For three weeks in September our dome theater will go through its biggest transformation in over 8 years.  When the Clark Planetarium opened its doors in 2003, the dome debuted as one of the most sophisticated digital theaters with the introduction of the world’s first Digistar 3 projection system.  Based on high resolution 360-degree immersive graphics, we could show the universe in three dimensions and full color with Pixar-like movie quality animation.

Just as with any digital technology, upgrades are sometimes necessary.  We replaced our projectors and playback computers in 2007 which improved brightness, sharpness and color.  But now the next major revolution in space theater technology is here, and it’s called Digistar 4.  Aside from getting a progressive number, what does that mean?  It’s a way to show even more detail, better contrast, and increased complexity.  A wider variety of 3-dimensional effects will be on hand to make each show unique.  Digistar 4 can do this with fewer projectors too – only two large projectors instead of six small ones.  That will essentially eliminate the perception of “blend lines” on the dome.

The new system also gives us a chance to pioneer a new technique for digital dome presentation – smoother motion though the introduction of higher frame rates!  Traditional film and video runs at 30 frames per second, and on a large domed screen that can cause “frame stutter” as objects and scenes move more quickly across the screen.  Our newest productions will display programs at 60 frames per second, dramatically increasing the smoothness and apparent sharpness of the imagery.  When we reopen our doors on Friday, September 23, our original production “Saturn: Jewel of the Heavens” will be re-introduced at this higher frame rate.  Our next show, “Perfect Little Planet,” is slated to open in February with higher resolution, 60 frames per second, and lots of action for the whole family!

Other improvements to the theater will be made as well: the dome screen will be cleaned and painted, the sound system will be refurbished, and better automation will allow for a wider variety of planetarium lighting effects.  Come and see the universe and music entertainment like it’s never been experienced before when the new Hansen Dome Theatre opens September 23!

Arc to Arcturus and Spike to Spica

So what’s special for this month? The Big Dipper is high in the sky, which makes it the best guidepost for “star hopping.” Star Hopping is the popular technique for jumping from one star or star pattern to another, and is much easier than trying to learn the stars by identifying “constellations” (the mythological figures). And, with the Big Dipper in its highest position, we can use the curve of its three handle stars to “Arc to Arcturus” and then “Spike to Spica.”

These are the kinds of phrases that help us to remember our star hops. Following the arc of the Big Dipper’s handle outward curves us to a bright orange star in Bootes, the Herdsman. Called Arcturus, it’s the fourth brightest star in the night sky, over 36 light years away. And if you keep the curve going further south, you’ll find Spica, the brightest star in Virgo the Goddess of Harvest, a “blue giant” star over 12,000 times more luminous than our sun.

Star hopping also allows you to pinpoint targets in the sky for your binoculars and telescopes. For example, we’ll show you how a simple star hop from Arcturus can get you to M3, a beautifully rich globular cluster holding hundreds of thousands of stars. Or how another hop from Spica can point out M104, the Sombrero Galaxy, another island of stars like the Milky Way over 30 million light years away.

With the right conditions, Saturn's rings can be seen even in a small telescope.

Another wonderful sight for telescopes of any size is the planet Saturn. Its rings can be seen even in small telescopes with as little as 30 power (30X normal size). Located above Spica, we’ll show you a handy star hop for Saturn as well. Star hops for the planets eventually change because they are the “wanderers,” other worlds orbiting the sun.

So come and join us June 11 for Gateway to the Stars! We’ll also give you a preview of what the summer will bring as the weather gets warmer and we get to spend more time in the great outdoors. No telescopes required!

June 1st: The New Moon is on June 1st, occurring at 3:03 pm, MDT. With no moon in the sky in the evenings, stargazing and deep sky observing with binoculars is a great activity on these warmer late-spring nights.
June 1st: There is a partial solar eclipse on June 1st, but it is only visible from the extreme northern parts of Canada and Alaska.
June 8th: 1st Quarter Moon occurs at 8:11 pm, MDT. The 1st Quarter Moon is basically due south at sunset. This may wash out some early evening observing, but the moon will be gone around midnight.
June 15th: Full Moon occurs at 2:14 pm, MDT. June’s full moon is the Strawberry Moon. From the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the Strawberry Moon is named for short season where strawberries ripen. A full moon rises as the Sun sets and doesn’t set until sunrise the next morning, making night sky observations difficult.
June 15th: There is a total lunar eclipse associated with this full moon, but, alas, it is an eastern hemisphere event.
June 21st: The summer solstice (in the northern hemisphere) occurs at 11:16 am, MDT. On this day the Sun is at its highest point in the sky as it crosses the meridian of the sky. The Sun also rises its furthest north of east and sets its furthest north of west on this day. The longest day and shortest night also occur with the solstice. In the southern hemisphere seasons are reversed. This is the shortest day of the year and winter is beginning.
June 23rd: 3rd Quarter Moon occurs at 5:48 am, MDT. Nighttime observing is good as the moon doesn’t rise until midnight. Note that the moon is due south at sunrise during 3rd quarter.
July 1st: The lunar cycle begins anew, with New Moon at 2:54 am, MDT on July 1st.

