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Jupiter has eleven times the diameter of the Earth and is more
massive than all the other
planets of our Solar System put together. This month sees it as a very
bright object almost
overhead. Even binoculars, held steady, will show the four brightest
of over sixty moons
that accompany it. A small telescope will reveal its disk and dark
bands in the cloud
formations that cover it.
Not far from Jupiter - but in reality nearly ten million times more
distant - is the bright
red giant star Antares in Scorpius. Though it seems a pinpoint to the
eye, that star in
reality has 11000 times the luminosity of our Sun, and is so huge that
our inner Solar
System could fit inside it. Beyond Antares is the Milky Way, looking
towards the centre of
our Galaxy.
Planets Venus (very bright) and Saturn continue to form a trio with
the bright star
Regulus, but are only visible very low on the western horizon in the
early twilight near
the beginning of the month.
The Moon is in the evening sky August 14-30.
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