What’s Up – September 2010
Credit & Copyright: Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)
I wish I had meteor showers to tell you about like last month, but alas, no such luck….
September is a time of transition. This month the autumnal equinox falls on the 22nd, as the Sun sets earlier and earlier, and northern summer gives way to autumn.
Low in the southwest at dusk, the brilliant “star” is Venus, wrapping up a terrific 7-month stint in the evening sky.
As Venus sets in the west, giant Jupiter rises in the east. This month the King of Planets reaches opposition, meaning it’s opposite the Sun in the sky. It rises at sunset, gets highest around midnight, and sets at dawn.
— Sky and Telescope
The International Space Station and various satellites can be tracked and viewed at Heavens-Above.com (link is set for Mt. Shasta’s location and elevation.)
September 8th is the next New Moon, with a Full Moon on the 23rd. For a full list of sky happenings this month, as well as a handy printable map, download The Evening Sky Map (or click here for languages other than English.)
Side note: I am one of 150 Twitter users — chosen by lottery from 2,700 applicants — to view the final launch of Space Shuttle Discovery on November 1, 2010, as part of NASA’s STS-133 “Tweetup” event. I (and my 149 cohorts) will be live-tweeting and blogging from the VIP/press site, three miles from the launch pad, at Kennedy Space Center! In other words, What’s Up – November will come to you direct from Florida! If you’d like to share in my spacey adventures, you can follow me on Twitter at @silverrockets, or my blog at Silver-Rockets.com.
That’s all until next month — keep your eyes on the skies!
by Danielle Signor, dsignor.com