The Planets-
Saturn is visible throughout the month in the nighttime sky. It is in the constellation Virgo, and at 1st magnitude should be easy to spot. Don’t confuse Saturn, slightly yellow in color, with the bright blue star Spica, 15 degrees to the east. Saturn is very close (a quarter of a degree) to  Porrima, the third brightest star in Virgo, at magnitude 3.

Saturn in June, visible throughout the night

Early morning viewers can catch Jupiter, in Aries, and Venus, in Taurus, before sunrise over in the east.

Jupiter & Venus, June 15th early morning

Be sure to come back and read additional blog posts later in the month for more details and night sky observing projects.

Diagram of Saturn at opposition

Saturn, along with Mars, Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune have orbits that are farther from the Sun than Earth. The planets that orbit farther from the Sun than Earth are called superior planets. While the time around greatest elongation is the best time to view Mercury and Venus, the time around opposition is the best time to observe the superior planets. This also applies to asteroids that orbit farther from the Sun than Earth. Ceres, the largest asteroid and smallest dwarf planet, will be at opposition September 16, 2011. At that time it will be an easy target in binoculars.

For those wishing to see Saturn through a telescope (yes, the rings are visible), both the Salt Lake Astronomical Society and the University of Utah Department of Physics and Astronomy host free public observing sessions. The U of U observing sessions are held every CLEAR Wednesday night on the roof of the South Physics Building at the University of Utah. During spring they begin at 8:00 p.m. The Salt Lake Astronomical Society has observing sessions at several locations in the Salt Lake Valley and at the Stansbury Park Observatory Complex (SPOC) in Tooele County. For locations and dates, check their website.

Unfortunately, few people in Utah saw that ‘giant’ Moon due to cloudy skies. Well, this coming weekend is another chance to…not see the Moon during a once-a-year event. The farthest lunar apogee, when the Moon will appear its smallest for the year, occurs on Saturday, April 2nd, 2011.

farthest apogee of 2011

Why won’t we be able to see it? This apogee happens to coincide with the New Moon (April 3rd, 2011, 4:32 am MDT), meaning that Moon on the 2nd will be rising and setting with the Sun.
Moonrise is about 6 am; Sunrise is about 6:45 am.
Moonset is about 6:50 pm; Sunset is about 7:25 pm.

new moon

Oh well, with no Moon in the night sky, it will be a good evening to look for Saturn. Saturn rises a few minutes before 8 pm almost due east, is due south shortly after 1:30 am, and sets about 7:30 am due west. Saturn is a bright magnitude +0, and will be 10 degrees west of the bright +1 magnitude star Spica, in the constellation Virgo, along the ecliptic.

Saturn

There is an interesting bright grouping of objects this week in the early morning skies. Look to the southeast before sunrise and you will see Venus & Saturn, a waning crescent Moon and the bright star Spica.

Venus is the closest to the southeast horizon, 17 degrees above the horizon. Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, is next. It is 8 degrees away from Venus and 22 degrees above the horizon. Saturn is 10 degrees from Spica, and 33 degrees above the horizon. The three do not form a straight line, but they are all close to the ecliptic plane.

Tues. 11/30/10, 6 am MST

The waning crescent Moon is above the grouping on Tuesday morning, in between Saturn and Spica on Wednesday morning, nearest Venus on Thursday morning, and closest to the horizon on  Friday morning. Watching the Moon move through these three objects would be a neat experience for the early morning riser.

His enthusiasm for the planet Saturn was shared with a full house in the Hanson Dome Theatre last weekend through a visual journey exploring the planet’s discoveries, rings and moons.

Larson, an assistant professor of physics at Utah State University and avid amateur astronomer, explained that Saturn is fascinating for many people because the planet actually looks as it appears through a telescope, which makes it seem “real.”

I had the chance to visit with him in preparation of the event and asked which discovery on Saturn appeals most to him. His favorite Saturn phenomenon is Janus-Epimetheus Swing, which occurs approximately every 4 – 5 years when these two moons actually swap orbit for a period of time.

Scientists are continually discovering more about this mysterious planet. Those interested in following the Cassinni mission will find virtual tours, pictures and the latest information on the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory site.

Clark Planetarium extends a special thank you to Shane for sharing his passion for astronomy with our audience. If you would like to view the slide deck from his presentation, it is available for download on his web page.