NASA returns a monthly roundup of what to watch out for in the skies over the next few weeks.
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn all feature, but the Moon also gets a special mention, as the long-awaited Artemis I mission launches this weekend.
But let’s start with Mars. If you look up at the sky before sunrise, you can see the red planet high in the south. The planet can be distinguished by its salmon-pink color. You don’t need binoculars to see Mars. Only clear skies.
“Over the course of the month, Mars will move east from Aldebaran toward reddish Betelgeuse, creating a sort of ‘red triangle’ in the morning sky. NASA says Its website adds that it appears to “slam on the brakes to stop moving east and hang out in that triangle for the next month or so.”
This month is also a great time to observe Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.The object made headlines last month when it was captured by the James Webb Space Telescope amazing image It shows planets never seen before.
On the morning of September 11, before sunrise, Jupiter will be visible just a few finger widths from the Moon. At least, that’s how it would appear from Earth.
Jupiter is easily visible with the naked eye, but if you have binoculars or a telescope handy, you can catch a glimpse of Jupiter’s four large moons. planet.
NASA said the Jupiter-orbiting Juno spacecraft will flyby one of these icy moons, Europa, on Sept. 29, coming within just 200 miles of its surface and collecting a wealth of scientific data. will be collected and sent back to Earth. .
Once you have Jupiter in view, finding Saturn is easy.
“On the night of the 9th, Jupiter and Saturn will escort the Moon across the sky,” NASA says. “The trio will rise southeast in the first hours after dark and then glide west together during the night. You can see bright Jupiter hanging low in the sky.
Finally, I invite you to stare at the moon and contemplate that our closest neighbors are once again at the center of our quest to launch astronaut missions beyond low earth orbit. begins with NASA’s Artemis I mission launch It uses the most powerful rockets ever built. Although the mission will be unmanned, this decade paves the way for astronaut voyages, including a moon landing. From there, you can go to Mars in the 2030s.
If you need help finding any of the planets or stars above, just grab One of these very useful astronomy appsincludes an augmented reality feature that makes it easy to identify everything you see in the night sky.
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