Planetary Wonderings
September Focus: Saturn and September
By Mary-Frances R. Bartels, NASA Solar System Ambassador
The month of September marks several
significant
anniversaries and events related to the planet Saturn. Let
us examine a few.
The month begins with the 30th
anniversary of the
Pioneer 11 flyby. Pioneer 11, the second
in the Pioneer program, investigated the outer solar system, and was
the first
spacecraft to explore Saturn and its rings up close. In
addition to their scientific missions, the
Pioneer craft carry a plaque with a message from mankind to whatever
extraterrestrial
beings may discover them.
On Sept. 4 Saturn’s rings will be
edge-on as viewed from
Earth. This also occurred August
11. Saturn’s rings turn edge-on every
fourteen to fifteen years. While they
are beautiful to observe, their “disappearance” provides an opportunity
for
Earth viewers to appreciate the planet’s strangely blue north pole, a
new
phenomenon discovered by the Cassini mission.
Saturn was closest to earth in March which means, unfortunately,
that it
is difficult to view this time of year because it is so near the sun in
the
sky.
Sept. 17 is the 220th
anniversary of William
Herschel's discovery of Saturn’s moon Mimas.
Mimas has a large impact crater named after Herschel, and
coincidentally
resembles the Star Wars Death Star. Though
an accomplished musician, Herschel
developed an interest in astronomy. His
systematic survey of the sky also lead him to discover the planet
Uranus, which
this year just so happens to be at opposition (closest to Earth) on
this day as
well.
Sept. 21 is Gustav Holst’s 135th
birthday. Holst is best known as the composer
of “The
Planets,” a seven-movement orchestral suite.
His tribute to Saturn was called “The Bringer of Old Age.”
An obscure connection between Saturn
and September can be
found in Roman mythology and timeless traditions. Saturn
was named for the Roman god of
agriculture. Countless
agriculture-related festivals are held during the months of September
and
October. One locally notable one occurs
in the village near my residence. Each
year during the third weekend of September the village
of Centerburg, OH, puts on
the
Oldtime Farming Festival (www.oldtimefarmingfestival.org).
Resource of the
Month: Test your knowledge of the
“Lord of the Rings” with this Saturn Trivia Quiz at http://www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz90828a684a8.html
. Some of the answers to the quiz are in
this article.
Activity of the
Month: Attend a Star Party.
Those living near southwest Ohio
might be interested in the ScopeOut Astronomy Fair in Cincinnati
on the 12th. The Cincinnati
Observatory will celebrate the telescope with an open house called
ScopeOut.
ScopeOut is an opportunity for people of all ages to look at the latest
and greatest
astronomical equipment. Activities
include classes, educational materials, kid's space crafts, safe
viewing of the
Sun, tours of the observatory’s historic buildings, and plenty of door
prizes. For more information see:
http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/scopeout2009.html
. Readers not in the Cincinnati area
might want to look for more local star party opportunities. http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/#0909
lists some in Nevada, Maryland,
Illinois, Maine,
and Michigan.
Suggestions,
questions, corrections,
and comments about “Planetary Wonderings” are welcomed and may be
directed to
stargazer @ keeplookingup.net (remove
spaces). Past
columns may be found at www.KeepLookingUp.net
(click on
“Planetary
Wonderings” on the right side of opening screen) and at //www.freelists.org/archives/astronomyed/
(columns from Jan. 2007 to the present).
Remember to keep looking up!
Sources (not
already
mentioned in the article):
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/18mar_saturn.htm
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=7992
http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/herschel/fwhershs.html
--
Mary-Frances Bartels *** ki0dz@xxxxxxxx (((#))) ^ ^
www.RudolphsRabbitRanch.com Central Ohio | ^ - ^
Watkins Products www.watkinsonline.com #092389 ------- (o o)
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------- RRR)*
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