The Night Sky in SEPTEMBER 2024

For more details please consult – Astronomy – Sun – Moon – Eclipses (timeanddate.com) and In-The-Sky.org

Note – all times in BST

Overview:

The Moon 

New Moon 3rd September 2024 at 0255 First Quarter 11th September 2024 at 1105 Full Moon 18th September 2024 at 0334 Last Quarter 24th September 2024 at 1949

The Planets   

Sun   Moon  Mercury Venus   Mars  Jupiter  Saturn  Uranus Neptune

Rise        0638  1848 0518      0920     2324   2224    1917    2109 1931

Set         1922  0209   1911     2005  1624  1506  0558    1304 0718  

In summary         

Mercury is a difficult object in the morning twilight, Venus will be visible in the evening twilight. Mars is visible after 1am with Jupiter nearby – and much brighter. Saturn is close to opposition and is visible during the hours of darkness. Uranus is a morning object. Neptune is very close to Saturn all month.

The Stars at 9pm BST

North – Cepheus and Draco are almost overhead. The two Bears are nicely placed with Camelopardalis low down along with Perseus. Auriga is just starting to rise.

East –  Cygnus is overhead next to Cepheus. The Constellations of the Milky Way are nicely presented in this view tonight. Andromeda and Pegasus are well placed for viewing. Aquarius – with Saturn – and Pisces – with Neptune – are low down

South – Cygnus is overhead with Lyra, Sagitta and Aquila nicely placed. Sagittarius is close to the southern horizon. Plus the many objects and star clods of the Milky Way.

West – Lyra, Draco and Hercules are high up. Ophiuchus and Corona Borealis [ NB keep a watch on T Crb! – could flare any time now].

Meteor Showers  

Bright Comet

Comet C/2023 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS continues its steady track across the sky and is still getting brighter [Magnitude 6 and brightening during September] It resides in Sextans – the Sextant. It will be visible very low down in the East before sunrise.

For further news on upcoming bright Comets please browse with website ….. https://in-the-sky.org/data/comets.php

Other phenomena to look out for

With Summer almost over darker skies are approaching so its time to dust of the telescope covers, check your equipment out and get outside – there may be a clear sky at some stage this autumn. There is still lots of solar activity at the moment, the current cycle is much stronger than expected – sunspots and more – so if you have a Solar Filter check out the daily changes to Sunspots.

 Night Sky View

Rendering from Carte du Ciel – Skycharts. en:start [Skychart] (ap-i.net)