Upstate New York Stargazing – Aug Week 1, 2017

Author's Note: The "Upstate New York Stargazing" series ran on the newyorkupstate.com and syracuse.com websites (and limited use in-print) from 2016 to 2018. For the full list of articles, see the Upstate New York Stargazing page.

Stargazing in Upstate NY: What to see in the night skies July 28 to Aug. 4

The solar eclipse shadow over southern Turkey, northern Cyprus and the Mediterranean Sea as seen from the ISS on March 29, 2006. Image from NASA.

Updated: Jul. 28, 2017, 4:52 p.m. | Published: Jul. 28, 2017, 3:52 p.m.

Special to nyup.com

By Damian Allis | Contributing writer

This summertime weekly summary for planetary, satellite, constellation, and other observing opportunities covers the last few days of July and first few days of August. Looming high over amateur astronomer plans and social media users alike is the Aug. 21 Solar Eclipse. A number of eclipse articles have already been posted on syracuse.com, including:

* A general eclipse overview of when and where to watch

* Which libraries will be providing free solar-safe glasses in Central New York

* Some general observing information about the eclipse from the May and June UNY Stargazing series

Below is a list of scheduled lecture and observing opportunities around Upstate New York for the eclipse – this list will be reproduced in the following articles and will hopefully be added to as other locations announce events. If you know of an event not listed, please send an email with details. As always around here, we can only hope for clear skies!

Solar Eclipse Calendar

OrganizerLocationEventDateTimeContact Info
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadySolar EclipseAug. 211:22 – 3:56 PMemail, website
Cazenovia Public LibraryCazenoviaSolar Eclipse LectureAug. 167:00 – 8:30 PM315-655-9322 website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalSolar EclipseAug. 2111:30 AM – 4:00 PMemail, website
Liverpool Public LibraryLiverpoolSolar Eclipse PartyAug. 211:00 – 4:00 PM315-457-0310 website
Marcellus Free LibraryMarcellusSolar Eclipse PartyAug. 211:00 – 4:00 PM315-673-3221 website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleEclipse Lecture, ClintonAug. 27:00 – 8:30 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleEclipse Lecture, CanastotaAug. 37:00 – 8:30 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleSolar EclipseAug. 2112:00 – 4:00 PMemail, website
Onondaga County LibrariesNOPL North SyracuseSolar Eclipse LectureAug. 146:30 – 8:00 PM315-458-6184 website
Onondaga County LibrariesJamesvilleLecture & Solar Eclipse @ DeWitt & Jamesville LibraryAug. 2112:00 – 4:00 PM315-446-3578 website
Onondaga County LibrariesSyracuseSolar Eclipse Party @ Hazard BranchAug. 2112:00 – 4:00 PM315-435-5326 website
Onondaga County LibrariesSyracuseSolar Eclipse Party @ Paine BranchAug. 212:00 – 3:00 PM315-435-5442 website
Onondaga County LibrariesSyracuseSolar Eclipse Party @ White BranchAug. 212:00 – 3:00 PM315-435-3519 website

Lectures And Observing Opportunities In Upstate/Central New York

New York has a number of astronomers, astronomy clubs, and observatories that host public sessions throughout the year. Announced sessions from several respondent NY astronomy organizations are provided below for the remainder of July and all of August so you can plan accordingly. As wind and cloud cover are always factors when observing, please check the provided contact information and/or email the groups a day-or-so before an announced session, as some groups will also schedule weather-alternate dates. Also use the contact info for directions and to check on any applicable event or parking fees.

Astronomy Events Calendar

OrganizerLocationEventDateTimeContact Info
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakeLecture and Public ObservingJuly 28L – 7:00 p.m., O – 1/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic ObservingAug. 41/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic ObservingAug. 181/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic ObservingAug. 211/2 Hour After Sunsetemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyOctagon Barn Star PartyJuly 288:00 – 10:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyNight Sky AdventureAug. 158:00 – 9:30 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyAAAA MeetingAug. 177:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyOctagon Barn Star PartyAug. 188:00 – 10:00 PMemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterRocheSTAR Fest 2017July 28 – 29daytime & nighttimeemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghAug. 58:30 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghAug. 128:30 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusBob Piekiel & Perseid Meteor ShowerAug. 12/138:30 – 11:00 PMemail, website
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusBob Piekiel & Solar ObservingAug. 26/271:00 – 3:00 PMemail, website
Clark Reservation State ParkJamesvilleBob Piekiel & Summer SkiesJuly 28/298:00 – 11:00 PM315-492-1590 website
Green Lakes State ParkFayettevilleBob Piekiel & Summer SkiesAug. 18/198:00 – 10:00 PM315-637-6111 website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingJuly 288:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalKAS Monthly MeetingAug. 27:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 48:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 118:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalPerseid Meteor ShowerAug. 128:00 PM – 12:30 AMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 188:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingAug. 258:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleMeetingAug. 97:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervillePublic Stargazing @ Waterville LibraryAug. 26/278:30 – 11:30 PMemail, website

