This September, the night sky will present us with rare astronomical events, such as a partial lunar eclipse, an equinox and a supermoon.
Like every month, we tell you the most outstanding events of the astronomical calendar, so you can book the dates and don't miss any.
It is necessary to remember that in order to enjoy these events to the fullest, it is important to have a sky clean of light pollution and with clear skies. For the first, it is advisable to get as far away from the cities as possible, and for the second we advise you to consult the Meteored forecast for your city.
Remember that the time mentioned corresponds to the Argentine Official Time (GMT -3)
Views and ephemeris
To enjoy the best views of the night sky we must choose a suitable place, open and with the least light pollution. There is no need to buy a telescope, since with our eyes - and if you have a pair of binoculars, better -, we can see some planets and the Milky Way.
September 4, 23:00 - Maximum elongation of Mercury
Elongation is the angle formed by the Sun and a planet seen from the Earth. When that angle is maximum (the maximum elongation), it is the best circ*mstance to observe that planet, since at that maximum angle sunlight bothers less.
That is why this September 4 at 23:00, will be the best time to observe Mercury with the naked eye, being visible in the early morning until the sunrise of the very low sun on the horizon to the northeast.
September 5, 07:13 - Conjunction of Venus with the Moon
When one or more celestial bodies (stars or planets) coincide in the same region of the firmament, often aligned - from the observer's point of view - we are facing what in astronomy is known as conjunction. This configuration of the night sky can provide striking shows that are very easy to follow, without the need for complex devices.
This September 5 at 07:13, shortly after sunrise, the conjunction of Venus with the Moon will be visible near the horizon.
September 8 1:00 - Saturn in opposition
In astronomy, opposition is the configuration between two celestial bodies that are, in relation to the Earth, at two diametrically opposite points of the sky. The full moon occurs when it is in opposition to the Sun, and the Earth is approximately between them.
At sunset on the 7th until sunrise on the 8th, it will be the best time to observe it because it will be visible. Saturn is in the east while Venus is located very low on the horizon to the west and the Moon will be higher. Around 3 in the morning of the 8th, Jupiter and Mars are in the northeast, and Mars, unmistakable by its reddish color, will be at a lower altitude.
September 16, 7:30 pm - Saturn's conjunction with the Moon
It will be visible near the horizon after the Moon rises from the east, and Saturn will accompany it until its occultation at 7:14 on September 17.
September 17 to 18 - Partial lunar eclipse
On the night of September 17 to 18, a partial eclipse of the moon will occur that will be visible in the Americas, Europe and Africa.
It will be the second of two lunar eclipses planned for 2024. This time, a small part of the lunar disk will enter the shadow cone at 23:12 on the 17th and leave at 0:15 on the 18th.
September 22, 9:44 - Spring Equinox
In March and September, equinoxes occur, precise moments when sunlight divides the terrestrial day almost in half, which is why we have about 12 hours of light and 12 hours of night.
In fact, equinox comes from the Latin aequinoctium (aequus nocte), which means "night equal" in Spanish.
This September 22 at 9:44, the Sun will be at the "Libra point", the point of the ecliptic from which the Sun passes from the Earth's northern hemisphere to the southern hemisphere, starting spring in the southern hemisphere. This equinox is called spring or "vernal" (relative to spring), while the equinox that occurs in March is called autumn.
Phases of the Moon
This month we will have the Super Moon of the Harvest, on September 17, 2024. This phenomenon occurs when the full moon coincides with its perigee, that is, the point where it is closest to Earth in its elliptical orbit. And it will be harvest, because the September Moon is the moon that marks the end of summer and the beginning of the harvest season in the northern hemisphere, while for the southern hemisphere it is the beginning of sowing. Both are a crucial time for farming communities.
Moon phases:
- New Moon: September 02 at 22:55
- Growing Room: September 11, 3:06
- Full Moon: September 17 at 23:34. It will be a supermoon.
- Demining Quarter: September 24, 15:50
