Saturday 13^th September 2025

🌌 Saturday SkyWatch! 🌌

🌅 Sunset & Observatory Hours

• Sunset: 5:59 PM
• Nautical Sunset: 6:54 PM
• Astronomical Sunset: 7:23 PM
  This Saturday we will be open from sunset till 9:45pm.

☁️ Weather & Viewing Conditions

B.O.M. Forecast for The Rock: http://www.bom.gov.au/places/nsw/the-rock/

To learn how to read the Clear Outside forecast page, follow this link: https://clearoutside.com/page/how_to_use/

🌙 Moon Phase

Saturday’s Moon is a Third Quarter (62%) and will subtransit at 4:49PM. This means the moon will not be rising during the viewing time so it will be very dark, perfect for nebula and galaxy viewing.

🌟 Feature Object: Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

An intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation of Sculptor, this galaxy is undergoing a period of intense star formation making it a popular starburst galaxy to view. It is not quite barred, but not quite unbarred, giving it a designation of SAB and why it is classified as an intermediate spiral, rather than a regular spiral or a barred spiral.

ℹ️ Other Information

Bring warm clothes, a beanie, and some gloves if you don’t like the cold. The view will be well worth venturing out!
Feel free to bring a picnic blanket and some snacks and non-alcoholic refreshments.

🔭 In the Sky Tonight

Note that just because these objects are in the sky at the moment, you may not always see them. Visibility is dependent on weather, moon brightness, atmospheric conditions, and equipment parameters. Check the the weather and viewing conditions above, and if in doubt ask a friendly volunteer if you’re able to see an object in the night sky!

Prominent Constellations

Scorpio, Sagittarius, Centaurus, Crux, Carina, Lyra, Aquila, Cygnus, Pegasus, Capricornus, Aquarius, Grus, Tucana, Piscis Austrinus, Phoenix.

Bright Stars

Antares, Kaus Australis, Alpha Centauri, Beta Centauri, Acrux, Vega, Altair, Deneb, Markab, Deneb Algedi, Sadalsuud, Alnair, Fomalhaut, Ankaa.

Open Clusters

M7 (Ptolemy Cluster), M6 (Butterfly Cluster), IC 2602 (Southern Pleiades), M11 (Wild Duck Cluster), NGC 6231 (Baby Scorpion/Northern Jewel Box), NGC 6087 (S Normae Cluster), NGC 3532 (Wishing Well Cluster), NGC 2516 (Southern Beehive Cluster), NGC 6124, NGC 6383, M26, NGC 6281 (Moth Wing Cluster), Collinder 399 (Coathanger), NGC 2451 (Stinging Scorpion).

Globular Clusters

NGC 104 (47 Tucanae), NGC 5139 (Omega Centauri), M22 (Great Sagittarius Cluster), M4 (Spider Globular Cluster), NGC 6752 (Great Peacock Globular), NGC 288, M55, (Specter Cluster), M62 (Flickering Globular Cluster), M19, NGC 362, NGC 6397, M68, M5, NGC 1851, NGC 6723 (Chandelier Cluster).

Galaxies

Large Magellanic Cloud, Small Magellanic Cloud, NGC 253 (Sculptor Galaxy), NGC 55 (String of Pearls Galaxy), NGC 300 (Sculptor Pinwheel Galaxy), NGC 1316 (Fornax A), NGC 1365 (Great Barred Spiral Galaxy), NGC 247 (Claw Galaxy), NGC 1097, NGC 1404, NGC 1299, NGC 1380, NGC 6744 (Pavo Galaxy) , NGC 5128 (Centaurus A), NGC 4945 (Tweezers Galaxy), NGC 1559, NGC 1427 and NGC 1427A .

Nebula

NGC 2070 (Tarantula Nebula), M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M20 (Trifid Nebula), M16 (Eagle Nebula), M17 (Omega Nebula), NGC 3372 (Eta Carinae Nebula), NGC 6357 (Lobster Nebula), NGC 6334 (Cat’s Paw Nebula), IC 4628 (Prawn Nebula), NGC 6188 (Firebird/Rim Nebula), NGC 3576 (Statue of Liberty Nebula), M57 (Ring Nebula), M27 (Dumbbell Nebula), NGC 7293 (Helix Nebula), NGC 246 (Skull/Soapbubble Nebula), NGC 6302 (Bug Nebula).

Planets

Mars after sunset in Early September, Saturn rising at approximately 7pm early September and 5:30pm late September

🪐 Upcoming Astronomical Events for this week

📅 13th September: Moon and Spica are in conjunction at 6:35pm, superior solar conjunction between Mercury, Earth, and the Sun at 8:36pm.
📅 17th September: Moon and Pollux are in conjunction at 4:35am

As always, don’t forget to look up wherever you are!
– The TRRO Team