Star Points for May, 2002; by Curtis Roelle Ancient Universe Revealed in May Sky Making an exception for the most senior readers, nearly all of us were educated from childhood with the knowledge that our solar system consists of nine major planets. That count is a relatively recent development in human history. Far back in ancient times observers from places such as Babylonia, Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China followed the motions of just five "wandering stars" or planets. Their knowledge has been preserved for us in diverse forms ranging from calendrical records and observations to the lullabies sung by parents to the young children of the past who grew up, lived their lives, and became our ancestors. Beginning closest to the sun, these planets of old are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Of course Earth was also known to them in those days, but its true planetary nature was not understood until much later. Throughout the ages as our view of the universe changed, these five planets, plus earth, were always present. They were charted by Ptolemy, rearranged by Tycho Brahe, and juggled once more by Copernicus when he placed the sun at their center. This "ancient universe" of six planets including earth was also the reigning universe when the founding fathers established the Declaration of Independence only 226 years ago. No record exists of any discoverer for the five planets known to the ancient world. The final three planets were discovered by known individuals in the following order: Uranus in 1781, Neptune in 1846, and Pluto in 1930. Until his death in 1997 Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh was a rare individual, historically speaking. He was one of only two persons alive in the 20th century who had been credited with the discovery of a major planet. The other was Johann Galle (1812-1910), a co- discoverer of Neptune. My late grandmother once wrote a society column for a rural Nebraska newspaper. Each week it revealed who entertained Sunday dinner guests from out of town, where they came from, and which vegetables were served as side dishes. Her columns were usually buried somewhere in the rag's back pages. What does my Grandmother's reporting have to do with planets, you ask? It reminds me of a reference made to the furthest planet I saw once in another society page. Over a decade ago we were guests at my in-laws' farm in rural southeastern Nebraska. While drinking the morning coffee in their kitchen I picked up a newspaper sitting nearby. The "Tecumseh Chieftain" was a thin weekly paper consisting of around 6-10 pages. After thumbing through the pages of the small paper for several seconds I discovered a society section near the back. Each short paragraph had a small subheading, such as "Son from Omaha spends Sunday with Schmidts." My eyebrows raised upon reading one that announced, "Pluto discoverer visits family." Sure enough, Clyde Tombaugh had come to town. The only recognition of a visit by the man who had discovered another world was a mere footnote in the back pages of the paper! In early May you can see all six ancient planets as evening twilight ends. You'll need a clear horizon without trees or buildings to the west-northwest. Around 8:30 p.m. local time the sun will be far enough below the horizon that the brightest planets shall begin to appear. About halfway between the western horizon to the zenith will be the bright yellow planet Jupiter. Down and to the right in the wnw dazzling yellow-white Venus hovers between Jupiter and the horizon. Venus and Jupiter are the brightest planets in the sky and make a striking couple. As darkness increases over the next 15-30 minutes the other planets start coming out like shy children clustering near their mother for protection. To the lower right of Venus midway between the planet and the horizon will be fainter Mercury. Don't confuse Mercury with the bright star Aldebaran, located a similar distance to the lower left of Venus. Venus forms an equilateral triangle with the other two ancient worlds. Immediately to the left of Venus is the fainter Saturn. Saturn glows with a yellowish color. Yellowish-orange Mars is between, and immediately above, Saturn and Venus. And what about the sixth planet? Dig your toe into the soil and behold the earth. Mother ship of the human race and Keb, husband of the celestial goddess Nut to ancient Egyptians. With these six planets you have experienced the known universe of the ancient world.