Saturn nearly at east quadrature

This year, the planet Saturn reaches eastern quadrature on October 7, 2019. By definition, a superior planet – such as Saturn – is said to be at east quadrature whenever it resides 90 degrees east of the sun on the sky’s dome.

Incidentally, the moon is at east quadrature (90 degrees east of the sun) at its first quarter phase. The moon recently displayed its first quarter phase (east quadrature) when it closely paired up with Saturn on October 5, 2019. These next couple of nights – October 6 and 7 – you can depend on the lit side of the waxing gibbous moon to point out Saturn, as illustrated on the feature sky chart at top.

If you could look down upon the plane of the solar system as Saturn swings to east quadrature, you’d see the sun-Earth-Saturn making a right angle in space, with the Earth at the vertex of this 90-degree angle.

This diagram is approximately to scale for when Mars is at quadrature. But Saturn’s mean distance from the sun is a little over 9.5 times the Earth-sun distance – otherwise known as the astronomical unit. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a diagram closer to scale.

Want to know the present distances of the planets from the Earth and sun? Click here.

Because Saturn lies 90 degrees east of the sun, Saturn reaches its highest point in the sky approximately 6 hours after the sun soars to its highest point at solar noon (midway between sunrise and sunset). Click here to find out when the sun and Saturn transit (climb highest up) in your sky.

About three months ago – on July 9, 2019 – Saturn was at opposition (180 degrees or opposite the sun in Earth’s sky). If you had looked down on the solar system plane at that time, you would have seen the sun, Earth and Saturn making a straight line in space. At opposition, a heavenly body climbs highest in the sky at midnight (midway between sunset and sunrise).

Opposition and quadrature can happen only to solar system bodies that orbit the sun outside of Earth’s orbit. Planets that orbit the sun inside of Earth’s orbit (Mercury and Venus) can never reach opposition or quadrature. Instead, they always remain near the sun as seen from Earth. So we see them either in the east before sunrise, or in the west after sunset.

Saturn’s oppositions and quadratures enabled the innovative astronomer Copernicus (1473-1543) to compute Saturn’s distance from the sun. He did this by charting Saturn’s (and the Earth’s) change of position from opposition to quadrature. All the while, Copernicus presumed that Saturn and Earth both orbit a central sun.

By using the astronomical unit – the Earth-sun distance – as his baseline, Copernicus relied upon the magic of geometry to figure out Saturn’s relative distance from the sun!

Opposition and quadrature happen only to solar system bodies outside of Earth’s orbit, as shown on diagram. What to know the dates for this year’s planetary oppositions and quadratures? Click here.

We provide an example of how Copernicus performed his brilliant detective work. In the 90 days between between Saturn’s opposition on July 9, 2019, and Saturn’s quadrature on October 7, 2019, Earth has traveled about 87 degrees of its 360-degree orbit around the sun.

Saturn, in the meantime, has completed only about 3 degrees of its 360-degree orbit. We can figure this because Saturn takes some 10,759 days to circle the sun. Therefore, in these 90 days, Saturn must have moved about 3 degrees (90/10,759 x 360 = 3 degrees). At east quadrature, then, the Earth-sun-Saturn angle equals 84 degrees (87-3 = 84), as shown on the diagram below; consequently, the Earth-Saturn-sun angle must be 6 degrees (90-84 = 6). By trigonometry, this places Saturn’s distance from the sun at a little over 9.5 astronomical units.

Bird’s-eye view of Saturn at east quadrature on October 7, 2019

If we could look down upon the plane of the solar system on October 7, 2019, we’d see the sun, Earth, and Saturn making a 90-degree angle in space, with Earth at the vertex of this 90-degree angle. The Earth-sun-Saturn angle is 84 degrees whereas the Earth-Saturn-sun angle depicts 6 degrees.

Want to know more on how Copernicus figured out planetary distances? Click here.

These next few days – October 6 and 7, 2019 – use the lit side of the moon to find Saturn, as this outer world sweeps to a solar elongation of 90 degrees east of the sun.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2LOK6Yy

This year, the planet Saturn reaches eastern quadrature on October 7, 2019. By definition, a superior planet – such as Saturn – is said to be at east quadrature whenever it resides 90 degrees east of the sun on the sky’s dome.

Incidentally, the moon is at east quadrature (90 degrees east of the sun) at its first quarter phase. The moon recently displayed its first quarter phase (east quadrature) when it closely paired up with Saturn on October 5, 2019. These next couple of nights – October 6 and 7 – you can depend on the lit side of the waxing gibbous moon to point out Saturn, as illustrated on the feature sky chart at top.

If you could look down upon the plane of the solar system as Saturn swings to east quadrature, you’d see the sun-Earth-Saturn making a right angle in space, with the Earth at the vertex of this 90-degree angle.

This diagram is approximately to scale for when Mars is at quadrature. But Saturn’s mean distance from the sun is a little over 9.5 times the Earth-sun distance – otherwise known as the astronomical unit. Scroll to the bottom of this post for a diagram closer to scale.

Want to know the present distances of the planets from the Earth and sun? Click here.

Because Saturn lies 90 degrees east of the sun, Saturn reaches its highest point in the sky approximately 6 hours after the sun soars to its highest point at solar noon (midway between sunrise and sunset). Click here to find out when the sun and Saturn transit (climb highest up) in your sky.

