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September Observing Guide

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15 years 3 months ago #80673 by Neill
September Observing Guide was created by Neill
Hello all,

September's guide is below, good hunting. Hopefully will see some of you in Ballyvaughan for the star party later in the month.

OBSERVING GUIDE
(Please note all times are BST and are based on an observing location of Belfast and covers the month of September)


The Sun

At the start of the month, the Sun rises at 06:30 and sets at 20:15. By the end of the month, it rises at 07:25 and sets at 19:05.

The Planets

At the end of the month, Saturn, Mercury and Venus form a nice group low in the East before sunrise. Saturn will be the most easterly of the three followed by Mercury and then Venus.

Mercury starts September as an evening object and by month’s end has become a morning object. However it is at inferior conjunction on the 20th and is not well placed for observation this month. At month’s end, it rises at 05:55, over an hour before the sun and is mag +0.7 in Leo. Prospects are better for October.

Venus is a morning object during September. At the start of the month, it rises at 03:20, by month’s end it rises at 04:50. Its brightness fades during the month from mag -4.0 to mag -3.9. At the start of the month, it lies close to M44 – The Beehive cluster.

Mars rises steadily earlier during September. At the start of the month, it rises at 00:25, by the end of the month; it rises at 23:50. It brightens during the month from mag +1.0 to mag +0.8. It can be found in Gemini during the month and lies near to M35 at the start of the month. During the last week of the month, it lies near to NGC 2392 - The Eskimo Nebula.

Jupiter can be found in Capricornus during September. It is well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it rises during daylight hours and sets at 04:40, by month’s end it sets at 02:35. It fades during the month from mag -2.8 to mag -2.7. The four Galilean moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto are visible with 10x50 binoculars or a small telescope and are worth a look. A list of eclipses, occultations and transits for the four moons can be found at the end of the guide.

Saturn is at superior conjunction on the 17th and is not well placed for observation this month. It starts the month as an evening object, but by month’s end it has become a morning object and rises over an hour before the sun at month’s end at 06:15.

Uranus can be found in Pisces during September and is at opposition on the 17th. It is well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it rises at 20:35. By the end of the month, it rises during daylight hours and sets at 06:15. It maintains its brightness during the month at mag +5.7. At opposition it lies within two degrees to the West of 20 Piscium (mag +5.5) and five degrees to the South of Lambda Piscium (mag +4.5).

Neptune can be found in Capricornus during September. It is well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it rises during daylight hours and sets at 05:15 and by the end of the month, it sets at 03:15. It fades during the month from mag +7.8 to mag +7.9. It lies within three degrees to the North of Delta Capricorni (mag +2.9).





The Moon

In September, the full moon is on the 4th with the last quarter moon on the 12th and the new moon on the 18th. The first quarter moon is on the 26th.

On the evening of the 2nd/morning of the 3rd, a 97% illuminated waxing gibbous moon lies close to Jupiter to the North of the planet with Neptune near to the East.

On the evening of the 5th/morning of the 6th, a 98% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies to the North of Uranus.

On the morning of the 11th, a 69% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies to the East of M45 - The Pleiades.

On the evening of the 12th/morning of the 13th, a 39% illuminated waning crescent moon lies to the East of M35. Closest approach between the two objects will be around midnight with less than a degree of separation between the two.

During the day of the 13th, a 34% illuminated waning crescent moon lies very close to Mars. At midday, it is at 41 degrees altitude and 74 degrees azimuth.

On the morning of the 14th, a 28% illuminated waning crescent moon lies close to NGC 2392 - The Eskimo Nebula.

On the morning of the 15th, a 18% illuminated waning crescent moon lies to the South of M44 – The Beehive Cluster.

During the period 16th - 17th, the moon lies close to Venus. On the morning of the 16th, a 9% illuminated waning crescent moon lies to the South of the planet with the two bodies close during daylight hours of the 16th. At midday, the moon is at 46 degrees altitude and 16 degrees azimuth, lying to the West of the planet. Finally on the morning of the 17th, a 4% illuminated waning crescent moon lies to the East of the planet.

On the evening of the 29th/morning of the 30th, a 82% illuminated waxing gibbous moon lies close to Jupiter to the North of the planet with Neptune near to the East.

