Starry programs for September

What do you expect from a planetarium program? In some large facilities, the planetarium programs focus on black holes, the origin and/or fate of the universe, extraterrestrial life possibilities, etc.

But you don’t need to travel to a large planetarium to learn about these issues; they are well covered on the numerous documentary television channels (National Geographic Channel, Science Channel, History Channel, public vroadcasting stations, etc.) as well as in many popular books at libraries, bookstores.

What a planetarium can do most effectively is to show its visitors how to identify the bright stars and groups seen from their backyards or decks, etc.

Our opening program Sunday show at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. at Frostburg State Planetarium this month is “Best Stars and Groups,” seen through each of the four seasons in the evening sky in this area.

For any of our visitors, we make available two free sheets. The first sheet has on one side a summary of the program while the other side has a September sky chart, showing the main stars, groups and planets in evening view now.

The second sheet has a list of Birthtime stars, moderately bright stars whose light has been traveling Earthward since about the time of your birth to the present. On the back side of this Birthtime star list are a number of labeled star maps to allow you to go outside and identify your Birthtime star in the season in which it is visible.

Then next year, when you are a year older, you may have another Birthtime star to view. The older you are, the more likely there will be a Birthtime star for each year.

For example, suppose you are 37 years old (likely born in 1971). Then your Birthtime star will be the golden star Arcturus, sparkling brightly low in the west in the early evening hours now.

The light that we see tonight left that star’s surface (about the time that you were born) and is now just arriving at the Earth, a trip that lasted 37 years! If you were star gazing with a friend, partner or spouse who is 42 years old (likely born in 1966), then their Birthtime star would be Capella, a bright golden star low in the Northeast in the early evening.

Then the light reaching us tonight from Capella left that star’s surface 42 years ago (about the time that your associate was born) and is just now reaching Earth’s surface, a trip lasting 42 years.

The star distances used are based on measurements made with the Hipparchos satellite that spent a number of years in orbit, increasing in accuracy many star distances by a factor of 10. This list of Birthtime stars includes only stars that are moderately bright and visible from our Tri-State area.

In the case of several bright stars at the same number of light years away, I selected the brightest star. One problem in compiling this list is the absence of easily visible stars that are only a few light years away.

The closest star on the Birthtime list is Sirius, at a distance of 9 light years. There are several stars closer but they are either too faint (telescopic Barnard’s Star at 7 light years away) or too far south to be seen (Alpha Centauri at 4 light years away).

Your Birthtime star is not the same as the star sold through an organization that promises you an exclusive star that will be registered in your name in a large book. Unfortunately, after selling off hundreds of thousands of stars, the stars they are now selling are quite faint and need elaborate star maps to be found with a telescope.

It is much more enjoyable to have a rather easy to find bright star that is connected with your time of birth. And every year or so, your Birthtime star will change. So if you don’t like the name of your Birthtime star or the season it shines in the evening sky, wait for your next Birthtime star.

For seniors (over 65 years) a number of stars in the Big Dipper serve as Birthtime stars. Of course, if you, your friend, twin, or spouse are the same age, share your Birthtime star.

The Frostburg State Planetarium is in Tawes Hall 302 (just inside Tawes front entrance with steps and a ramp). The easiest way to get to the FSU Planetarium is to take exit 33 on Interstate 68.

Drive north on Braddock Road a little over a mile and turn into the main Frostburg State entrance (marked by two large brick walls connected by a curved black metal railing).

Once off Braddock Road, turn right into a large parking area. There you will see FSU’s large Performing Arts Center. Park near the Performing Arts Center and walk around it to the right. Then you will see the Compton Science Center on the right and farther down the street will be Tawes Hall, a smaller red brick building.

Three planets close low in dusk

Besides the very bright planet Jupiter low in the Southern evening sky, there are three other planets that can be seen low in western dusk about 8:20 p.m. This is a scant 40 minutes after sunset so the sky will still be fairly bright.

In addition, tonight we have a half full evening moon. The moon’s bow points to the western horizon. (Pretend that the moon’s bow shoots an arrow; where the arrow strikes the horizon is west.) It is very important that you have a flat western horizon, for any trees or hills will block your view. Binoculars are highly recommended.

Brightest is the brilliant planet Venus. Next brightest is the planet Mercury and then the dull planet Mars.

To acquire a Planetarium/Science Discovery Center Bookmark, call (301) 687-7799 and leave your name and mailing address. You may also email Bob Doyle at rdoyle@frostburg.edu .