Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday September 5 through Sunday September 11.
The full moon for the month of September is on Saturday morning so we’ll have a waxing gibbous moon for the work week and start into the waning gibbous phase on the weekend. This full moon is known as the Fruit Moon and the Green Corn Moon. And, as the full moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox, it’s this year’s Harvest Moon.
Mercury continues to move back towards the sun and sets just 45 minutes after sunset this week.
Saturn rises at 6:25 p.m. at midweek. Look for Saturn to the left of the moon on Wednesday evening and above the moon on Thursday.
Jupiter is up at 8:40 p.m. at midweek. Look for Jupiter to the lower left of the moon on Saturday and above and slightly to the right of the moon on Sunday.
Mars now rises around midnight and is near the bright star Aldebaran in the constellation Taurus.
Venus is rising at 6:15 a.m., less than an hour before sunrise.
In space anniversaries this week, Monday September 5 marks 45 years since the launch of Voyager 1, two weeks after it’s sibling spacecraft, Voyager 2. Voyager 1 flew by Jupiter in March 1979 and then Saturn in November 1980 and then reached the heliopause at the boundary of the solar system in 2012. Voyager 1 continues to explore interstellar space and is expected to reach end-of-life of its radioisotope thermoelectric generators in a few years.
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 from currently 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.
Please note that there will be no Painter Telescope viewing on Saturday evenings when the UT football team has a night home game. Logon to TexasSports.com to check the football schedule.
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.
