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Celestial Events Calendar
Wednesday, August 31, 2005:
9 PM CDT – The Moon is at apogee,
the point in its orbit where it is the furthest from the Earth ~ 255,000 miles
10 PM CDT – Uranus is at
opposition. The Earth is between the Sun and Uranus. This is the best
time of year to observe Uranus since it is visible all night.
Thursday, September 1, 2005:
Alpha Aurigid meteor shower – active August 25 to September
8
ZHR – 7 meteors/hour
4 AM CDT – The equation of time is zero, that is, the
rotation of the Earth is in sync with the clock. The halfway point between
sunset and sunrise occurs exactly at midnight.
5 PM CDT – Venus is 1.2o south southwest of
Jupiter about 40o east of the Sun in the evening sky.
On this date in 1979, Pioneer 11 was the first spacecraft to
fly past Saturn.
Friday,
September 2, 2005:
3 PM CDT – Pluto is stationary relative to the stars. It
ceases its retrograde westward drift through the constellation Serpens Caput
and begins its normal eastward drift through the stars.
Saturday,
September 3, 2005:
1:45 PM CDT – New
Moon, the beginning of lunation cycle # 1023
On this date in 1976 the Viking II spacecraft landed on
Mars.
Tuesday,
September 6, 2005:
6 AM CDT – The Moon is at its descending node. It is passing
through the plane of the Earth’s orit and heading southeast.
Wednesday,
September 7, 2005:
Friday,
September 9, 2005:
Delta
Aurigid meteor shower – active September 5 through October 10
ZHR – 5 meteors/hour
Saturday,
September 10, 2005:
North
Houston Astronomy Club “Public Star Party” at Kingwood College. Contact
Henry Norton to volunteer.
Sunday,
September 11, 2005:
6:37 AM CDT – First
Quarter Moon
Tuesday,
September 13, 2005:
On this day in 1959, Luna II, a Russian spacecraft, was the
first spacecraft to impact on the Moon.
Wednesday,
September 14, 2005:
8 AM CT – Saturn is 1.2o south southwest of the
center of the Beehive cluster in Cancer about 45o west of the Sun in
the morning sky.
The Executive
Board of the North Houston Astronomy Club will meet at 7 PM in CLA 225
(upstairs from the Teaching Theater) at Kingwood College. All members are
invited to attend.
Friday, September 16, 2005:
9 AM CDT – The Moon is at perigee
its closest approach to the Earth.
~ 226,000 miles
1 PM CDT – The astronomical
position of the Sun moves from the constellation of Leo the Lion into Virgo.
Saturday, September 17, 2005:
9:01 PM CDT – Full Moon, Fruit and Harvest moon
9 PM CDT – Mercury is at superior
conjunction relative to the Sun. The Sun is between Mercury and the Earth.
Mercury moves from being visible just before sunrise to being visible just
after sunset.
Monday, September 19, 2005:
Piscid meteor shower – active September 1 through September 30
ZHR – 3 meteors/hour
3 AM CDT – The Moon is at its
ascending node. It is crossing the plane of the Earth’s orbit and heading
northeast.
Thursday, September 22, 2005:
5:23 PM CDT – Autumnal or fall equinox, the first day of
fall. The astrological sign changes from Virgo to Libra.
Friday, September 23, 2005:
Neptune was discovered on this
date in 1846.
77th Meeting of the North Houston Astronomy Club at
Kingwood College
Saturday, September 24, 2005: Dennis Webb is speaking.
3 PM CDT – Houston Astronomical Society’s 50th anniversary celebration
at their Columbus observing site.
Sunday, September 25, 2005:
1:41 AM CDT – Last Quarter Moon
Tuesday, September 27, 2005:
Sextanid “radio” meteor shower.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005:
11 AM CDT – The Moon is at apogee
the point in its orbit where it is furthest from the Earth ~ 24,000 miles.
Saturday, October 1, 2005:
North Houston Astronomy Club Fall “Sputnik” BBQ & Star Party –
Sputnik I was launched on Wednesday, October 4, 1957.
Friday, October 21, 2005:
8 PM CDT - 5th Annual Houston/Beaumont Regional Astronomy Meeting
– Houston Community College, Administrative building – speaker, Dr. Thomas
Greathouse, Lunar and Planetary Institute
Saturday, October 22, 2005:
Astronomy Day 2005 at the George Observatory, 3 – 11
PM, Just come and enjoy yourself or to volunteer contact Bill Leach. Regional
meeting and Astronomy Day details can be found at www.astronoyday.org