August 2011

New Moon Reporter - September 2011 Newsletter

New Moon Reporter - September 2011 by AstronomyLog.com

Highlights 

M30 in Caprinorcus

Comet Watch: September gives us a comet bright enough to see with binoculars, possibly naked eye, and viewable all night long.   Check the finder chart below to see Comet Garradd this month.

Best Dark Sky Weekend: New moon occurs at the end of the month.  The best weekend for observing all night is September 24-25.  This is a couple of nights before the night of the full moon.

Jupiter is now easily visible for evening observers, appearing just after sunset.   It’s viewable all night and, until after midnight, it’s the only planetary option. 

Capricornus, a zodiacal constellation, is highlighted this month with a single Messier object and two worthy double stars.

Enjoy the last of the warm weather with Autumn astronomy!

Remember to record what you've found at AstronomyLog.com.

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Constellation: Capricornus

Capricornus is constellation best observed in September when it crosses the meridian typically on September 20.  It is a dim constellation where it’s brightest three stars are of magnitude between 2.8 and 4.1.  The asterism resembles a equilateral triangle with bent sides.

There is just one Messier object, a globular cluster and two double star systems.

Although it is rather faint compared to other zodiacal constellations but has one of the oldest mythical stories in western history.  It is represented as a goat with the tail of a fish.  In Greek mythology this constellation is the goat that suckled the infant Zeus after his mother Rhea saved him from being devoured by his father Cronos.

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