This cosmic duo posed a real challenge for observers because of its proximity to the horizon. Using Venus and Saturn as a convenient guidepost helped track down Mercury/Spica which were about 22 degrees apart—a little more than the width of two side-by-side fists at arm’s length.
Into the early morning hours of Wednesday, September 25, the eastern and southern skies had a stunning waning moon passing the left of the red giant Aldebaran—the bright “eye” of Taurus. The near quarter moon was said to join Aldebaran - the brightest star in the constellation Taurus - the bull on Sept.24/25.
Earth’s natural satellite appeared less than three degrees from the 68 light-year distant star—equal to the width of your three middle fingers at arm’s length. The moon during daytime on Wednesday passed through the southern sky, and one could catch sight of Aldebaran with binoculars.
Last-quarter moon occurred on Thursday, September 26 at 11:56 pm EDT (Friday, 3:56 am UT). The moon rose in the east around midnight, and is said to have passed between winter constellations Gemini, to the left, and Orion, on its right.
At dawn on Saturday, September 28 the waning crescent Moon was only five degrees south of the beacon-like Jupiter. The two appeared particularly pretty with binoculars, and one could also spot the gas giant’s four biggest moons.
On Sunday, September 29, early bird sky watchers gazing towards the eastern sky would have noticed that the moon had sunk between bright Mars, near the eastern horizon, and Jupiter, more than halfway near the zenith, forming a diagonal alignment of the neighboring worlds.
For more amazing pictures, click here.
No comments:
Post a Comment