Here's the latest Nighy Sky column by the Argus' astronomy columnist Jonathan Powell:

News

AFTER NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover came up emptied handed after its first attempt to drill into Martian rock to gather a sample for analysis, a second attempt looks imminent over the coming days. NASA cited that the first rock the Rover’s robotic arm attempted to drill into simply crumbled into dust. It would appear that the rock was far softer than previously expected.

After successfully completing a barrage of tests, and following significant delays, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is finally ready to be moved to its launch site, before finally blasting off into space. The telescope is set to be the world’s most complex space science observatory. October 31 has been touted as a possible launch date, but a November launch seems more likely.

Jupiter

September offers a perfect opportunity to view the planet Jupiter and attempt to spot some of the gas giant’s moons.

Firstly, to find Jupiter, look for a bright object above the southern horizon during the evening.

As a guide and with Saturn also in the vicinity, on Thursday September 16, the Moon passes below Saturn, with Jupiter positioned to the left.

On Friday September 17, Jupiter will be positioned to the upper left of the Moon, whilst Saturn, which looks fainter than Jupiter, lies to the upper right of the Moon.

On Saturday, September 18, the Moon will be to the left of Jupiter.

The four inner moons of Jupiter, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto, can be spotted through a fair size pair of binoculars or a small telescope, appearing as dots fanning outwards from Jupiter.

Whilst a telescope will naturally show more of Jupiter and its moons, it is possible to capture the planet with just a camera.

The photograph above was taken by Hugh Bellamy from Aberkenfig with a 254 mm Skywatcher Newtonian telescope. The detail on the planet’s disc is fantastic, with the image highlighting the ‘Great Red Spot’, a gigantic storm that measures about twice the width of Earth!

The second photograph, below, was taken by Dean Morgan from his Mountain Ash bedroom window. Dean used a Nikon P1000 Coolpix camera.

South Wales Argus:

Thin Crescent Moon

There is an opportunity this month to catch a thin crescent Moon early in the morning sky, and again the following day in the evening sky.

On the morning of Monday, September 6, only a sharp pair of eyes will pick out the crescent Moon which will rise an hour or so before the Sun.

Then, on the evening of Tuesday, September 7, another chance to spot the thin crescent Moon, setting around 40 minutes after sunset.

Harvest Moon

In the Northern Hemisphere we call the full Moon closest to the autumn equinox the Harvest Moon.

As the equinox falls on Wednesday, September 22, with September’s full Moon just a day earlier, this year’s Harvest Moon will grace our skies during the last full week of the month, making for great photographic opportunity.

The full Moon closest to the September equinox is astronomically special because the time between one moonrise and the next moonrise becomes shorter around this time of year.

The Moon rises on average around 50 minutes later every day in a lunar month, which is the time it takes the Moon to complete all of its phases.

However, for a few days around Harvest Moon, the Moon rises less than 50 minutes later than the day before.

It’s this early moonrise for a few days around the equinox that in the past has afforded the farming community the chance to harvest their crops for a longer period of time in the evenings, using the extra moonlight.

Planets Venus remains on view over in the west-southwest portion of the sky, quite unmistakable, and more brilliant than any other object on view in the early part of the evening.

However, Venus will only be around for about an hour after sunset.

Mercury too remains visible in the evening sky, and to locate the innermost planet, sweep down and to right from Venus, looking for a dimmer object just above the west-southwest horizon.

Situated in-between Venus as you sweep downwards toward Mercury is Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo.

Use the imaginary line from Venus, past Spica, to reach Mercury.

Mercury will be on view for around half an hour after sunset.

By around 8.30pm to 9pm both Venus and Mercury will have set.

On the evening of Thursday, September 9, and Friday, September 10, a thin crescent Moon will be positioned above their location.

Out and About

The Dark Sky Festival takes place between Friday, September 24, and Sunday, September 26, with a series of online events and talks which will be held against the backdrop of the Brecon Beacons Dark Sky Reserve.

To find out more visit www.breconbeacons.org/whats-on/dark-sky-festival-2021

Representatives and team members from Infinity Space Wales, part of the Tin Shed Theatre Group will be present during September at a dedicated shop on Broad Street, Blaenavon.

The shop is open every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. For more details about why a spaceman is visiting Blaenavon visit www.iswales.com or www.tinshedtheatrecompany.com

Dark Sky Wales also has a series of events running throughout September. Visit www.darkskywales.org

Please send your astronomy photographs to: TheNightSky@themoon.co.uk

Moon Phases

  • New Moon: September 7
  • First Quarter: September 13
  • Full Moon September 21
  • Third Quarter September 29

Sunrise/Sunset Times

  • Start of September: Sun rises at 6.24am, sets at 7.58pm.
  • End of September: Sun rises at 7.11am, sets at 6.51pm.

Jonathan Powell is a contributor to the BBC Sky at Night magazine. He has written three books on astronomy - Cosmic Debris; Rare Astronomical Sights and Sounds (which was selected by Choice magazine as an Outstanding Academic Title for 2019); and From Cave Art to Hubble, all of which are available from Amazon. Jonathan worked at BBC Radio Wales as their astronomy correspondent and is currently a columnist at the South Wales Argus, and presenter on Astro Radio UK. He has also written a book on castles, Fortress Wales, and was part of the writing team for the BBC Television show, The Fast Show, which won a BAFTA.