Meteors

The ZHR or Zenithal Hourly Rate is the number of meteors an observer would see in one hour under a clear, dark sky with a limiting apparent magnitude of 6.5 and if the radiant of the shower were in the zenith. The rate that can effectively be seen is nearly always lower and decreases as the radiant is closer to the horizon. The Zenith is the overhead point in the sky for an observer. The radiant is the point in the sky, from which (to a planetary observer) meteors appear to originate, i.e. the Perseids, for example, are meteors which appear to come from a point within the constellation of Perseus. A fireball is defined by the International Astronomical Union as a meteor brighter than any of the planets, i.e. magnitude -4 or brighter. The International Meteor Organisation alternatively defines it as a meteor which would have a magnitude of -3 or brighter at the zenith.

There are seven showers in September. The first one is the Alpha Aurigids which peak on the morning of the 1st at approximately 02:00. Its ZHR is 7 and the radiant is visible from about midnight. There is some lunar interference with a 89% illuminated waxing gibbous moon setting at 02:40.

The second one is Gamma Aquarids. They peak around the 7th/8th with a low ZHR. A waning gibbous moon in Pisces on the 7th, then Aries on the 8th provides lunar interference.

The third shower is the Piscids which has two peaks on the 8th and 21st. The ZHR’s are 10 and 5 respectively. The radiant is visible as soon as darkness falls. Lunar conditions are unfavourable for the first peak with a 83% waning gibbous moon rising at 20:30, but there is no moon for the second peak so conditions are good.

The fourth shower is the September Perseids which peak on the 9th. The ZHR is 5 with the radiant visible as darkness falls, however there is lunar interference with a 74% illuminated waning gibbous moon rising at 20:50 in Aries.

The fifth shower is the Alpha Triangulids which peak around the 11th/12th with a low ZHR. The moon is around last quarter phase and rises around 22:30 on the evening of the 11th and around 23:30 on the evening of the 12th. It moves from Auriga into Gemini and provides some interference.

The sixth shower is the Eta Draconids which peak around the 12th/13th with a low ZHR. The moon is a large waning crescent and rises around 00:30 on the morning of the 14th and is still in Gemini from the night before (see above).

The final shower of the month is the Delta Aurigids which peak between the 24th and October 4th. The peak is uncertain and the ZHR is 3. The radiant is visible from about 23:00 and the moon’s interference grows as the peak period progresses with the first quarter moon on the 26th.


Asteroids

Asteroid (3) Juno is at opposition on the 21st in Pisces with a magnitude of +7.6. It lies to the East/South-East of Uranus and passes within four degrees of the planet during the month. It also lies approximately South of 20 Piscium (mag +5.5) and North-West of Iota Ceti (mag +3.6).

Comets

Comet 2006 W3 Christensen moves from Sagitta into Aquila in a South-Westerly direction during September. It remains around mag +9 for the month and sets at about 04:00 at the start of the month and at about 02:00 by month’s end. At the start of the month, it lies North/North-East of Gamma Aquilae - Tarazed (mag +2.7) and passes to the North-West/West of the star during the first week of the month. Mid-month, it passes close to Delta Aquilae (mag +3.4) to the West of the star. By month’s end, it lies roughly between Delta and Lambda Aquilae, both mag +3.4.

Comet 22P/Kopff is in Aquarius during September and remains around mag +10. It sets at about 05:00 at the start of the month and at about 03:00 by month’s end. Use Delta and Tau Aquarii (mag +3.3 and +4.0) as a guide to find the comet as it lies to the West of these two stars, forming a “triangle” with them.

Comet 217P/2009 F3 Linear moves from Eridanus into Orion in a Easterly direction. It remains around mag +11 for the month and is visible from about 04:00 at the start of the month. By month’s end, it is visible from about 02:00. It passes by Nu Eridani (mag +3.9) around the 10th and by Mu Eridani (mag +4.0) around the 12th. It lies near to Beta Eridani (mag +2.8) on the 18th. By month’s end, it passes below Orion’s belt near to M42.

Deep Sky

On the deep sky front this month, galaxies M81 and M82 can be observed in Ursa Major. In Hercules, two globular clusters – M92 and the excellent M13 can be observed and in Lyra – M57 – The Ring Nebula can be observed. In Vulpecula – M27 – The Dumbbell Nebula can be found. In Andromeda, M31 – The Andromeda galaxy can be observed along with its satellite galaxies M32 and M110. In Perseus, there is the open cluster M34 and the excellent Double Cluster – NGC 869 and 884. In Triangulum, there is the galaxy M33. Finally Auriga is reappearing with its three open clusters M36, M37 and M38 as is Taurus with the excellent Pleiades – M45 and the Hyades.

