Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report for September 7th through the 12th.
The moon was at third quarter on Monday the 6th and won't reach new until the 14th.
Early in the morning hours before dawn on the 10th, the waning crescent moon will make a triangle with Venus and Saturn, with Castor and Pollux of the constellation Gemini above. That same morning just before the sun rises, you can catch Mercury and Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion, less than a 10th of a degree apart.
Uranus is the brightest planet now visible in the evening sky since Jupiter is about to disappear behind the sun.
In astronomy news last week, University of Texas astronomers and colleagues announced the discovery of a Neptune-sized planet orbiting a nearby star. For more information, check out the UT Astronomy Program homepage at www.as.utexas.edu
For more skywatching tips for the week, check out stardate.org
The telescope at Robert Lee Moore Hall will be open on Wednesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. RLM is located on the southeast corner of Dean Keeton and Speedway. Take the elevators to the 17th floor and follow the signs to the telescope.
The Painter Hall telescope is open to the public on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 10 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe.
All events are free and open to all ages and no reservations are required. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 232-4265 for weather cancellation information. Note that star party times and availability change throughout the year. Please call this recording before planning a visit to the telescopes.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report.
