Mon Mar 31, 2025 OUT WITH THE RAM
The old saying, “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb,” refers to the improving weather in the springtime of the year. But there is also an astronomical connection. In early March, the constellation Leo the Lion appears in the east after sunset. As the month progresses, Leo is a little higher in the sky each night, while in the west, winter constellations sink toward the horizon. By the end of March, one of our winter constellations makes its exit in the western sky. For the past few weeks, the sun has been steadily encroaching on this constellation, due to the earth’s revolution. Now the sun is about to pass between us and the constellation Aries the Ram. March comes in with the Lion and goes out with the Ram.
Tue Apr 1, 2025 APRIL FOOLS
Long ago the new year began not on January 1st, but on March 25th, which at that time also marked the beginning of spring. People were so glad winter was over, they partied for about a week, right up through the first day of April. Then came the Gregorian calendar reform in 1582, and in France, King Charles the 9th decided this was also a good time to move the new year’s celebration from the end of March to the beginning of January, where it is now. But some people just didn’t get it, and continued to observe the new year on April 1st. These people were laughed at, and called “poisson d'avril," or “April Fish” by their more sophisticated countrymen. And this is the origin of our modern April Fool’s Day. No fooling.
Wed Apr 2, 2025 NAME THAT CONSTELLATION: APRIL
Can you identify the seventeenth largest constellation? It is bordered on the north by Auriga and Perseus, on the south by Eridanus, on the west by Aries, and on the east by Orion. The Crab nebula is here, as well as the Pleiades star cluster. And this evening the crescent moon and the planet Jupiter shine together, wrapped around one of this animal’s horns. The red giant Aldebaran is its brightest star. One of the oldest star patterns, in mythology this creature is often seen as a representation of Zeus, who carried the princess Europa across the sea to Crete; or as the seventh labor of Hercules. Can you name this star figure, the second constellation of the zodiac? The answer is Taurus the Bull, now visible in the western evening sky.
Thu Apr 3, 2025 SEASONAL CONSTELLATIONS
With the new season, there is also a change in the constellations in our evening sky. Orion the Hunter and his entourage - Taurus the Bull, Canis Major and Canis Minor (that is, the greater and lesser dogs,) Lepus the Hare, Auriga the Charioteer, the Gemini twins and Cancer the Crab – have slipped over into the western sky; while new star groups rise out of the east. The stars of Leo the Lion appear as a backwards question mark above the eastern horizon, while the Big Dipper stands on its handle in the northeast after dusk; and soon bright Arcturus in Boötes the Shepherd and the star Spica in Virgo the Maiden will rise. The sky wheels about us, and the springtime constellations take their places in the heavens above.
Fri Apr 4, 2025 PLANETARIUM SHOW: COSMIC ZOOM
A planetarium director friend of mine once told me that he had a formula for making a successful sky show. He said, you have to show the rings of Saturn, you have to plunge everybody into a black hole, and you have to spin the stars really fast. Well, tonight’s show at the Hallstrom Planetarium has all those things. “Cosmic Zoom” shows you stars and constellations; we take a tour of the solar system, including Saturn; and we have a very cool black hole effect. Oh, and we also spin the stars. “Cosmic Zoom” is playing tonight and tomorrow afternoon - call 462-4750 to get tickets and more show information. And tonight, at no additional charge, the Treasure Coast Astronomical Society will be on hand to show you the moon and the planets through their telescopes, weather permitting.