ISS And Other Bright Satellites

Satellite flyovers are commonplace, with several bright passes easily visible per hour in the nighttime sky, yet a thrill to new observers of all ages. Few flyovers compare in brightness or interest to the International Space Station. The flyovers of the football field-sized craft with its massive solar panel arrays can be predicted to within several seconds and take several minutes to complete.

The ISS is out and about several times between 9:00 p.m. and midnight this week, with double flyovers before midnight from the 29th on. You may note that these flyovers are spaced by about 90 minutes – the time it takes for the ISS to go once around the Earth. Properly equipped members of the amateur radio community can even add audio to their visual experiences by listening to transmissions from the ISS – see ariss.org or issfanclub.com for details.

ISS Flyovers

DateBrightnessApprox. StartStart Direct.Approx. EndEnd Direct.
28-Julmoderately12:56 AMNW12:57 AMN/NW
28-Julmoderately10:26 PMW/NW10:31 PMNE
29-Julmoderately12:03 AMNW12:06 AMN/NE
29-Julmoderately9:33 PMW/NW9:39 PMNE
29-Julmoderately11:11 PMNW11:15 PMNE
30-Julsomewhat12:47 AMNW12:48 AMNW
30-Julmoderately10:18 PMNW10:23 PMNE
30-Julmoderately11:55 PMNW11:57 PMN
31-Julmoderately9:26 PMW/NW9:31 PMNE
31-Julmoderately11:03 PMNW11:06 PMNE
1-Augsomewhat12:39 AMNW12:39 AMNW
1-Augmoderately10:10 PMNW10:15 PMNE
1-Augmoderately11:47 PMNW11:48 PMN/NW
2-Augmoderately9:18 PMNW9:22 PMNE
2-Augvery10:54 PMNW10:58 PMNE
3-Augmoderately10:02 PMNW10:07 PME/NE
3-Augmoderately11:38 PMW/NW11:40 PMNW
4-Augmoderately9:10 PMNW9:14 PME/NE
4-Augextremely10:46 PMNW10:49 PMN/NE

Predictions courtesy of heavens-above.com. For updated nightly predictions, visit spotthestation.nasa.gov.

Lunar Phases

First Quarter:Full:Third Quarter:New:
Jul. 30, 11:23 AMAug. 7, 2:10 PMAug. 14, 9:14 PMAug. 21, 2:30 PM

The Moon's increasing brightness as Full Moon approaches washes out fainter stars, random meteors, and other celestial objects – this is bad for most observing, but excellent for new observers, as only the brightest stars (those that mark the major constellations) and planets remain visible for your easy identification. If you've never tried it, the Moon is a wonderful binocular object. The labeled image identifies features easily found with low-power binoculars.

Lunar features prominent in low-power binoculars.

Observing Guides

Items and events listed below assume you're outside and observing most anywhere in New York state. The longer you're outside and away from indoor or bright lights, the better your dark adaption will be. If you have to use your smartphone, find a red light app or piece of red acetate, else set your brightness as low as possible.

The sky at 10 p.m. from July 28 to August 4, accurate all week except for the changing Moon position.

Evening Skies: The two most prominent shapes in the sky are the Big Dipper and the Summer Triangle, with the Sagittarius Teapot highlighted in several previous articles. Whether or not you can see the Teapot, another very distinctive shape is as high as it will get in the southern sky right now just to the west. The body of Scorpius, easily identified by the bright red-orange star Antares and now residing below Saturn in the nighttime sky, hooks down and back up around the southern tree line at our latitude in a shape that nearly every civilization has recorded as being a celestial scorpion. Like the Teapot, the Scorpion tail is between us and the galactic center – a scan with binoculars will reveal a number of objects that do not come into focus like their surrounding stars.

