Astronomical phenomena September 2012

September 16, 2012 - New Moon. Moon will be directly between Earth and Sun and will not be visible from Earth. This phase occurs at 02:11 UT.

September 22, 2012 - September Equinox.September Equinox occurs at 14:49 UT. The Sun will shine directly on the equator Days and nights will be almost equal in the whole world. This is also the first day of fall (autumn equinox) on the northern hemisphere, and the first day of spring (vernal equinox), in the southern hemisphere.

September 29, 2012 - Uranus in oposition. The blue-green planet will be closest to Earth and it will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to observe and photograph Uranus. Because of its distance, it will appear only as a small blue-green dot.

September 30, 2012 - Full Moon. Earth will be between the Sun and Moon, and therefore, the Moon will be fully illuminated as seen from Earth. This phase occurs at 03:19 UT.

 

Summary of September:
Venus and Jupiter are in the sky in the morning
Summer Triangle is up the evening sky
Variable star Algol returns in the sky.
Venus rises 4 hours before sunrise. Moves from Gemini through Cancer and Leo.
Mars moves from Virgo into Libra, setting 1 hour and ahalf after the Sun all month, magnitude 1.2. Many of you may be surprised by the fact that Mars is still visible in the sky. Mars is far away from Earth toward its passage behind the Sun, in April 2013.
Jupiter: Magnitude - 2.6 in Taurus, rising 3 hours after sunset until 30 September.
Saturn near Spica in Virgo, setting less than one hour after the Sun.

Posted in: Astronomical calendar 2012