Every Monday I choose the northern celestial highlights of the northern hemisphere (mid-northern latitudes) for the coming week Make sure to follow the feed on my main page for additional comprehensive stories on astronomy, stargazing eclipses, and much more.
What to Look For in The Dark Sky This Week The dates are September 26-October 2 2022
This week, you’ll have to fight to keep your attention away from this “king of the planets.” Tonight Jupiter is at the annual “opposition” at the point that Earth is right in the middle of both the Sun in the sky and Jupiter. This occurs every 13 months, and, when it happens, Jupiter’s complete disk is lit by the Sun in the evening from our viewpoint. Not only that, it is rising in the east just before sunset, and sets in the west around sunrise. Therefore, it’s “up” all night long.
There’s also something that’s unique concerning Jupiter’s 2022 opposition. It’s more close than Earth in this particular week at any time between 1963 and 2139, which makes this the most brilliant and brightest opposition to Jupiter in the last 166 years.Here’s what else you can expect to see in the night skies this week:
Monday, September 26, 2022: Jupiter at opposition
If you look to the east shortly after sunset, and you’ll be able to see Jupiter emerge in the dark. It’ll shine with an intensity of -2.9 This makes it the most bright thing visible in the post-sunset night skies in addition to the Moon.
The moon’s brightness will be highest this evening, but technically speaking it’s likely to be bright for the next few weeks. It is possible to observe the moon naked-eye however only through the aid of binoculars can you be able to see the four massive moons Ganymede (which is larger than the sun Mercury), Callisto, Io and Europa.
Tuesday 27th September, 2022: The tiniest crescent Moon
Who will be able to see the young Moon first? Two days old moon, with a 5% light intensity, could just be visible to the west shortly after sunset.
Binoculars are definitely required But don’t make use of them until the Sun is completely gone from the sky.
This is an excellent week to search for an elongated crescent Moon.
This is a good week to search for the slender crescent moon. GETTY
Wednesday 28th September 2022: A simple crescent Moon
A three-day-old and 10%-lit crescent Moon will be a stunning and easily visible object for about an hour following sunset. Make sure to look west. Bring binoculars.
Are you able to see the reflected light from Earth, also known as “planet-shine”–on one of the darker sides of the Moon? If not, then try again on the next day in the evening when you will see the crescent Moon will appear slightly more brighter and slightly higher in the sky after sunset.
Friday September 30, 2022 Crescent Moon and Antares
Friday September 30, 2022 Crescent Moon and Antares STELLARIUM
Friday 30 September 2022 The crescent Moon, and Antares
At sunset under the sky of the southwest, you’ll see a crescent moon that is lit by 27% Moon that lies only 1.5o off the star Antares.
The most bright star in the constellation Scorpius, Antares is a supergiant red star that is often misunderstood with Mars. The name itself refers to “the adversary of Mars” since they appear similar to the casual observer . Every another year, the red planet is extremely close to the red star.
However, not this year. Mars is on the other part of the sky at night in 2022. appearing in the east couple of minutes after sunset.
Asterisms of the Week”Summer Triangle”
Take a look high up towards the southwest sky and you’ll see three bright stars which create what astronomers call”the “Summer Triangle.” On the wane and fading to the west , after darkness, its three component stars – bright Vega, Deneb and Altair–still shine strongly and dominate the other side of the night sky. It’s not a constellation that is officially recognized but a sloppy shape, which is what people call an asterism.
Return to Vega The star by which everyone else is judged by. The fifth-highest brightness stars in the night sky, and just 25 light-years away this blue star acts as used to gauge the apparent magnitude, or brightness of stars. If a star appears to be less than Vega is given an (+) figure, and if it’s more bright than Vega it’s given an (+) figure.
The times and dates listed are applicable up to the mid-northern latitudes. To get the most precise specific information about your location, consult planetariums online, such as Stellarium or The Sky Live. Check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are.
We wish your clear skies as well as large eyes.