Monday, September 26
The mighty planet Jupiter reaches opposition immediately at 4 P.M. EDT within the constellation Pisces. It can rise because the Solar units and set because the Solar rises, providing glorious views all evening and early morning.
Jupiter can also be near Earth in its orbit proper now — nearer than it has been since 1963, in response to NASA. That’s as a result of neither Jupiter nor Earth orbits the Solar in an ideal circle, and solely often do the planets’ orbits carry them notably shut collectively. However this yr, the enormous planet is inside some 367 million miles (591 million kilometers) of Earth, making it seem notably huge and shiny — 50″ throughout and magnitude –2.9 — within the sky.
Two hours after sundown, Jupiter is greater than 20° excessive within the east. The later within the night you observe, the higher, because the clearer your views might be. You possibly can’t miss its shiny gentle some 11° under the Circlet of Pisces; Jupiter is the brightest supply of sunshine within the sky in a single day, till Venus rises tomorrow morning.
Zoom in on Jupiter with a telescope and also you’ll see it’s flanked by its 4 largest moons. Stretching out to the east (from closest to farthest) are Io, Europa, and Ganymede. Alone to the west is Callisto. In case you do catch the planet earlier within the night, you might even see its Nice Crimson Spot transiting the face, reaching the center of the planet round 8:45 P.M. EDT. (The Spot will transit once more tomorrow morning, reaching halfway throughout Jupiter’s face round 6:40 A.M. EDT on the twenty seventh.)
Dawn: 6:51 A.M.
Sundown: 6:50 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:29 A.M.
Moonset: 7:28 P.M.
Moon Part: Waxing crescent (1%)
Tuesday, September 27
The darkest nights this month are the most effective time to identify the far-flung ice giant Uranus, the second-to-last planet in our solar system. The magnitude 5.7 planet is a wonderful binocular or small scope goal tonight, rising within the east round 8 P.M. native time. Give it a couple of hours to climb larger above the horizon; by 11 P.M., it’s greater than 25° excessive in southeastern Aries. The planet will proceed to maneuver larger into the morning hours, so early risers can anticipate even higher views.
The simplest option to discover Uranus in binoculars is to first find Menkar, Cetus the Whale’s magnitude 2.5 alpha star. From there, shift rather less than two fields of view (in 7×50 binoculars) to discover a small triangle of three Sixth-magnitude stars. Considered one of these is 53 Arietis. Uranus sits close to the western fringe of the triangle. Its small disk spans simply 4″ and should seem bluish-gray.
About 14.5° northeast of Uranus within the sky lies 2nd-magnitude Hamal, the brightest star in Aries. Roughly 4° southeast of this star is Aries’ second-brightest star, magnitude 2.6 Sheratan.
Dawn: 6:52 A.M.
Sundown: 6:49 P.M.
Moonrise: 8:36 A.M.
Moonset: 7:53 P.M.
Moon Part: Waxing crescent (4%)
Wednesday, September 28
Let’s return to Pisces tonight for a a lot fainter goal than Jupiter. Right now, we’re specializing in a galaxy group within the northeastern portion of the constellation, close to Andromeda. Cataloged as Arp 331 or the NGC 383 group, this set of galaxies is usually known as the Pisces Chain or the Pisces Cloud as effectively.
Even with a darkish sky, you’ll want a big scope to trace down this gaggle of galaxies, so go for as a lot aperture as you may. The brightest member of the chain is Twelfth-magnitude NGC 383, for whom the group is known as. This galaxy additionally seems the biggest, spanning some 2′. You’ll discover it about 3.2° south of Mirach (Beta [β] Andromedae). Simply 30″ to its southwest is the starlike galaxy NGC 382 (magnitude 14).
Stretching in a line southeast of NGC 383 are (from north to south) NGC 386 (magnitude 14), NGC 385 (magnitude 13), NGC 388 (magnitude 14), and NGC 384 (magnitude 13). To NGC 383’s north (from south to north) are NGC 380 (magnitude 13.6) and NGC 379 (magnitude 13).
Dawn: 6:53 A.M.
Sundown: 6:47 P.M.
Moonrise: 9:46 A.M.
Moonset: 10:20 P.M.
Moon Part: Waxing crescent (9%)
