Howdy stargazers and welcome to this episode of Star Trails.
I'm Drew and I'll be your guide to the night sky for the week starting March 9th through
the 15th.
This week a total lunar eclipse turns our full moon blood red.
We say goodbye to Saturn for a while and a newly launched space telescope promises to
redefine how we see the universe.
So grab a comfortable chair under the night sky and let's get started.
First up let's check in with our neighbor, the moon.
This week our lunar cycle moves from a waxing gibbous phase to a brilliant full moon on
the early morning of March 14th.
This month's full moon is known as the Worm Moon, a name passed down from Native American
tribes.
It marks the thawing of the ground and the return of earthworms, an important sign that
spring is right around the corner.
And this year's Worm Moon is going to be extra special because it's also bringing us a total
lunar eclipse.
On the night of March 13th into the early hours of March 14th we'll witness a total
lunar eclipse, sometimes called a blood moon, owing to the eerie reddish hue the moon takes
on during totality.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes directly between the sun and the moon, casting
a shadow that darkens the lunar surface.
There are three phases of a lunar eclipse.
The penumbral phase begins around midnight, eastern standard time.
The moon starts to move into earth's outer shadow causing a slight dimming that's hard
to notice with the naked eye.
The partial eclipse begins after 1am when the moon enters the darker inner part of the earth's
shadow, the umbra, and a bite-like shadow appears on the lunar surface.
Totality begins around 2.30am EST when the moon is fully covered by earth's umbral shadow.
Dying red due to sunlight scattering through earth's atmosphere.
That deep red color happens because earth's atmosphere filters out shorter wavelength
blue light and bends the longer wavelength red and orange light toward the moon.
Essentially, it's the same reason why sunsets look red.
If you want to catch this phenomenon, head outside after midnight on March 13th into
March 14th.
As the event progresses, the moon will appear high in the sky, making it easy to watch from
anywhere with clear weather.
Visible planets this week include our usual suspects, minus Saturn, which is now in the
sun's glare.
You may be able to catch Mercury in the western sky just after sunset.
You'll need a clear view of the horizon as it's very low and it sets not long after sunset.
Being brightly as the evening star, Venus will be prominent in the western sky after
sunset.
Right now it's the third brightest object in the sky after the sun and moon.
However, as the month progresses, Venus will move closer to the sun and become less visible,
eventually transitioning to the morning sky.
Jupiter continues dominating the southern sky in the evening.
It will be high overhead as darkness falls, setting in the early morning hours.
Its brightness makes it easily observable with the naked eye, and good binoculars or
a telescope can reveal its four largest moons.
Mars is high in the sky in Gemini after sunset.
Look for its reddish hue to distinguish it from nearby stars.
Today marks the beginning of daylight saving time for many listeners.
Clocks will spring forward one hour in many regions, meaning sunset will happen later
in the evening.
Great news for evening activities, but it does push back our prime star-gazing hours.
This shorter observation window means you'll need to wait an extra hour for darker skies
to see fainter stars and deep sky objects.
The lunar eclipse won't be affected since it's happening in the early morning before
daylight interferes.
So plan accordingly.
If you're used to heading out at 8pm to see the night sky, you may now have to wait until
closer to 9pm for the best views.
Last week NASA launched an ambitious mission designed to map the entire sky.
The Sphere X mission that stands for Spectrophotometer for the History of the Universe, Epic of Reionization,
and ISIS Explorer, is a new space telescope designed to conduct an all-sky infrared survey.
The goal is to provide astronomers with an unprecedented view of the cosmos.
Sphere X was scheduled to be launched last week.
At the time of this recording, it hadn't yet gone.
But this mission will help answer fundamental questions about the origins of the universe,
the formation of galaxies, and the distribution of water and organic molecules in the Milky
Way.
Unlike traditional space telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope or Hubble,
which focus on deep-sky observations of specific targets, Sphere X will systematically scan
the entire sky multiple times over its two-year mission.
The telescope will capture near-infrared light, allowing it to detect objects obscured by
dust, including galaxies, nebula, and regions where new stars are forming.
Sphere X will also perform spectroscopy on every part of the sky it observes.
This means it will split incoming light into different wavelengths, revealing detailed
information about the composition and distance of objects in space.
The mission's instrument will collect spectra from more than 450 million galaxies and 100
million stars within the Milky Way.
One of Sphere X's primary objectives is to explore the earliest moments of cosmic history.
Scientists believe that tiny quantum fluctuations during the Big Bang led to the formation of
galaxies and large-scale structures in the universe.
By mapping these structures across vast cosmic distances, Sphere X will provide insights into
how the universe evolved from its infancy to the present day.
The epoch of re-ionization marks the period when the first galaxies and stars formed, lighting
up the universe after the cosmic dark ages.
By analyzing infrared light from ancient galaxies, Sphere X will help astronomers understand when
and how this process unfolded, shedding light on one of the most mysterious eras in cosmic
history.
The program will also play a crucial role in studying the origins of life-related molecules.
By mapping water ice and organic compounds in interstellar clouds, the mission will help
scientists determine where these essential building blocks of life exist in our galaxy.
Understanding their distribution is vital to uncovering how planets, including Earth,
formed and whether life might exist elsewhere in the universe.
By capturing a 3D map of cosmic evolution, Sphere X will help answer some of astronomy's
biggest questions, offering new insights into the birth of galaxies, the origins of water,
and the structure of the universe itself.
If you found this episode helpful, let me know and feel free to send in your questions and
observations.
The easiest way to do that is by visiting our website, startrails.show.
This is also a great way to share the show with friends.
Until next time, keep looking up and exploring the night sky.
Clear skies, everyone!