URANUS RETROGRADE MOTION 2023

Uranus is in retrograde motion now, starting from 30th Aug 2023. All planets move from west to east with reference to stars, this is the direct motion. Months before reaching the opposition, we notice the daily angular motion of the outer planet, in this case, Uranus keeps reducing and at a point it appears stationary. The planet’s motion will be eastward until the stationary point.

After this we see the planet moving westward with respect to stars and the angular motion also increase but in westward direction. This movement, westward, we call it retrograde motion.

Months after Opposition, the opposition of Uranus will take place on 13^th November 2023, again we observe the angular motion reducing and becoming stationary at one point, this will be Jan 28th 2024, and the planet will start moving eastward again with slowly increasing in angular motion as days passes.

Uranus will move 4 degrees west in the retrograde motion before turning east again.

Using binocular or telescope you can track the movement and measure the changes. Even with necked eye it is possible but interval of each observation should be far enough (in days) to notice the changes.

If you pick delta and rho Arietis, you can notice the movement of Uranus from delta to rho…

 

Happy Observing 

Share

Planets for the Month of September

Morning Planets:

Mercury:

Mercury will reach superior conjunction on September 10^th and it will towards the end of the month that Mercury will be placed well for observing.

Jupiter:

Jupiter is well placed for observations in the constellation of Taurus. The giant planet rises early at 11:45pm and has a magnitude of -2.4.  

Venus:

Morning star Venus is well placed of observations through out the month. Venus rises at 3am in the constellation of Cancer shining at a magnitude of -4.2. The planet will just 2 degrees from M44 or beehive cluster as popularly known, on September 14^th making it a fantastic view in binoculars. Seen through the telescope Venus will appear just more than half phase, moving towards gibbous phase as days go by.

Evening Planets:

Mars:

Mars is in the evening twilight in the constellation of Libra. The red planet is at a magnitude of 1.2 and will set at 9:20pm.

Saturn:

Saturn is also placed low in the Western horizon, in the constellation of Virgo. The planet sets early at 8pm.

Uranus:

Uranus is well placed for observetion through out the month. Uranus rises early at 7pm giving full night for observations. This planet is visible through a pair of binoculars is at a magnitude of 5.7. Uranus will reach opposition on September 29^th.

Neptune:

Neptune is also well placed for observations through out the month in the constellation of Aquarius. Neptune has a magnitude of 7.8.

Moon Phases:

Last quarter: 08-Sep-2012

New moon: 16-Sep-2012

First quarter: 22-Sep-2012

Full moon: 30-Sep-2012

Sun:

On September 22^nd Sun will reach autumnal equinox, when Sun's declination becomes zero and Right Aessionsion(RA) becomes 12 h. The Sun will reach this co ordinates at 9pm IST on September 22. Although this point is called First point of Libra, the Sun will be in Virgo constellation.

Share

Uranus in Opposition

Uranus will be in opposition today in the constellation of Pisces. When a planet, Earth and the Sun make a straight line with the Earth at the centre, the planet is said to be in opposition.  As the planet rises when the Sun sets, it gives full night for observing the planet.  The mean distance of the planet Uranus at opposition is 2.72 billion kilometres with a magnitude of 5.5 which is an easy target for even small pair of binoculars.

Here are carts that will be helpful in locating the planet. The sky charts are made for 8pm local time, by this time the great square will be in good altitude in the eastern horizon. First get the bright 2.8 magnitude gamma pegasi in the binocular field, then move south around 9degrees to get Omicron Piscim a 4th magnitude star. Move the binocular 7 degrees south east of Omicron Piscium to get the planet Uranus in the field.

Rising time for Uranus for coming days:

September 26th Uranus will rise at 18:12

September 28th Uranus will rise at 18:04

October 1st Uranus will rise at 17:52

October 4th Uranus will rise at 17:40

October 10th Uranus will rise at 17:15

October 16th Uranus will rise at 16:50

Share

Planets for the Month

Mercury:

Mercury will reach inferior conjunction on September 3^rd. It will be lost in the Sun's glare in the first week of September. During second week, Mercury will be too close to eastern horizon at around 8 degrees at 6am. After 15^th the planet Mercury will be little easy to spot if there is a clear horizon. Mercury will reach greatest elongation on 19^th September, the angular separation from the Sun will be 18degrees. Mercury will be in the constellation of Leo all month.