The Big Dipper is a bright and easy guide for finding Polaris, the north star. From its handle, you can "arc" down to Arcturus. Jupiter, which stands out soon after sunset, is close to the bright star Spica in Virgo and to the southwest of bright Arcturus in Bootes. Saturn is also visible as dusk approaches, rising soon after the bright orange star Antares in Scorpius.

The sky at 4 a.m. from July 28 to Aug. 4, accurate all week except for the changing Moon position.

Morning Skies: Venus is unmistakable in the early morning sky, second only to the Moon in brightness before sunrise. The torso of Orion is increasingly peaking above the pre-dawn skies behind Taurus the Bull. As dawn approaches, Venus and the bright stars Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, and Capella may be the last few celestial objects you see.

Planetary Viewing

Mercury: While technically visible after sunset this week, Mercury is very low on the horizon and awash in scattered sunlight. Observers with binoculars might consider scanning the western horizon before 9:15 p.m. to find it, but DO NOT risk doing so until after the sun has set, as even a moment of magnified sunlight will permanently damage your vision. For the patient, Mercury becomes a good early morning target with Mars in late August/early September.

Venus: Venus remains unmistakable in the early morning and even into sunrise, rising before 4:00 a.m. all week. With good, steady binoculars, you should be able to see that Venus is currently more than half-lit – and you can follow the changing phases of Venus as it and the Earth make our way around the Sun. Venus is currently flying over the club of the great winter constellation Orion along a line away from Aldebaran in Taurus and towards the foot of Pollux's twin Castor in the constellation Gemini. Over the course of the week, you'll see the Venus-Betelgeuse-Aldebaran geometry change from a right triangle to a slightly obtuse one.

The Venus-Betelgeuse-Aldebaran Triangle this week.

Mars: Mars will not return to our pre-midnight skies until this time next year, but will become a morning target in late August/early September.

Jupiter: If you look south soon after sunset, Jupiter will be the brightest object you'll see this summer (or second-brightest if the Moon is out). Low power binoculars are excellent for spying the four bright Galilean moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto – and several online guides will even map their orbits for you. Jupiter is to the west of the bright star Spica in Virgo, roughly a full fist-width if you measure with your arm fully-extended. As reported in last week's article as well, the Moon will nearly graze the top of Jupiter in the late-evening sky on July 28th. This will make for an excellent pairing this week – one that will look even better in binoculars.

Jupiter and the Moon on July 28th in Virgo.

Saturn: Still on the western edge of the brightest part of the Milky Way, Saturn is going to spend the next 17 months making its way to the eastern edge, all the while giving us an excellent observing target from late Spring to mid-Autumn. On the evening of August 2nd, the Moon will make its closest approach to Saturn before spending the 3rd and 4th flying over the "Teapot" that makes up the body of Sagittarius.

The Moon and Saturn on Aug. 2, with tea time happening the next two nights.

As a refresher from the June 30th to July 7th article, those looking in the direction of Saturn with binoculars are treated to a host of Messier ("M") Objects – all residing between ourselves and the center of the Milky Way galaxy above the spout of the Sagittarius teapot. A good star chart and some guide stars will help you determine just which object you're looking at.

Meteor Showers And Other Phenomena

The last few days have been very busy in the amateur astronomy community, with a newly reported comet, nova, and supernova all discovered after July 19th. These are very dim objects at present, but they may all be targets for large telescopes and seasoned amateurs at upcoming observing sessions in your area – consider seeking them out! Those without any observing equipment also have some great observing opportunities in the few weeks before the solar eclipse, with an Aquariid Meteor Shower peaking on July 30 and the usually-excellent Perseid Meteor Shower peaking on Aug. 12.

Southern delta Aquariid Meteor Shower: The constellation Aquarius hosts several meteor showers each year, although none of them reach the activity of the Perseids or Geminids. The Southern delta Aquariids are generally the second-busiest of these showers during the year, peaking in the very early morning of July 30th from the southwest. It will be easy to orient yourself towards the radiant if the skies are clear – look for the Summer Triangle, find the bright corner star Altair, and slide south to the bright star Fomalhaut. Expect up-to 15 shooting stars per hour. For your best chance at seeing the most meteors, lie down with your feet facing southwest.

The radiant of the Southern delta Aquariids near the bright star Fomalhaut.

Perseid Meteor Shower: The Perseids are arguably the best, and best-timed, meteor shower of the year. For a preview of where and when to look before next week's article, see the Perseid section of the UNY Stargazing from August 2016 article.

Dr. Damian Allis is the director of CNY Observers and a NASA Solar System Ambassador. If you know of any other NY astronomy events or clubs to promote, please contact the author.

