Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report for October 4th through the 10th.
The moon is at third quarter phase in the morning hours of Wednesday the 6th.
In the morning hours of the 7th, the moon will appear alongside Saturn high in the east. A very slim crescent moon will be alongside Venus a few hours before sunrise on the 10th. Jupiter and Mars are still very close to the sun, and Mercury is swinging back from the morning sky to the evening.
The Cassini mission to Saturn continues to send back great images of the ringed planet. The next major event of the mission will be the first flyby of the giant moon Titan, the only moon in the solar system with a thick atmosphere. To see the latest images and learn more about the mission, log on to saturn.jpl.nasa.gov
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.
