| Observatory |
What's Up...
Some observing hilights
to look forward to...
The following tips on current and upcoming astronomical events
have been assembled for our Okanagan region by Dave Gamble
with the objective of giving OC RASC members a heads-up on
special personal astro-experiences to look forward to.
Tues. Sept. 1 - Just to mark the start of what many people think of as the first fall month, there is a heads up about a minimum of Algol, the 'demon' star, The eclipsing binary star in Perseus will be at minimum brightness for about two hours centred on 9.53pm. So the plan would be to check it out during that roughly two hour period and then compare it after 11pm when it will be at its regular luminosity.
Thurs. Sept. 3 - In the very early hours this morning there will be quite a bit of stuff happening in the lower eastern sky. First of all, Luna, in waning gibbous phase, will be chumming up with the Pleiades star cluster just to her lower left. If smoke is not around, and your telescope is giving you nudges, why not try for a look at Uranus? The small, light green disk of the inner ice giant planet will be spotted just over half way down and a bit to the left of a line from the Moon to Aldebaran.
Fri. Sept. 4 - This is Last Quarter Moon night and Luna will mark the occasion by forming the eastern corner of an equilateral triangle with the Pleiades and Aldebaran. While admiring the arrangement, take a moment to look lower toward the eastern horizon. Yep, that's Orion beginning its annual journey toward its climax performance in mid winter!
Sun. Sept. 6 - The early morning sky seems to be the centre of a lot of celestial activity right now. In the pre-dawn hours this morning, the waning crescent Moon will pass just north of the growing but still smallish disk of Mars as our outer neighbour makes his way further into the night sky. There will be lots of lustrous company... both will be in the heart of Gemini, with Taurus, Aldebaran and the Hyades to the right and below the magnificent star pattern of Orion!
Tues. Sept. 8 - Ok, this is an early morning event, but for early risers as well as intrepid observers it will be perfect! What we'll be looking at, just as the eastern sky brightens, will be the sight of a dramatic thin crescent Moon posing close to the king of planets - Jupiter! While even Jupiter is overpowered by a fuller phased Luna, a thin crescent Moon is quite a different thing. The two seem made for each other, as well as for a great photographic opportunity!
Thurs. Sept. 10 - This is New Moon night with our neighbour tucked away in the Sun's vicinity, allowing us to celebrate the heart of the monthly dark sky period. Let's see what we have: in the early evening the western sky is filled with the star patterns of summer preparing to exit stage right, with Hercules leading the way followed higher in the sky by Vega and its Lyrid companions and of course Cygnus. Hang out a bit later and the fall constellations then rule the southern sky, ornamented by Saturn which is leading the bright planet pack into the fall season, and if you continue into the wee hours, the glories of the winter sky will climb higher out of the east. Kind of magic, isn't it!
Fri. Sept 11 - A reminder that we are in the fall Zodiacal Light season and being at the center of the dark moon period it's an ideal time to try and spot it. If you have dark sky conditions and a clear view of the pre-dawn eastern horizon (or can travel to a location that does, such as our Okanagan Observatory), you might have a chance to glimpse the ghostly pyramid of faint light which reaches up from the horizon into the constellations Cancer and Gemini before morning twilight sets in. The effect is subtle but dramatic, especially when you realize it represents sunlight reflecting off dust particle
Sun. Sept.13 - It will take a low southwestern horizon, but there's a chance you'll be able to see a thin waxing crescent Moon with Venus just to her left as they set in twilight this evening.
Fri. Sept. 18 - This is First Quarter Moon night which always seems to mark a time when our neighbour might be checking up on how things are going in the Okanagan, particularly after having the view blocked by smoke last month! So, what might Luna see? Well, not much, since she's down on the lower sweep of the ecliptic. We however, can enjoy the neatly divided lunar sphere just to the right of the familiar Sagittarius Teapot asterism, with the rest of the stars of the summer sky stretching upward. Might be a reminder for us to enjoy them to the full before they depart for another year.
Mon. Sept. 21 - Algol will put on another dimming performance this evening. This time the companion star will slip behind its partner in the two hour period centred on 11.34pm. The regular brightness of this special star in Perseus could be checked out before 10.30 pm before the dimming performance begins.
Tues. Sept. 22 - It seems that we only recently observed the Summer Solstice with the Sun setting at its northernmost point on the horizon! Now, the second half of the current year is itself half over and the Sun will set at the half way mark of its return circuit. The official moment of autumnal equinox will occur at 5.05pm this afternoon.
Sat. Sept. 26 - This is Full Moon Night and Luna is spending it in the company of Saturn, just to her lower left. The two bright objects have little competition in the sky this time round since they are located in the midst of the faint stars of the fall constellations, which have hidden surprises of their own to be discovered with a telescope. As always, a magic time!
Wed. Sept. 30 - Here we are at the end of another month! Early this morning there will be a nice celestial show to mark the occasion. The still large waning gibbous face of Luna will be high in the sky just to the upper right of the Pleiades with the stars of Taurus below left. Tucked in there will be the inner ice giant planet Uranus, and if you missed the opportunity to view it early in the month, you can have another go. The juxtaposition will be very similar... the small light green disk of the planet will be found about 2/3 of the way between Luna and Aldebaran and just off to the left. Good hunting!