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Upstate New York Stargazing – September, 2017

Author's Note: The "Upstate New York Stargazing" series ran on the newyorkupstate.com and syracuse.com websites (and limited use in-print) from 2016 to 2018. For the full list of articles, see the Upstate New York Stargazing page.

Upstate NY Stargazing in September: Cassini's end and morning planet delights

The tail end of the August 21st eclipse from Nashville, including sunspot group 2671 at center and sunspot 2672, just clipped by the moon. (Photo by John Giroux)

Updated: Sep. 01, 2017, 3:07 p.m. | Published: Sep. 01, 2017, 2:07 p.m.

Special to nyup.com

By Damian Allis | Contributing writer

The Great American Eclipse for 2017 has come and gone without major reported inconvenience to the cities that ended up hosting large groups. This is good news for Western and Upstate New York, as we will be participants in the observation of totality on April 8, 2024 and have to contend with potential crowds on top of whatever weather early April brings that year. In the meantime, if you still have your eclipse glasses, you can give others an opportunity to enjoy upcoming total eclipses in South America and Asia in 2019. Consider donating your glasses to the great outreach organization Astronomers Without Borders – see the link for all the details.

The summer is set to give way to autumn on September 22nd, and some amateur astronomers have been counting down the minutes of daylight lost in favor of additional early observing time. September itself will be a busy month for both backyard astronomy and space science missions, with our closest planetary neighbors set to put on an elegant dance before sunrise all month just as one of NASA's great planetary missions ends its remarkably productive 20-year run on the morning of the 15th.

Lectures And Observing Opportunities In Upstate/Central New York

New York has a number of astronomers, astronomy clubs, and observatories that host public sessions throughout the year. Announced sessions from several respondent NY astronomy organizations are provided for September so you can plan accordingly. As wind and cloud cover are always factors when observing, please check the provided contact information and/or email the groups a day-or-so before an announced session, as some groups will also schedule weather-alternate dates. Also use the contact info for directions and to check on any applicable event or parking fees.

Astronomy Events Calendar

OrganizerLocationEventDateTimeContact Info
Adirondack Public ObservatoryTupper LakePublic ObservingSept. 17:00 – 10:30 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadySenior Science DaySept. 43:00 – 4:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyNight Sky AdventureSept. 197:00 – 8:30 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyAAAA MeetingSept. 217:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Albany Area Amateur Astronomers & Dudley ObservatorySchenectadyOctagon Barn Star PartySept. 298:00 – 10:00 PMemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghSept. 29:00 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterMember MeetingSept. 87:30 – 9:30 PMemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghSept. 99:00 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterFarash Center Open HouseSept. 169:00 AM – 4:00 PMemail, website
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghSept. 169:00 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Astronomy Section, Rochester Academy of ScienceRochesterObserving At The StrasenburghSept. 239:00 – 10:30 PMJim S., 585-703-9876
Baltimore WoodsMarcellusGoodbye Summer SkiesSept. 157:30 – 9:30 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingSept. 17:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalKAS Monthly MeetingSept. 67:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingSept. 87:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingSept. 157:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingSept. 227:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalFriday Night Lecture & ObservingSept. 297:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Kopernik Observatory & Science CenterVestalMoonlight Cafe FundraiserSept. 307:00 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleMeetingSept. 137:30 – 9:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleStar GazingSept. 238:00 – 11:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervilleFall Fest Solar ObservingSept. 3012:00 – 3:00 PMemail, website
Mohawk Valley Astronomical SocietyWatervillePublic Stargazing @ Waterville LibraryAug. 26/278:30 – 11:30 PMemail, website

Lunar Phases

Full MoonThird Quarter:New MoonNew:
Sept. 6, 3:02 AMSept. 13, 2:24 AMSept. 20, 1:29 AMSept. 27, 10:53 PM

The Moon's increasing brightness as Full Moon approaches washes out fainter stars, random meteors, and other celestial objects – this is bad for most observing, but excellent for new observers, as only the brightest stars (those that mark the major constellations) and planets remain visible for your easy identification. If you've never tried it, the Moon is a wonderful binocular object. The labeled image identifies features easily found with low-power binoculars.

Lunar features prominent in low-power binoculars.

Observing Guides

Items and events listed below assume you're outside and observing most anywhere in New York state. The longer you're outside and away from indoor or bright lights, the better your dark adaption will be. If you have to use your smartphone, find a red light app or piece of red acetate, else set your brightness as low as possible.

