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SEPTEMBER PROGRAMS

JUPITER 2019 (with the latest science from the Juno probe orbiting the solar system’s largest planet, now in our evening sky); RING WORLD (about Saturn, now also in the night sky); EARTH’S NEAREST NEIGHBOR (when the moon is visible); THE SUMMER CONSTELLATIONS when the moon is not in the sky blotting out all but the brightest stars; and ASTRO NEWS. Each program runs about 20 minutes, and they generally alternate through the evening at the discretion of the supervisor on duty.

Your Window on the Universe

  • Our Telescopes

    Featuring views of the night skies through our 3 Telescopes!

  • Presentations & Programs

    Astronomy Presentations every Saturday Night!

  • It's all FREE

    There is NO ADMISSION CHARGE

HOURS

We’re open every Saturday year-round.

Hyde may be closed if Saturday falls on or very near a major holiday. If in doubt call first: (402) 441-7094.

  • March 15-August 31

    Sundown to 11 PM

  • September 1-30

    8 PM to 11 PM

  • October 1-March 14

    7 PM to 10 PM

OBJECTS IN THE SKY FOR SEPTEMBER

Solar System Objects

Jupiter rules the sky all night in September, although it is sliding towards the west and low in the sky by closing time at 11:00 p.m. Saturn is in the constellation Sagittarius and in the southern sky all evening long. It is almost twice as far away from us as Jupiter, so much smaller and dimmer. Both of these gas giants make great objects for the Hyde telescopes. September days tend to be somewhat cooler than summertime, so earth’s atmosphere isn’t radiating away so much daytime heat. That helps us view Jupiter and Saturn, which are low in the southern sky. We’re viewing them through more of Earth’s unstable atmosphere than if they were high overhead.

The Moon

Lunar phases this month: Saturday, September 7 is one day past First Quarter with a sharp terminator (the line between light and darkness) cutting across the disk, making for shadows that help pick out surface features. This is the best Saturday night in September to view the moon through the Hyde telescopes. September 14th is Full Moon. Lots of visitors are attracted to the observatory during Full Moon, but it is not the best time to look at the moon because the sun is shining directly down on its surface, producing no shadows. Thus, surface features are difficult to distinguish. On September 21, the moon rises after the observatory closes, and it is in its New phase on the 28th, so not visible.

Deep Sky Objects

Deep Sky Objects are those beyond the solar system: galaxies, nebulae and stars. Our visual guides to these objects are the constellations. The summer constellations are prominent in our evening sky, but as Autumn approaches they are moving to the west a little bit more each night:. Leo (the lion) , Virgo with its bright star Spica, and Bootes (the herdsman) highlighted by its bright star Arcturus. But the Summer Triangle which defines the sky during this season, is almost directly overhead: Deneb in Cygnus (the swan), Altair in Aquila (the eagle) and Vega in Lyra (the lyre). Scorpius with its blood-red heart star Antares is low in the south.

Check out our new Celestron 14″ Telescope

Stop by Hyde Observatory and See the Universe!