The Night Sky in September

ACCORDING to a Greek legend, the Archer (Sagittarius, Sgr) is said to have invented the arrow and bow.

The stars s, t, z, f in the constellation Archer represent the Archers fist, the stars f, d, g the arrow, and l, d, e the bow. In America, on the other hand, people recognise a celestial teapot.Hence the common name Teapot, consisting of the stars s, t, z, f, l, d, g and e.The constellation Archer reaches far into the southern hemisphere, so much so that in central Europe its southernmost parts don’t rise above the horizon.The centre of our Milky Way lies 30 000 light years away in the direction of the Archer.The Archer is thus in a region of the milky ways which is rich with stars such and it may sometimes not be easy to discern its outlines.One should therefore look for it with the unaided eye rather than with binoculars.It can easily be found starting from the tail of the Scorpion. The Archer offers remarkable objects like open and globular star clusters and bright and dark nebulae.To the North, at the border of the constellation Shield (Scutum, Sct), we find the Swan Nebula or Omega Nebula, M17.M21 is an open star cluster with about 50 stars.M20 is the famous Trifid Nebula with many interesting gaseous features that stand out in a telescope.Also the bright nebula M8 and the fine globular star cluster M22 are easily visible with binoculars.The Archer belongs to the few constellations in which the star named a (a Sgr, also named Rukbad or the Archers knee) does not represent the brightest member of the constellation.The brightest star of the Archer is e Sgr or Kaus Australis.It is 125 light years away and 250 times brighter than the Sun.With binoculars we can discern a visual double star in the Northwest of e Sgr.At the beginning of September, the planet Mercury is visible in the morning sky reaching its western elongation on September 9.Mercury brightens until 0,7m and between September 9 and 11 it is very close to Regulus, the main star in the Lion.Indeed, Mercury is clearly brighter than Regulus.Venus and Saturn can be found in the Twins and forms a close couple during the first days of the month.Then Venus will wander through the constellation Crab (Cancer, Cnc) reaching the Lion at the end of he month.Rising and setting times on September 15: Mercury rises at 06h03, Venus rises at 04h25, Jupiter sets at 19h06, Saturn rises at 03h35.Moonset at 19h42.Sunrise at 06h48 and Sunset at 18h46.Eberhard v. Grumbkow, Phone 064-402 025.E-Mail:grumbkow@iway.naIn America, on the other hand, people recognise a celestial teapot.Hence the common name Teapot, consisting of the stars s, t, z, f, l, d, g and e.The constellation Archer reaches far into the southern hemisphere, so much so that in central Europe its southernmost parts don’t rise above the horizon.The centre of our Milky Way lies 30 000 light years away in the direction of the Archer.The Archer is thus in a region of the milky ways which is rich with stars such and it may sometimes not be easy to discern its outlines.One should therefore look for it with the unaided eye rather than with binoculars.It can easily be found starting from the tail of the Scorpion. The Archer offers remarkable objects like open and globular star clusters and bright and dark nebulae.To the North, at the border of the constellation Shield (Scutum, Sct), we find the Swan Nebula or Omega Nebula, M17.M21 is an open star cluster with about 50 stars.M20 is the famous Trifid Nebula with many interesting gaseous features that stand out in a telescope.Also the bright nebula M8 and the fine globular star cluster M22 are easily visible with binoculars.The Archer belongs to the few constellations in which the star named a (a Sgr, also named Rukbad or the Archers knee) does not represent the brightest member of the constellation.The brightest star of the Archer is e Sgr or Kaus Australis.It is 125 light years away and 250 times brighter than the Sun.With binoculars we can discern a visual double star in the Northwest of e Sgr.At the beginning of September, the planet Mercury is visible in the morning sky reaching its western elongation on September 9.Mercury brightens until 0,7m and between September 9 and 11 it is very close to Regulus, the main star in the Lion.Indeed, Mercury is clearly brighter than Regulus.Venus and Saturn can be found in the Twins and forms a close couple during the first days of the month.Then Venus will wander through the constellation Crab (Cancer, Cnc) reaching the Lion at the end of he month.Rising and setting times on September 15: Mercury rises at 06h03, Venus rises at 04h25, Jupiter sets at 19h06, Saturn rises at 03h35.Moonset at 19h42.Sunrise at 06h48 and Sunset at 18h46. Eberhard v. Grumbkow, Phone 064-402 025.E-Mail:grumbkow@iway.na