Every year at the end of October, there is a curious astronomical event I look for shortly after sunset. It involves a particular star called Arcturus that glowers bright red in the twilight sky every year during Halloween week. The curious part about Arcturus shining in the sky this time of year is that it shines in the exact spot the sun would be shining if it were Summer. And because Arcturus is a faint imitation of the brilliant sun, the phenomena is poetically referred to as the Ghost of Summer Suns.
Standing in my back yard last evening, amidst the fallen leaves, it’s fun to consider that if it were summer, the sun would be setting but it would still be daylight. Instead, it’s Autumnal twilight and a little red star is in the sun’s place- an ominous reminder the earth is moving inexorably toward winter.
And also a reminder I should go inside, lest the ghosts and goblins of Halloween week sneak up on me as I’m preoccupied looking at the stars!
Copyright 2019 Christopher Donahue