About three months ago – on July 9, 2019 – Saturn was at opposition (180 degrees or opposite the sun in Earth’s sky). If you had looked down on the solar system plane at that time, you would have seen the sun, Earth and Saturn making a straight line in space. At opposition, a heavenly body climbs highest in the sky at midnight (midway between sunset and sunrise).

Opposition and quadrature can happen only to solar system bodies that orbit the sun outside of Earth’s orbit. Planets that orbit the sun inside of Earth’s orbit (Mercury and Venus) can never reach opposition or quadrature. Instead, they always remain near the sun as seen from Earth. So we see them either in the east before sunrise, or in the west after sunset.

Saturn’s oppositions and quadratures enabled the innovative astronomer Copernicus (1473-1543) to compute Saturn’s distance from the sun. He did this by charting Saturn’s (and the Earth’s) change of position from opposition to quadrature. All the while, Copernicus presumed that Saturn and Earth both orbit a central sun.

By using the astronomical unit – the Earth-sun distance – as his baseline, Copernicus relied upon the magic of geometry to figure out Saturn’s relative distance from the sun!

Opposition and quadrature happen only to solar system bodies outside of Earth’s orbit, as shown on diagram. What to know the dates for this year’s planetary oppositions and quadratures? Click here.

We provide an example of how Copernicus performed his brilliant detective work. In the 90 days between between Saturn’s opposition on July 9, 2019, and Saturn’s quadrature on October 7, 2019, Earth has traveled about 87 degrees of its 360-degree orbit around the sun.

Saturn, in the meantime, has completed only about 3 degrees of its 360-degree orbit. We can figure this because Saturn takes some 10,759 days to circle the sun. Therefore, in these 90 days, Saturn must have moved about 3 degrees (90/10,759 x 360 = 3 degrees). At east quadrature, then, the Earth-sun-Saturn angle equals 84 degrees (87-3 = 84), as shown on the diagram below; consequently, the Earth-Saturn-sun angle must be 6 degrees (90-84 = 6). By trigonometry, this places Saturn’s distance from the sun at a little over 9.5 astronomical units.

Bird’s-eye view of Saturn at east quadrature on October 7, 2019

If we could look down upon the plane of the solar system on October 7, 2019, we’d see the sun, Earth, and Saturn making a 90-degree angle in space, with Earth at the vertex of this 90-degree angle. The Earth-sun-Saturn angle is 84 degrees whereas the Earth-Saturn-sun angle depicts 6 degrees.

Want to know more on how Copernicus figured out planetary distances? Click here.

These next few days – October 6 and 7, 2019 – use the lit side of the moon to find Saturn, as this outer world sweeps to a solar elongation of 90 degrees east of the sun.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2LOK6Yy

The Crab Nebula was an exploding star

The Crab Nebula is a cloud of gas and debris rushing outward from a great stellar explosion seen a thousand years ago by earthly skywatchers. The Hubble image above shows intricate filimentary structure in the expanding debris cloud. Color and contrast are enhanced to show detail. Image via NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University)

The Crab Nebula is so named because, as seen through a telescope with the human eye, it appears vaguely like a crab. In reality, it’s a vast, outwardly rushing cloud of gas and debris: the scattered fragments of a supernova, or exploding star. Earthly skywatchers saw a “guest” star in the constellation Taurus in July, AD 1054. Today, we know this was the supernova. The estimated distance to what’s left of this star – the Crab Nebula – is about 6,500 light-years. So the progenitor star must have blown up some 7,500 years ago.

Anasazi pictograph possibly depicting the Crab Nebula supernova in AD 1054. Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.

History of the Crab Nebula. On July 4, in the year A.D. 1054, Chinese astronomers noticed a bright “guest” star near Tianguan, a star we now call Zeta Tauri in the constellation of the Bull. Although the historical records are not precise, the bright new star likely outshone Venus, and for a while was the third-brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon.

It shone in the daylight sky for several weeks, and was visible at night for nearly two years before fading from view.

It is likely that skywatchers of the Anasazi People in the American Southwest also viewed the bright new star in 1054. Historic research shows that a crescent moon was visible in the sky very near the new star on the morning of July 5, the day following the observations by the Chinese. The pictograph above, from Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, is believed to depict the event. The multi-spiked star to the left represents the supernova near the crescent moon. The handprint above may signify the importance of the event, or may be the artist’s “signature.”

From June or July 1056, the object was not seen again until 1731, when an observation of the now quite faint nebulosity was recorded by an English amateur astronomer John Bevis. However, the object was rediscovered by French comet-hunter Charles Messier in 1758, and it soon became the first object in his catalog of objects not to be confused with comets, now known as the Messier Catalog. Thus, the Crab Nebula is often referred to as M1.

In 1844, astronomer William Parsons, better known as the Third Earl of Rosse, observed M1 through his large telescope in Ireland. He described it as having a shape resembling a crab, and since then M1 has been more commonly called the Crab Nebula.

However, it was not until the 20th century that the association with Chinese records of the 1054 “guest” star was discovered.

View larger. | The Crab Nebula is located among some of the brightest stars and easiest-to-identify constellations in the heavens. Best placed for evening observing from late fall through early spring, the Crab can be spotted very near the star Zeta Tauri. This chart courtesy of Stellarium.

How to see the Crab Nebula. This beautiful nebula is relatively easy to locate due to its location near a bevy of bright stars and recognizable constellations. Although it can be seen at some time of night all year except from roughly May through July when the sun appears too close, the best observing comes from late fall through early spring.

