(Continued from page 14)

night. Also, as seen from the Southern Hemisphere, Mars and Antares are more directly above the moon, rather than to the side.
• Let's do some spot checking, contrasting two different spots on Earth. At Newfoundland, Canada, the moon sets about one and one-third hours after sunset today, yet at Santo Andre, Brazil, the moon sets a whopping two and one-half hours after the sun. What's more, the Southern Hemisphere has a much better chance of catching Mercury, the solar system's innermost planet, while people at middle and far northern latitudes will have to have a very clear western twilight sky - or some skill at observing - to see Mercury.
• Again, the advantage goes to the Southern Hemisphere because the ecliptic - or path of the sun, moon and planets - is highly inclined to the evening horizon in that part of the world.
• If you miss the moon on October 17, you'll have another chance to catch a wider waxing crescent moon higher up at dusk and nightfall tomorrow and the next day. The moon is waxing now, appearing in the sky for more of the night each day, with more of its lighted portion visible.
• Bottom line: How many of you at northerly latitudes will be able to spot the young moon after sunset on Wednesday, October 17? The moon is far enough away from the sunset now to be visible from anywhere on Earth, but you'll need a very clear sky and an unobstructed view, especially from northerly latitudes. At those northern latitudes - where it's autumn - the moon sits mainly to the side of the setting sun, so the young moon lurks low in the sky and sets fairly soon after sunset. In the Southern Hemisphere - where it's spring now - the young crescent stands above the setting sun, and stays out longer after sunset.
•