Celebrate the Autumn Equinox 2017 with Jupiter, Moon Conjunction

[Judi Lynn]

By Elizabeth Howell, Space.com Contributor | September 22, 2017 07:40am ET

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The sun rises behind Corfe Castle in the United Kingdom on the day of the autumn equinox (Sept. 22, 2017).
Credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire/Zuma

While residents of the northern half of the Earth prepare for shorter days and colder weather — the first day of fall is today (Sept. 22) — there is a sky spectacle to enjoy. Earth's moon and the planet Jupiter will be close together in the sky tonight and tomorrow, shortly after sunset.

"Try looking for them as soon as the sky darkens; both the moon and Jupiter are bright and should show up in the twilight," Bruce McClure reported on the astronomy website EarthSky, adding that the sky show began Thursday night. "They might be tough from northerly latitudes on Sept. 21, though. So, near the September equinox — with the autumn angle of the sun and moon's path, the ecliptic, low in the twilight sky — the waxing crescent moon will follow the sun beneath the horizon before it gets good and dark."

If it's cloudy on those days, or you miss the show, you can still watch the moon passing by another planet, Saturn, on Sept. 25. You will also see the first-magnitude red star Antares glowing nearby. Antares is so bright that its name is Greek for the "rival of Mars." The Greek word for "Mars" is "Ares." [The 14 Best Skywatching Events of 2017]

The beginning of autumn isn't determined by temperature or even by the number of trees changing color. Instead, it has to do with the tilt of the Earth's axis. The planet has two major movements through space: its spin (the planet completes one spin in a little less than 24 hours, which causes the day-night cycle) and its orbit around the sun (which takes about 365.25 days and causes seasonal change). Earth's axis is tilted at 23.4 degrees as the planet circles the sun.

More:
https://www.space.com/38228-autumn-equinox-2017-jupiter-moon.html?utm_source=notification

[niyad]

1. beautiful!!! with thanks!!

[orangecrush]

2. thank you!