To find the Crab Nebula, first draw an imaginary line from bright Betelgeuse in Orion to Capella in Auriga. About halfway along that line you will find the star Beta Tauri (or Elnath) on the Taurus-Auriga border.

Having identified Beta Tauri, backtrack a little more than a third of the way back to Betelgeuse and you should find the fainter star Zeta Tauri easily. Scanning the area around Zeta Tauri should reveal a tiny, faint smudge. It is located about a degree from the star (that’s about twice the width of a full moon) more of less in the direction of Beta Tauri.

Binoculars and small telescopes are useful or finding the object and showing its roughly oblong shape, but are not powerful enough to show the filimentary structure or any of its internal detail.

Simulated view of Zeta Tauri and Crab Nebula in a 7-degree field of view. Chart based on a screen save from Stellarium.

The first eyepiece view, above, simulates a 7-degree field of view centered around Zeta Tauri, approximately what might be expected with a 7 X 50 pair of binoculars. Of course, the exact orientation and visibility will range widely depending on time of observation, sky conditions and so on. Scan around Zeta Tauri for the faint nebulosity.

Simulated view of Zeta Tauri and Crab Nebula with 3.5-degree field of view. Chart based on a screen save from Stellarium.

The second image, above, simulates an approximately 3.5-degree view, as might be expected with a small telescope or finder scope. To give you a clear idea of scale, two full moons would fit with room to spare in the space between Zeta Tauri and the Crab Nebula here.

Keep in mind that exact conditions will vary.

Science of the Crab Nebula.

The Crab Nebula is the remnant of a massive star that self destructed in an enormous supernova explosion. This is known as a Type II supernova, a typical result for stars at least 8 times more massive than our sun. Astronomers have determined this through several types of evidence and reasoning including the following points.

First, the bright new or “guest” star seen by Asian astronomers and others in 1054, just as would be expected by an exploding star.

Second, the Crab Nebula has been located in the location indicated by ancient records as being where the “guest” star was seen.

Third, the Crab Nebula has been shown to be expanding outward, precisely as the debris cloud from a supernova would.

Fourth, spectroscopic analysis of the gases of the cloud is consistent with formation through  a Type II supernova rather than other means.

Fifth, a pulsing neutron star, a typical product of Type II supernova explosions, has been found embedded in the cloud.

The lifetime of a massive star is complicated, especially near the end. Through its lifetime, its enormous mass provides enough gravity to contain the outward push of nuclear reactions in its core. This is called thermodynamic equilibrium.

However, near the end, there is not enough nuclear fuel to produce the outward pressure to hold back the crushing force of gravity. At a certain point, the star suddenly collapses violently, the inward force squeezing the core to unimaginable densities. Either a neutron star or a black hole can be formed. In this case, the electrons in the core were pressed into the protons, forming neutrons and squeezing the core into a tiny, dense and rapidly rotating ball of neutrons called a neutron star. Sometimes, as in this case, the neutron star can pulsate in radio waves, making it a “pulsar.”

While the core is squeezed into a neutron star, the outer portions of the star bounce off and spread into space, forming a great cloud of debris, complete with common ingredients such as hydrogen and helium, cosmic dust, and elements produced only in supernova explosions.

The center of the Crab Nebula is approximately RA: 5° 34′ 32″, dec: +22° 1′

Bottom line: How to locate the Crab Nebula, plus history and science surrounding this fascinating region of the night sky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2ot2q01

The Crab Nebula is a cloud of gas and debris rushing outward from a great stellar explosion seen a thousand years ago by earthly skywatchers. The Hubble image above shows intricate filimentary structure in the expanding debris cloud. Color and contrast are enhanced to show detail. Image via NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University)

The Crab Nebula is so named because, as seen through a telescope with the human eye, it appears vaguely like a crab. In reality, it’s a vast, outwardly rushing cloud of gas and debris: the scattered fragments of a supernova, or exploding star. Earthly skywatchers saw a “guest” star in the constellation Taurus in July, AD 1054. Today, we know this was the supernova. The estimated distance to what’s left of this star – the Crab Nebula – is about 6,500 light-years. So the progenitor star must have blown up some 7,500 years ago.

Anasazi pictograph possibly depicting the Crab Nebula supernova in AD 1054. Chaco Canyon, New Mexico.

History of the Crab Nebula. On July 4, in the year A.D. 1054, Chinese astronomers noticed a bright “guest” star near Tianguan, a star we now call Zeta Tauri in the constellation of the Bull. Although the historical records are not precise, the bright new star likely outshone Venus, and for a while was the third-brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon.

It shone in the daylight sky for several weeks, and was visible at night for nearly two years before fading from view.

It is likely that skywatchers of the Anasazi People in the American Southwest also viewed the bright new star in 1054. Historic research shows that a crescent moon was visible in the sky very near the new star on the morning of July 5, the day following the observations by the Chinese. The pictograph above, from Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, is believed to depict the event. The multi-spiked star to the left represents the supernova near the crescent moon. The handprint above may signify the importance of the event, or may be the artist’s “signature.”

From June or July 1056, the object was not seen again until 1731, when an observation of the now quite faint nebulosity was recorded by an English amateur astronomer John Bevis. However, the object was rediscovered by French comet-hunter Charles Messier in 1758, and it soon became the first object in his catalog of objects not to be confused with comets, now known as the Messier Catalog. Thus, the Crab Nebula is often referred to as M1.

