Derekscope

Autumn Equinox

• Equal Day and Night
  – The word equinox actually means “equal night.”
  – On this day, you get about 12 hours of daytime and 12 hours of nighttime.
  – It is a perfect 50/50 split!
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• On the September Equinox
  – The Sun crosses the Earth’s equator line.
  – It is right in the middle of the seesaw.
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• After September (Autumn & Winter)
  – The Sun “joins” the Southern Hemisphere (places like Australia and South America).
  – They get to enjoy their spring and summer, while our days in the Northern Hemisphere get shorter and darker.
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Challenging!

• Finding Venus
  – It will be incredibly challenging for observers in the Northern Hemisphere, despite the planet reaching its greatest brightness (brilliancy) of the year at a stunning magnitude of -4.9.
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• Looking due south (at 180 degrees azimuth)
  – When an object hits 180 degrees, it reaches its highest point in the sky for the day (known as culmination). – – Spotting Venus at this peak altitude gives you the best chance of seeing it through the thicker daylight atmosphere, while providing maximum safety distance from the blinding glare of the Sun.
  – This the safest and absolute best time to glimpse Venus in the daytime.
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• Look in Daytime or Early Twilight
  – Because it is shining at an eye-popping magnitude of -4.9, Venus is actually bright enough to be seen in a blue sky during the day if you know exactly where to look.
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• Stargazing app
  – Try scanning the sky shortly before sunset using a stargazing app like Stellarium to pinpoint its coordinates.
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Minimum brightness times for Algol Minima

• Here’s a list of upcoming minimum brightness times for Algol (Beta Persei).
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• Read more – Algol
  – How to find Algol in Perseus?
  – Deaf astronomer John Goodricke
  

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The Moon’s Jewelled Handle

(Photo above The Jewelled Handle ~ Image by Derek Rowley)
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• The Jewelled Handle or Golden Handle
  The Moon’s Golden Handle is visible from the UK once each lunar month, roughly 2-4 days after First Quarter Moon, when the Sun grazes the Montes Jura and lights their peaks while Sinus Iridum is still in darkness ~ this creates the bright “handle” effect along the terminator.
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• After the First Quarter Moon (half-moonlit), the Moon increases towards the Full Moon in the waxing gibbous phase ~ the time when the Jewelled handle shines brightest.
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• This effect is only visible for a few days each month ~ roughly 2-4 days after the first quarter Moon.
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• Equipment
  You will need a small telescope or binoculars (8×42 or 10×50) are enough to show the arc beautifully.
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• Moonrise & Moonset
  – Date: Monday 21st September 2026
  – Moonlit (illumination): 76% (Waxing Gibbous)
  – Constellation: Capricorn (The Sea Goat)
  – Moonrise: 17:15 / 5.15pm (BST)
  – Transit South: 21:18 / 9.18pm (BST)
  – Moonset: 01:22 / 01:22am (BST)
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• The next the Jewelled Handle will be visible on Wednesday 21st October 2026.
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The Moon at apogee

• The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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• The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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• Lunar X and Lunar V
  Sunlight catches rims at lunar first quarter to create the bright V and X shapes.

• Best viewing time in the UK
  This is an evening twilight event for observers in the UK for British Summer Time (BST).
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  –…Today: Friday 18th September 2026
  –…Start formation: 18:15 / 6.15pm (become visible.)
  –…Peak visibility: 20:15 / 8.15pm (fully formed as best contrast.)
  –…Fade disappearing: 22:15 / 10.15am (The effect washes out as the sun rises higher over the lunar surface, removing the necessary shadows.)
  –…Visible: good (visible at evening twilight.)
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• The Moon repeats its cycle every 29½ days, so these effects happen every month, just on slightly different dates – see the complete full timetable for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.
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• Equipment
  While sometimes visible with high-power binoculars, a telescope is recommended to see the fine detail of the crater rims forming the Lunar X and V.
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Venus reappearing from behind the Moon in a very low horizon event.

• This makes the reappearance harder to spot at first because of the bright glare from the Sun reflecting off the Moon’s surface.
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• Using binoculars or a small telescope helps observers track the exact moment the planet returns to view against the bright lunar.
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Minimum brightness times for Algol Minima

• Here’s a list of upcoming minimum brightness times for Algol (Beta Persei).
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• Read more – Algol
  – How to find Algol in Perseus?
  – Deaf astronomer John Goodricke
  

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Moon passes through the Beehive Cluster (Messier44)

• The crescent moon will appear a close approach and a partial lunar occultation of the Beehive Cluster (Messier 44 – Open Cluster) in the constellation Cancer.
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Close approach of the Moon and Mars

• You do not need a telescope!
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• Because they are spread out across a small gap (about the width of three fingers), they are perfectly framed for your naked eyes or a pair of binoculars.
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