Solar system objects in
September 2011
(Note: The names of the object or constellations are given in bold and the names in italics are the names of heavenly bodies in Indian astronomy.)
Sky for September :and:  The Sky Map 

Sun

  RA Dec Transit (IST) angular dia
Sep 01 10h 39m 31.46s +08o 28' 51.8" 12:00:11 31'41"
Sep 10 11h 12m 00.60s +05o 08' 57.8" 11:57:10 31'46"
Sep 20 11h 47m 52.57s +01o 18' 47.2" 11:53:37 31'50"

The transit time for the Sun is given for 82.5 longitude. You can find longitude of your place by noting the local transit. 
This is how - fix a vertical pole in the ground. Starting say by about 11 a.m. IST and mark the end of the  shadow of the pole. Note it's progress. The length of the shadow will decrease and then it will increase. When the shadow is the smallest it will be aligned exactly north south. Note the time at which the shadow is shortest. Now add or subtract  this time from from the transit time given above. Interpolate the time for the dates in between. Multiply this by time by 15 to convert time to longitude difference. Now subtract or add this from 82.5 to get longitude for your station.  This experiment will soon appear in detail on this site.

Phases Moon (time in IST)

New moon First quarter Full moon Last quarter
               
    04-Sep 23:09 12-Sep 14:57 20-Sep 19:08
27-Sep 16:38            

Full moon or near full moon period is bad for watching faint and nebulous objects. When it's the first quarter, then moon will be seen close to the meridian at the time of sunset. This date also tells us that the moon will be setting close to the local midnight. Similarly the moon will be seen closer the  meridian at sunrise when it is at it's last quarter phase.  Two or three days before and after its new moon phase thin crescent moon can be seen above the eastern and western horizon respectively

 
Planetary Schedule
 Mercury (Budha) is in the morning sky and would rise about one and a quarter hours before the sun. Reaches its greatest western elongation of 18 degrees on 3rd. But after that it rapidly moving towards its superior conjunction on 28th.  It moves from Leo, the Lion (Smiha) to Virgo the Virgin (Kanya) on 22nd Sept and remain here till the end.

Venus (Shukra) after its superior conjunction on Aug 16 would not be moving to the evening sky but it is still very close to the sun for safe observations. A careful and seasoned observer might be able to spot the planet by the month end. Venus moves from Leo, the Lion (Smiha) to Virgo the Virgin (Kanya) on 10th Sept and remain here till the end.

Mars (Mangal) is an object of the pre-dawn sky.  It is in Gemini, the Twins (Mithuna) and moves to Cancer, the Crap (Karka) on Sep 16. By the month end it is well above the eastern hourizon.  

Jupiter (Guru, Brihaspati) is in Aries, the Ram (Mesha) is becoming a full-night planet. Monsoon rains have washed the sky - and can give you some of very beautiful views of Jupiter.

Saturn (Shani) is in the evening sky but not for long at it moves towards its superior conjunction. It is in Virgo, the Virgin (Kanya) this month.

Planetary positions, their configuration in the sky among the stars and constellation or with each other, in no way can influence life on Earth or elsewhere.
September 01
 
Mercury rises about 1h 15m before the sunrise
Venus sets about 20 min after the sunset  - too close to be observed safely
Mars rises about 2h 40m before the sunrise
Jupiter rises about 3h after the sunset
Saturn sets about 2h after the sunset

 
September 10
 
Mercury rises about an hour before the sunrise
Venus sets about 24 min after the sunset  - too close to be observed safely
Mars rises about 4h before the sunrise
Jupiter rises about 1h 40m after the sunset
Saturn sets about 1h 33m after the sunset

 
September 20
 
Mercury rises about 30 m before the sunrise
Venus sets about 30 min after the sunset  - too close to be observed safely
Mars rises about 4 hours before the sunrise
Jupiter rises about 2 hours after the sunset
Saturn Rises about 1h 40m the Sun

 
The material here can be used freely.
It is, however, expected that the source may be acknowledged.
 Credit : Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune.)

The site is created for the Public Outreach Programme, IUCAA
by
Arvind Paranjpye - arp@iucaa.ernet.in  +91 20 2560 4601
   Samir Dhurde - samir@iucaa.ernet.in +91 20 2560 4603

Page created June, 2007 and Updated  Sep, 2007