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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between September 1 and September 30, 2022. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury sets at 8:12 p.m., PDT, and the sun sets at 7:19 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st. Mercury is 44-percent illuminated and 7.9 arcseconds in width. The planet passes between the sun and earth and moves to the morning sky on the 23^rd. On the 30^th, Mercury rises at 5:46 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 6:47 a.m., PDT. Mercury is 15-percent illuminated and 8.9 arcseconds in width. Do not observe any planet when it appears close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus rises at 5:19 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and the sun rises at 6:27 a.m., PDT. The planet is 97-percent illuminated and ten arcseconds in width. On the 30^th, Venus rises at 6:18 a.m., PDT, and is too close to the sun to be observed. Venus is then 99-percent illuminated and 9.8 arcseconds wide. The disk of Venus slowly diminishes in size and becomes more fully illuminated as it travels to the far side of its orbit.

Mars is in Taurus the Bull.  On the 1^st, the planet rises at 11:30 p.m., PDT, and on the 30^th at 10:22 p.m., PDT. On the 1^st, the disk of Mars is 85-percent illuminated and 9.8 arcseconds in width. On the 30^th, the disk is 88-percent illuminated and 12 arcseconds in width.  A telescope capable of magnification of 100x or more will be needed to show the disk and any large surface features.

Jupiter is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Jupiter rises at 8:32 p.m., PDT, and on the 30^th at 6:28 p.m., PDT. Jupiter’s disk is 50 arcseconds in width on the 15^th. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot and the four bright Galilean moons, which can be seen moving back and forth, roughly in a line centered on Jupiter.  Jupiter reaches opposition when it is opposite the sun in the sky on the 26^th and will be closest to the earth at a distance of 741 million kilometers.

Saturn is in Capricornus the Sea Goat. On the 1^st, the planet rises at 6:21 p.m., PDT, and on the 30^th at 4:22 p.m., PDT. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon Titan can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Aries the Ram. On the 1^st, the planet rises at 10:24 p.m., PDT, and on the 30^th at 8:26 p.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 4^m 16^s with a declination of +16° 56ʹ 59ʺ. Uranus is 3.7 arcseconds in width, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show its diminutive disk.

Neptune is in Aquarius the Water Bearer. On the 1^st, the planet rises at 7:57 p.m., PDT, and on the 30^th at 5:57 p.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 23^h 39^m 2^s and declination -3° 36ʹ 4ʺ. Neptune is 2.4 arcseconds in width, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show its diminutive disk.

First quarter occurs on the 3^rd, full moon on the 10^th, last quarter on the 17^th, and new moon on the 25^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Autumn begins and summer ends when the sun reaches the autumnal equinox on September 22 at 6:04 p.m., PDT. At this moment, the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south on its journey along the ecliptic.  The sun rises at 6:41 a.m., PDT, and sets at 6:50 p.m., PDT. The day is 12 hours nine minutes long. The days will continue to grow shorter, and the nights will get longer, until the sun reaches the winter solstice on December 21.

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