What’s Up September 2024

A monthly look at astronomical events in the sky and on Earth

Compiled by Steve Sawyer

Hi welcome to Septembers whats up. September brings darker evenings which are hopefully still warm! And there’s plenty to see in the night sky with constellations like Andromeda, Taurus, and Gemini rising in the east, and the Milky Way arching across sky. We also have strong solar activity, a partial lunar eclipse and even some planets to view!

So what’s on this month?

On September 22, during the autumnal equinox, the Sun crosses south of the equator in Virgo. Ursa Major appears low in the north, while Arcturus and Bootes sink below the horizon later at night. Auriga begins to rise in the northeast, and by month’s end, Taurus with Aldebaran, and Gemini with Castor and Pollux, become visible in the east and northeast. Andromeda is prominent in the east, with Triangulum and Aries below it. The northern Milky Way arches across the sky, with its star clouds most visible in Cassiopeia and Cygnus. The Double Cluster in Perseus and the ‘upside-down’ Cepheus near the zenith are well-positioned for observation.

Sky Diary

Date Event
01 a-Aurigid meteor shower maximum
01 Mercury (mag. 0.5) 5.0°S of the Moon
03 New Moon
05 Mercury at greatest elongation (18.1ºW, mag. -0.3)
05 Venus (mag. -3.8) 1.2°N of the Moon
08 Moon at apogee = 406,211 km
11 First Quarter
11 Saturn at opposition (mag. 0.6)
17 Southern Taurid meteor shower
18 Saturn (mag. 0.6) 0.3ºS of the Moon
18 Full Moon
18 Partial lunar eclipse
18 Neptune (mag. 7.8) 0.7ºS of the Moon
21 Moon at perigee = 357,286 km
22 Neptune at opposition (mag. 7.8)
22 Uranus (mag. 5.6) 4.5°S of the Moon
23 September equinox
24 Jupiter (mag. -2.4) 5.7ºS of the Moon
25 Last Quarter
25 Mars (mag. 0.5) 4.9ºS of the Moon

This table organizes the celestial events by date and time, listing each event’s details for easy reference.
This table captures the astronomical events for September, including phases of the moon, planetary alignments, and other notable occurrences.

Sky Maps

Looking South on the 15th at 22:00

Looking North on the 15th at 22:00

he two charts above show all DSOs of magnitude 6.0 or brighter. They are both taken from
SkyViewCafe.com and correct for the 15th of the month. For a clickable list of Messier objects with images, use the Wikipedia link.


Septembers Objects

The Sun

 

As you can see from the image there’s a large group of sunspots with sunspot AR3806 having a ‘delta-class’ magnetic field that poses a threat for strong X-class solar flares.
September is a good month for Aurora watchers keep up with current events using the resources linked below.

Resources

For more info on the sun and solar weather look here : –

Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Auroa Forecasts

A bit US centred but still useful

Aurora Dashboard (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

And our own Met-office have an excellent space weather forecast page here Space Weather – Met Office


The Moon

September’s full moon is traditionally known as the Harvest Moon. This name originates from the fact that it occurs closest to the autumnal equinox, a time when farmers historically used the bright moonlight to extend their workday and harvest crops.

Septembers moon calendar from Sky View Café (skyviewcafe.com)
A full yearly lunar calendar can be found here :-

https://www.mooninfo.org/moon-phases/2024.html

The Moon’s Positions in September

Date Moon Event
03 New Moon
05 Venus (mag. -3.8) 1.2°N of the Moon
08 Moon at apogee = 406,211 km
18 First Quarter
18 Saturn (mag. 0.6) 0.3ºS of the Moon
18 Full Moon
18 Partial lunar eclipse
18 Neptune (mag. 7.8) 0.7ºS of the Moon
21 Moon at perigee = 357,286 km
22 Uranus (mag. 5.6) 4.5°S of the Moon
24 Jupiter (mag. -2.4) 5.7ºS of the Moon
25 Last Quarter

Partial Eclipse

Taking place on the 18th of September part of the Moon will be covered by Earth’s umbral shadow, which will be visible from the UK in the early hours. The eclipse starts at 01:41 BST, with the partial eclipse phase beginning at 03:12 BST when the Moon enters the Earth’s umbra. The maximum eclipse occurs at 03:44 BST, covering 3.5% of the Moon’s surface. The eclipse ends when the Moon leaves the umbral shadow at 04:16 BST, and the entire event concludes by 05:47 BST. The eclipse will feature subtle shading before the umbral phase, with the darkest portion appearing on the Moon’s northeast limb.

