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September 2010 – OBSERVING HIGHLIGHTS

by Stan Howard, ACA VP Observing

 

There’s always something Coming and Going!

 

If you observe the night sky, you’ll notice that there is always something coming and going.  From night to night some stars and constellations set earlier and earlier (those in the west), while some rise earier and earlier ( those in the east).

 

So, what’s to observe this September? 

Early in the month, you’ll see Venus (mag. -4.33), Spica (mag 0.95), and Mars (mag 1.72) sinking in the west less than 4o apart.  Look early in the month though, because by the 10th, they’ll be gone.  The two bright stars, Antares (mag 1.05) and Arcturus (mag 0.15) will rule the West until they, too, sink below the horizon by the end of the month. 

Notice that Scorpius is sinking towards the west earlier each night.  It will be out of sight behind the sun by the time its astrological month comes (Oct 23-Nov 21).  People sometimes ask me to show them their constellation near their birthday.  One cannot easily do that on earth.  That’s because during your astrological month, your constellation is behind the sun from the earth’s perspective.  You can observe it best 2-4 months before your birthday, (if you want to see it in the early evening).

 

In the NW, catch the last glimpses of the Big Dipper before it sinks below the horizon during the early evening hours.  If you want a challenge with binoculars, try finding Ceres (mag 8.3) as it slowly drifts toward Sagittarius all month long.

If you want to swing your telescope toward the rising objects (in the east) during the early hours of the night in September, make it a point to learn how to find the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) (mag 3.50) in the NE. 

 

In the east, you can easily find Jupiter rising (mag -2.46) with its four, binocular-visible moons:  Io (mag 5.31), Europa (mag 5.59), Ganymede (mag 4.92) and Callisto (mag 5.92).  You may also be able to spot Jupiter’s “little brother”, Uranus (mag 5.92, the same brightness as Callisto) less than 2o above and south of Jupiter.  Uranus will be the brightest object in a field of dim stars, closer to Jupiter than any stars as bright.  During the month, Jupiter will work its way southwestward, making Uranus appear to move eastward.  By the end of the month, Uranus will be just east of Jupiter!

 

Do you want a few challenges? 

Try finding dim Neptune (mag 7.85) in the SE between Aquarius and Capricorn.  By the end of the month, Neptune will be in the south by dark.

Look straight up at the bright Summer Triangle of Vega (mag 0.00 - hmmm. . . ), Altair (mag 0.75), and Deneb (mag 1.25) to get a good orientation of the band of the Milky Way Galaxy.  Look for Sagittarius at the southern end, and Cassiopeia at the northern end.   

If you want a neck breaking challenge, hunt for the beautiful blue and gold double star Albireo, the eye of Cygnus the Swan.    It’s high in the sky, inside the Summer Triangle between Vega and Aquila.  While you’re at it, finish off that last neck disk by scoping in on M57, the Ring Nebula (mag 9.00) in Lyra.  (Alternatively you can lie down on the ground for a relaxing, no rush look!)

 

As the air gets cooler and the fire ants and mosquitoes retire for the year, enjoy seeing some of the beautiful fall sights.  There’s more than football happening during those crisp fall nights.  Just keep looking up!

 


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