The sky at 9 p.m. on Sept. 15, accurate all month except for the changing Moon position.

Evening Skies: The two most prominent shapes in the sky are the Big Dipper and the Summer Triangle, with the steam from the Sagittarius Teapot now engulfing the planet Saturn. The body of Scorpius, easily identified by the bright red-orange star Antares and now residing below Saturn in the nighttime sky, hooks down and back up around the southern tree line at our latitude in a shape that nearly every civilization has recorded as being a celestial scorpion. Like the Teapot, the Scorpion tail is between us and the galactic center – a scan with binoculars will reveal a number of objects that do not come into focus like their surrounding stars.

The Big Dipper is a bright and easy guide for finding Polaris, the north star. From its handle, you can "arc" down to bright star Arcturus, competing with Jupiter in brightness in this part of the sky. Jupiter, which stands out soon after sunset, is close to the bright star Spica in Virgo and to the southwest of bright Arcturus in Bootes. Saturn is also visible soon after dusk, rising soon after the bright orange star Antares in Scorpius.

The sky at 5 a.m. on Sept. 15, accurate all month except for the changing Moon position.

Morning Skies: Venus has left the crowded best-of-winter constellations and is heading towards Mars and Mercury in the pre-sunrise sky, passing through Cancer the Crab and into Leo the Lion. The bowtie shape that makes up the torso of Orion just cleared the horizon after 4:00 a.m. in early August and now rises before 1 a.m. at month's end. With the clearing of Canis Major about the horizon at month's end, the best-of-winter constellations will all be visible in the pre-dawn sky, providing a sneak preview of the nights to come.

Planetary Viewing

Mercury, Venus, and Mars:These three planets race ahead of the morning sun this month, offering us exceptional observing and imaging opportunities until close to month's end. Fleeting Mercury appears to race back towards the sun after September 20th, making the early month the prime time to see these three bright objects just under the mane and torso of Leo the Lion. The play-by-play of notable events is detailed below, with each event visible by 6:00 a.m. Binoculars will make each even more interesting, but be sure to put them away before sunrise:

Sept. 5: Mars will meet up with the bright star Regulus.

Sept. 10: Mercury will get its closest to Regulus.

Sept. 16: Mercury and Mars reach their closest, appearing as a binary star in binoculars.

Sept. 17: Mercury will begin rising after Mars.

Sept. 18: A sliver of a crescent moon is placed between Venus and the Mercury/Mars pair.

Sept. 23rd/24: Venus, Mars, and Mercury will be almost perfectly aligned and roughly equally spaced. If a meme about the biblical significance of the 23rd hits your social media feed, be ready to reply with the numbers 1827, 1483, 1293, and 1056.

Looking forward a bit, Venus and Mars will be at their closest on October 5th and excellent binocular targets from the 1st to the 9th next month.

The prominent planetary groupings in the morning sky this month.

Jupiter: Jupiter, low and to the southwest, is now competing with the bright, high-west star Arcturus for the title of brightest object in the neighborhood. Jupiter is setting earlier every night and will not be with us for easy observing by the end of September. If you don't catch it this month, you'll likely have to wait until December, at which point Jupiter becomes a bright morning object. You'll be able to find Jupiter quickly after sunset on the 21st and 22nd thanks to the moon, which will be at its direct right (21st) and then upper-left (22nd). Low power binoculars are excellent for spying the four bright Galilean moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto – and several online guides will even map their orbits for you.

Saturn: Still on the western edge of the brightest part of the Milky Way, Saturn is going to spend the next 16 months making its way to the eastern edge above the teapot of Sagittarius, all the while giving us an excellent observing target until next autumn. Those who have kept track of the double-double of Jupiter and Spica in the west and Antares and Saturn in the south will now have just this second southern double to contend with by month's end. Saturn will meet with the moon on the 26th, making for a hint of a question mark in the nighttime sky.

Not sure? It's Saturn and the Moon on Sept. 26.

Saturn will gain a little bit of weight this month, and news agencies will hopefully report the process in fine detail as we say goodbye to the Cassini Probe after 20 eventful years. The Cassini Mission, named for the Italian astronomer for whom the space between the largest rings – the Cassini Division – is named, ends in fiery form on the 15th when it hits the Saturnian atmosphere at about 70,000 mph. The reason for this dramatic, planned end is simple – NASA scientists do not want to risk an uncontrollable probe eventually reaching Titan or Enceladus, two of Saturn's moons that have enough of the key ingredients for life to possibly exist there. By crashing Cassini into Saturn, we guarantee that any potential lifeforms from Earth that might have survived on the probe itself do not have a chance to take root on one of the moons, meaning anything we might find later is truly native to the local environment and not, inadvertently, our fault.