In 1844, astronomer William Parsons, better known as the Third Earl of Rosse, observed M1 through his large telescope in Ireland. He described it as having a shape resembling a crab, and since then M1 has been more commonly called the Crab Nebula.

However, it was not until the 20th century that the association with Chinese records of the 1054 “guest” star was discovered.

View larger. | The Crab Nebula is located among some of the brightest stars and easiest-to-identify constellations in the heavens. Best placed for evening observing from late fall through early spring, the Crab can be spotted very near the star Zeta Tauri. This chart courtesy of Stellarium.

How to see the Crab Nebula. This beautiful nebula is relatively easy to locate due to its location near a bevy of bright stars and recognizable constellations. Although it can be seen at some time of night all year except from roughly May through July when the sun appears too close, the best observing comes from late fall through early spring.

To find the Crab Nebula, first draw an imaginary line from bright Betelgeuse in Orion to Capella in Auriga. About halfway along that line you will find the star Beta Tauri (or Elnath) on the Taurus-Auriga border.

Having identified Beta Tauri, backtrack a little more than a third of the way back to Betelgeuse and you should find the fainter star Zeta Tauri easily. Scanning the area around Zeta Tauri should reveal a tiny, faint smudge. It is located about a degree from the star (that’s about twice the width of a full moon) more of less in the direction of Beta Tauri.

Binoculars and small telescopes are useful or finding the object and showing its roughly oblong shape, but are not powerful enough to show the filimentary structure or any of its internal detail.

Simulated view of Zeta Tauri and Crab Nebula in a 7-degree field of view. Chart based on a screen save from Stellarium.

The first eyepiece view, above, simulates a 7-degree field of view centered around Zeta Tauri, approximately what might be expected with a 7 X 50 pair of binoculars. Of course, the exact orientation and visibility will range widely depending on time of observation, sky conditions and so on. Scan around Zeta Tauri for the faint nebulosity.

Simulated view of Zeta Tauri and Crab Nebula with 3.5-degree field of view. Chart based on a screen save from Stellarium.

The second image, above, simulates an approximately 3.5-degree view, as might be expected with a small telescope or finder scope. To give you a clear idea of scale, two full moons would fit with room to spare in the space between Zeta Tauri and the Crab Nebula here.

Keep in mind that exact conditions will vary.

Science of the Crab Nebula.

The Crab Nebula is the remnant of a massive star that self destructed in an enormous supernova explosion. This is known as a Type II supernova, a typical result for stars at least 8 times more massive than our sun. Astronomers have determined this through several types of evidence and reasoning including the following points.

First, the bright new or “guest” star seen by Asian astronomers and others in 1054, just as would be expected by an exploding star.

Second, the Crab Nebula has been located in the location indicated by ancient records as being where the “guest” star was seen.

Third, the Crab Nebula has been shown to be expanding outward, precisely as the debris cloud from a supernova would.

Fourth, spectroscopic analysis of the gases of the cloud is consistent with formation through  a Type II supernova rather than other means.

Fifth, a pulsing neutron star, a typical product of Type II supernova explosions, has been found embedded in the cloud.

The lifetime of a massive star is complicated, especially near the end. Through its lifetime, its enormous mass provides enough gravity to contain the outward push of nuclear reactions in its core. This is called thermodynamic equilibrium.

However, near the end, there is not enough nuclear fuel to produce the outward pressure to hold back the crushing force of gravity. At a certain point, the star suddenly collapses violently, the inward force squeezing the core to unimaginable densities. Either a neutron star or a black hole can be formed. In this case, the electrons in the core were pressed into the protons, forming neutrons and squeezing the core into a tiny, dense and rapidly rotating ball of neutrons called a neutron star. Sometimes, as in this case, the neutron star can pulsate in radio waves, making it a “pulsar.”

While the core is squeezed into a neutron star, the outer portions of the star bounce off and spread into space, forming a great cloud of debris, complete with common ingredients such as hydrogen and helium, cosmic dust, and elements produced only in supernova explosions.

The center of the Crab Nebula is approximately RA: 5° 34′ 32″, dec: +22° 1′

Bottom line: How to locate the Crab Nebula, plus history and science surrounding this fascinating region of the night sky.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2ot2q01

Aurora over Sweden

Image via Jörgen Norrland Andersson.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2LOuNPC

Image via Jörgen Norrland Andersson.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2LOuNPC

See moon and Saturn close October 5

On October 5, 2019, the moon will be at or near its first quarter phase, coupling up with the planet Saturn on the sky’s dome. What’s more, the lit side of the moon will be pointing at the blazing planet Jupiter beneath the moon and Saturn. Watch for the celestial drama to illuminate the movie screen of the sky as soon as darkness falls.

The first quarter moon comes on October 5, 2019, at 16:47 Universal Time (UTC). Then, some four hours later, the moon passes 0.3 degree to the south of Saturn, at 20:48 UTC. For reference, 3/10 or 0.3 of a degree) is about 3/5th the moon’s angular diameter.

When an astronomical almanac states that the moon and Saturn are 0.3 of a degree apart, it really means as viewed from the center of the Earth. But as viewed from the Earth’s surface, the distance between these two luminaries is not the same worldwide. The farther north you live on the Earth’s globe, the farther that the moon swings to the south of Saturn; and the farther south you live, the closer that the moon swings to Saturn.

