Epsilon Perseids meteor bathe provides Colorado stargazers one final probability to see taking pictures stars earlier than summer time’s finish

As the nights develop chillier, there may be nonetheless time for Colorado stargazers to look at a meteor bathe and different celestial occasions earlier than summer time ends and winter situations make nights much less gratifying.

Astronomy information and Summit County resident Mark Laurin — higher often called Astro Mark — wrote in his September stargazing blog that, with the times rising shorter, the nights are rising longer and the celebs are popping out earlier.

“We’re in a stargazer’s sweet spot,” Laurin wrote. “The September sky is full of magic. Plus, you’ll find the night air is still comfortable but with a mere hint of wispy chill occasionally passing through.”

The autumnal equinox will happen this month. Stargazers also needs to maintain an eye fixed out for taking pictures stars throughout the Epsilon Perseids meteor bathe, in addition to search for the conjunction of the moon and Jupiter and mark their calendars for a particular alternative to see Saturn, Laurin mentioned.

“September ushers (in) the beginning of the season of harvest, fulfillment, and gratitude. It is the month which straddles the final season of growth and the beginning season of harvest,” Laurin wrote. “And thus it is so with our September night sky. A sky rich, full of delightful objects to view and events to observe. Get out and look up any pleasant night this month. The cosmos awaits.”

Epsilon Perseids meteor bathe

While the Epsilon Perseids meteor bathe produces fewer meteors general in comparison with the Perseids meteor bathe that occurred in August — which is likely one of the better of the yr — it’s nonetheless a chance to see taking pictures stars, Laurin mentioned.

A meteor, sometimes called a “shooting star,” is the brilliant streak of sunshine seen when a small piece of area particles burns up within the ambiance. A meteor bathe happens when the Earth’s orbit passes via a stream of particles left by a comet or asteroid, inflicting a bathe of taking pictures stars because the particles burns up within the ambiance.

The Epsilon Perseids meteor bathe will peak Sept. 9. Unfortunately, Laurin famous that it will likely be justt two days after the complete moon, so the brightness of the moon will wash out the visibility of fainter taking pictures stars. But, “do not despair,” he mentioned, as a result of the meteor bathe is anticipated to be seen till Sept. 21 and has “a history of being unpredictable.”

To discover the meteor bathe, look north-west any time after sundown and scan a big swath of the sky above the horizon, Laurin mentioned.

Interestingly, astronomers don’t know precisely what mother or father comet or asteroid produces the particles path that creates the Epsilon Perseids meteor bathe, however it’s considered a “long period comet” with an orbital interval across the solar of greater than 200 years, Laurin mentioned. 

Conjunction of moon and Jupiter

On Sept. 16, an astronomical conjunction will happen between the moon and Jupiter, Laurin mentioned. An astronomical conjunction happens when two astronomical our bodies seem shut to at least one one other and share the identical east to west “ascension,” or arc, via the sky as noticed from earth, he mentioned.

Around 1:30 a.m. Sept. 16, the crescent moon will rise over the east-northeast horizon with Jupiter prominently in tow, Laurin mentioned. Jupiter could have an off white, yellow-golden hue and, not like stars, it is not going to twinkle.

Saturn in opposition

On Sept. 20, Saturn might be in “opposition” with the Earth, that means the solar, Earth and Saturn might be in alignment with Earth within the center, Laurin mentioned. During this “special event,” he mentioned, “you can expect Saturn to be boldly illuminated and thus prime for viewing.”

Saturn will rise across the time the solar units and can set within the west across the solar rises within the east the following day, reaching its excessive level within the sky round midnight. To spot Saturn, search for a vibrant brownish-green planet within the constellation Pisces, Laurin mentioned, noting “the key is to look for a pinprick of light that isn’t twinkling.”

“While you will see Saturn with your naked eye, even a small telescope or binoculars at low power will reveal much more,” Laurin mentioned. “Don’t miss your chance to see the sixth planet in our solar system, the Roman God of agriculture, up close and personal.”

Autumnal equinox

In the northern hemisphere, the autumnal equinox — which marks the top of the summer time season and the start of autumn — will happen Sept. 22 at 12:20 p.m., Laurin mentioned.

During the autumnal equinox, the solar rises immediately within the east and units immediately within the west, and spends roughly equal quantities of time above and under the horizon, “no matter where you are in the world,” Laurin mentioned.