Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday September 12th through Sunday September 18th.
The moon is at third quarter on Saturday the 17th so we’ll have a waning gibbous moon for the work week and begin the waning crescent phase on Sunday.
Mercury is now setting just 20 minutes after the sun at midweek as it heads towards inferior conjunction next week.
Over in the eastern skies in the early evening, Saturn is rising at 6 p.m. and is well-places for viewing by sunset. Jupiter follows Saturn a couple of hours later, rising at 8:10 p.m. at midweek, about 35 minutes after sunset. Jupiter will be at opposition in two weeks when it will rise at sunset and set at sunrise.
Mars rises at 11:45 p.m. and will be just a few degrees from the Moon on Friday night into early Saturday morning.
In space anniversaries this week, 30 years ago on Monday the 12th, the space shuttle Endeavour launched with a crew that included several firsts. Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go into space, Mamoru Mohri became the first Japanese astronaut to fly on the shuttle, and Mark Lee and Jan Davis became the first married couple to fly into space together on the same mission.
And five years ago, on Thursday the 15th, the Cassini spacecraft plunged into Saturn’s atmosphere, ending its 20 year mission and 13 years in orbit around the ringed planet.
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.
