Jupiter now rises about one hour after Saturn sets at 10 p.m. The king of the planets currently sparkles at a dazzling bright --2.6 magnitude and can be see about 10 degrees above the eastern horizon by 11 p.m. Read more
This month you can witness a supernova with just binoculars or a small telescope. The supernova is called SN 2011fe and has been discovered by astronomers on August 24 within hours of its explosion. It is located within the Messier 101 galaxy (also known as M101) 23 million light-years away in the constellation of Ursa Major. The supernova will be getting brighter over the next few days until its peak on September 9th. Read more
First Quarter Moon (declination: -22.89°) at 17:39.3 UT, 4th September.
This is the 3rd most southerly first quarter moon of the next 10 years, the most southerly of the year, and the 2nd most southerly of the decade. The former more southern first quarter moon was at 15.9.2010.
A waxing crescent moon passes very close to Delta Scorpii on the 3rd September, 2011. In the Americas (eastern and southern United States, and the northern parts of South America) the moon will occult the magnitude 2.3 star.
On Saturday, the moon will occult (cover) Delta Scorpii in the front part of Scorpius the Scorpion. The pinchers and head of Scorpius are represented by three bright stars. The middle star is the brightest and is known as Delta Scorpius (or Scorpii). Its other name is Dschubba, which means forehead in Arabic. Delta Scorpius will be covered by the moon from our point of view until nearly 10 p.m., when it will be low on the horizon and nearly set. Read more
This September you can see three bright planets in the morning sky just before sunrise, about 6:35 a.m. at the beginning of September. About 45 minutes before sunrise, Mercury is visible 7 degrees (fourteen apparent moon diameters) above the east point on the horizon but you will need a clear horizon to see it. Mercury will look like a bright white star. Read more
A monthly astronomy program discussing what most everyone can see in the night sky for September 2011 (N. Hemisphere). Focus is largely on how to find Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn along with several Moon/planet conjunctions in the night sky during September 2011.
What's Up for September- astronomy
Step away from the city lights and gaze up at our Milky Way galaxy. You may even see one of the galaxy's spiral arms with your own eyes!