{"id":35260,"date":"2022-08-11T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-11T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=35260"},"modified":"2022-09-12T11:14:00","modified_gmt":"2022-09-12T11:14:00","slug":"september-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/2022\/08\/11\/september-highlights\/","title":{"rendered":"September highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your guide to the night sky this month<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Thursday <\/strong>1<\/h4>\n\n

The Moon is out of the way at the start and end of September, making these perfect times to take this month\u2019s Deep-Sky Tour. <\/p>\n\n

Saturday <\/strong>3<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

Catch the first quarter Moon 2.3\u00ba from the mag. +1.0 red supergiant Antares a (Alpha (\u03b1) Scorpii) as the sky begins to darken.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Monday <\/strong>5<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

This evening, a view of the Moon through binoculars or a small telescope will show the dawn-lit peaks of the Jura Mountain range arcing across the lunar terminator. This forms a clair-obscur effect known as the Jewelled Handle.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

A view of Jupiter from 00:30 BST (23:29 UT on 4 September) through to 01:47 BST (00:47 UT) will show Callisto\u2019s shadow just clipping the planet\u2019s south polar region. <\/p>\n\n

Wednesday <\/strong>7<\/h4>\n\n

Mag. \u20130.2 Mars lies 4.3\u00ba from mag. +0.8 Aldebaran (Alpha (\u03b1) Tauri) in this morning\u2019s sky. Both objects will be showing a distinctive orange hue.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Thursday <\/strong>8<\/h4>\n\n

This evening\u2019s 96%-lit waxing gibbous Moon lies 7\u00ba from mag. +0.5 Saturn. Minor planet 3 Juno reaches opposition, shining at mag. +7.8 in the constellation Aquarius, 10\u00ba west of similarly bright Neptune.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Saturday <\/strong>10<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

The Moon is full at 10:59 BST (<\/strong>09:59 <\/strong>UT) but won\u2019t be visible until later in the day. This full Moon is closest to the September equinox, making it the Harvest Moon for 2022. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Sunday <\/strong>11<\/h4>\n\n

Just after rising this evening, the 97%-lit waning gibbous Moon lies 3.8\u00ba to the east of mag. \u20132.8 Jupiter.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Wednesday <\/strong>14<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

This evening\u2019s 77%-lit waning gibbous <\/strong>Moon will occult the planet Uranus. It disappears at 22:30 BST (21:30 UT), reappearing at 23:21 BST (22:21 UT). Times will vary slightly with location. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Friday <\/strong>16<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

Neptune reaches opposition in Aquarius<\/span>. Currently located around 6\u00ba south of the Circlet asterism in Pisces, the planet shines at mag. +7.8.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Saturday <\/strong>17<\/h4>\n\n

The 58%-lit waning gibbous Moon sits 2.9\u00ba north of mag. \u20130.4 Mars this morning. Catch them together after 01:00 BST (00:00 UT).<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Thursday <\/strong>22<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

This morning is the second of two opportunities to catch our Moonwatch target, the walled plain Schickard. The first is on the evening of 8 September.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Friday <\/strong>23<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

The Sun crosses the celestial equator heading south at 02:04 BST (01:04 UT), marking the September equinox, also known as the Northern Hemisphere\u2019s autumn equinox and the Southern Hemisphere\u2019s spring equinox.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

This morning\u2019s 7%-lit waning crescent Moon passes just south of mag. +3.5<\/span> Eta (\u03b7) Leonis. From the centre of the UK at 04:00 BST (03:00 UT) the northern cusp of the Moon is just 8 arcseconds south of the star.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Saturday <\/strong>24<\/h4>\n\n

Io and its shadow transit <\/strong>Jupiter this morning from 02:57 BST (01:57 UT) until 05:12 BST (04:12 UT). As the planet is near opposition, the moon and its shadow will appear very close together.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Sunday <\/strong>25<\/h4>\n\n

From 06:30 BST (05:30 UT) there\u2019s an excellent chance to spot an ultra-thin 0.6%-lit waning crescent Moon just 2\u00ba north of mag. \u20133.8 Venus. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Monday <\/strong>26<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

The planet <\/strong>Jupiter reaches opposition today, shining at mag. \u20132.8 in Pisces. Catch an ultra-thin waxing crescent Moon shortly after sunset. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Wednesday <\/strong>28<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

The giant moon Ganymede, along with <\/strong>its shadow, transit Jupiter from 05:06 BST (04:06 UT), the event still in progress as Jupiter sets. <\/span><\/p>\n\n

Friday <\/strong>30<\/h4>\n\n

waning crescent Moon this evening The 25%-lit sits 2.3\u00ba from mag. +1.0 Antares (Alpha (\u03b1) Scorpii), the pair visible low above the southwest horizon shortly after the Sun has set.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n

Family stargazing <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The full Moon on 10 September is the Harvest Moon for 2022, so-called because the difference in rise times from one evening to the next after this date is the smallest for the year. This means the bright, fuller phases of the Moon appear at approximately similar times, lighting the way to collect the harvest. Young scientists might like to make a note of the rise times for the Moon from 10 September onwards (find them at www.timeanddate.com\/moon<\/a>) and calculate the difference. Try to remember to do this next March too, when the difference is greatest. bbc.co.uk\/cbeebies\/shows\/stargazing<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

NEED TO<\/strong> KNOW<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n

The terms and symbols used in The Sky Guide<\/p>\n\n

Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST)<\/strong>
Universal Time (UT) is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. British Summer Time (BST) is one hour ahead of UT<\/p>\n\n

RA (Right ascension) and dec. (declination)<\/strong>
These coordinates are the night sky\u2019s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial \u2018globe\u2019<\/p>\n\n

Naked eye<\/strong>
Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted<\/p>\n\n

Photo opp<\/strong>
Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR<\/p>\n\n

Binoculars<\/strong>
10×50 recommended<\/p>\n\n

Small\/ medium scope<\/strong>
Reflector\/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches<\/p>\n\n

Large scope<\/strong>
Reflector\/SCT over 6 inches, refractor over 4 inches<\/p>\n\n

<\/div>
\n
GETTING STARTED<\/strong> IN ASTRONOMY<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re new to astronomy, you\u2019ll find two essential reads on our website. Visit http:\/\/bit.ly\/10_easylessons<\/a> <\/strong>for our 10-step guide to getting started and http:\/\/bit.ly\/buy_scope<\/a> <\/strong>for advice on choosing a scope<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Photos: PETE LAWRENCE <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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