Date	Rise
1st Sep	06:35:00 AM
8th Sep	05:35:00 AM
15th Sep	05:02:00 AM
22nd Sep	04:59:00 AM
29th Sep	05:15:00 AM

Venus:

Venus will continue to dominate the evening western sky all this month. On 11^th September, Venus and crescent Moon will be close to each other at a separation of just 1 degree.

Date	Set
1st Sep	08:53:00 PM
8th Sep	08:43:00 PM
15th Sep	08:31:00 PM
22nd Sep	08:16:00 PM
29th Sep	07:57:00 PM

Venus and Mars

Mars:

The red planet will be in the constellation of Virgo all month. Mars can be spotted in the western sky evening sky 6 degrees north of Venus.

Date	Set
1st Sep	08:50:00 PM
8th Sep	08:38:00 PM
15th Sep	08:26:00 PM
22nd Sep	08:15:00 PM
29th Sep	08:04:00 PM

Jupiter:

Jupiter is well placed for observations as it rises early in the evening. The giant planet will the brightest “star” in the region at -2.5 magnitude.

On 19^th September, Jupiter and Uranus will be close each other at an angular separation of 48 minutes of arc. An 8 inch f/8 telescope with 32mm eyepiece will show the giant planet and Uranus in single field.

Jupiter will reach opposition on September 21^st , this means, the planet Jupiter, Earth and the Sun will be the straight line. As a result, Jupiter will rise as the Sun sets, giving observers chance to study the planet all night.

Date	Rise
1st Sep	07:41:39 PM
8th Sep	07:11:24 PM
15th Sep	06:40:56 PM
22nd Sep	06:10:22 PM
29th Sep	05:39:48 PM

Field in binocular

Saturn:

Saturn, now low in the western horizon is getting difficult to spot. In the constellation of Virgo, the planet Saturn will be lost in the Sun's glare towards the end of the month.

Date	Set
1st Sep	07:58:32 PM
8th Sep	07:33:42 PM
15th Sep	07:08:56 PM
22nd Sep	06:44:14 PM
29th Sep	06:19:33 PM

Uranus:

Uranus can be easily be seen through a 10X50 binoculars. Now its easier as Jupiter can be taken as reference. Pick up the binoculars and point it towards Jupiter and keep the Jupiter at the center of field. Just 1 degrees west to Jupiter you will find 5.7^th magnitude Uranus.

Uranus will also reaches opposition on 21^st of September, same day as Jupiter.

Date	Rise
1st Sep	07:34:44 PM
8th Sep	07:06:20 PM
22nd Sep	06:09:28 PM
29th Sep	05:41:02 PM

Neptune:

Neptune will be in the constellation of Capricornus in the month of August. Planet Neptune can be found at 4 degrees NE of delta Capricorni. Neptune is at magnitude of 7.8. Neptune will be just 1 degree NE of mu Capricorni

Date	Rise
1st Sep	05:44:39 PM
8th Sep	05:16:30 PM
15th Sep	04:48:22 PM
22nd Sep	04:20:17 PM
29th Sep	03:52:15 PM

Pluto:

Pluto still is in the rich star field of constellation Sagittarius at 14^th Magnitude.

Phases of Moon:

New moon: 08 Sep 2010

First quarter: 15 Sep 2010

Full moon: 23 Sep 2010

Last quarter: 01 Oct 2010

Sun:

Sun will be in the constellation of Leo till middle of September and move to Virgo.

Equinox:

On 23^rd September at approximately 8:40am the Sun reaches RA of 12h and Dec of 0 degress, this is Autumnal Equinox. This point is also called as First point of Libra.

Share

Planets for the Month

Mercury:

Planet Mercury will reach greatest elongation of 27 degrees on 7^th of August. After reaching greatest elongation, the angular separation between the planet Mercury and the Sun starts decreasing.

Mercury can be seen low in the western horizon as a bright 0.4 magnitude star, just after sunset.

If observed daily, it can be noticed that, just after the sunset the angle between the horizon and the planet Mercury will start decreasing as days go by.

