StarDate Susitna 9-15-24, by Kathleen Fleming

September 16, 2024 |

For this StarDate Susitna, Kathleen Fleming talks about the Moon and its multiple interesting alignments coming up this week. Also, a bit about the Fall Equinox which is on Sunday the 22nd. 

This portion of a Star Chart (created on heavens-above.com) shows the southern sky as seen from 62 degrees north at 2:30 AM Tuesday morning 9-17. Notice the Great Square of Pegasus, and directly below the right/west side of the Square are the Moon super close to Saturn. From our latitude the upper limb of the Moon will scoot just 1/4 of a degree below the planet. An occultation will be visible from locations south of Alaska.
This image was taken through a powerful telescope, either at the start of the occultation (if right side up) or as Saturn emerges from behind the Moon (if image is upside down and reversed, as is the view through a telescope). Photo credit: Damian Peach, taken 2007 in UK.