Dear Stargazer Friends,
I hope you have been well. August was another rainy and cloudy month here in Switzerland and I only had one opportunity to do astronomy. However, bad weather is also an excellent occasion to go over setups, check software including astrophotography software, do tests and optimize for the next stargazing night. I also posted a few unboxing pictures of my Avalon Linear Mount here with a shy first light. More details to follow.
Also used a blue filter for the first time to take pictures of the Moon (see below) with surprising results. Finally, the Observatory project for our home takes shape slowly but surely. A more detailed planning with a totally new solution will start this fall. However, delivery times for the Baader AllSky Dome are long – which is really not such a problem for a hobby that takes lots of patience and with a steep learning curve – so I’ll have plenty of time to figure out all the details, including choosing the most suitable telescopes.
Nights are getting longer again, at least in the northern hemisphere and September is still a great month to observe the Milky Way. As I have mentioned in my last newsletter, personally, I love September and also October for stargazing. It’s not yet so cold outside and nights are sometimes very clear. The “winter constellations” make a comeback with the classics such as the Pleiades, Orion, the Hyades… Ideal celestial objects also for naked eye or binocular observation.
In the Northern Hemisphere September Equinox on 22 September 2021 at 21:21 CEST marks the beginning of the astronomical autumn/fall (and the beginning of astronomical spring for Southern Hemisphere).
I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and please come back for the October issue.
Clear skies and best wishes!
Isa
Moon phases September 2021
| Phase | Date |
| New Moon | 07 September, 02:51 |
| First Quarter | 13 September, 22:39 |
| Full Moon | 21 September, 01:54 |
| Third Quarter | 29 September, 03:57 |
Planets
For local times go to In-The-Sky.org
Mercury (currently in Virgo) not observable in September (from Bern, Switzerland).
Venus is in the Contellation of Virgo until 18 September 2021 and observable in the early evening but only for a short moment. Starting 19 September, it will be visible in the constellation of Libra.
Mars is currently not visible (from Bern, Switzerland).
Jupiter is in the constellation of Capricorn. It rises earlier and earlier (15 September at 18:38; 30 September at 17:38) and can be observed throughout the month (1st of September until 04:19; 30 September until 02:35). Magnitude between -2.8 and -2.7.
Saturn appears in the constellation of Capricorn and thus still close to Jupiter. On 15 September, it rises at 17:54 and sets on 16 September at 03:01 (02:06 on 30 September).
Uranus is visible in the constellation of Aries (1st of September from 00:36 until 05:32; 30 September from 22:39 till 06:17). Approx. Mag. 5.7
Neptune is in the Constellation of Aquarius and visible all month – 15 September starting 22:06 till 04:52 and on 30 September from 21:04 till 03:48.
Ephemeris Sun with Twilights
All times computed for Bern (latitude 46.95; longitude 7.45) and expressed in Bern time.
Ephemeris by Dominic Ford – https://in-the-sky.org/ephemeris.php
Moon conjunctions with Planets
