Jupiter Still Prominent

Abstract

0 WITH THE COMING of May, the planet Jupiter continues to be the most prominent star or planet visible in the evening sky. It is the first to appear in the northwest as the sky darkens after sunset. It then moves toward the western horizon to set-about four hours after sundown on May 1, two hours earlier on the 31st. Jupiter's position in the constellation of Gemini, the twins, is shown on the accompanying maps. These maps depict the sky as it looks about 11:00 p.m. (your own kind of daylight saving time) on May 1, 10:00 at mid-month, and 9:00 at the end. Among the stars, the most prominent is Arcturus, shown high in the south in Bootes, the herdsman. Below it is Virgo, the virgin, with Spica, another star of the first magnitude. Above and to the right of Virgo shines Leo, the lion, with a star of similar brightness, Regulus. Low in the southeast stands part of Scorpius, the scorpion. The star close to the horizon, named Antares, is also of the first magnitude. At such a low altitude, however, so much of its light is absorbed by the earth's atmosphere that it appears considerably fainter. In Gemini, where Jupiter now stands, is Pollux, another first magnitude star, and nearby are two others of the same degree of brightness. One is Capella, to the right in Auriga, the charioteer; the other is Procyon, toward the left in Canis Minor, the lesser dog. These stars shine brilliantly in the winter evening sky, but are not visible on summer evenings. To take their place, however, two stars are rising in the northeast that will become very prominent on summer evenings. One is Vega, in Lyra, the lyre; the other is Deneb, in Cygnus the swan Like Antares, which will also become more conspicuous in summer evenings, Deneb is considerably dimmed because it is so low on the horizon. High in the north shines Ursa Major, the great bear, which includes the familiar Big Dipper. Here are the two pointers, whose direction indicates the north star, Polaris, which is part of Ursa Minor, the little bear-and also of the Little Dipper.