This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2024 Sept 21 – Sept 28
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2024 Sept 21 – Sept 28
This is a good time of year to double your sky observing time. For the next several weeks, before we return to Standard Time, the sky is dark and the stars are blazing when most people are up to start their day, and it is not bitterly cold or snowbound. Orion and his dogs are prominent to the south, with Taurus, Auriga and Gemini arching over them. Sirius, Rigel, Procyon and Betelgeuse are the first, seventh, eighth and tenth brightest stars in the night sky.
In early evening you can see the 4th, 5th and 6th brightest stars. Look for yellow Arcturus sinking to the west, blue-white Vega overhead and Capella in Auriga rising in the northeast. Capella is our brightest circumpolar star; it never sets for most or all of New Brunswick. Later, notice the positions of the circumpolar Big Dipper, Little Dipper and Cassiopeia. The next morning go outside and see how they have changed. Sometimes it is nice to have a little assurance that the world keeps right on turning.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:05 and sunset will occur at 7:17, giving 12 hours, 12 minutes of daylight (7:10 and 7:22 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:14 and set at 7:03, giving 11 hours, 49 minutes of daylight (7:19 and 7:09 in Saint John). The Sun crosses the equator around 9:44 am Sunday, beginning the colourful autumn season.
The Moon visits the Pleiades this Sunday and Jupiter on Monday. It reaches third quarter phase Tuesday and is above Mars Wednesday. Venus rides low in the west-southwest after sunset but it can be spotted if you have a clear view to that direction. Saturn is at its highest and best for observing at midnight, and by that time Jupiter is high enough in the east for good viewing. Mars rises just after midnight and is seen best in early morning. Mercury rapidly approaches the Sun this week and will be out of sight for the next few weeks.
Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the YouTube channel or Facebook page of Astronomy by the Bay.