International Year of Astronomy

Did you know that 2009 is the International Year of Astronomy? We have an exciting collection of events and activities planned throughout the year at the planetarium, so please visit our website for updates and programs throughout the year.

The New Year brings with it a sky filled with bright constellations and planets to discover all over again. January’s full Moon, seen on the night of the 11th, is known as the Wolf Moon from the hungry wolf packs that were known to prowl around the outskirts of villages in the depths on night in search of food.

The planet Venus is visible throughout the month. Look to the western sky just after sunset, it will be visible for about two hours until it sets. It is the brightest object in the sky except for the Moon, so it is not hard to find, even in city lights. On Jan. 29 and 30 Venus and a waxing crescent Moon will be close together in the evening sky, setting a few hours after the Sun.

The ringed planet Saturn is visible in the eastern sky late at night. It will appear ever earlier as the month progresses, rising at midnight on January 1st and at 10 PM by the 30th. Saturn is bright in our sky not only because it is large but because the icy rings act as a mirror, reflecting additional sunlight back to us.

The constellation Orion the Hunter takes center stage this month. Located in the southern sky this month, Orion is marked by its characteristic three-star belt, which lies between the two bright stars, Betelgeuse, meaning "armpit", and the bright blue star Rigel. Below the belt of Orion, in his sword, is the Great Orion Nebula. Through binoculars this fuzzy patch is clearly visible as the gas and dust cloud that contains a stellar nursery, birthing a litter of young stars.

Orion is our tour guide of the winter sky, pointing us to a host of winter constellations and stories. The constellation Taurus the Bull can be found by connecting the three stars in Orion’s belt into a line and continuing that line to the right. This will lead you to Aldebaren, the brightest star in Taurus. By extending the three stars in Orion’s belt to the left instead, you will encounter the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, the Dog star in the constellation Canis Major. As Orion’s trusty hunting dog, he is also accompanied by Canis Minor, or the little dog. Finally, by drawing a line from Rigel to Betelgeuse and continuing upward you will find a pair of bright stars. These are Castor and Pollux, the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini.

To see the sky come to life and hear more stories of the seasonal sky, join us at the Rauch Planetarium for Skies Over Louisville: The Seasonal Edition on the first Saturday of every month at 9 p.m.