South of the equator, it’d actually be possible see the moon occult (cover over) Saturn from a sizable swath of the Southern Hemisphere. If you’re at the right spot worldwide, you can watch the moon disappear behind the moon’s dark side and then reappear on its illuminated side. The worldwide map below, via the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) shows where the lunar occultation of Saturn takes place on October 5, 2019.

The worldwide map shows the swath of the globe where the moon occults Saturn on October 5, 2019. The area in between the red lines has the occultation taking place in a daytime sky. In between the short blue lines, the occultation occurs at dusk; and in between the white lines, the occultation happens at nighttime. Worldwide map via IOTA.

For us in the mainland United states, the first quarter moon occurs during the daylight hours on October 5, at 12:47 p.m. EDT, 11:47 a.m. CDT, 10:47 a.m. MDT and 9:47 a.m. PDT. At US time zones, the moon swings south of Saturn during the daylight hours on October 5, 2019, at 4:48 p.m EDT, 3:48 p.m. CDT, 2:48 p.m. MDT and 1:48 p.m. PDT.

By the time darkness falls to North America on October 5, 2019, the moon will be slightly past first quarter, and the moon will be somewhat to the east (or southeast) of Saturn. From Europe and the most of Africa, you’ll see the first quarter moon to the south or slightly southwest of Saturn. From Asia, Australia and New Zealand – as darkness falls on October 5, 2019 – look for the moon to be a little shy of first quarter phase and to the west (Jupiter side) of Saturn. If you don’t know which way is west, keep in mind that brilliant Jupiter lies to the west of Saturn.

Read more; Saturn at east quadrature on October 7

No matter where you live worldwide, look first for the moon and that nearby bright “star” will be the planet Saturn.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/31PFYge

On October 5, 2019, the moon will be at or near its first quarter phase, coupling up with the planet Saturn on the sky’s dome. What’s more, the lit side of the moon will be pointing at the blazing planet Jupiter beneath the moon and Saturn. Watch for the celestial drama to illuminate the movie screen of the sky as soon as darkness falls.

The first quarter moon comes on October 5, 2019, at 16:47 Universal Time (UTC). Then, some four hours later, the moon passes 0.3 degree to the south of Saturn, at 20:48 UTC. For reference, 3/10 or 0.3 of a degree) is about 3/5th the moon’s angular diameter.

When an astronomical almanac states that the moon and Saturn are 0.3 of a degree apart, it really means as viewed from the center of the Earth. But as viewed from the Earth’s surface, the distance between these two luminaries is not the same worldwide. The farther north you live on the Earth’s globe, the farther that the moon swings to the south of Saturn; and the farther south you live, the closer that the moon swings to Saturn.

South of the equator, it’d actually be possible see the moon occult (cover over) Saturn from a sizable swath of the Southern Hemisphere. If you’re at the right spot worldwide, you can watch the moon disappear behind the moon’s dark side and then reappear on its illuminated side. The worldwide map below, via the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) shows where the lunar occultation of Saturn takes place on October 5, 2019.

The worldwide map shows the swath of the globe where the moon occults Saturn on October 5, 2019. The area in between the red lines has the occultation taking place in a daytime sky. In between the short blue lines, the occultation occurs at dusk; and in between the white lines, the occultation happens at nighttime. Worldwide map via IOTA.

For us in the mainland United states, the first quarter moon occurs during the daylight hours on October 5, at 12:47 p.m. EDT, 11:47 a.m. CDT, 10:47 a.m. MDT and 9:47 a.m. PDT. At US time zones, the moon swings south of Saturn during the daylight hours on October 5, 2019, at 4:48 p.m EDT, 3:48 p.m. CDT, 2:48 p.m. MDT and 1:48 p.m. PDT.

By the time darkness falls to North America on October 5, 2019, the moon will be slightly past first quarter, and the moon will be somewhat to the east (or southeast) of Saturn. From Europe and the most of Africa, you’ll see the first quarter moon to the south or slightly southwest of Saturn. From Asia, Australia and New Zealand – as darkness falls on October 5, 2019 – look for the moon to be a little shy of first quarter phase and to the west (Jupiter side) of Saturn. If you don’t know which way is west, keep in mind that brilliant Jupiter lies to the west of Saturn.

Read more; Saturn at east quadrature on October 7

No matter where you live worldwide, look first for the moon and that nearby bright “star” will be the planet Saturn.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/31PFYge

News digest – breast cancer survival, melanoma immunotherapy, red meat and cigarette warnings

Record numbers beating breast cancer in the UK

A good news story for breast cancer awareness month, the death rate for women with breast cancer has dropped by 44% since its high in 1989. The dramatic fall has been put down advances in both diagnosis and treatment, including the impact of the national breast screening programme. The Guardian, Telegraph and our press release has more.

Immunotherapy drug for triple negative breast cancer gets initial ‘no’ for NHS use

The latest decision from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been called “disappointing” by experts. The immunotherapy drug, which is used in combination with chemotherapy, would have been the first targeted treatment available for this group of patients. The decision will be reviewed in November, as ITV News and our news report explains.

Long-term benefits of immunotherapy for melanoma revealed

New trial results reveal that half of patients taking an immunotherapy combo are still alive 5 years after treatment. BBC News picked up the latest findings to be presented at a cancer conference, which have been described as an “extraordinary transformation” of how advanced melanoma is treated. The drug combo is already available on the NHS, having been approved in 2016 based on earlier results.

