Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine 2015

THE CARIBBEAN SKY: FREE SHOW NIGHTLY!
SEPTEMBER 2015 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 28
The Sky from
Mid-September
to Mid-October
by Jim Ulik
The New Horizons spacecraft photos of Pluto are continuing to come in. In 1979
Don Dixon painted an image of Pluto. He created that image 36 years before the New
Horizons spacecraft revealed what Pluto actually looks like. The similarities between
the photographic and painted images are striking. See the image at www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/pluto-predicted.html.
Some artists inspire us with their vision of the celestial heavens that we cannot yet
see through telescopes or from available spacecraft. Other artists may generate innovations
that influence technology and its vision. In modern times studying the arts
gets less respect. Yet it is the people who pursue these subjects as careers who allow
us to enjoy theater, movies, paintings, sculpture, music, literature, etcetera. Around
the time of the Renaissance, a study of the visual arts was required and an integral
part of an education at a university,
along with math,
astronomy, literature and
music. Artists of that era
depicted the ancient gods,
planets and other celestial
objects as nude human forms.
The artists also incorporated
science and mathematics in
their paintings or drawings
while scientists incorporated
art and design in their innovations
or inventions. Artists and
scientists, either individually or
together, open up new ways of
seeing, experiencing and interpreting
the world around us.
The following events or
observances that take place
this period are being held to
both enhance public awareness
and education.
Wednesday, September 16th
Happy International Day for
the Protection of the Ozone
Layer! Named in 1995, this day
celebrates the successes of the
Montreal Protocol on controlling
substances that deplete
the ozone layer. The day recognizes
the broad coalition of
governments, scientific
researchers, and others who
have developed smart, flexible,
and innovative approaches to
protecting human health and
FIGURE 1
NASA/JPL-Caltech
the global environment.
Thursday, September 17th
The International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) will hold a summit in Mexico City.
The conference hosted by the Mexican Space Agency (AEM), and sponsored by the
CNES and Lockheed Martin Corp. will address all aspects of the contribution of
space activities to the understanding and solving of the challenges of climate change
and disaster management.
Saturday, September 19th
Astronomy Day! Local astronomical societies, planetariums, museums, and observatories
will be sponsoring public viewing sessions, presentations, workshops, and
other activities to increase public awareness about astronomy and our universe.
Sunday through Saturday, October 4th through 10th
It’s World Space Week. The World Space Week Association (WSWA), founded in
1981, is coordinating the network of events. In 2014 there were more than 1,400
events in 80 countries that celebrated the benefits of space and space exploration
including the contributions made through space science and technology. The
theme for 2015 is “Discovery”. Currently the closest event is in Poza Rica de
Hidalgo, Mexico.
Following are the dates for viewing some celestial events.
Thursday, September 17th
If you are up before the sun rises at 0556 you will see Jupiter near the horizon
below Mars and Venus in the eastern sky. For those following the Zodiac, the Sun
enters the constellation Virgo the Virgin.
Friday, September 18th
Look west around 1900. Can you spot Saturn? The ringed planet is going to be
fully illuminated and less than three degrees south of the Moon.
—Continued on next page
An artist’s concept of the surface of Europa, stirring the imagination of life under that moon’s oceans
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Contact: Glenn Clement or Reynold Belmar
Tel/Fax: (473) 443-9110 email: bandcfuels@gmail.com