9-10 September: look for the Crescent Moon close to Venus early evening (W).
16-17 September: look for the Moon close to Jupiter (16 September) and Jupiter as well as Saturn on 17 September. Lovely trio visible starting dusk (SE).
Bright Stars
| Polaris | 1.95 | — | 4h47m | +47°36’30.92″ | — | — |
| Mirfak | 1.75 | — | 5h14m | +87°00’41.23″ | — | — |
| Capella | 0.05 | — | 7h07m | +89°04’13.10″ | — | — |
| Menkalinan | 1.90 | — | 7h50m | +87°59’59.48″ | — | — |
| Dubhe | 2.00 | — | 12h55m | +75°18’47.11″ | — | — |
| Alioth | 1.75 | — | 14h45m | +81°05’50.24″ | — | — |
| Alkaid | 1.85 | — | 15h39m | +87°41’22.28″ | — | — |
| Deneb | 1.25 | — | 22h30m | +88°23’39.10″ | — | — |
| Altair | 0.75 | 14h58m | 21h41m | +51°59’08.78″ | 4h24m | — |
| Fomalhaut | 1.15 | 21h12m | 0h48m | +13°36’35.13″ | 4h25m | — |
| Vega | 0.00 | 10h19m | 20h27m | +81°50’50.02″ | 6h34m | — |
| Diphda | 2.00 | 21h49m | 2h33m | +25°13’01.62″ | 7h16m | — |
| Hamal | 2.00 | 20h00m | 3h57m | +66°37’19.95″ | 11h53m | — |
| Adhara | 1.50 | 5h09m | 8h49m | +14°06’53.57″ | 12h28m | — |
| Rigel | 0.15 | 1h36m | 7h04m | +34°53’54.65″ | 12h33m | — |
Galaxies
| Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set | Ang. Size |
| M 81 (Bode’s Galaxy) | 6.94 | — | 11h47m | +67°59’24.62″ | — | +0°20’30.00″ |
| M 82 (Cigar Galaxy) | 8.41 | — | 11h47m | +67°22’33.98″ | — | +0°07’45.00″ |
| M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy) | 3.44 | 15h33m | 2h32m | +84°26’03.33″ | 13h31m | +2°05’24.00″ |
| M 32 | 8.08 | 15h44m | 2h32m | +84°01’52.01″ | 13h20m | +0°07’30.00″ |
| M 33 (Triangulum Galaxy) | 5.72 | 18h38m | 3h23m | +73°49’30.15″ | 12h08m | +0°55’09.00″ |
(Open) Star clusters
| Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set | Ang. Size |
| Cr 39 (α Per Cluster) | 1.20 | — | 5h01m | +88°00’41.12″ | — | +5°00’00.00″ |
| NGC 869 (Double Cluster) | 3.80 | — | 3h53m | +79°43’01.65″ | — | +0°15’00.00″ |
| NGC 884 (Double Cluster) | 3.80 | — | 3h56m | +79°43’15.66″ | — | +0°15’00.00″ |
| M 34 (Spiral Cluster) | 5.20 | — | 4h16m | +85°52’42.03″ | — | +0°12’30.00″ |
| M 39 | 4.60 | — | 23h04m | +88°12’55.72″ | — | +0°15’30.00″ |
| NGC 7686 | 5.60 | — | 1h02m | +87°38’40.34″ | — | +0°07’00.00″ |
| IC 1396 (Elephant’s Trunk Nebula) | 3.50 | — | 23h11m | +79°20’15.66″ | — | +0°08’00.00″ |
| LDN 962 | 2.00 | — | 22h34m | +88°25’33.97″ | — | +0°13’48.98″ |
| LDN 1085 | 4.00 | — | 23h05m | +80°05’02.04″ | — | +0°01’41.58″ |
| Cr 29 | 5.90 | — | 4h11m | +80°51’54.82″ | — | +0°10’00.00″ |
| Cr 464 | 4.20 | — | 6h57m | +63°55’58.11″ | — | +1°00’00.00″ |
| M 23 | 5.50 | 14h51m | 19h29m | +24°05’45.18″ | 0h07m | +0°12’30.00″ |
| M 24 (Small Sagittarius Star Cloud) | 4.60 | 15h09m | 19h49m | +24°32’24.16″ | 0h29m | +1°15’00.00″ |
| M 25 | 4.60 | 15h26m | 20h04m | +23°58’53.51″ | 0h41m | +0°13’00.00″ |
| M 17 (Omega Nebula) | 6.00 | 15h01m | 19h53m | +26°54’58.54″ | 0h45m | +0°35’00.00″ |
| NGC 6605 | 6.00 | 14h51m | 19h49m | +28°04’25.01″ | 0h47m | — |
| M 16 (Eagle Nebula) | 6.00 | 14h47m | 19h51m | +29°16’37.28″ | 0h54m | +1°12’30.00″ |
| IC 4665 (Summer Beehive Cluster) | 4.20 | 12h49m | 19h18m | +48°46’03.56″ | 1h47m | +0°35’00.00″ |
| Cr 359 (Taurus Poniatovii Cluster) | 3.00 | 13h16m | 19h33m | +45°57’35.67″ | 1h50m | +6°00’00.00″ |
