Description
Jupiter and Saturn are currently prominent in the early evening sky. In this project you are going to go outside around 8pm, find Jupiter and Saturn, and measure their azimuth with a real compass, or if you don’t have one, a fake compass, such as the compass utility on your phone. Fakeness is quite fashionable these days, and apparently completely ok.
So, step one, GO OUTSIDE at around 8pm. 9 pm is ok, too. Face south. If you don’t know where south is, use a compass. South has a compass heading of 180 degrees. If you don’t have a real compass, use the compass utility on your phone.
Now, you are facing south. Turn your head a little to the left and a little up. You will easily see the current brightest star in the sky. You can’t miss it. There is no other star in the area nearly that bright. That “star” is the planet Jupiter. It is bright white.
Aim your compass at Jupiter. Read the heading. It will be between 20 degrees and 150degrees. That heading is Jupiter’s azimuth. You measured the Sun’s elevation in the last project, but not its azimuth. Azimuth is the number of degrees around the horizon circle, starting at North, that you find an object. If Jupiter’s azimuth were 80 degrees, Jupiter would be directly above that 80-degree point on the horizon. If you have binoculars or a telescope, take a look at Jupiter. You’ll see three or four tiny “stars” in a line across Jupiter. Those are some of Jupiter’s moons.
Once you have measured Jupiter’s azimuth, hold your arm straight out, palm forward. Measure about four hand widths to the right of Jupiter. In that area of the sky, you will see a mediocre star. Medium brightness, but still the brightest star in the area. That “star” is the planet Saturn. Use you compass to measure Saturn’s azimuth.
Then go back outside and measure Jupiter’s and Saturn’s azimuth again. You will see it has changed for both planets.
Draw me a simple sketch of the horizon. Don’t think artist, think map maker. Put in a few major landmarks on your horizon. For example, a phone pole, big tree, big building, incoming Russian missile, etc. Then draw in two dots for Jupiter at 8 pm and 10 pm and two dots for Saturn at 8 pm and 10 pm. 9 pm and 11 pm is also fine. Times don’t have to be exact. Label the dots. I want to see where those planets were compared to landmarks on your horizon. Scan or photograph your sketch and send it to me.
For two extra points, tell me on what night the Moon passes closest to Jupiter. Don’t lie; I can see the damn Moon for myself.
