Watch this Space for September 2015

Moon Phases Planet Watch

The Planets on view this month are: New Moon First Quarter 13/ 09 / 15 21/ 09 / 15 Mercury: not visible this month Venus: mag -4.4 in Cnc/Leo, rises 2-4 hr before dawn Full Moon Last Quarter Mars: mag 1.8 in Cnc, rises about 04:00 28/ 09 / 15 05/ 09 / 15 Jupiter: mag -1.6 in Leo, rises about 04:30 Saturn: mag 0.7 in Lib, sets about 21:45 The Sun Uranus: mag 5.7 in Psc, rises about 21:00 Rises: 06:39, 15th September, Sets: 19:19 Neptune: mag 7.8 in Aqr, at opposition

Constellation of the Month - Aquila is a bright, northern constellation, culminating in the UK at midnight in August. It is 22nd out of the 88 in size (652 sq. deg.). The mythology of Aquila is varied but most stories identify Aquila as the eagle of Zeus (Jupiter). Notable :  Aql - , mag 0.76, very slightly variable with 9 short periods varying from 50min to 9 hours. Delta Scuti type variable.

Some Interesting Objects: Hercules contains 27 of the brighter NGC objects including 2 glob- ular clusters and 10 planetary nebulae. There are no Messier or Caldwell objects in Aquila. NGC 6760 - Small , mag 9.0 NGC 6751 - “The Glowing Eye” planetary , mag 11.9 NGC 6781 - , mag 12.0, small but colourful ring. Constellation map credit: IAU and Sky &Telescope magazine (cropped)

NGC 6760, iTelescope T30, NGC 6751, “The Glowing Eye” NGC 6781, planetary nebula, Steve Broadbent planetary nebula - HST ESO 3.6m telescope Lunar Feature of the Month Sinus Aestuum Known as the Bay of Billows this small area of low albedo basaltic lava rests between the crater Eratosthenes and the sprawling Mons Apenninus. Being located between these two features make the Sinus Aestuum easy to locate and it can be seen easily using 10X50 Binoculars. The bay can appear quite bland but closer inspection of the area, using high magnification, will reveal a series of small craterlets and wrinkle ridges that are worth searching out. To get the best observational pleasure from the Sinus Aestuum ensure you observe it either at the first day after the first or last quarter. Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter image of the Sinus Aestuum showing its numerous craterlets and wrinkle ridges ©NASA The Sun is on holiday at the moment! Information on recent solar activity will return next month.

ISS and Iridium Flares this month

ISS visibility ISS night-time visibility, magnitude greater than –2.0, height greater than 30°

Zenith Start End Date Time Mag Dirn Ht Dirn Ht Dirn Ht No evening passes

Satellite events Transits of Sun and Moon longer than 1s, and night-time close passes.

Date Time Event Mon 7 Sep 12:13 ISS transit of Moon Tue 8 Sep 06:37 ISS transit of Sun 11:22 ISS transit of Sun Tue 29 Sep 03:52 ISS transit of Moon

Satellite flares Magnitude greater than -4.0, height greater than 30°

Date Time Satellite Mag Dirn Ht Tue 1 Sep 22:14 Iridium 14 -6.6 NE 34° Sun 6 Sep 21:53 Iridium 68 -6.5 ENE 40° Fri 11 Sep 21:30 Metop B -4.4 E 69° 21:32 Iridium 62 -4.8 ENE 46° Sat 12 Sep 21:26 Iridium 65 -4.2 ENE 46° Thu 17 Sep 21:05 Iridium 72 -5.0 E 51° Sat 20 Sep 20:35 Iridium 43 -5.3 N 30° Mon 21 Sep 20:29 Iridium 40 -4.2 N 31° Wed 23 Sep 20:16 Iridium 82 -6.7 N 35° 20:38 Iridium 67 -4.2 ESE 55° 21:26 Metop A -4.0 ESE 67° Thu 24 Sep 20:10 Iridium 18 -6.2 N 37° 20:32 Iridium 72 -4.3 ESE 55° Fri 25 Sep 20:04 Iridium 39 -5.1 N 39° Sun 27 Sep 19:51 Iridium 41 -4.0 N 42° Mon 28 Sep 19:45 Iridium 98 -4.7 N 44° Tue 29 Sep 19:39 Iridium 80 -7.1 N 46° Wed 30 Sep 19:33 Iridium 42 -7.0 N 47° 20:05 Iridium 67 -6.4 SE 57°

Data from CalSky: http://www.calsky.com