Skywatch: Astronomy news and happenings
Featured Maunakea observatory discovery/news
Gargantuan black hole jets are biggest seen yet: Astronomers have spotted the largest pair of black hole jets ever seen with the help of data from the W.M. Keck Observatory atop Maunakea.
The jets, which shoot out above and below a supermassive black hole at the heart of a remote galaxy, span 23 million lightyears, the equivalent length of 140 Milky Way galaxies lined up back to back.
The jet megastructure, nicknamed Porphyrion after a giant in Greek mythology, dates to a time when the Universe was 6.3 billion years old, or less than half its present age of 13.8 billion years.
For more information, visit keckobservatory.org.
Special events
Partial solar eclipse: An annular solar eclipse will sweep across South America on Oct. 2 as the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth. In Hawai’i, a partial solar eclipse will be visible, starting at sunrise and lasting until about 8 a.m. The maximum extent of the eclipse can be seen at about 6:45 a.m.
Safety is the number one priority when viewing a solar eclipse. Make sure to use safe solar viewers (sunglasses are not safe for viewing the Sun). For safety tips, visit https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/safety/.
Meteor shower: From early October to early November, the night skies will be decorated with the Orionid meteor shower. This meteor shower will produce about 20 shooting stars an hour when it peaks on Oct. 20-21.
The shooting stars radiate from near the Gemini and Orion constellations. The shooting stars from Orionid were left from the tail of Halley’s comet, which came through the inner solar system in 1986.
Evening observing
In the early evening, stargazers will be able to find two of the navigational star families, established by the Polynesian Voyaging Society. These “super constellations” are important tools that are utilized by Hokule’a and Hikianalia. Setting in the west will be the “summer” star family of Manaiakalani. This starline is made up of three main pieces: the Navigator’s Triangle, Pimoe (a mischievous Ulua fish), and Kamakaunuiamaui, the fishhook of Maui. Rising in the East will be Kalupeakawelo, also known as “the Kite of Kawelo.”
Kalupeakawelo is set up to take on a sort of three-dimensional effect in the sky. To properly picture the kite in the sky, imagine that you are laying back and holding the strings that attach to ’Iwakeli’i and Kamo’i with one hand, and holding the strings that attach to Nalani and Kaikilani with the other hand. The square body of the kite, marked by Manokalanipo, Kakuhihewa, Pi’ilani, and Keawe, is flying high up above your head.
Saturn (Makulu) will stand out amongst the southern kite strings of Kalupeakawelo. Through a telescope, observers can see the beautiful rings of Saturn that make the planet famous.
Morning observing
During October mornings, Jupiter (Ka’awela) will stand out near the center of the sky just before dawn. Behind Jupiter, will be the Milky Way and the navigational star family Kekaomakali’i, The Bailer of Makali’i. Mars (Hoku’ula) will trail Jupiter to the East.
