Sky Chart For The Month of September, 2018

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR SEPTEMBER 2018

The Moon

Last Quarter occurs on 3^rd at h. 08-07 I.S.T.	New Moon occurs on 9^th at h. 23-31 I.S.T.
First Quarter occurs on 17^th at h. 04-45 I.S.T	Full Moon occurs on 25^that 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 8^th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 20^th.

The Moon passes about 1º north of Mercury on 9^th, about 10½º north of Venus on 12^th, about 4½º north of Jupiter on 14^th, about 2º north of Saturn before midnight of 17^th, about 5º north of Mars on 20^th, about 2½º south of Neptune in the evening of 23^rd and about 5º south of Uranus on 27^th.

The Earth

The Earth is at Autumnal Equinox on 23^rd.

The Planets

Visibility of Planets:

Mercury: The planet rises about 1½ hours to 1 hour before sunrise upto 10^th 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 21^st. The planet is in Perihilion position or nearest to the Sun in its orbit on 2^nd.

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 5^th.

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 16^th.

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 6^th. The planet is in Quadrature with respect to the Sun on 26^th.

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 7^th. 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 2^nd.

Mercury passes about 1º north of Regulus (Magha) on 6^th.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from to Cancer (Karkata) to Leo (Simha) on 2^nd. Moves from Leo (Simha) to Virgo (Kanya) on 19^th.	-0.6 to -1.7 -1.7 to -1.1
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Virgo (Kanya) to Libra (Tula) on 1^st.	-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.