Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday August 21 through Sunday August 27.
The moon is at first quarter early on Thursday the 24th so we’ll have a waxing crescent moon for the first half of the week and a waxing gibbous moon for the second half of the week. Look for the moon to cover the bright orange star Antares a little before 10 p.m. on Thursday night in what is known as an occultation.
Mercury is low in the west after sundown and is setting at 8:45 p.m. at midweek. Mars is a little higher in the west and is setting at 9:20 p.m.
Saturn is at opposition on Saturday night into Sunday morning and will rise at sunset and set at sunrise that day. After opposition, Saturn will move into a better place for early evening observing throughout the autumn.
A little later into the evening, Jupiter is rising at 11:30 p.m. and will be visible for the remainder of the night.
In the pre-dawn skies, Venus is rising at 5:55 a.m., about an hour and 10 minutes before sunrise.
In space anniversaries this week, Friday August 25th marks 20 years since the launch of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, later renamed the Spitzer Space Telescope. Spitzer’s main observation phase ended in May 2009 when the spacecraft’s liquid helium supply – crucial for cooling the telescope enough for sensitive infrared observations – was fully consumed. The spacecraft was able to continue observing in limited wavelengths as the Spitzer Warm Mission for several more years until the satellite was officially retired on January 30, 2020. Spitzer remains in an Earth-trailing orbit around the Sun.
Public viewing on UT campus telescopes has finished for the summer session. Fall semester viewing will resume over the next few weeks. Please check back for details on starting dates and times.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.