Moon Feature

Schiller Crater

Schiller Crater stands out due to its unusual shape—most lunar craters are more circular, but Schiller is distinctly elongated. This shape likely resulted from an oblique impact, making it a unique feature among lunar craters. The crater’s long, narrow appearance and the way its walls catch the sunlight can make it a particularly striking sight, especially when it’s near the terminator.

Key Details:

  • Visibility: Schiller Crater is best viewed around the First Quarter Moon, but it’s also visible during other phases when it’s near the terminator (the line between day and night on the Moon).
  • Location on the Moon: Schiller Crater is located in the southwestern region of the Moon, near the Moon’s edge.
  • Size and Shape: Schiller is an elongated, oval-shaped crater, approximately 179 kilometers (111 miles) long and 71 kilometers (44 miles) wide.

More info here :-

Schiller (crater) – Wikipedia


Planets

Apart from Saturn most of the planets are better viewed towards the end of September

Mercury

A morning planet rising 90 minutes before sunrise, best for viewing at the beginning of the month.

Venus

Very low in the evening twilight at the beginning of the month. Can be found near the moon on the 5th September. Better viewing towards the end of the month.

Mars

A morning planet best viewed towards the end of the month, located in Gemini

Jupiter

Jupiter shines brightly at mag. -2.1 throughout September, rising around 23:30 BST (22:30 UT) and reaching over 40º altitude. On 23 September, a 58%-lit waning gibbous Moon will be 5º north of Jupiter. By 30 September, Jupiter will climb to 60º in dark skies, positioned 3.3º east-northeast of M1.

Saturn

Saturn reaches opposition on 8 September, making it the best time to observe the planet. At opposition, Saturn shines at magnitude +0.2 and reaches an altitude of 30º, offering steadier views from the UK. Though the rings are currently tilted at a narrow 3.7º, making them appear thinner, this is still an excellent opportunity to observe details like the Cassini Division, especially with larger telescopes. Saturn remains visible all night, and a nearly full Moon will be 5.2º southwest of the planet on 17 September.

Uranus

Another morning planet that is well placed for viewing this month and can be found in Taurus.

Neptune

Neptune can be found in Pisces and is visible all night reaching opposition on the 21st September.


Meteor Showers

Aurigids

1st September is the peak of the Aurigrids but they’re active until the 5th and may erven continue into October. The radiant is in Auriga which is high above the horizon.

Comets

C/2023 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a newly discovered long-period comet which was discovered in January 2023 by two independent teams: the Tsuchinshan Observatory in China and the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Hawaii.

The comet is on a long, highly elliptical orbit that will bring it close to the Sun (perihelion) around September 2024. Its exact orbit is still being refined, but current estimates suggest it will come as close as 0.39 AU (astronomical units) from the Sun, inside the orbit of Mercury.

  • C/2023 A3 is expected to become visible to the naked eye in late 2024, potentially becoming one of the brightest comets in recent years. If conditions are favorable, it could reach a magnitude of around +1 or even brighter, making it visible in the night sky without telescopes.
  • The comet’s peak brightness is expected to occur around October 2024, shortly after its perihelion
Month Comet Magnitude Altitude
Sep 13P/Olbers 8 19
Sep C/2022 E2 (ATLAS) 12 18
Sep C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) 2 4
Sep C/2023 C2 (ATLAS) 12 10
Sep C/2022 E2 (ATLAS) 12 59
Sep C/2023 R2 (PanSTARRS) 12 3
Sep 37P/Forbes 13 11

Link here for further details of each comet and how to locate it.
Visual Comets in the Future (Northern Hemisphere) (aerith.net)


Deep Sky (DSO’s)

This month we’ll have a look at some of the objects within the constellation Cygnus

North America Nebula (NGC 7000)

  • Type: Emission Nebula
  • Description: This large and bright nebula is shaped somewhat like the continent of North America, hence its name. It’s located near the bright star Deneb.
  • Magnitude: +4.0
  • Size: 120 x 100 arcminutes

Pelican Nebula (IC 5070)

  • Type: Emission Nebula
  • Description: Located close to the North America Nebula, the Pelican Nebula has a distinct shape resembling a pelican. It is part of the same massive cloud of ionized hydrogen.
  • Magnitude: +8.0
  • Size: 60 x 50 arcminutes

