Introduction

August was another great month for stargazing. Unfortunately, I have yet to utilize my telescope and astrophotography gear this year, but hopefully, the day will come soon. I was, however, able to view the stars of the early morning sky. Orion has been visible and continues to climb higher in the sky before the morning glow of the Sun overpowers the twinkling stars. I have also been able to see the Pleiades, which will soon make it to my list of featured Messier objects. In addition to these sightings, I have spotted the station flying overhead, the thin crescent Moon, and Venus looking above the mountains before sunrise. All of these objects have been found in the eastern sky. To the southwest, my gaze has been captured by Saturn and bright Jupiter.

September typically begins to cool off in Utah, making the stargazing conditions even more pleasant in my opinion. The Messier objects belonging to Draco, Hercules, Lyra, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Scutum, Serpens, and Sagittarius will still be in a great position in the sky for viewing. This month will bring the opposition of Jupiter and Neptune, the Zodiacal light, and the Autumnal equinox. I will also discuss the three Messier objects belonging to Cygnus and Vulpecula. In the Midmonth Check-In, I will discuss the four Messier objects belonging to Aquarius, the last of the summer constellations.

Mercury

Mercury will be a tough target to spot this month. The best time to catch this elusive planet is during the first week of September. Shortly after sunset, find the bright star Arcturus in the western sky. Arcturus will be about 40° high in the sky, or a little less than halfway to the zenith. After locating Arcturus, drop your gaze straight down towards the horizon to spot Mercury. Its brightness, or lack thereof, and its position in the sky, roughly 5° above the horizon, will mean an observer will need to be at a higher location with a clear view of the western sky to view Mercury this month.

Venus

Venus will be a bit easier to spot for the early risers. Our sister planet will shine at nearly -4.0 magnitude and can be found in the eastern sky before sunrise. Unfortunately, Venus will be less that 10° above the horizon, but should still be easy to spot. A thin crescent Moon will join this planet on the morning of the 24th, at which time Venus will show a 99% lit disk for those viewing with a telescope or binoculars.

Mars

Mars can be found rising above the eastern horizon just after midnight as the month begins. The red planet can be found in Taurus during September and will be close to Aldebaran, the Bull's red eye. Now is a great time to view the Red Planet as it approaches its December opposition. Several surface features will be visible during September, including Valles Marineris, the Grand Canyon of Mars. The best time to view Mars during September will be during the few hours before sunrise when the Red Planet can be found high in the sky.

Jupiter

Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn will both be excellent targets this month for any size of telescope. Jupiter will reach opposition on the 26th, rising in the east as the Sun sets in the west. While the cloud bands and the Great Red Spot of Jupiter can be seen when the planet is above the horizon, oppostion will allow an observer more time to view the features. Telescope users will also be able to see the shadows of the Galilean Moons on the cloud tops of Jupiter as they pass in front of the planet from our line of sight.

Saturn will remain a great target this month since it reached opposition during August. It will be visible in the east after sunset. A telescope will reveal the majestic rings, the Cassini Division, and Titan. The Earth's own moon will join Saturn in the sky on the 7th and 8th of September.

Neptune

Uranus

The outer two planets are best viewed through a telescope but can still be seen through a pair of binoculars. Uranus can be found between Jupiter and Mars this month. It will also be found close to the Pleiades and will rise just after midnight. The Moon will join Uranus in the sky on the 15th.

Neptune will continue to be found between Saturn and Jupiter during September. The most distant planet will reach opposition on the 16th of September. The Moon will be found between Jupiter and Neptune on the 11th.

Meteor Shower

September does not offer a major meteor shower but it does bring the return of the zodiacal light. Due to the tilt of the Earth as it orbits the Sun, March (Spring equinox) and September (Autumn equinox) offer observers the opportunity to view sunlight reflected off of dust particles in the solar system. To view the zodiacal light in September, look to the east a few hours before dawn to catch a glimpse of a dim pillar of light. Of course, to increase the chances of viewing the zodiacal light, find a dark sky site and a clear view of the eastern horizon.

Spot Me....🕵️

This post will focus on the three Messier objects belonging to Cygnus and Vulpecula. I will continue to share an image, from Stellarium, of what the night sky will look like in the area of the sky of the highlighted Messier objects, then share an image of the same sky but with constellation lines and labels to help identify the constellations. Following these two images, I will have separate images for the location of the Messier objects and finally an image that shows where all of the discussed Messier objects are located.

