The Heart of the Scorpion

Full Moon - September 8, 2014
Taken w/ Nexus 5 through telescope.

The fall skies are upon us - and they're filled with stars (among other things)! We've had two opportunities to view so far, September 8th, and September 17th. The first night offered us the Harvest Moon, which flooded the skies with light and dimmed most of the stars. The second night however was one that started off with crisp n' clear skies, that got a bit hazy toward the end. 

Saturn and Mars are the two planets visible for us around this time, however they are about to dip below the western skies as they make their ways around the Sun. We were lucky to have viewed Saturn twice now, and perhaps we'll have a chance at viewing one, maybe two other times. For the early birds among you, Venus is another planet that is visible in the predawn skies and you're encouraged to have it in your sky journals! 

Scorpius with Mars and Saturn on September 17, 2014.
Also in view: Parts of the Teapot & Ophiuchus, and an airplane trail.

Mars (Ares) at this time is in the constellation Scorpius, visible for us low in the southern/southwestern sky. Antares (Anti-Mars) is one of the stars that stand out in our southern sky at the moment. Antares is the 17th brightest star in our skies, and it is considered a red supergiant. Its color and brightness resemble the planet Mars in the night sky, and due to its possible confusion with the red planet, it is said to have been named the anti-Mars.

Ryan looking at the Moon with the Big Dipper in the background. 

Samer looking for the Perseus Double Open Cluster w/ Big Dipper in Background. 

The sky is always changing, and there are quite a few stars and constellations that will rise in the East/Northeast throughout this semester. The fall semester provides a wonderful opportunity for us to experience how the sky changes as the seasons change. Stay tuned for some awesome events (i.e Lunar Eclipse) and remember to keep looking up!

Clear Skies!! 

-SHH