Gut bacteria could affect susceptibility to radiotherapy side effects

The delicate makeup of the bugs in our gut have been linked to many conditions, from multiple sclerosis and depression to colon cancer, which we’ve blogged about before. And now, researchers in the UK believe it could have help predict who will experience some side effects of radiotherapy treatment for prostate and womb cancers. Forbes has the full story.

New possibilities for targeted prostate cancer treatment revealed at cancer conference

Barcelona was filled with excited scientists this week, as trial results announced at a cancer conference hinted at a new way to treat prostate cancer. Olaparib works differently to other prostate cancer treatments, targeting particular genetic faults found in cancer cells. And while the drug only slowed the disease down for a few months in a subset of men with advanced prostate treatment, experts say the tailored treatment approach is “full of possibilities”. BBC News and CNN have the story.

Survey suggests printing warnings on individual cigarettes could help smokers quit

The messages, which include a counter of the “number of minutes lost” for every cigarette smoked, could be another way to make smoking less appealing, according to a survey of 2,000 Australian smokers. It’s not the first time this tactic has been explored, in 2017 researchers found that young people are less likely to try cigarettes with ‘smoking kills’ printed on them, as our press release explains. The Guardian has this one.

New meat and cancer study sparks debate

A meat debate has erupted in the media this week, after researchers said the risk for individuals who eat processed meat is small, and eating less doesn’t lower the risk very much. But experts have hit back at the conclusions drawn by the latest study, saying the researchers’ conclusions don’t consider the impact on a population level and that the claims “could be putting people at risk”. Read a summary of the evidence in our blog post.

Cancer survival won’t improve until NHS staff shortages are addressed, warn charities

Cancer Research UK and Macmillan have written to the Prime Minister to warn him of the potentially devastating impact of staff shortages. Right now, around 115,000 people in England are diagnosed too late to give them the best chance of survival. Mail Online has this one.

We spoke to Dawn Chaplin, a consultant radiographer, about what it’s like to work for a short-staffed and overstretched NHS.

Women with breast cancer should be offered genetic screening, say researchers

New results suggest that offering genetic testing to women diagnosed with breast could save hundreds of lives each year in the UK. BBC News picked up the research, which tested patients for 3 gene faults linked to cancer, including the BRCA gene mutations. Researchers said it could help doctors find ways to reduce further cancer risk.

250 million children predicted to be obese by 2030

New predictions reveal a quarter of a billion children and young adults aged 5-19 around the world could be obese by 2030, up from 150 million in 2019. The Guardian picked up the latest estimates from the World Obesity Federation.

PM announces multibillion-pound investment in hospital projects across England

The announcement, made at the start of the Conservative party conference and picked up by BBC News, include £2.7 billion to help rebuild 6 hospitals. While the cash injection was welcomed by NHS Providers, they said it wasn’t enough to make up for “a decade of capital squeeze”.

The news comes the same week as a damning report on the state of an NHS cancer hospital in London. The Guardian covered the findings, which revealed Mount Vernon crumbling buildings, out-of-date equipment and staff shortages could be putting patients at risk.

And finally

Discussions on e-cigarette safety have continued this week, with a US tobacco expert calling claims that cases of respiratory conditions linked to vaping were a purely American problem “silly” in a piece by the Observer. And research picked up by STAT News highlighted gaps in the theory that vaping-related lung disease are linked to inhaling oils from e-cigarettes, suggesting other mechanisms may be at play.

But John Britton, writing for The Times (£), argued that while e-cigarettes aren’t ‘safe’, they’re much less harmful than smoking, and we should ignore pressure to ban them. See our webpage for more information on this complex issue.

Katie

from Cancer Research UK – Science blog https://ift.tt/2VbDLtg

Record numbers beating breast cancer in the UK

A good news story for breast cancer awareness month, the death rate for women with breast cancer has dropped by 44% since its high in 1989. The dramatic fall has been put down advances in both diagnosis and treatment, including the impact of the national breast screening programme. The Guardian, Telegraph and our press release has more.

Immunotherapy drug for triple negative breast cancer gets initial ‘no’ for NHS use

The latest decision from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been called “disappointing” by experts. The immunotherapy drug, which is used in combination with chemotherapy, would have been the first targeted treatment available for this group of patients. The decision will be reviewed in November, as ITV News and our news report explains.

Long-term benefits of immunotherapy for melanoma revealed

New trial results reveal that half of patients taking an immunotherapy combo are still alive 5 years after treatment. BBC News picked up the latest findings to be presented at a cancer conference, which have been described as an “extraordinary transformation” of how advanced melanoma is treated. The drug combo is already available on the NHS, having been approved in 2016 based on earlier results.

Gut bacteria could affect susceptibility to radiotherapy side effects

The delicate makeup of the bugs in our gut have been linked to many conditions, from multiple sclerosis and depression to colon cancer, which we’ve blogged about before. And now, researchers in the UK believe it could have help predict who will experience some side effects of radiotherapy treatment for prostate and womb cancers. Forbes has the full story.

New possibilities for targeted prostate cancer treatment revealed at cancer conference

Barcelona was filled with excited scientists this week, as trial results announced at a cancer conference hinted at a new way to treat prostate cancer. Olaparib works differently to other prostate cancer treatments, targeting particular genetic faults found in cancer cells. And while the drug only slowed the disease down for a few months in a subset of men with advanced prostate treatment, experts say the tailored treatment approach is “full of possibilities”. BBC News and CNN have the story.

