Starwatch for July 2023
Written by Karl Hricko on July 19, 2023
Hello! I’m Karl Hricko of United Astronomy Clubs of NJ and the National Space Society, bringing you the July Starwatch for WNTI-The Sound of Centenary.
I was now moving away from the pervasive magnetic field. It is a region that is called interstellar space. I am carrying an external plaque with an image that displays information about our appearance and our location. I also have a gold record containing sounds and other information about our earthly civilization.
It all started out 45years ago when I was sent off to explore Jupiter and Saturn along with my twin Voyager. Now I am extending my journey to probe the outer limits of the Sun’s gravitational influence. I am gathering useful information about outer space. I’ll continue doing this until I am no longer able to communicate. Right now, I am 14.5 billion miles from the Earth, do you know who I am? I am a NASA unmanned probe, and my name is Voyager I – headed toward the Ophiuchus Constellation.
Although we can’t see our Earth Voyager in interstellar space, we are able to see the 5 visible planets in our solar system. Looking west after sunset, we’ll see red Mars to the left of the star Regulus, while a brighter Venus is to their right – all in Leo. After 10 p.m., Saturn rises in the southeast in Aquarius. At dawn, Jupiter rises in Aries. Looking northeast, Mercury is in Taurus, and then is seen in the northwest at the end of the month in Leo. So as you view the planets this month, you can wonder if our messages into space will ever be found by another civilization.
Until our next Starwatch – Don’t forget to check out …What’s up in the night sky!