Planet Mercury will remain in the constellation of Leo all this month, and will be lost in the glare of the Sun towards the last week of August.

Mercury setting times:

Date	Set Time
7th Aug	8:16pm IST
14th Aug	8:00pm IST
21st Aug	7:36pm IST
28th Aug	6:58pm IST

Venus:

Planet Venus is the brightest “star” in the evening western sky now, shining close to -4.5 magnitude. Planet Venus is well placed for observation all this month. Venus will reach greatest elongation on August 20^th with an angular separation of 46 degrees from the Sun.

On 8^th August, Venus and Saturn can be seen close to each other with an angular separation of just 2.6 degrees. Planet Saturn will be north of Venus.

The crescent Moon will be 4 degrees south of Venus on August 13th. Moon, Venus and Saturn will almost be in a straight line, with red planet Mars placed east of Venus on the evening.

On 20^th August, Venus and the red planet Mars will be close each other with a separation of 2 degrees.

Venus setting times:

Date	Set Time
7th Aug	9:18pm IST
14th Aug	9:10pm IST
21st Aug	9:04pm IST
28th Aug	8:57pm IST

Mars:

The red planet Mars will be in the constellation of Virgo all this month. Mars can be spotted easily by taking Venus as reference. Mars will be shining at 1.5 magnitude SE of Venus in the beginning of the month. Middle of month Mars will be in east of Venus and towards the end of the month, Mars will be north of Venus.

Date	Set Time
7th Aug	9:40pm IST
14th Aug	9:25pm IST
21st Aug	9:12pm IST
28th Aug	9:00pm IST

Jupiter:

Jupiter is well placed for observations, in the constellation of Pisces rises around 9:15 in the beginning of the month. The Giant planet is easy to find, shining at -2.5 is the brightest star in the eastern sky at around 9:30pm.

Date	Rise Time
7th Aug	9:20pm IST
14th Aug	8:50pm IST
21st Aug	8:28pm IST
28th Aug	8:00pm IST

Saturn:

Saturn spends the month in the constellation of Virgo this month. In the evening western sky locate bright Venus, just 4 degrees east of Venus, the planet Saturn can be found easily. Towards middle of the month, Saturn can be found north of bright Venus. Saturn can be found NW of Venus and Mars towards the end of August.

Date	Set Time
7th Aug	9:30pm IST
14th Aug	9:04pm IST
21st Aug	8:40pm IST
28th Aug	8:15pm IST

Uranus:

Uranus can be found 3 degrees west of Jupiter. A good pair of binoculars will be needed to see the planet Uranus. A good pair of 7X50 or 10X50 binoculars will show Jupiter and Uranus in the same field. Uranus is 5.8magnitude.

Date	Rise Time
7th Aug	9:15pm IST
14th Aug	8:48pm IST
21st Aug	8:19pm IST
28th Aug	7:51pm IST

Neptune:

Neptune will be in the constellation of Capricornus in the month of August. Planet Neptune can be found at 4 degrees NE of delta Capricorni. Neptune is at magnitude of 7.8. On 20^th of August, Neptune will be at opposition.

Date	Rise Time
7th Aug	7:25pm IST
14th Aug	6:57pm IST
21st Aug	6:30pm IST
28th Aug	6:02pm IST

Pluto:

Pluto is in the rich star field of constellation Sagittarius at 14^th Magnitude.

Moon Phases for the month:

New moon: 10 Aug 2010

First quarter: 16 Aug 2010

Full moon: 24 Aug 2010

Last quarter: 1 Sep 2010

Sun:

Sun will be in the constellation of Cancer during the first week of August and moves to Leo and will stay in the constellation of Leo all this month.

Meteor Shower:

This month its time for Perseids meteor shower. The peak activity will on the nights of 12th and/or 13th night with 50 to 80 meteors per hour. The shower is called Perseids as the meteors originate from the constellation of Perseus and the constellation rises around 12 in the night. As we are in the middle of the monsoon season, its difficult to get clear skies in this month, hope for the best.

Comet Perihelion (Closest to Sun)

Comet Encke will reach perihelion on 6^th of August.

Share