Sky Chart For The Month of September, 2018
ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR SEPTEMBER 2018
The Moon
| Last Quarter occurs on 3rd at h. 08-07 I.S.T. | New Moon occurs on 9th at h. 23-31 I.S.T. |
| First Quarter occurs on 17th at h. 04-45 I.S.T | Full Moon occurs on 25th at h. 08-22 I.S.T |
| The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 10th. | |
| The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 8th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 20th. | |
The Moon passes about 1º north of Mercury on 9th, about 10½º north of Venus on 12th, about 4½º north of Jupiter on 14th, about 2º north of Saturn before midnight of 17th, about 5º north of Mars on 20th, about 2½º south of Neptune in the evening of 23rd and about 5º south of Uranus on 27th.
The Earth
The Earth is at Autumnal Equinox on 23rd.
The Planets
Visibility of Planets:
Mercury: The planet rises about 1½ hours to 1 hour before sunrise upto 10th of the month. Thereafter it becomes too close to the Sun to be visible for the remaining days of the month, being in Superior Conjunction with the Sun on 21st. The planet is in Perihilion position or nearest to the Sun in its orbit on 2nd.
Venus: The planet sets about 2 hours to 1½ hours after sunset throughout the month. The planet is in Aphelion position or farthest from the Sun in its orbit on 5th.
Mars: The planet sets after local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto first quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Perihelion position or nearest to the Sun in its orbit on 16th.
Jupiter: The planet sets about 3½ hours to 3 hours after sunset upto second quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month.
Saturn: The planet sets from ½ hour after local midnight to close to it upto first quarter of the month, from close to local midnight time to ½ hour before it upto second quarter of the month, about ½ hour to 1 hour before it upto third quarter of the month and about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to the Earth from 6th. The planet is in Quadrature with respect to the Sun on 26th.
Uranus: The planet rises after sunset and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.
Neptune: The planet rises from ½ hour after sunset to close to it upto first quarter of the month, being in Opposition with the Sun on 7th. Thereafter the planet sets about ½ hour to 1 hour before sunrise upto third quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 1½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.
Conjunction of Planets:
Venus passes about 1½º south of Spica (Chitra) on 2nd.
Mercury passes about 1º north of Regulus (Magha) on 6th.
| Planets | Planets in Zodiacal Constellation | Magnitude |
| Mercury (Budha) |
Moves from to Cancer (Karkata) to Leo (Simha) on 2nd. Moves from Leo (Simha) to Virgo (Kanya) on 19th. |
-0.6 to -1.7 -1.7 to -1.1 |
| Venus (Sukra) | Moves from Virgo (Kanya) to Libra (Tula) on 1st. |
-4.6 to -4.8 |
| Mars (Mangala) | Remains in Capricornus (Makara). |
-2.2 to -1.4 |
| Jupiter (Brihaspati) | Remains in Libra (Tula). | -1.9 to -1.8 |
| Saturn (Sani) | Remains in Sagittarius (Dhanus). | +0.4 to +0.5 |
| Uranus | Remains in Aries (Mesha). | +6.0 |
| Neptune | Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha). | +8.0 |
Source : : Director
Positional Astronomy Centre
India Meteorological Department
Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.