The following image is taken from Stellarium, a free planetarium software. This shows what the sky will look like if an observer faces south, and then looks straight up. Notice the three bright stars, Deneb, Vega, and Altair that make up the Summer Triangle.

Facing south and then looking straight up during September. Deneb, Vega, and Altair are easy to pick out.

The following image is the same as above only with constellation lines and labels, as well as Deneb, Vega, and Altair labeled.

Constellation lines and labels with Deneb, Vega, and Altair also labeled.

The first two targets belong to Cygnus the Swan which I think is an easy constellation to spot in the night sky. Cygnus is one of the few constellations that actually looks like what it is representing! The first target is M29 (aka Cooling Tower Cluster, NGC 6913) which is an open star cluster. To find this object, I first locate Deneb, which represents the tail of Cygnus. From there, I guide my telescope towards the bright star that connects the wings and the tail to the rest of the body of the swan. After locating this star in my scope, I continue to move towards the head of Cygnus for a very short distance and towards the wing furthest away from Vega. See the image below for the location of M29.

Location of M29 in Cygnus the Swan.

After viewing M29, I guide my telescope back to Deneb. After centering Deneb, I continue to travel away from Cygnus to the left, the direction of the wing furthest from Vega. After some searching, I can find M39 (aka NGC 7092) another open star cluster. This Messier object is kind of tricky to find, so please check out the image below for help in locating M39.

Location of M39 in Cygnus the Swan.

When finished viewing the two Messier objects in Cygnus, shift your gaze to Vulpecula. This constellation is supposed to be a fox, but it looks just like two stars forming a line to me. Vulpecula can be found just off the head of Cygnus. See the image below with constellation lines and labels to help find the fox.

Constellation lines and labels with Deneb, Vega, and Altair also labeled.

When I search for M27 (aka Dumbbell Nebula, NGC 6853), a planetary nebula, I center the star that represents the head of Cygnus in my low-power eyepiece and slowly nudge my telescope to the left (towards Vulpecula and Delphinus) until I locate this object. It will be quite obvious when you have M27 in the field of view because it will be a fuzzy blob instead of pinpoint stars. The longer you study this object, the more detail your eyes will detect. See the image below for the location of M27.

Location of M27 in Vulpecula.

This concludes the highlighted Messier objects for this post. See the images below for a quick reference on the locations of M27, M29, and M39.

Messier objects of Cygnus and Vulpecula.

Messier objects of Cygnus and Vulpecula with constellation lines and labels.

Remember to take your time viewing these objects, especially M27, as your eyes will pick up more detail the longer you study it. Your eyes may also be able to pick up more stars in the two open clusters belonging to Cygnus the longer you look at them. Here is an updated file of the Messier Catalog. In the mid-month post for September, I will highlight the objects belonging to Aquarius.

Monthly Breakdown

September 03: First Quarter Moon 🌓
September 04: Venus and Regulas within 1°
September 08: Moon passes within 4° of Saturn
September 08: Mars and Aldebaran within 4°
September 10: Full Moon 🌕
September 10: Moon passes within 3° of Neptune
September 11: Moon passes within 2° of Jupiter
September 14: Moon passes within 1° of Uranus
September 16: Neptune reaches opposition
September 16: Moon passes within 4° of Mars
September 17: Last Quarter Moon🌗
September 22: Autumnal equinox
September 23: Mercury reaches inferior conjunction
September 25: New Moon 🌑
September 26: Jupiter reaches oppostion

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Now get outside and look up!

Planet images were taken by NASA.

Andrew vs. the Cosmos was taken by Jeff Greenland.

Introduction and Monthly Reminders

August, like July, has been filled with hot days and warm nights which make it more comfortable for stargazing. Unfortunately, I have been unable to do any serious stargazing or astrophotography for the first two weeks this month. I have, however, been able to watch Saturn rise above the mountains as it was nearing opposition. The different Moon phases have also been a treat to watch. Hopefully, the second half of August will continue to offer me the opportunity to take out my telescope and astrophotography gear and enjoy a night under the stars.

The second half of the month will bring a few conjunctions between the Moon and morning planets. Stargazers will also be able to see Mercury reach its greatest eastern elongation on the evening of the 27th. Don't forget that the Messier objects in Sagittarius which were discussed in August's Monthly Night Sky Report and those belonging to several other summer constellations may still be seen in the night sky.

