dipper@utastro.UUCP (Debbie Byrd) (03/11/85)
The moon is near the planet Saturn tomorrow morning. More on planet-watching -- in a moment. March 11 Saturn and the Moon The moon, a planet and a star should put on a good show for sky watchers late Monday night and Tuesday morning. During the day on Monday the moon moves past the planet Saturn on the dome of the sky. By the time our part of the globe is turned in their direction -- the gibbous moon will still be seen near the planet in the night sky. Saturn will be the bright object north of the moon late Monday or before dawn Tuesday. Nearby will be the red star Antares. So if you're up -- and have clear skies -- look southward for the moon, Saturn and red Antares. And if you look again late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning, you'll see the moon has moved eastward on the dome of the sky. Then it'll be much closer to the star Antares. It would be hard to notice -- but Saturn will have moved WESTWARD on the dome of sky in relation to Antares. Saturn has just started retrograding -- drifting westward against the background stars. Saturn is farther out from the sun than Earth -- and moves more slowly around the sun than our planet. In the race of planets around the sun -- the Earth is now gaining ground on the inside track. It's as though we're in a fast car on the highway. If you look out the window as you pass another car, it can appear to be moving backwards against the more distant landscape. Likewise, Saturn now appears to be moving backwards -- or retrograde -- against the stars. Script by Diana Hadley. (c) Copyright 1984, 1985 McDonald Observatory, University of Texas at Austin