| NGC 6633 (Tweedledum Cluster) | 4.60 | 13h27m | 19h59m | +49°38’25.81″ | 2h32m | +0°10’00.00″ |
| IC 4756 (Graff’s Cluster) | 4.60 | 13h42m | 20h10m | +48°33’59.85″ | 2h39m | +0°22’30.00″ |
| Cr 399 (Coathanger) | 3.60 | 13h19m | 20h57m | +63°16’19.23″ | 4h35m | +0°30’00.00″ |
| St 1 | 5.30 | 13h01m | 21h08m | +68°18’32.53″ | 5h15m | — |
| NGC 6871 | 5.20 | 12h07m | 21h38m | +78°51’43.88″ | 7h09m | +0°15’00.00″ |
| NGC 752 | 5.70 | 17h36m | 3h31m | +80°55’57.12″ | 13h26m | +0°37’30.00″ |
| NGC 6281 (Moth Wing Cluster) | 5.40 | 16h16m | 18h37m | +5°11’31.52″ | 20h57m | +0°04’30.00″ |
| Cr 302 (Antares Cluster) | 1.00 | 14h00m | 17h58m | +16°50’13.52″ | 21h55m | +4°12’30.00″ |
| Cr 256 (Coma Berenices Cluster) | 1.80 | 5h44m | 13h53m | +68°46’52.31″ | 22h03m | +4°35’00.00″ |
| NGC 6374 | 5.50 | 15h51m | 19h04m | +10°31’14.97″ | 22h17m | +0°01’15.00″ |
| NGC 6383 | 5.50 | 15h54m | 19h07m | +10°33’06.73″ | 22h20m | +0°01’15.00″ |
| M 7 (Ptolemy’s Cluster) | 3.30 | 16h32m | 19h26m | +8°21’21.61″ | 22h20m | +0°40’00.00″ |
| M 6 (Butterfly Cluster) | 4.20 | 15h57m | 19h12m | +10°51’58.76″ | 22h28m | +0°12’30.00″ |
| NGC 6416 | 5.70 | 16h02m | 19h16m | +10°45’36.40″ | 22h31m | +0°15’00.00″ |
| NGC 6530 (Herschel 36) | 4.60 | 15h28m | 19h37m | +18°44’18.46″ | 23h45m | +0°07’00.00″ |
| M 21 (Webb’s Cross) | 5.90 | 15h17m | 19h36m | +20°36’05.71″ | 23h56m | +0°08’00.00″ |
Bright nebulae
| Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set | Ang. Size |
| NGC 7000 (North America Nebula) | 4.00 | — | 22h29m | +87°24’46.34″ | — | +1°50’00.00″ |
| IC 1396 (Elephant’s Trunk Nebula) | 3.50 | — | 23h09m | +79°21’12.46″ | — | +0°08’00.00″ |
| LDN 1121 | 5.00 | — | 23h11m | +78°34’32.19″ | — | +0°01’30.86″ |
| vdB 15 | 4.58 | — | 5h01m | +77°58’35.93″ | — | +0°27’30.00″ |
| vdB 14 | 4.23 | — | 5h01m | +76°56’12.75″ | — | — |
| vdB 30 | 4.30 | — | 6h27m | +70°34’32.02″ | — | — |
| vdB 134 | 4.95 | — | 22h00m | +87°52’20.69″ | — | — |
| vdB 129 | 3.24 | 15h41m | 21h42m | +42°18’31.65″ | 3h43m | — |
| vdB 127 | 3.82 | 13h48m | 21h18m | +61°38’35.30″ | 4h47m | — |
| Ced 177 | 4.82 | 11h57m | 21h40m | +79°56’57.90″ | 7h22m | — |
| Ced 176a | 2.32 | 11h14m | 21h39m | +82°53’34.32″ | 8h04m | — |
| Ced 176b | 2.32 | 12h06m | 22h43m | +83°29’50.11″ | 9h20m | — |
| vdB 151 | 4.49 | 13h20m | 23h44m | +82°50’55.02″ | 10h09m | — |
| vdB 156 | 3.62 | 12h44m | 0h33m | +85°29’38.66″ | 12h22m | — |
| NGC 1435 (Merope Nebula) | 4.18 | 21h19m | 5h18m | +67°01’27.01″ | 13h17m | +0°30’00.00″ |
| vdB 20 | 3.71 | 21h16m | 5h17m | +67°14’16.52″ | 13h17m | +0°18’00.00″ |
| M 45 (Pleiades) | 1.20 | 21h18m | 5h19m | +67°14’26.30″ | 13h19m | +1°50’00.00″ |
| NGC 1432 (Maia Nebula) | 3.88 | 21h17m | 5h18m | +67°19’26.58″ | 13h19m | +0°50’00.00″ |
| vdB 23 | 2.87 | 21h19m | 5h19m | +67°13’42.82″ | 13h20m | +0°27’00.00″ |
| Ced 19e | 4.37 | 21h15m | 5h17m | +67°36’20.79″ | 13h20m | +0°21’00.00″ |
| Ced 19o (Atlas Nebula) | 3.80 | 21h21m | 5h21m | +67°10’46.93″ | 13h21m | +0°11’00.00″ |
| Ced 45 | 1.70 | 0h25m | 6h57m | +49°26’26.63″ | 13h29m | +0°40’00.00″ |
| Ced 55r (Orion Loop Nebula) | 1.91 | 1h04m | 7h17m | +45°07’02.80″ | 13h30m | — |
| vdB 49 | 4.50 | 0h49m | 7h11m | +47°11’55.18″ | 13h33m | — |
| Ced 18b | 3.94 | 20h19m | 5h16m | +75°24’19.37″ | 14h14m | +2°00’00.00″ |
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