Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday September 9 through Sunday September 15.
The moon is at first quarter early on Wednesday morning, so we’ll start the week with a waxing crescent moon and finish with a waxing gibbous moon.
Venus is visible low in the west in the evening twilight and is setting just before 9 p.m. at midweek.
Saturn is rising at 7:30 p.m. at midweek and is still visible most of the night after last week’s opposition.
Jupiter rises at 12:20 a.m. and Mars follows an hour later.
Mercury is now slowly moving back towards the sun after last week’s greatest elongation and is rising at 6 a.m., a little over an hour before the sun.
In space anniversaries this week, Thursday September 12 marks 65 years since the launch of the Soviet Luna 2, which became the first human made object to reach the surface of another celestial body. Luna 2 was the sixth Soviet mission, but first successful one, to try to impact the moon, which it achieved on September 13, 1959. The first successful soft landing on the moon would come over 6 years later with the Luna 9 mission in January 1966.
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.
