Effectively, we’re all getting caught again in at work and college after the summer season, and what higher time than to do some conscious stargazing as a leisure approach. As all the time, let your eyes modify for 20 minutes or so earlier than you take a look at the sky, you’ll see much more that means. If mild is required, use pink mild.
There’s lots to see in September this yr. We had been handled to a complete (with caveat) lunar eclipse within the first week of the month, and we now have a photo voltaic eclipse (with caveat) to look ahead to on the finish of the month! Caveat no.1: The lunar eclipse was at totality solely whereas it was nonetheless under the horizon. Caveat no. 2 (it is a large one): The partial photo voltaic eclipse is simply seen from New Zealand and Antarctica. Big viewers for that one.
Saturn at Opposition. Picture Credit score: NASA
To make up for the frustration of not seeing any of the photo voltaic eclipse from Armagh, we now have an awesome backup choice on the 21st. On at the present time, Saturn will probably be at opposition – i.e. on the other facet of the Earth because the Solar. Will probably be at its brightest (for the yr) within the sky all evening, so take the chance for an awesome picture. In case you have a telescope, preserve a watch out for a few of Saturn’s 274 moons!
Neptune. Picture Credit score: Wikipedia
Not solely that, however we’re handled to Neptune at opposition this month as nicely! Solely two days after Saturn reaches opposition, Neptune does the identical, and we’ll see its full face at its brightest within the evening sky. Sadly, Neptune does require a telescope to view, so there’s a paywall on this explicit planet. Even then, due to its excessive distance from Earth, Neptune will solely seem as a teensy turquoise dot in even essentially the most highly effective telescopes.
Some stars which might be seen within the evening sky this month embody the final glimpse of the summer season triangle good and excessive within the sky, together with some newcomers, comparable to Capricorn and Aquarius. Face South to see the zodiac constellations, and the summer season triangle asterism stretches from South West to West.
We will watch the moon undergo its traditional phases this month, with its traditional enjoyable names for every month – this month’s full moon is the appropriately autumnally named Corn Moon, or my favorite, the Harvest Moon. I believe that’s purely due to the sport although…
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- Picture Credit score: Britannica.com
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- Picture Credit score: Wikipedia
The complete moon was on the 7th of September, however be careful for the brand new moon on the 21st, making it an additional nice evening for stargazing, or for those who like, Saturn Gazing.
Place of the Earth and Solar at Equinox. Picture Credit score: timeanddate.com
Final of all, we now have, on this jam-packed month, among the finest (for my part) occasions of the yr – the autumn equinox. This is without doubt one of the two days of the yr the place the day and evening are the identical size, and the precise midpoint between summer season and winter. This yr the equinox is on the 22nd.
So look out on your star-studded (see what I did there) September sky – you received’t be dissatisfied with what you see!
