2021, October 1: Lunar Crescent, Beehive
October 1, 2021: Before sunrise, the lunar crescent is near the Beehive star cluster.
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2021, September 22: Autumnal Equinox
September 22, 2021: The sun’s light is most direct at the equator at 2:21 p.m. CDT, signaling the beginning of the autumn season in the northern hemisphere.
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2021, September 20: Harvest Moon, Bright Planets
September 20, 2021: The Harvest Moon occurs at 6:55 p.m. CDT, the full moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox. In addition to the full moon, three bright planets are in the evening sky – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn.
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2021, September 19: Three Evening Planets, Bright Moon
September 19, 2021: Three bright planets – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – are easily visible after sunset, along with the nearly-full moon.
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2021, September 18: Venus and Scorpion
September 18, 2021: Venus moves into the boundaries of the classic Scorpion. Today the pattern is divided into Libra and Scorpius. Each evening watch the position of Venus change compared to the sidereal background.
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2021, September 15-22: Evening Planets, Harvest Moon Effect
September 15-22, 2021: The moon passes evening planets Saturn and Jupiter as a lead in to the Harvest Moon and the geometrical effects of the sky, known as the Harvest Moon Effect
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2021 – 2022, Venus – Mars Triple Conjunction
During 2021 into 2022, Venus passes Mars three times for a triple conjunction. The first occurs on July 12, 2021. The others occur during early 2022, followed by a close approach of the two planets.
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2021, September – October: Venus and the Scorpion
Venus moves through the classic Scorpion (Libra, Scorpius, and Ophiuchus) during 46 days. Venus sets later each evening and brightens in the sky. On October 9, the moon is near Venus and Delta Scorpii. A week later, Venus passes Antares. Look for an evening half phase through a telescope near the end of October and the evening greatest elongation.
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2021: Venus as an Evening Star
2021: Venus is the evening star that is visible in the west for the rest of the year beginning in late April. The crescent moon appears with Venus each month. Venus conjunctions occur with Mercury, Mars and bright stars.
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Super Martian Volcanic Eruptions
Newly released analysis from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows that the Arabia Terra region on Mars experienced powerful volcanic eruptions.
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2021, September 30: Morning Moon, Gemini Twins
September 30, 2021: An hour before sunrise, the crescent moon is near the Gemini Twins.
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2021, September 29: Gemini Moon, Evening Planet Pack
September 29, 2021: The thick crescent moon is in the southeast before sunrise, approaching the middle of Gemini. The evening planet pack is visible after sunset.
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2021, September 28: Morning Moon, Evening Planets
September 28, 2021: This morning the moon, as it approaches its Last Quarter phase, is high in the south at the Gemini – Taurus border. The evening planet pack – Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn – brightly shine after sunset.
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2021, September 27: Moon Between the Horns, Evening Planet Pack
September 27, 2021: Before sunrise this morning, the bright moon seems caught between the horns of Taurus, Elnath and Zeta Tauri. The planet pack, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, are visible after sundown.
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2021, September 26: Morning Moon, Taurus
September 26, 2021: This morning a bright moon is between the Pleaides and Hyades star clusters.
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2021, September 25: Morning Moon, Evening Planet Pack
September 25, 2021: The bright morning moon approaches the Pleiades star cluster and Aldebaran. In the evening sky, brilliant Evening Star Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn are easy to spot.
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2021, September 24: Summer Triangle Up High
September 24, 2021: The Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – is high in the south during the early evening hours.
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2021, September 23: Venus Passes a Claw
September 23, 2021: Three bright planets shine in the sky during the early evening. Brilliant Venus is in the southwestern sky after sunset. This evening it passes Zubenelgenubi – “the southern claw.” Bright Jupiter and Saturn are in the southeastern sky during the early evening.