Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday October 3 through Sunday October 9.
The full moon for the month of October is on Sunday the 9th so we’ll have a waxing gibbous moon all of this week. The full moon of October is known as the Hunter’s Moon and the Dying Grass Moon.
Saturn is up in the southeast at sunset and is setting at 3:20 a.m. Look for Saturn above and to the right of the Moon on Wednesday night.
Jupiter is up in the east shortly after sunset and is still visible most of the night after last week’s opposition. Look for Jupiter just a couple of degrees above the nearly full moon on Saturday night.
Mars is rising just before 11 p.m. at midweek and is now at magnitude -0.7 and 12.5 arcseconds in size.
Mercury is at greatest elongation from the Sun on Saturday when it will be rising at 6:05 a.m., about an hour and a half before the Sun.
Venus is a couple of weeks from conjunction with the Sun and is now lost in the Sun’s glare.
In space anniversaries this week, Tuesday October 4 marks 65 years since the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the world’s first artificial satellite. The satellite sent a radio signal back to Earth that was easily detectible by amateur radio operators around the planet. The signal stopped three weeks into the mission because of battery failure and the satellite itself reentered the Earth’s atmosphere on January 4, 1958.
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.
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.
