Never pass up a chance to sit down or relieve yourself. -old Apache saying

Thursday, September 1, 2016

September stargazing


I can't wait until we can move south and actually be able to see the stars at night again! 



Closest Star, Proxima Centauri, has a Planet

An international team of astronomers including Michael Endl of The University of Texas at Austin have found clear evidence of a planet orbiting Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the Sun. Above, an artist's impression of the planet's surface. (Credit: ESO/M. Kornmesser)

Stargazing Summary
Some of the big constellations of autumn begin to push their way into the evening sky this month. Pegasus, the flying horse, is well up in the east at nightfall by month's end, with Andromeda, the princess, to its left. Under especially dark skies, you should be able to pick out M31, the Andromeda galaxy. Venus, the Evening Star, inches higher in the western sky at sunset. And Mars begins to eke away from Antares and Saturn, although they remain fairly close throughout the month.

More stargazing information
 »

Radio Program Highlights
If you want to start hearing the StarDate program in your area, you can request a station to carry our program by emailing the request to stations@stardate.org.

September 1-4: Faint giant. The giant planet Neptune is at its best this week, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about some "Neptunes" in other star systems. Join us for the planet Neptune, plus a "wimpy" dark matter particle and more. 

September 5-11: Beginnings and endings. A spacecraft that's been tagging along with a comet is about to wrap up its mission, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a mission to an asteroid that's ready to get started. Join us for Rosetta, Osiris-Rex, and more.

September 12-18: Worlds beyond. Astronomers have discovered thousands of planets in other star systems, with the tally increasing by the month. We'll talk about some of those discoveries, how they're made, and their implications for life on other worlds.

September 19-25: Invaders from Mars. The man who created the Martian invasion was born 150 years ago this week, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a bright source of X-rays and the beautiful autumn skies. Join us for H.G. Wells and more.

September 26-30: Galactic halo. The Milky Way arcs high overhead on these early autumn nights, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a region of the Milky Way that extends far beyond its beautiful spiral arms. Join us for the Milky Way's halo and more.

Program schedule »

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This Month in StarDate Magazine
In our September/October issue, get the latest on the search for a large, unseen planet some astronomers think is lurking in the Kuiper Belt, and meet pioneering 19th-century British astronomer Elizabeth Brown, who traveled to Russia to study a solar eclipse.

Subscribe today

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About SkyTips
SkyTips is a monthly email newsletter for visitors to McDonald Observatory and StarDate Online. Each issue features stargazing highlights, upcoming StarDate radio program descriptions, and other news. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and family.

SkyTips is a publication of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory Education and Outreach Office, 2609 University Ave. A2100, Austin, TX 78712. Reproduction of SkyTips content is permitted with proper credit given to McDonald Observatory.


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