Messier Targets 🔭

The Messier Catalog contains 110 objects to view throughout the year. Most of these objects require a telescope or a pair of binoculars. As with all DSOs, observing from a location with minimal light pollution will enhance your views. If using a telescope, I recommend using a low-power eyepiece to help find the object, then increase the power to bring out more detail. So far, I have highlighted the Messier objects belonging to Hercules, Draco, Lyra, Serpens, Scorpius, Scutum, Ophiuchus, and several objects in Sagittarius. For this post, I will highlight the remaining Messier objects which belong to Sagittarius. I will continue to highlight each object and the directions that I use in locating these objects and I will also include a single image at the end of this post showing the location of each item in Sagittarius.

If you, as an observer, enjoy globular star clusters like I do, then you will enjoy the remaining Messier objects of Sagittarius. All but two of the remaining objects are globular star clusters. Below is an image of the night sky as an observer faces south after sunset.

Looking south after sunset during August.

Notice Saturn (labeled) near the left border of this image and the dim Milky Way band in the center. Recall that Sagittarius is to the lower left of the Milky Way band. See the image below which includes constellation lines and labels to help identify the stars belonging to Sagittarius.

Constellation lines and labels to aid in orientation.

The first target this month, M75 (aka NGC 6864), a globular star cluster, can be found between the constellation lines of Sagittarius and Capricornus. For those unfamiliar with the constellations, the image above can be helpful in locating M75. The two stars that come off the main body of Sagittarius form an imaginary line towards Capricornus. About halfway along this line between these two constellations, M75 can be found. See the image below for clarification.

Location of M75 in Sagittarius.

The next Messier object, M55 (aka Specter Cluster, NGC 6809), is a globular star cluster that can be found below M75. When searching for this object, I start by locating the four stars that make up a small trapezoid. I then use the top two stars to guide me to M55. These stars form an imaginary line that extends to this object. See the image below for clarification.

Location of M55 in Sagittarius.

After viewing M55, I move to M54 (aka NGC 6715), another globular cluster that can be found below the trapezoid shape that I used to find M55. This object can be found just below the star that makes up the lower left corner of the trapezoid. See the image below for further clarification.

Location of M54 in Sagittarius.

My next target is M70 (aka NGC 6681), a globular star cluster. This object is located below M54. To find M70, I connect the lower left star of the trapezoid to the bright star that can be found below and to the right. A little more than halfway to this lower star, M70 can be found along this line. See the image below for clarification.

Location of M70 in Sagittarius.

After viewing M70, I nudge my telescope to the right, so that it is pointed directly above the lower star that I used to find M70. In this area, I will find another globular star cluster, M69 (aka NGC 6637). See the image below for guidance.

Location of M69 in Sagittarius.

From M70, I guide my scope to the last of the globular star clusters in Sagittarius, M28 (aka NGC 6626). This object can be found inside the Milky Way band. By using the trapezoid figure again, I shift my gaze to the right, to the bright star that lies just inside the Milky Way band. From here, I guide my scope slightly to the right of this star to locate M28. See the image below for help.

Location of M28 in Sagittarius.

After getting my fill of viewing M28, I guide my telescope to the star a little farther to the right of M28, which takes me deeper inside the Milky Way band. After locating this star, I guide my telescope upwards a short distance until I find M24 (aka Small Sagittarius Star Cloud). As its other name suggests, this object is a grouping of many stars. Unlike a globular or open star cluster, these stars are not in close proximity (astronomically speaking) to each other. These stars lie between 10,000 and 16,000 light-years away from Earth. A low-power eyepiece or a pair of binoculars are ideal for viewing M24. See the image below for the location of M24.

Location of M24 in Sagittarius.

Following M24, I guide my scope to the left to locate the open star cluster, M25. This object may feel a little lackluster compared to M24, but since I enjoy star clusters, I feel this is a great object to end with. See the image below for the location of M25.

Location of M25 in Sagittarius.

This concludes the list of Messier objects located in Sagittarius! See the images below for the locations of all of the Messier objects discussed in this post.

Discussed Messier objects in Sagittarius.

Discussed Messier objects in Sagittarius with constellation lines and labels.

Next month, I will highlight the remaining Messier objects that are best viewed during the summer and begin highlighting those that are best viewed during the autumn. All of these images were provided by Stellarium. My updated Messier list can be found here.

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Now get outside and look up!

Cosmic Lure

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Monthly Night Sky Report: September 2022