Survey suggests printing warnings on individual cigarettes could help smokers quit

The messages, which include a counter of the “number of minutes lost” for every cigarette smoked, could be another way to make smoking less appealing, according to a survey of 2,000 Australian smokers. It’s not the first time this tactic has been explored, in 2017 researchers found that young people are less likely to try cigarettes with ‘smoking kills’ printed on them, as our press release explains. The Guardian has this one.

New meat and cancer study sparks debate

A meat debate has erupted in the media this week, after researchers said the risk for individuals who eat processed meat is small, and eating less doesn’t lower the risk very much. But experts have hit back at the conclusions drawn by the latest study, saying the researchers’ conclusions don’t consider the impact on a population level and that the claims “could be putting people at risk”. Read a summary of the evidence in our blog post.

Cancer survival won’t improve until NHS staff shortages are addressed, warn charities

Cancer Research UK and Macmillan have written to the Prime Minister to warn him of the potentially devastating impact of staff shortages. Right now, around 115,000 people in England are diagnosed too late to give them the best chance of survival. Mail Online has this one.

We spoke to Dawn Chaplin, a consultant radiographer, about what it’s like to work for a short-staffed and overstretched NHS.

Women with breast cancer should be offered genetic screening, say researchers

New results suggest that offering genetic testing to women diagnosed with breast could save hundreds of lives each year in the UK. BBC News picked up the research, which tested patients for 3 gene faults linked to cancer, including the BRCA gene mutations. Researchers said it could help doctors find ways to reduce further cancer risk.

250 million children predicted to be obese by 2030

New predictions reveal a quarter of a billion children and young adults aged 5-19 around the world could be obese by 2030, up from 150 million in 2019. The Guardian picked up the latest estimates from the World Obesity Federation.

PM announces multibillion-pound investment in hospital projects across England

The announcement, made at the start of the Conservative party conference and picked up by BBC News, include £2.7 billion to help rebuild 6 hospitals. While the cash injection was welcomed by NHS Providers, they said it wasn’t enough to make up for “a decade of capital squeeze”.

The news comes the same week as a damning report on the state of an NHS cancer hospital in London. The Guardian covered the findings, which revealed Mount Vernon crumbling buildings, out-of-date equipment and staff shortages could be putting patients at risk.

And finally

Discussions on e-cigarette safety have continued this week, with a US tobacco expert calling claims that cases of respiratory conditions linked to vaping were a purely American problem “silly” in a piece by the Observer. And research picked up by STAT News highlighted gaps in the theory that vaping-related lung disease are linked to inhaling oils from e-cigarettes, suggesting other mechanisms may be at play.

But John Britton, writing for The Times (£), argued that while e-cigarettes aren’t ‘safe’, they’re much less harmful than smoking, and we should ignore pressure to ban them. See our webpage for more information on this complex issue.

Katie

from Cancer Research UK – Science blog https://ift.tt/2VbDLtg

1st quarter moon is October 5

Nearly first quarter moon from Suzanne Murphy in Wisconsin.

A first quarter moon rises around noon and sets around midnight. You’ll likely spot it in late afternoon or early evening, high up in the sky. At this moon phase, the moon is showing us precisely half of its lighted half. Or you might say that – at first quarter moon – we’re seeing half the moon’s day side.

We call this moon a quarter and not a half because it is one quarter of the way around in its orbit of Earth, as measured from one new moon to the next. Also, although a first quarter moon appears half-lit to us, the illuminated portion we see of a first quarter moon truly is just a quarter. We’re now seeing half the moon’s day side, that is. Another lighted quarter of the moon shines just as brightly in the direction opposite Earth!

And what about the term half moon? That’s a beloved term, but not an official one.

Read more: 4 keys to understanding moon phases

Tom Wildoner wrote: “One of my favorite areas to photograph on the moon near the 1st quarter! I captured this view of the sun lighting up the mountain range called Montes Apenninus. The moon was casting a nice shadow on the back side of the mountains. This mountain range is about 370 miles (600 km) long with some of the peaks rising as high as 3.1 miles (5 km).”

Here’s something else to look for on a 1st quarter moon. Aqilla Othman in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, caught this photo. Notice that he caught Lunar X and Lunar V. These are similar features on the moon that fleetingly take an X or V shape when the moon appears in a 1st quarter phase from Earth.

Here’s a closer look at Lunar X and Lunar V. Photo by Izaty Liyana in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. What is Lunar X?

Bottom line: The moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday, October 5, 2019, at 16:47 UTC. As viewed from the whole Earth, it’s high up at sunset on that evening, looking like half a pie.

Check out EarthSky’s guide to the bright planets.

Help EarthSky keep going! Please donate.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2OIzLvs

Nearly first quarter moon from Suzanne Murphy in Wisconsin.

A first quarter moon rises around noon and sets around midnight. You’ll likely spot it in late afternoon or early evening, high up in the sky. At this moon phase, the moon is showing us precisely half of its lighted half. Or you might say that – at first quarter moon – we’re seeing half the moon’s day side.

We call this moon a quarter and not a half because it is one quarter of the way around in its orbit of Earth, as measured from one new moon to the next. Also, although a first quarter moon appears half-lit to us, the illuminated portion we see of a first quarter moon truly is just a quarter. We’re now seeing half the moon’s day side, that is. Another lighted quarter of the moon shines just as brightly in the direction opposite Earth!

