The full moon, the Harvest Moon, occurs on September 23, the day after the autumnal equinox; fall actually begins this year at 10:23 p.m. on September 22. The moon is out of the evening sky during the first and last weeks of September, making them ideal for spotting deep sky objects.

Jupiter dominates the eastern evening skies for September 2010. Amateurs and professionals all watched last spring when the southern “racing stripe”, Jupiter’s south equatorial belt, mysteriously faded to white, and wonder when it will return to its normal prominent brown appearance.

From the Big Dipper’s handle, we “arc” SE to bright orange Arcturus, the brightest star of spring. Spike south to Spica, the hot blue star in Virgo.

To the Greeks, Spica and Virgo were associated with Persephone, the daughter of Ceres, goddess of the harvest. In their version of “Judge Judy”, the beautiful young daughter falls for the gruff, dark god of the underworld, Pluto. He elopes with her, much to Ceres’ disapproval, in his underworld kingdom, Hades…a honeymoon in hell…really.

He does love her as well, and the marriage itself works well. But it is the reaction of Ceres that creates alarm. Very despondent over the loss of her young daughter to a fate as bad as death, Ceres abandons the crops, which wither. Soon famine sets in, and humanity appeals to Jupiter to save us all.

Calling all together, Jupiter hears that Ceres wants the marriage annulled, Persephone loves them both, and Pluto wants his mother in law to stop meddling. Solomon style, Jupiter decides to split her up, not literally, but in terms of time. In the compromise (aren’t all marriages so?), when you can see Spica rising in the east in March, it is time to plant your peas.

For the next six months, she visits upstairs with a very happy mama, and the crops will prosper. But now, as Spica heads west (to the kingdom of death, in most ancient legends) for six months of conjugal bliss with Pluto, it is time to get your corn in the crib. This simple story, told in some form for as long as Noah’s flood, was one of the ways our ancestors 7,000 years ago knew the solar calendar and when to plant and harvest. As you watch Spica fade, thank this star for agriculture, and in a certain sense, even our own culture.

The Escambia Amateur Astronomers Association (EAAA) plans to host a public stargaze at the Fort Pickens’ Battery Worth on Friday, September 10. They will set up just at sunset. Telescopes will be set up, clear skies permitting, to allow you to observe Jupiter, nebulae, clusters, double stars, and other celestial treats. Free star charts and information on the EAAA will also be provided.

EAAA will also host sidewalk astronomy at the Pensacola Beach Gulfside Pavilion on the weekends of September 17-18 and October 15-16. Again they will set up around sunset, and the waxing moon and Venus and Jupiter and brighter constellations will highlight these popular sessions for beach visitors.

For more information on the EAAA, visit their website, or call Wooten at PSC at (850) 484-1152, or email him at wwooten@pensacolastate. edu.