oy) Allen Wootton

As I am writing this, the spacecraft Voyager 2 is nearing the

. planet Neptune and it is with great anticipation that 1, and I am:

sure, many of you, look forward to seeing the pictures of this.”

_ most ‘distant planet.

To get the pictures, stratesically-placed tracking stations

- throughout the world will pick up the very weak signals from.
Voyager 2 and turn them into the incredible‘ views with, which we 7
_ have become familiar due to this same spacecraft’s close ap-

proach to Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus. Voyager 2’s last close en-

counter with a planet is one that I remember particularly well

because my. wife and I: ‘happened to be at the tracking station at -

_-, Tidbinbilla, Australia on January 25, 1986 when the ‘photos of.
| Uranus’ moon Miranda were arriving.

At the time there was much excitement there because of the

‘new and different worlds that were being, shown to us by this

‘remarkable spacecraft. I am sure that the close approach to Nep- -
tune this week will be no less revealing and that it will give us all
lots to think about regarding the formation of the Solar System.

Often when people think of the planets they mention Venus,

other four, Ancient people knew of only these five. You can see

‘Uranus without needing optical aid, however, and it-is possible to :
‘do so this month. If you usea pair of binoculars you can see

Neptune as well. .

To help you with your search, I have adapted a map from the -
July issue of ‘‘Sky and Telescope’? magazine, page 66. You can
find this magazine in the Terrace Public Library if you would
like to, see.the more detailed map that is shown there.

If you have access to a telescope, you can actually see the discs

of both these planets, though this is quite difficult to do for Nep- .

tune. Both have a slightly blue-green tinge to them. If you have
only binoculars and you want to be sure that what you are seeing .
really is one or the other of these planets, you will have to keep
careful records of this area of the sky over a-period of a few
weeks. Sketch the star. positions a. few degrees to the left of

Saturn to find Neptuné: ‘and about five degrees to the right to

find Uranus, (The width of your finger -held at arm’s length.
covers about 2°): You should find the.star positions remain the

. same relative to one another, whereas Saturn, Uranus, and Nep- i
_ tune move against ‘the background of si |

PE

. Of course you shouldn’t neglect to look vat Saturn while you

care searching for the other two planets. It is one of the most

beautiful sights in the night sky. Unfortunately a binocular view
only hints at its true.splendor; with these you can see Saturnas .
Galileo might have — a slightly elongated, -yellowish white disc. ;

_ With a small telescope the view is much more satisfying. Witlr) ‘

this sort of.instrument you can see Saturn’s ring clearly separated

. from the disc and, as well, you-can see its. largest moon, Titan.

Jupiter will be visible this month too. It rises about midnight

~ and will be high in the southern sky at sunrise.

Besides these planets, September is a good month for noticing
the “Summer Triangle” asterism. Three bright stats mark the _

‘corners of this triangle which encompasses the constellations
‘Lyra, Cygnus, and Aquila. I have encluded a map so you can

find these constellations as well.
‘The fall equinox occurs at 6:20 p.m. on Friday, September 22.
The Terrace Astronomical Society will begin its second year of
operation on Tuesday, September 19. The meeting will be held in
the Terrace Public Library at 7:30 p.m. Alt interested people are

“most welcome to attend.

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te ‘ " ge Saturn Uranus
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The bright object low Inthe South al about 10 P.M. is Satum. Use this map to
haip you find the other two planets.

W. C.B. INDUSTRIAL FIRST. AID TRAINING

- In TERRACE -._—_...
Sponsored by: Northwest First Aid Training Agency.
‘Course Date: September 18 to September 29 ,
Course Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday to Friday
Instructor: Roger Cloutier
Location: Mills Memorlal Hospital
Phone 845-7752...
For Information and registration
- Also.in TERRACE
OW. C.B. SURVIVAL FIRST AID COURSE
: Sunday, September 170
_ From 8: 30, ami to 4:30. parm. 7

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. Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn as planets ‘they have seen. Some: people feo
have seen Mercury too, although it is quite a lot harder to see
_ from our northern. and mountain-surrounded location than the.

* Look high: overhead to find ‘Vega, ee eee eo '
‘the bright star In Lyra. You should =. - f.
have no. trouble finding Cygnus. “ Atairgf
and Aquila from there. Notice that ~~." /¢.
“the Milky Way goes through this ag
portion of the sky. ~ . re / ;

fe
South

$a

SAT., SEPT. 9

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