleep Jupiter had risen, reminding me that the giant planet is in the wings to delight us in the late autumn evenings. Old Jove will be very well placed for viewing this year as he hovers on the western periphery of the Great Winter Circle. He rises in the stars of Taurus, the Bull at midnight as September opens.

Dazzling Venus passes among the eastern stars of the Great Winter Circle this week. If you’re up at around 5:30 am you’ll have a splendid view of the two brightest planets and nine of the sky’s 25 brightest stars as twilight begins to gather. If you’re planning one last holiday trip to the shore, get up early one morning and take in the dazzling show. And remember to wink at the Moon for Neil.