The western side of the Square of Pegasus points southward to the solitary bright star Fomalhaut in the mouth of Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish. Fomalhaut is the 17th brightest star in our night sky, and astronomers have known it is surrounded by discs of debris for many years. In 2008 an exoplanet was imaged near the inner edge of a disc but more recent images have shown it be an expanding disc of debris from a collision between two planetesimals. The eastern side of Pegasus points down to Diphda, the brightest star in the tail of Cetus the Whale. A circlet of stars well to the east forms the head of the whale.

Between Piscis Austrinus and Cetus is the dim constellation Sculptor, which is a shortened version of its original name, Apparatus Sculptoris (the sculptor’s studio), given by Louis de Lacaille in the 18th century. By 11 pm it is low in the south but it does have a prominent marker. Use binoculars to seek out a long triangle of dim stars stretching eastward from Fomalhaut, but don’t be discouraged if your attempt to locate Sculptor is a bust.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Fredericton is at 7:46 and sunset will occur at 6:36, giving 10 hours, 50 minutes of daylight. Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:56 and set at 6:24, giving 10 hours, 28 minutes of daylight.

The Moon is at first quarter on Sunday and near Saturn next Saturday.  Mercury begins edging toward the Sun this week, very low in the southeast after sunset. Mars continues to edge toward Jupiter over the week while both have eyes on Regulus, the heart of Leo the Lion. The three will make a scenic triangle in binoculars late in November. Venus is at inferior conjunction next Friday, moving to the morning sky in early November. Early risers on Wednesday and Thursday might catch a few extra shooting stars from the Orionid meteor shower.

Weather permitting there will be public observing at the Irving Nature Park in Saint John this Saturday from 7 to 10 pm. Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the Facebook page or YouTube site of Astronomy by the Bay.

Questions? Contact Curt Nason here.