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YOUR 2021 ASTRO CALENDAR Here are a few celestial events to take note of for the rest of the year.

Sept. 7, Oct. 6, Nov. 4, Dec. 4 from which meteors radiate) is peaks Nov. 12, but expect Dec. 4 New Moons higher early in the evening but shower activity a few days Total Solar Eclipse These are great nights to set gets low in the northwest after before and after the peak. You’ll only be able to see the up your telescope or shoot im- midnight, just about the time During the other meteor moon completely block the sun ages if the sky is clear. With no meteor activity should pick up. showers that take place on this day if you’re up for a trip moonlight interfering, you’ll between September and to Antarctica or the surrounding see faint objects like galaxies Oct. 29 the end of this year — Orio- southern seas. Take pictures for and star clusters. Venus at Greatest Eastern nids from us if you go. But you should be Elongation Oct. 20-22, Meteor able to find the phenomenon Sept. 14 See Venus at its best all year Shower from Nov. 16-18 and live streamed online. Neptune at Opposition and after sunset in the western sky Meteor Shower from Mercury at Greatest Eastern on a low horizon. Venus’ orbit Dec. 21-22 — the moon is Dec. 7 Elongation is closer to the sun than Earth’s, either nearly full or waning Venus at Its Brightest You’ll need a telescope to see so it’s lost in the solar glare most gibbous, neither of which is Venus will be easy to spot Neptune, but you’ll be able to of the time. But when it’s at its good for meteor viewing. So low in the southwest just after catch Mercury with the naked greatest elongation (its farthest the shower is likely sunset. Dec. 7 also marks the eye just after sunset. Set your point from the sun), it becomes the best show you’ll get yet earliest sunset of the year, sights on a low western hori- the third-brightest object in the this year. making it feel like the darkest zon and bring binoculars. sky after the sun and moon, part of winter even though which is why it’s often called the Nov. 19 the winter solstice is still two Sept. 30 morning or evening star. Full Moon and a Partial weeks from that date. The Star Pollux Eclipse of the Moon A waning crescent moon will Nov. 5 Though technically partial, Dec. 13 be visible near the bright star Uranus at Opposition this lunar eclipse is nearly Meteor Shower Pollux, slightly above and to See blue-green Uranus at its total, so it should be an The waxing gibbous moon the left. It’s a nice sight if you’re brightest all year. It will be interesting sight. It begins at doesn’t set until well after willing to get out of bed in the invisible to the naked eye in about midnight in Wisconsin, midnight, so the sky will only early morning to catch it. the city, but if you find a very reaches its deepest eclipse get truly dark after that. Plan to dark sky you could catch it. around 3 a.m. and will end head out after midnight for best Oct. 8 Binoculars will help because about an hour before sunrise. viewing of this meteor shower. Draconids Meteor Shower it’s a bit of a challenge to find.

ILLUSTRATION: GETTY IMAGES ILLUSTRATION: A young moon (meaning it Milky Way Season: Nov. 12 sets early) will make for a good Generally between May and September, the Milky Way is best seen on new moon Taurids Meteor Shower shower show. The nights. In Wisconsin, you’ll see it early in the morning starting in April, and point (the point in the sky The northern Taurids shower then between June and September it’s out pretty much all night.

SEPTEMBER 2021 | MADISON MAGAZINE 67