Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday August 28 through Monday September 4.
The second full moon for the month of August is on Wednesday night so we’ll start the week with a waxing gibbous moon and finish with a waning gibbous moon. And as the second full moon in the month, it is commonly called a Blue Moon. This full moon also occurs within a few hours of perigee, the moon’s closest point to the Earth in its orbit, so it will also be the largest full moon in angular size this year.
Mercury continues to sink back towards the sun and is very low in the west at sunset and is setting at 8:05 p.m. at midweek. Mars is also low in the west at sunset and is setting at 9:05 p.m.
Saturn is rising at 7:40 p.m. and will be above the full moon on Wednesday night.
Jupiter is rising at 11:10 p.m. at midweek and then will be visible for the remainder of the night. Look for Jupiter alongside the moon on Monday September 4th.
In the morning skies, Venus is rising at 5:20 a.m. as it continues to move away from the sun after its last conjunction.
In space anniversaries this week, Wednesday August 30th marks 40 years since the launch of STS-8, the eighth overall space shuttle mission and the third flight of the shuttle Challenger, whose crew included Mission Specialist Guion Bluford, who became the first African-American in space. Bluford flew on a total of four space shuttle missions before retiring from NASA and the US Air Force in 1993.
Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building is on Wednesday nights currently from 8 to 10 p.m. PMA is located on the southeast corner of Dean Keeton and Speedway. Take the elevator to the 17th floor and follow the signs to the telescope.
Public viewing at the 9-inch refractor at Painter Hall is on Friday and Saturday nights currently from 8 to 10 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe and is northeast of the UT Tower. Take the elevator to the 5th floor then take the stairs up to the 6th floor and follow the signs up to the telescope.
All events are free and open to all ages and no reservations are required. Note that viewing times and availability change throughout the year so please check the schedule before planning a visit. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 512-232-4265 for weather cancellation information, which is updated 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled viewing start time.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report and have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.
