THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM
70 Falmouth Street      Portland, Maine 04103
(207) 780-4249      usm.maine.edu/planet
43.6667° N    70.2667° W
Founded January 1970
2022-2023: VII
Sunrise: 6:11 a.m.
Sunset: 7:06 p.m.
Civil twilight ends: 7:35 p.m.
Sun's host constellation: Leo the Lion
Moon phase: Waxing gibbous (91% illuminated)
Julian date: 2459830.16
"Life is fleeting. And if you're ever distressed, cast your eyes to the
summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a
shooting star streaks through the blackness, turning night into day ...
make a wish and think of me” -Robin Williams


THE DAILY ASTRONOMER
Wednesday, September 7, 2022
September 2022 Night Sky Calendar Part II

Hundreds!
Each night, were one to closely observe the sky, one would literally notice
hundreds of celestial sights from dusk to dawn. Space constraints require
us to be somewhat discriminating when selecting the sights featured in
these articles. With the exception of 'academic events,' we tend to choose
celestial happenings that are readily observable: those that even a casual
skywatcher could see without much effort. As we also augment this calendar
with what we hope will be helpful graphics, we often have to divide it into
two or three parts.

Happy viewing to you all!

*WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7: MARS CLOSE TO ALDEBARAN*

[image: mars_220907-t.webp]

Tonight one will observe the planet Mars drawing to within 4.6 degrees of
Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus the Bull. Aldebaran marks the
bull's ember-tinted eye, the one that sternly regards Orion the Hunter.
Note the color contrast between the star and its planetary companion, the
latter of which will appear to exude a deeper red hue. At magnitude -0.2,
Mars will appear 2.5 times brighter than Alderbaran (magnitude 0.86).
Tonight Mars will rise at 10:42 p.m. and by midnight will ascend to more
than 20 degrees above the northeastern horizon. The fourth planet forms a
second "eye" tonight as it moves just to the east of the star epsilon
Tauri.

*THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 - MOON NEAR SATURN*
One will observe the nearly full moon (gibbous - 96% illuminated) "close"
to Saturn, the most distant of the naked eye superior planets.* An observer
will see Saturn as a moderately bright star like object (magnitude 0.4)
just to the north of the moon. Saturn will rise at 6:04 p.m. this evening.
The moon follows at 6:41 p.m.

*SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10: FULL MOON [HARVEST MOON!] SILVER EVENT!!*
Perhaps the most famous of all full moons, the Harvest Moon occurs tonight!
The Harvest Moon is defined as the full moon occurring closest to the
autumnal equinox, which, this year, falls on September 22nd. The harvest
moon can either occur in September or October. Although the 2022 Harvest
Moon arrives early this year, farmers and gardeners are already bringing in
some of their crops and so will benefit from the lunar glow. The Harvest
Moon was so named because the bright full moon imparts ample illumination
onto the fields to aid the farmers throughout the night. Although summer
won't end for another twelve days, the Harvest Moon has already arrived.
The moon rises tonight at 7:32 p.m.

[image:
harvest-moon-rising-over-autumn-trees-with-birds-royalty-free-image-1631888653.jpg]
*SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11: MOON NEAR JUPITER BRONZE EVENT!*
Who wouldn't want to see two of the night sky's brightest objects in "close
contact?" Well, we write "close contact," even though tonight the Moon's
distance from Earth merely equals 246,000 miles, whereas Jupiter will be
more than 373 million miles away. They seem to be near each other because
the night sky conceals depth. Although technically in the early waning
gibbous phase, the moon will still appear full tonight when it paasses just
south of Jupiter. Jupiter will rise at 7:44 p.m. while the moon rises ten
minutes later.

*_______________________________________________________*
*WHERE'S ORION THIS MONTH?* Orion will rise completely by 3:30 a.m. Those
who've missed seeing this formidable hunter can find him low in the eastern
pre-dawn sky this month. While that is not convenient timing for most
people, one should go out to observe Orion when it is that close to the
horizon. Though larger than life at any time of night, when seen that low,
Orion truly does bestride the wide firmament like a colossus.
_____________________________________________________________

*WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15: MOON NEAR THE PLEIADES* The waning gibbous moon
(70% illuminated) appears to pass between the Pleiades and Taurus this
evening. The Pleiades Star Cluster resembles a faint, but distinctive
"small dipper" poised on the bull's shoulder. Some observers merely see a
circular cloud. Mythologically, the Pleiades, also known as the 'seven
sisters' are the daughters of Atlas and the oceanid Pleione. With the
exception of Merope, who married Sisyphus, the others all ended up marrying
gods with varying results.

[image: the-pleiades.png]

Astronomically, the Pleiades is a galactic, or open, star cluster located
approximately 440 light years from Earth. Consisting of stars that formed
120 million years ago, this cluster will slowly dissipate over the next
billion years as the stars gradually establish independent trajectories
throughout space. The above photograph, posted by the wonderful author
Lucinda Riley, reveals whispers of nebulosity around each star. Once
believed to have been the residue of material associated with its birth
cloud, this nebula is now known to be unrelated to the Pleiades' formation.
It is simply a nebula through which the Pleiades cluster is currently
traveling. The starlight illuminates this gaseous region, known as the Maia
Nebula- just as a firefly imparts its glow to a fogbank. Consequently, the
Maia Nebula serves as an example of a *reflection nebula.*

*THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16: NEPTUNE AT OPPOSITION*
Yes, an "academic event," defined as one that naked eye sky observers can't
see, but still warrants at least a passing mention. Tonight, the eighth
-but not last-planet reaches opposition. At this time, Earth will pass
between the Sun and Neptune. Whenever at opposition, a superior planet
remains visible all night and is generally at its brightest. Indeed, at
magnitude 7.8, Neptune is at its maximum brightness now. Even so, Neptune
is still five times dimmer than the faintest star visible to the unaided
eye.

*FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17: LAST QUARTER MOON*

Part III tomorrow

*Yes, we heard that grumble. It is true that Uranus is also a naked eye
planet....only just. When at its brightest, this planet will be within the
range of naked eye visibility. In fact, Uranus was observed prior to its
discovery, notably by both Galileo and Thomas Jefferson, both of whom
observed it without a telescope, but labeled it as a star. However, Saturn
is the most distant planet readily visible to the unaided eye. To find
Uranus, an observer would have to know its precise location, find a
completely dark sky (good luck) and have enough patience to overflow a
Buddhist monastery.



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