WITH the leaves turning colours we enter the last month of autumn. Only about six weeks out from the winter solstice and the northern solar stand still. It is about the time of year when the days are shortening at their quickest and start to level out. (The quickest period of change has a name, use Google to find out what it is.)
The last couple of weeks has seen a lot of solar activity with a couple of large evolving sun spot groups crossing the face of the sun. The Earth has passed through some intense solar wind thrown off by a couple of x-class flares. There have been many reports of aurora. Some accounts of it seen as far away as Auckland. If you have seen any or have some photos, please post them on the Eye on the Sky Facebook page. I would love to see them.
As for the planets, Mars has all but disappeared into the evening gloam, more or less invisible against the glare of the sun. We shall see it return to the morning sky in a couple of months. Venus climbs higher in the sky this month, outshining everything except the moon. She sets a full three hours after the sun by month's end.
Mercury gets a look in this month and sets about 45 minutes after sunset. So by the end of the month it could be possible to see four planets in the evening sky at the same time - Venus, Mercury, mighty Jupiter and Saturn all visible spread across the sky from west to east just after dusk. Saturn passes opposition mid month and will become slightly bright and be ideal for observing as it rises as the sun sets.
For more information about these topics or anything else, please contact the Rotorua Astronomical Society. Find them on Facebook.