Another month, another chance to experience the awe of the heavens. (Yes, Virginia, atheists experience awe - sheesh.)
SkyTips: September 2014
Clearing the Gaps
Dark gaps separate the rings of Saturn in this 2009 image from the Cassini spacecraft. The gaps are cleared by the gravitational influence of small moons. (One of those moons, Epimetheus, casts a long shadow across the rings - the dark vertical streak at bottom center.)
Stargazing Summary
With summer’s luminaries dropping from view, a new season opens up in the evening sky. Pegasus slides into view in the east shortly after night falls, marked by the Great Square. The constellations that form the “celestial sea” — Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, and others with a watery theme — flow across the south during the night. The Milky Way arches high overhead during the evening, putting on a grand display from sites with dark skies.
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 1-7: War! World War II started 75 years ago this week, and many astronomers played a role in the war. We’ll talk about astronomy and the war, and we’ll have details on some beautiful sights in the weekend sky.
September 8-14: The Flying Horse. Pegasus climbs high across the sky on September evenings, and we’ll talk about some of its more interesting features, including some nearby newborn stars and a family of ancient stars. Join us for Pegasus and more.
September 15-21: Moon Meanderings. The Moon passes several bright stars and planets this week, including Jupiter, the heart of the lion, and the little dog, and we’ll have details. We’ll also talk about the next wave of explorers at Mars.
September 22-28: Biggest of the Big. All stars are big, but some are enormous — monsters that are big enough to span a solar system. We’ll talk about some of these giants, including one that’s getting ready for its final act. Join us for this and more.
September 29-30: Near and Far. We’ll “move” the supergiant star that’s at the heart of the scorpion close to home this week, and offer up a time capsule from 27,000 years ago. Join us for Antares, the heart of the Milky Way galaxy, and much more.
September program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on more than 300 radio stations nationwide. Find an affiliate »
September 1-7: War! World War II started 75 years ago this week, and many astronomers played a role in the war. We’ll talk about astronomy and the war, and we’ll have details on some beautiful sights in the weekend sky.
September 8-14: The Flying Horse. Pegasus climbs high across the sky on September evenings, and we’ll talk about some of its more interesting features, including some nearby newborn stars and a family of ancient stars. Join us for Pegasus and more.
September 15-21: Moon Meanderings. The Moon passes several bright stars and planets this week, including Jupiter, the heart of the lion, and the little dog, and we’ll have details. We’ll also talk about the next wave of explorers at Mars.
September 22-28: Biggest of the Big. All stars are big, but some are enormous — monsters that are big enough to span a solar system. We’ll talk about some of these giants, including one that’s getting ready for its final act. Join us for this and more.
September 29-30: Near and Far. We’ll “move” the supergiant star that’s at the heart of the scorpion close to home this week, and offer up a time capsule from 27,000 years ago. Join us for Antares, the heart of the Milky Way galaxy, and much more.
September program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on more than 300 radio stations nationwide. Find an affiliate »
This Month in StarDate Magazine
Our September/October issue brings you a submarine for Saturn's moon Titan, a testbed for growing food on Mars, and an a huge new space telescope on the cheap — all projects NASA is studying for the coming decades. Be sure to check out our feature story "I Spy the Future."
Subscribe today
Subscribe today
Special Viewing Nights
Looking for a different telescope experience from what's offered at our regular Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday evening public Star Parties? We have a number of 36" programs in September with many passes still available: September 13, 16, 19, 23, 26, and 27. There are also 36" programs in October with some availability: October 14, 21, 24, and 25, as well as quite a few in November: November 11, 14, 15, 21, and 22. While the October 82" programs are sold out already (and there are no September dates), there are still plenty of openings on the November 82" programs: November 18 and 19.
Schedules and booking info »
Schedules and booking info »
News from the Observatory
Celebrate our Anniversary Online
As our 75th anniversary year comes to a conclusion, there are still ways to celebrate with us online. You can share your stories and photos of visits to McDonald via our interactive blog, check out a timeline of our history, and watch a bevy of videos in our multimedia gallery.
Find out more »
As our 75th anniversary year comes to a conclusion, there are still ways to celebrate with us online. You can share your stories and photos of visits to McDonald via our interactive blog, check out a timeline of our history, and watch a bevy of videos in our multimedia gallery.
Find out more »
Get Social with us
Keep up with all the news and video from McDonald Observatory on all your favorite social media platforms. "Like" us on Facebook, "follow" us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
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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.
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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