While the clouds and rain have not interfered much during September, the humidity, combined with the smoke from the wildfires out west, have caused their share of viewing problems. This combination of circumstances reduces overall visibility by blocking incoming light and reflecting/diffusing ground based light (commonly referred to as light pollution).
On several occasions during September, this combination has totally obscured some of the dimmer, normally visible, objects to the northwest of the observatory. This situation emphasizes the need to enact policies and city ordinances that restrict the amount of light that is either projected directly or reflected into the night sky. For more information on the problems caused by light pollution, go to the International Dark Sky Association website.
The mid-September Lunar Viewing Events at the Shawnee Senior Recreation Center and the Noble City Hall went off without a hitch. Attendance was light but participants were enthusiastic. October events include a second visit to Purcell’s Multi – Purpose Facility at the Purcell City Lake on the 16th and Ten Acre Observatory’s annual Halloween Star Party on the 30th.
Highlights: New Moon is on the 6th with it reaching perigee the next day (the 7th) at 225,297 miles. Mercury reaches inferior conjunction on the 9th along with the Moon passing to the north of Venus. The Moon is at 1st quarter on the 12th. On the 14th, the Moon passes to the south of Saturn and on the 15th it passes to the south of Jupiter. Venus passes to the north of Antares (Scorpio alpha) on the 16th.
The Moon passes to the north of Neptune on the 17th. Full Moon is on the 20th. The peak of the Orionid Meteor Shower occurs in the early morning hours of the 21st with the moon passing to the south of Uranus later in the day. Mercury reaches its highest point in the eastern sky on the 25th. 3rd quarter is on the 28th. Venus reaches its highest point in the western sky on the 20th. Mercury passes to the north of Spica (Virgo alpha) on the 31st.
Comets: Comet 67P/ Churyumov-Garisimenko will be moving from Taurus into Gemini on a northwesterly path. It will pass to the north of the Crab Nebula (M1) on the 8th and the Open Star Cluster M35 on the 15th and 16th. A second, dimmer, Comet 4P/Faye, will be located to the east of 67P/C-G and will be moving along a similar track, passing north of the Globular Star Cluster M55 on the 6th.
Planetary Report: The Sun, Mercury, and Mars are all in Virgo. Venus is in Libra. Jupiter is between Capricorn and Aquarius. Saturn is in Capricorn. Uranus is between Pisces and Taurus. Neptune is between Aquarius and Pisces and, finally, Pluto is still in the eastern portion of Sagittarius. Meteors: The Orionid Meteor Shower will peak in the early morning hours of the 21st. With the Moon being just one day past Full, none but the brightest meteors will be visible. The expected rate at peak will be 20/hour.
Planet Visibility: Evening hours: Venus, Pluto, Saturn and Jupiter. Overnight hours: Neptune and Uranus, Morning hours: Mercury.
Dark Sky Viewing starts on the September 27th and continues through October 9th, then starts again on the 25th and goes on into November. Odyssey Astronomy Club viewing sessions are scheduled for October 2nd, 9th and 30th. The Observatory will be closed on October 3rd.
Lunar Viewing Event is set for Saturday, October 16th at the Multi-Purpose Facility (on Chandler St) in Purcell. For details check our Facebook post.
For information about Ten Acre Observatory, the Odyssey Astronomy Club or to schedule an appointment to come out for a visit, contact us at 405-899-4016 (leave a message) or email us at: orion2c@yahoo.com. A visit to the observatory and the use of our equipment and facilities is always FREE. Visit, Like and Follow us on Facebook.
