What are some skywatching highlights in September 2022?
Mars is on the move this month, forming a “red triangle” with bright red stars Aldebaran and Betelgeuse. Saturn and Jupiter fly with the Moon on September 9th, and then the Moon slides over closer to Jupiter in the morning sky on the 11th. At the end of the month, September 23rd brings the equinox, meaning day and night are of nearly equal length, and a change of seasons is afoot.
What’s Up for September 2022? Mars is on the transfer, prime viewing time for Jupiter, and a intelligent approach to discover your bearings on the equinox.
In September, you’ll discover Mars hanging out excessive within the south on mornings earlier than dawn. Early within the month, it’s close to orange-colored Aldebaran, the star that types the attention of Taurus the bull. Over the course of the month, Mars will work its approach eastward from Aldebaran towards reddish Betelgeuse, making a kind of “red triangle” within the morning sky. Then the Red Planet will seem to hit the brakes and cease its eastward movement, to hang around in that triangle for the subsequent month or so. (We’ll speak about what’s occurring there in subsequent month’s skywatching ideas.)
Mars types a triangle of reddish objects in September, and into October, because it hangs close to vivid crimson stars Aldebaran and Betelgeuse within the morning sky. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
On the morning of September 11th, earlier than dawn, you’ll discover the Moon simply a few finger-widths from Jupiter within the sky. This will make for an important viewing alternative to watch them collectively by means of binoculars. Jupiter’s at opposition this month, making it seen all evening underneath clear skies. Plus, it’s round this time when the planet’s at its largest and brightest for telescope viewing. However, a pair of fine binoculars is sufficient to reveal the large planet’s 4 giant moons as little starlike factors of sunshine subsequent to Jupiter.
Also, later this month on the 29th, NASA’s Jupiter-orbiting Juno spacecraft is scheduled to make a special, fast flyby of one of those icy moons, Europa. The spacecraft is slated to pass a little over 200 miles (320 km) above the moon’s surface, returning images and science data.
In addition, NASA is currently preparing its Europa Clipper spacecraft for launch in 2024. To investigate whether Europa could have conditions suitable for life, it will make dozens of close flybys of the Jovian moon.
Turning to the evening sky, you’ll have Saturn together with Jupiter as your planetary companions all month long. On the night of September 9th, Jupiter and Saturn escort the Moon across the sky. You’ll see the trio rising in the southeast in the first couple of hours after dark, and gliding westward together over the course of the night. By the end of the month, you’ll observe the pair of planets rising even earlier, appearing in the east soon after it gets dark, with bright Jupiter hanging low in the sky.
On the night of September 9, see the nearly full Moon escorted across the sky by Jupiter and Saturn. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
September 23rd brings the September equinox, which marks the official start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere, and the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. The equinoxes occur twice per year when Earth’s tilt with respect to the Sun is the same for both hemispheres. Both north and south receive the same amount of sunlight, and day and night are, briefly, of nearly equal length.
Illustration showing how Earth’s tilt leads to the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receiving changing amounts of sunlight over the course of the year. At the equinoxes, neither hemisphere is more tilted toward the Sun, so both hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
And, get this: if you take note of exactly where the Sun appears to rise and set on the equinoxes, those points mark the locations of due east and due west, respectively.
That’s something quite useful to know for skywatchers, whatever hemisphere you happen to live in. So take note of any buildings, tall trees, lampposts, and the like at those places on the horizon. That way you can use them to find your bearings when looking skyward all year long.
