texas

Skywatchers Report


Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday October 1 through Sunday October 7.

The moon is at last quarter on the morning of Tuesday October 2nd and we'll have a waning crescent moon for the rest of the week.

Mercury is moving away from the sun after conjunction but it still setting only half an hour after sunset so it is too close to the sun to see.

Venus is low in the west-southwest and is setting at 8:35 p.m. 

Jupiter is above Venus and is setting at 9:40 p.m.

Saturn is up in the south-southwest at sunset and is setting at 12:30 a.m.

Mars is in the south-southeast and is setting at 2:45 a.m.

This week in space anniversaries, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration began operations 60 years ago on October 1, 1958. NASA was established by President Eisenhower as a civilian space agency to conduct all non-military space activity. You can learn all about the history of NASA at history.nasa.gov

Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of Robert Lee Moore Hall is on Wednesday nights currently from 8 to 10 p.m. RLM 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. 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.