And what about the term half moon? That’s a beloved term, but not an official one.

Read more: 4 keys to understanding moon phases

Tom Wildoner wrote: “One of my favorite areas to photograph on the moon near the 1st quarter! I captured this view of the sun lighting up the mountain range called Montes Apenninus. The moon was casting a nice shadow on the back side of the mountains. This mountain range is about 370 miles (600 km) long with some of the peaks rising as high as 3.1 miles (5 km).”

Here’s something else to look for on a 1st quarter moon. Aqilla Othman in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, caught this photo. Notice that he caught Lunar X and Lunar V. These are similar features on the moon that fleetingly take an X or V shape when the moon appears in a 1st quarter phase from Earth.

Here’s a closer look at Lunar X and Lunar V. Photo by Izaty Liyana in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. What is Lunar X?

Bottom line: The moon reaches its first quarter phase on Saturday, October 5, 2019, at 16:47 UTC. As viewed from the whole Earth, it’s high up at sunset on that evening, looking like half a pie.

Check out EarthSky’s guide to the bright planets.

Help EarthSky keep going! Please donate.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2OIzLvs

Today in science: Launch of Sputnik

A replica of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite in the world to be put into outer space. The replica is stored in the National Air and Space Museum. Photo via NASA.

October 4, 1957. On this date, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. According to many space historians, the Space Age began on this date.

Sputnik was a polished metal sphere made of aluminum alloy. It was 23 inches (58 cm) in diameter – about the size of a beach ball – and weighed just 184 pounds (83 kilograms). Its four external radio antennae were meant to broadcast radio pulses. And broadcast they did. For 21 days in 1957, people around the globe heard Sputnik’s unassuming beep beep on the radio.

Want to hear it? Check out the video below.

The pressurized sphere had five primary science objectives: test a process for placing an artificial “moon” into Earth orbit; provide information on the density of Earth’s atmosphere, calculated from Sputnik’s lifetime in orbit; test radio and optical methods of orbital tracking; determine the effects of radio wave propagation though Earth’s atmosphere; and check principles of pressurization that could be used on Earth-orbiting satellites.

Sputnik’s beeping was a symbol not only of Soviet Russia’s remarkable accomplishment, but also of what many immediately assumed was Russia’s superiority in space. The American public feared that the Soviets’ ability to launch satellites also translated into the capability to launch ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear weapons from Europe to the U.S.

Clearly, the next step was to place a living creature in space. On November 3, 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik II, this time carrying a much heavier payload, including a stray dog named Laika, picked up from the Moscow streets just over a week before Sputnik II was set to launch. Sadly, according to the BBC, Laika died within hours of launch from panic and overheating. Read more about Laika from Time.com.

Sputnik I and Sputnik II sent shockwaves around the world. American political leadership scrambled to catch up. Ultimately, that extra push resulted in the United States sending the first astronauts to walk on the moon, on July 20, 1969.

Historic image showing a technician putting the finishing touches on Sputnik 1. Image via NASA/Asif A. Siddiqi

Bottom line: On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik I satellite into Earth orbit, and the Space Age began. Hear the sound of Sputnik in orbit, in this post.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2OgEBDz

A replica of Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite in the world to be put into outer space. The replica is stored in the National Air and Space Museum. Photo via NASA.

October 4, 1957. On this date, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth. According to many space historians, the Space Age began on this date.

Sputnik was a polished metal sphere made of aluminum alloy. It was 23 inches (58 cm) in diameter – about the size of a beach ball – and weighed just 184 pounds (83 kilograms). Its four external radio antennae were meant to broadcast radio pulses. And broadcast they did. For 21 days in 1957, people around the globe heard Sputnik’s unassuming beep beep on the radio.

Want to hear it? Check out the video below.

The pressurized sphere had five primary science objectives: test a process for placing an artificial “moon” into Earth orbit; provide information on the density of Earth’s atmosphere, calculated from Sputnik’s lifetime in orbit; test radio and optical methods of orbital tracking; determine the effects of radio wave propagation though Earth’s atmosphere; and check principles of pressurization that could be used on Earth-orbiting satellites.

Sputnik’s beeping was a symbol not only of Soviet Russia’s remarkable accomplishment, but also of what many immediately assumed was Russia’s superiority in space. The American public feared that the Soviets’ ability to launch satellites also translated into the capability to launch ballistic missiles that could carry nuclear weapons from Europe to the U.S.

Clearly, the next step was to place a living creature in space. On November 3, 1957, the Soviets launched Sputnik II, this time carrying a much heavier payload, including a stray dog named Laika, picked up from the Moscow streets just over a week before Sputnik II was set to launch. Sadly, according to the BBC, Laika died within hours of launch from panic and overheating. Read more about Laika from Time.com.

Sputnik I and Sputnik II sent shockwaves around the world. American political leadership scrambled to catch up. Ultimately, that extra push resulted in the United States sending the first astronauts to walk on the moon, on July 20, 1969.

Historic image showing a technician putting the finishing touches on Sputnik 1. Image via NASA/Asif A. Siddiqi

Bottom line: On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik I satellite into Earth orbit, and the Space Age began. Hear the sound of Sputnik in orbit, in this post.

from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2OgEBDz