A snapshot from the animated film "Cassini's Grand Finale."

ISS And Other Bright Satellites

Satellite flyovers are commonplace, with several bright passes easily visible per hour in the nighttime sky, yet a thrill to new observers of all ages. Few flyovers compare in brightness or interest to the International Space Station. The flyovers of the football field-sized craft with its massive solar panel arrays can be predicted to within several seconds and take several minutes to complete.

The month is divided into two ISS blocks. From the 4th to the 21st, observers will be treated to some very bright flyovers in the 4:30 a.m. to 6:15 a.m. range. From the 24th to the 29th, evening observers are treated to several exceptionally bright views. A number of less prominent flyovers are also predicted for the month and I encourage you to visit spotthestation.nasa.gov to see when some of these dimmer flyovers will occur.

ISS Flyovers

DateBrightnessApprox. StartStart Direct.Approx. EndEnd Direct.
4-Sepextremely5:25 AMSW5:30 AME/NE
5-Sepextremely4:35 AMSE4:38 AME/NE
6-Sepextremely5:18 AMW5:22 AMNE
7-Sepextremely4:28 AMNE4:30 AMNE
7-Sepvery6:01 AMW/NW6:06 AMNE
8-Sepvery5:10 AMW/NW5:14 AMNE
9-Sepvery4:20 AMN/NE4:22 AMNE
16-Sepextremely6:14 AMNW6:20 AME/SE
17-Sepvery5:22 AMNW5:28 AME
18-Sepvery4:32 AMN/NE4:35 AME
18-Sepextremely6:06 AMW/NW6:12 AMSE
19-Sepextremely5:15 AMW/NW5:20 AMSE
20-Sepvery5:59 AMW6:03 AMS
21-Sepvery5:09 AMS/SE5:11 AMS/SE
24-Sepvery8:44 PMSW8:46 PMS/SW
25-Sepvery7:52 PMS/SW7:56 PME/SE
26-Sepextremely8:35 PMW/SW8:39 PMN
27-Sepextremely7:43 PMSW7:49 PME/NE
28-Sepvery8:27 PMW8:31 PMN/NE
29-Sepextremely7:34 PMW/SW7:41 PMNE

Predictions courtesy of heavens-above.com. Times later in the month are subject to shifts – for accurate daily predictions, visit spotthestation.nasa.gov.

Draco the Dragon and neighbors.

Learn A Constellation: Draco The Dragon

We return to our constellation survey with one of the original 48 constellations of antiquity. Sandwiched between the bowls of the Big Dipper and Little Dipper lies the long tail of Draco. This month, you might have an easier time remembering the brightest stars in this grouping by thinking not of a dragon, but instead of its distant cousin the snake – in the pre-midnight September skies, Draco looks like a backwards "S", with the Little Dipper half-surrounded by the bottom curve. Draco's head ends in a bright, four-starred asterism known as "The Lozenge," with its brightest star Eltanin making for a dim corner of a triangle with the Summer Triangle's Vega and Deneb.

Like dragons themselves, the stars of Draco once played a more significant role in human history and mythology than they do today. Due to the slow wobbling of Earth's rotation axis, the north star some 5,000 years ago was not Polaris in Ursa Minor, but instead Thuban, the third star of Draco's tail. In fact, the north-facing sides of the Egyptian pyramids were oriented to provide a view of Thuban – an example of how major astronomical phenomena may happen slowly on the timescales of individual people, but have already undergone notable changes in the still-short timeline of recorded history.

The curving shape itself is easy to follow if you start from the space between the bowls of the two dippers – Draco's tail stars are all the brightest stars along the curve. The head of Draco ends just east of the keystone of Hercules – a fitting location, as Draco also ended as one of Hercules' twelve labors. As you stare at the gap between the head and the tail curve in Draco, you're looking out into the densest part of what might be the largest known structure in the universe. The Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall is composed of billions of galaxies spread across what might be 10 billion light years – a structure so gravitationally massive that it must have formed very early in the history of the universe itself.

Dr. Damian Allis is the director of CNY Observers and a NASA Solar System Ambassador. If you know of any other NY astronomy events or clubs to promote, please contact the author.

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