This StarChart shows the southwestern
sky just after dark on October 13. Mars dominates the sky, shining
at mag - 0.2. Three other planets are in this stretch of sky, Uranus
and Neptune in Capricornus in the SSW, and Pluto in Ophiuchus in the WSW.
Mars, although now dimming, is
still a compelling naked-eye object. Uranus, at mag 5.8, is an easy
object in binoculars, and can be visible to the naked eye in a dark sky
under good conditions. Neptune, at mag 7.9, is readily visible in
modest scopes. However, we cannot see Pluto, mag 13.9 - not
even with Murray's 12" Meade. There are of course many other
objects that are well placed this time of year.
The region near the Teapot is
home to a great many beautiful sights, such as the Lagoon Nebula (M8),
the Trifid Nebula (M20), and one of the finest globular clusters (M22).
With the advent of Autumn, objects in this region are dropping progressively
lower and will soon disappear below our western horizon. The times,
they are a'changin'... |