Veil Nebula (NGC 6960/6992)

  • Type: Supernova Remnant
  • Description: The Veil Nebula is a large supernova remnant consisting of several parts, including the Western Veil (NGC 6960) near the star 52 Cygni, and the Eastern Veil (NGC 6992). It’s a complex structure of glowing gas.
  • Magnitude: +5.0 to +7.0 (varies by part)
  • Size: 180 x 90 arcminutes

4. Deneb

  • Type: Supergiant Star
  • Description: While not a deep-sky object in the traditional sense, Deneb is the brightest star in Cygnus and one of the most luminous stars known. It’s also the tail of the celestial swan.
  • Magnitude: +1.25

If you have long term plans Deneb will be an approximate pole star (7° off of the north celestial pole) at around 9800 AD

Cygnus X-1

  • Type: Black Hole Binary System
  • Description: Cygnus X-1 is one of the strongest X-ray sources observed from Earth and is considered to be a black hole. It’s part of a binary system with a supergiant star.
  • Magnitude: +8.9 (companion star HDE 226868)

Albireo (Beta Cygni)

  • Type: Double Star
  • Description: Albireo is a beautiful double star, with one component appearing golden and the other blue. It’s one of the best double stars to observe due to the striking color contrast.
  • Magnitude: +3.1 (primary), +5.1 (secondary)
  • Separation: 34 arcseconds
  • Best Viewed: Through a small to medium telescope.

The Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888)

  • Type: Emission Nebula
  • Description: The Crescent Nebula is formed by the fast stellar wind from a Wolf-Rayet star colliding with the slower wind from an earlier phase. This interaction creates a stunning bubble-like nebula.
  • Magnitude: +7.4
  • Size: 20 x 10 arcminutes
  • Best Viewed: With a medium to large telescope;.

IC 1318 (Gamma Cygni Nebula)

  • Type: Emission Nebula
  • Description: This nebula surrounds the star Sadr (Gamma Cygni) and is part of a large star-forming region. It has a complex structure with dark lanes of dust dividing the bright nebula.
  • Magnitude: +3.0 (overall region)
  • Size: 100 x 60 arcminutes
  • Best Viewed: Through a wide-field telescope or binoculars.

ISS and other orbiting bits

ISS sightings for the 1st part of the month.

Date Visible Max Height* Appears Disappears
Sat Aug 31, 2:45 AM 1 min 13° 13° above E 10° above E
Sat Aug 31, 4:18 AM 4 min 57° 36° above WSW 10° above E
Sun Sep 1, 3:32 AM 3 min 42° 42° above SE 10° above E
Sun Sep 1, 5:06 AM 6 min 51° 13° above W 10° above ESE
Mon Sep 2, 2:47 AM 1 min 14° 14° above E 10° above E
Mon Sep 2, 4:20 AM 4 min 57° 41° above WSW 10° above ESE
Tue Sep 3, 3:34 AM 2 min 39° 39° above ESE 10° above E
Tue Sep 3, 5:07 AM 6 min 36° 15° above W 10° above SE
Wed Sep 4, 2:49 AM < 1 min 11° 11° above E 10° above E
Wed Sep 4, 4:22 AM 4 min 44° 43° above SSW 10° above ESE
Thu Sep 5, 3:36 AM 1 min 21° 21° above ESE 10° above ESE
Thu Sep 5, 5:09 AM 4 min 22° 17° above WSW 10° above SSE
Fri Sep 6, 4:24 AM 2 min 24° 24° above S 10° above SE
Sat Sep 7, 5:13 AM 1 min 11° 11° above SSW 10° above SSW
Thu Sep 12, 9:12 PM 2 min 21° 10° above SSW 21° above S
Fri Sep 13, 8:25 PM 4 min 18° 10° above S 15° above ESE
Fri Sep 13, 10:01 PM 1 min 20° 10° above WSW 20° above SW

Use the this NASA website for exact timings for York overpasses. York, England, United Kingdom | Sighting Opportunity | Spot The Station | NASA

Useful Resources

StarLust – A Website for People with a Passion for Astronomy, Stargazing, and Space Exploration.

https://www.spacedaily.com/

http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html

http://skymaps.com/downloads.html

Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2024 – Sea and Sky (seasky.org)

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-are-names-full-moons-throughout-year

http://www.deepskywatch.com/deepsky-guide.html

https://www.constellation-guide.com/

and of course the sky at night magazine!

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