Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday August 31st through Monday September 7th.
The moon is at last quarter early on Friday morning, so we’ll have a waning gibbous moon for the work week and a waning crescent moon for the weekend.
Mercury is emerging from last week’s solar conjunction and is setting just 30 minutes after the sun at midweek.
Venus is in the west-southwest at sunset and is near the star Spica in the constellation Virgo in the latter half of the week. Venus is setting at 9:40 p.m. at midweek.
Saturn is rising at 9:20 p.m. at midweek and is now just a month away from opposition and the beginning of the best time of the year to see the ringed planet.
In the pre-dawn skies, Mars is rising at 2:45 a.m. and Jupiter is rising at 5:00 a.m. Look for Mars near the waning crescent moon on Sunday morning.
In space anniversaries this week, Thursday September 3rd marks 50 years since the Viking 2 lander touched down at Utopia Planitia in the northern hemisphere of Mars. Like its twin Viking 1, this lander conducted experiments looking for signs of life on Mars and the results are now seen as more inconclusive than the initial negative conclusions. The lander operated on the Martian surface for three and a half years before its batteries failed and it was switched off in April 1980.
Public viewing at 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 star party status information, which is updated 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled viewing start times.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.