General Notes

Always keep an eye out for Aurorae. The autumn equinox is on the 22nd which sees the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. This is the day where the length of day and night are the same and after this the night will take over cumulating with the shortest day of the year on the winter solstice in December.

Other interesting naked eye phenomena to look out for include the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein. Both are caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles which are present in the solar system. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after evening twilight has disappeared or in the East before the morning twilight. The best time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky - it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. The Gegenschein can be seen in the area of the sky opposite the sun. To view either, you must get yourself to a very dark site to cut out the light pollution. When trying to observe either of these phenomena, it is best to do so when the moon is below the horizon. If you are observing them when the moon has risen, restrict your efforts to the period 4 days either side of the new moon as otherwise the moonlight will be sufficient to drown them out.

Clear Skies

Neill McKeown

Information Sources Used and Links

www.skyviewcafe.com - Used for the Sun and Planets section. Also partly used for the Moon Section

Sky at Night Magazine Observing Guide and CD

www.aerith.net and cometchasing.skyhound.com – Used for the Comet Section for information and finder charts

www.ast.cam.ac.uk/%7Ejds/ - BAA and SPA Comet page

kometen.fg-vds.de/fgk_hpe.htm - German Comet page

BAA Handbook

Stardust Magazine

Sky Guide 2009 – South Dublin Astronomical Society

www.heavens-above.com – For the latest ISS passes, Iridium Flares and Shuttle launches

www.irishastronomy.org – Irish Federation of Astronomy Societies Website

www.stronge.org.uk – Excellent weather site including Space Weather

irishastro.org.uk – Irish Astronomical Association website

www.eaas.co.uk – Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society

Galilean Moons – Eclipses, Occultations and Transits – September 09

02 September 09 23:19 Callisto is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
04 September 09 00:56 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disk
04 September 09 01:27 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disk
04 September 09 22:33 Europa is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
05 September 09 00:58 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disk
05 September 09 21:41 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disk
05 September 09 22:14 Io exits off Jupiter's disk
06 September 09 19:27 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disk
06 September 09 21:05 Europa exits off Jupiter's disk
07 September 09 00:17 Ganymede reappears from behind Jupiter's disk
11 September 09 23:54 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
12 September 09 21:09 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disk
12 September 09 21:51 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disk
12 September 09 23:27 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disk
13 September 09 00:09 Io exits off Jupiter's disk
13 September 09 21:22 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disk
13 September 09 21:42 Ganymede is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
13 September 09 22:14 Europa's shadow exits off Jupiter's disk
13 September 09 23:40 Europa exits off Jupiter's disk
19 September 09 22:03 Callisto disappears behind Jupiter's disk
19 September 09 22:56 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disk
19 September 09 23:47 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disk
20 September 09 20:07 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
20 September 09 21:41 Europa's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disk
20 September 09 23:16 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disk
20 September 09 23:24 Europa begins to cross Jupiter's disk
21 September 09 19:40 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disk
21 September 09 20:33 Io exits off Jupiter's disk
22 September 09 21:09 Europa reappears from behind Jupiter's disk
24 September 09 22:24 Ganymede exits off Jupiter's disk
27 September 09 20:35 Callisto's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disk
27 September 09 21:55 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
28 September 09 00:02 Europa's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disk
28 September 09 01:29 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disk
28 September 09 19:11 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disk
28 September 09 20:11 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disk
28 September 09 21:29 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disk
28 September 09 22:29 Io exits off Jupiter's disk
29 September 09 19:40 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disk
29 September 09 23:47 Europa reappears from behind Jupiter's disk

Neill

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15 years 3 months ago - 15 years 3 months ago #80679 by Seanie_Morris
Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re:September Observing Guide
Cheers Neill, plenty of data there to keep us all happy!

Seanie.

Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
Last edit: 15 years 3 months ago by Seanie_Morris. Reason: Made as a Sticky

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15 years 3 months ago #80723 by Frank Ryan
Replied by Frank Ryan on topic Re:September Observing Guide
Superb Guide as always Neill.
Thanks for posting.

My Astrophotography
Shannonside Astronomy Club __________________________________________
Meade ETX-125PE, Bresser 10 x 50 Binos & Me Peepers

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15 years 3 months ago #80727 by michaeloconnell
Replied by michaeloconnell on topic Re:September Observing Guide
Thanks Neill !

Michael.

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