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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report through September 21st, 2016. Here’s what’s happening in the skies of southern California.
Venus, the brightest planet, is visible low in the west shortly after sunset, and remains above the horizon until about 8:15 p.m.
Orange Mars is the second brightest planet currently visible. Now in the constellation Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, Mars appears during evening twilight in the south-southwest sky. Telescopic detail on Mars is difficult to spot through most telescopes because the planet is now 93 million miles from Earth, twice as far away as it was last May when it was closest to us.
The golden planet Saturn is visible in the southwest sky, to the right of Mars, and it appears above the orange star Antares of the constellation Scorpius the Scorpion. A telescope will show Saturn’s spectacular ring system and several of the planet’s moons.
The Moon changes from waxing gibbous to waning gibbous, and is full on Friday, September 16. Because this Full Moon occurs shortly before next week’s autumnal equinox, it is known as the Harvest Moon. After the 16th, the Moon begins to rise following sunset, and by the 21st, it rises at 12:02 a.m. Griffith Observatory will provide telescopes for public viewing of Saturn and the Moon at the 78th annual Los Angeles Chinatown Mid–Autumn Moon Festival on Saturday, September 17th.
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. Because of heavy traffic, we advise arriving in the afternoon! 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, October 8th.
Follow the Sky Report on Twitter for updates of astronomy and space-related events.
From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com