Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday October 12th through Sunday October 18th.
The moon is at first quarter on Sunday, so we’ll have a waxing crescent moon in the early evening skies all of this week.
Venus is now a week away from conjunction and is setting just a few minutes after the Sun.
Mercury is at greatest elongation on Monday evening and then will start sinking back towards the Sun and its next conjunction. Mercury is setting at 8:05 p.m. on Monday and will be two degrees to the upper right of the very thin waxing crescent moon.
Saturn is rising at 6:30 p.m. and is about 20 degrees above the horizon by 8:00 p.m. Saturn is setting at 6:45 a.m. so it is still visible for most of the night.
Mars is rising at 2 a.m. at midweek and Jupiter follows an hour later. The two planets continue to move closer to one another until they reach their closest point in about a month.
Public viewing at 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 star party status information, which is updated 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled viewing start times.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.
