Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).
Brief Calendar of Events
| 1 |
Mon |
Alpha Aurigids meteor shower |
| 3 |
Wed |
First Quarter Moon |
| 9 |
Tue |
Delta Aurigids meteor shower |
| Moon occults Mars |
| 10 |
Wed |
Full Moon |
| 11 |
Thu |
Mercury at inferior conjunction |
| 16 |
Tue |
Moon at apogee |
| 18 |
Thu |
Last Quarter Moon |
| 23 |
Tue |
Equinox |
| 26 |
Fri |
New Moon |
| Mercury at greatest elongation west |
| 28 |
Sun |
Moon at perigee |
The Sun and Moon
There are no eclipses this month.
The best time to view the northern polar region of the Sun is early this month.
Earth reaches an equinox this month, marking the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere and the start of spring in the southern hemisphere.
As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Leo to the constellation Virgo.
Since this month's Full Moon is the one closest to the equinox, it is popularly known as the "Harvest Moon."
The Planets
The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
- Mercury
- Northern hemisphere observers will have the best opportunity to spot this elusive planet near the end of the month when it rises into the sky just before sunrise. Never far from the Sun, Mercury is at inferior conjunction on 11 September and then at greatest elongation west just over two weeks later. Look for it in the constellation Leo.
- Venus
- Venus is very difficult to spot in the constellations Leo and Virgo. Southern hemisphere planet watchers will have the best opportunity to look for the very low "evening star" just after sunset.
- Mars
- The red planet reached opposition last month and thus is up most of the night, setting just before sunrise in the constellation Aquarius. Observers in northeast Asia will have a chance to see the Moon occult Mars at around 13 UT on 9 September.
- Jupiter
- Because it reached conjunction with the Sun late last month, Jupiter will be nearly impossible to see in the constellation Leo.
- Saturn
- Rising around midnight in the constellation Gemini, the ringed planet is a morning sky object this month.
- Uranus
- Because Uranus reached opposition late last month, it is up most of the night in the constellation Aquarius.
- Neptune
- Neptune also reached opposition last month. It sets shortly before its neighbour Uranus. Use optical aids to locate this faintest of gas giants in the constellation Capricornus.
- Pluto
- Pluto sets late in the evening in the constellation Ophiuchus. However, because it is so small and faint, a large telescope is always needed to see it.
Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors
- Minor Planets
- A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
- Comets
- There are no naked-eye comets visible this month.
- Meteors
- The waxing crescent Moon should not affect the Alpha Aurigids meteor shower but the nearly Full Moon will wipe out the Delta Aurigids.
The Celestial Sphere
Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.
Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)
Northern Hemisphere : 45° N
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
Southern Hemisphere : 30° S
- 1730 hours (1830 hours daylight savings)
- 1930 hours (2030 hours daylight savings)
- 2130 hours (2230 hours daylight savings)
- 2330 hours (0030 hours daylight savings)
- 0130 hours (0230 hours daylight savings)
- 0330 hours (0430 hours daylight savings)
- 0530 hours (0630 hours daylight savings)
For More Information...
- Consult our online glossary for non-technical explanations of many of the astronomical terms used in these pages.
- Blue moons, eclipses, the dates of Easter and much more can be found at the Interactive Astronomy Pages.
- For more information about the objects and events described in SkyEye, visit these astronomy-related sites.
Credits
Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of your favourite amateur astronomy magazine available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.
The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.
Copyright © 1995-2003 by David Harper and L.M. Stockman
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Obliquity
Last modified on 31 August 2003
https://www.obliquity.com/skyeye/archive/2003/sep2003.html