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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report through September 12th, 2019. Here’s what’s happening in the skies of southern California.
The moon is first quarter on the 5th, and it is waxing gibbous on the following nights through the 12th. Each successive night it sets later and as a result, the time of moonset moves from 11:52 p.m. on the 5th to 5:06 a.m. on the 12th. Even ordinary binoculars can bring into view the rugged texture of shadow-filled craters along the moon’s terminator, the dividing line between day and night on the moon. New features come into view nightly as the moon moves around the Earth.
The moon, Jupiter, and Saturn are the bright objects visible in the early evening in the southern sky. Jupiter, the brighter of the two planets, appears in the south-southwest after sunset in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer. The sparkling orange star to Jupiter’s lower right is Antares, the brightest star marking the imaginary heart of the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. Saturn is to the left of Jupiter in the constellation Sagittarius the Archer. The moon appears close to Jupiter on the 5th and between Jupiter and Saturn on the 6th. On the 7th the moon is close to Saturn, then it moves to the southeast on the following nights through the 12th.
Observers with telescopes can see Jupiter’s colorful oval storm, the Great Red Spot when it faces observers on the west coast, as it will at 8:00 p.m. on the 6th, 9th, and 11th. Binoculars, if steadied, may show Jupiter’s four largest moons clustered close to the brilliant planet. Their patterns change nightly as they revolve around Jupiter.
Saturn’s rings are also perfectly positioned for early evening observation. Along with the moon and Jupiter, they are currently featured through Griffith Observatory’s free public telescopes.
Free views of the Sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes from Tuesday through Sunday, before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for the schedule. The next free public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place on Saturday, September 7 between 2:00 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Follow The Sky Report, All Space Considered, and Griffith Observatory on Twitter for updates on astronomy and space-related events.
From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook, and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.