Venus heads towards Spica

Venus moves towards Spica each evening until September 5th when it passes it.  From now until then, Venus will be a little closer to Spica. Saturn comes next when Venus catches it on September 18. Look to the west-southwest about 8:45 p.m. for this ever changing trio.

In this image taken August 26, Venus glows at the lower right while the much dimmer Spica twinkles to the farther left.

 

Saturn can be seen at the upper left of the image.

Such is our view from Earth...

September 2013 Celestial Highlights

Roanoke Valley's 

September Sky

Early September - 10:00 p.m. (EDT)

Late September - 9:00 p.m. (EDT)

MILKY WAY: The glow of the Milky Way stretches from the southwest to the northeast at 9:30 p.m. each night. Observe when there is no moon in the sky (from August 26 through September 10 and after September 24) and from a dark location away from city lights to best appreciate this glorious sight. 

SUN reaches Autumnal Equinox in the constellation Virgo on September 22 at 4:44 p.m.

Visible Planets:

MERCURY lost in the solar glare.  

VENUS low in the west 60 minutes after sunset. Next to the crescent Moon on Sept. 8 and next to Saturn on Sept. 18. 

MARS rises in the east before 4 a.m. at the end of August and before 3:30 at the end of September.  To the upper left of the waning crescent moon on September 2.  Crosses in front of the Beehive Cluster on September 8 and 9. 

JUPITER  rises in the east-northeast after 2 a.m. and before 1 a.m. at the end of September. Brightly shines near the waning crescent moon on August 31 and September 28.

SATURN very low in the west-southwest just after sunset. To the right of the waxing crescent moon on September 9. Next to Venus on September 18 and 19.

Use the Big Dipper to locate:

The North Star

Arcturus

Deneb

Cassiopeia

To use this map:

Face south and hold the map above your head. Place the zenith directly overhead. The stars on the map will match those in the sky.

Such is our view from Earth...

August 2013 Celestial Highlights

Roanoke Valley's 

August Sky

Early August - 10:30 p.m. (EDT)

Late August - 9:30 p.m. (EDT)

MILKY WAY: The glow of the Milky Way stretches from the south to the northeast at 10 p.m. each night. Observe when there is no moon in the sky (from July 28 through August 12 and after August 26) and from a dark location away from city lights to best appreciate this glorious sight.

Meteor Shower: 

PERSEIDS visible in the northeast after 11:15 p.m. on August 12. Perhaps up to 60 meteors per hour can be seen from a dark site. 

Visible Planets:

MERCURY very low in the east-northeast 45 minutes before sunrise from August 1 through August 7. Above the waning crescent moon on August 5. 

VENUS low in the west at 8:45 p.m. Above the waxing crescent moon on August 9. 

MARS low in the east-northeast at 5:00 a.m. during August. The waning crescent moon sits to its lower right on August 4. 

JUPITER  rises in the east-northeast before 4:00 a.m. at the beginning of August and before 2:30 a.m. at the end of the month. Left of the moon on August 3. 

SATURN in the south-southwest at sunset. Sets after midnight at the beginning of August and at 10:30 p.m. at the end of the month. Upper left of the waxing crescent moon on August 12. 

Use the Big Dipper to locate:

The North Star

Arcturus

Spica

Cassiopeia

Deneb

To use this map:

Face south and hold the map above your head. The relative positions of the stars on the map will match those in the sky.

Such is our view from Earth...