Stargazing during the month will give fine display after sunset and before sunrise of celestial bodies such as stars and constellations. The famous Summer Triangle of the stars Vega, Deneb and Altair of the constellations Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus respectively, is well placed above the eastern horizon, as shown in Figures 1 & 1a. This month, the rich band of constellations and stars along the Milky Way from the constellations Cygnus, the Swan, in the north to Sagittarius and Scorpius in the south, begin to give way to fainter constellations, many of them with watery associations such as the constellations of Capricornus, the Sea-Goat, Aquarius, the Water Bearer and Pisces the Fish. The famous asterism Teapot in the sky of the constellation Sagittarius can be observed at about 40 to 45 degrees above the south-southeastern horizon as also shown in the Figures.

Figure 1

Figure 1a

On September 1 at 1:00 AM, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter and Saturn, will be observed in the early morning sky. Uranus will be located in the eastern horizon which abode among the stars of the constellation Aries, the Ram, while Neptune will be found in the southwestern horizon among the stars of the constellation Aquarius, the Water-Bearer. Both of these planets require observing equipment like binoculars, telescopes, and star maps. Jupiter and Saturn can be seen at about 49 and 33 degrees above the southwestern sky lying among the background stars of the constellation Capricornus, the Sea-Goat. They will be glowing at magnitudes -2.86 and +0.36, respectively. These planets will remain visible in the early morning sky throughout the month.

At 6:40 PM, Venus, and Mercury can be spotted at about 23 and 10 degrees above the western horizon, shining brilliantly at magnitudes -4.28 and 0.02, respectively. Both planets will lie among the background stars of the constellation Virgo, the Virgin. The planets will remain visible in the sky after sunset during the month of September.

Mars will be difficult to observe due to its proximity to the horizon and the Sun during the month.

Figure 3

SEPTEMBER 2021

Errata of AGE 2020, page 2 (Errata of AGE 2020 pdf file)