The Lakeshore Sky Watcher
by Jonathan Truax, MCC Astronomer
September is a great month for star gazing. Nights in September tend to be frequently clear, the stars of summer are still well placed for observing, and this year the five naked eye planets are visible as well.
During September evenings about 30 to 45 minutes after sunset, Mars, Mercury, and Venus are found low in the west, very close to the horizon. The trio of planets is in the order Mercury closest to the horizon, then Venus higher up, followed by Mars. Over the course of the month, Mercury and Mars sink lower in the west. By September 11, Mars is within one degree of Venus. All three planets are so low for most observers, that I recommend using binoculars about 30 minutes after sunset, to aid in finding them.
The night of September 6, the waxing gibbous moon will be near the bright red supergiant star Antares of Scorpius the Scorpion.
Sky watchers can locate brilliant Jupiter in the south at sunset. The waxing gibbous moon is very close to Jupiter the night of September 9. Use a pair of binoculars to find some of Jupiter's four large moons. The moons will appear as tiny stars next to the disk of the planet.
The Full moon of September is the Harvest Moon, occurring on the night of September 15. The moon shines among the stars of Pisces, just south of the "Great Square" of Pegasus.
As darkness falls after sunset this month, high in the northwest, locate the "Big Dipper" formed by the stars of Ursa Major. Low in the western sky, sky watchers can find Arcturus of Bootes, the brightest star of summer. High overhead, locate three bright stars all blue or white in color, forming the "Summer Triangle." The northeast corner star is Deneb, of Cygnus the Swan. The northwest corner star is Vega, of Lyra the Harp. Furthest south of the trio is Altair, of Aquila the Eagle. By dawn the "Summer Triangle" can be found low in the west. High in the northeast, the "W" shaped pattern of stars forming Cassiopeia is rising.
This month after sunset, the summer Milky Way stretches from low in the southwest, through the zenith, down to the northeast horizon. For the best views of the Milky Way, observe away from city lights, and on the nights after September 18 through to the end of the month, when the moon is not in the evening sky.
As dawn twilight begins, look high overhead to locate the bright orange star Aldebaran of Taurus, one of the brightest stars of winter. Just west of overhead is the Pleiades star cluster. The waning gibbous moon will be very close to the cluster the morning of the 20th. Orion the Hunter is high in the south at that time. Low in the southeast is Sirius, brightest star in the heavens, is rising.
The morning of September 26 about 45 minutes before sunrise, locate the waning crescent moon very near the bright blue star Regulus of Leo the Lion.
About mid-month, begin looking for Saturn low in the east, about an hour before sunrise. A very thin waning crescent moon will be near Saturn the morning of September 27.
Call (231) 777-0289 for information on sky shows at Muskegon Community College's Carr-Fles Planetarium.
