Hibiscus Coast Astronomical Society

When: 7.30 pm Thursday, 11 July 2024
Where: Whangaparāoa College, 8 Stanmore Bay Rd, Whangaparāoa.

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We meet at 7:30pm every first and third Thursday of the month at:

The Auditorium Foyer
Whangaparāoa College
8 Stanmore Bay Rd
Whangaparāoa
(Click here for map)

All welcome.

Although masks are no longer required for entry, if you feel unwell, or have any cold- or flu-like symptoms, please remain at home.

Telescope viewing is dependent on the weather and availability of the members

What’s happening in the skies during September. Click to enlarge:

	September 2024
Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
						1 Aurigid meteor shower 2024 Aurigid meteor shower 2024 1 September 2024 9:15 am - 10:15 am The Aurigid meteor shower reaches its peak. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240831_10_100 See more details •
2 Uranus enters retrograde motion Uranus enters retrograde motion 2 September 2024 3:47 am - 4:47 am Uranus reverses its direction of motion across the sky. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240901_12_100 See more details Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky Mercury at highest altitude in morning sky 2 September 2024 2:24 pm - 3:24 pm Mercury is bright and well placed in the dawn sky. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240905_11_100 See more details • •	3 Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition Asteroid 194 Prokne at opposition 3 September 2024 7:10 am - 8:10 am Asteroid 194 Prokne makes closest approach to the Earth. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240902_14_100 See more details •	4	5 Mercury at greatest elongation west Mercury at greatest elongation west 5 September 2024 2:24 pm - 3:24 pm Mercury is bright and well placed in the dawn sky. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240905_11_101 See more details Introduction to Astronomy Meeting Introduction to Astronomy Meeting 5 September 2024 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm See more details Lunar occultation of Venus Lunar occultation of Venus 5 September 2024 8:59 pm - 9:59 pm The Moon will pass in front of Venus, creating a lunar occultation visible from Antarctica and Bouvet Island. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240905_16_100 See more details • • •	6 Mercury at dichotomy Mercury at dichotomy 6 September 2024 4:34 pm - 5:34 pm Mercury reaches half phase in the dawn sky. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240906_11_100 See more details •	7 Lunar occultation of Spica Lunar occultation of Spica 7 September 2024 5:34 am - 6:34 am The Moon will pass in front of Spica (Alpha Virginis), creating a lunar occultation visible from Africa. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240906_16_100 See more details •	8 Saturn at opposition Saturn at opposition 8 September 2024 4:27 pm - 5:27 pm Saturn lies in the opposite direction to the Sun in the sky, making it slightly closer, brighter and larger than at other times. It is also optimally positioned to be observable for much of the night. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240908_12_100 See more details •
9 September Îµ-Perseid meteor shower 2024 September Îµ-Perseid meteor shower 2024 9 September 2024 5:43 pm - 6:43 pm The September Îµ-Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240909_10_100 See more details •	10	11 Lunar occultation of Antares Lunar occultation of Antares 11 September 2024 1:05 am - 2:05 am The Moon will pass in front of Antares (Alpha Scorpii), creating a lunar occultation visible from Australia, Indonesia, French Southern Territories and Heard Island and McDonald Islands. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240910_16_100 See more details Moon at First Quarter Moon at First Quarter 11 September 2024 6:06 pm - 7:06 pm The Moon reaches first quarter phase – appearing high in the sky at sunset and setting in the west at around midnight. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240911_08_100 See more details • •	12	13	14	15
16	17 Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Close approach of the Moon and Saturn 17 September 2024 10:07 pm - 11:07 pm The Moon and Saturn pass close to each other. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240917_15_100 See more details Lunar occultation of Saturn Lunar occultation of Saturn 17 September 2024 10:07 pm - 11:07 pm The Moon will pass in front of Saturn, creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including the Contiguous United States, Australia, Canada and Mexico amongst others. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240917_16_100 See more details Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn 17 September 2024 10:21 pm - 11:21 pm The Moon and Saturn share the same right ascension, at a separation of 18'. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240917_20_100 See more details • • •	18 Full Moon Full Moon 18 September 2024 2:34 pm - 3:34 pm The Moon reaches full phase and is visible for much of the night. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240918_08_100 See more details Partial lunar eclipse Partial lunar eclipse 18 September 2024 2:45 pm - 3:45 pm There will be an eclipse of the Moon, visible from the Americas, Antarctica, Africa, Europe, Western Asia and south-western Russia. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240918_09_100 See more details Lunar occultation of Neptune Lunar occultation of Neptune 18 September 2024 7:04 pm - 8:04 pm The Moon will pass in front of Neptune, creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Canada, the Contiguous United States, Mexico and Alaska amongst others. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240918_16_100 See more details • • •	19 Radio Club Committee Meeting Radio Club Committee Meeting 19 September 2024 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm See more details HCAS Monthly Meeting HCAS Monthly Meeting 19 September 2024 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm See more details • •	20	21 Neptune at opposition Neptune at opposition 21 September 2024 12:08 pm - 1:08 pm Neptune lies in the opposite direction to the Sun in the sky, making it optimally positioned to be observable for much of the night. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240921_12_100 See more details •	22 Close approach of the Moon and M45 Close approach of the Moon and M45 22 September 2024 10:57 pm - 11:57 pm The Moon and M45 pass close to each other. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240922_15_100 See more details •
23 September equinox September equinox 23 September 2024 12:42 am - 1:42 am Day and night have equal length, marking the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere and spring in the southern hemisphere. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240922_07_100 See more details •	24 Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter 24 September 2024 10:22 am - 11:22 am The Moon and Jupiter pass close to each other. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240923_15_100 See more details Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter 24 September 2024 11:22 am - 12:22 pm The Moon and Jupiter share the same right ascension, at a separation of 5°50'. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240923_20_100 See more details Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri 24 September 2024 2:08 pm - 3:08 pm The Moon will pass in front of Beta Tauri (Elnath), creating a lunar occultation visible from Africa and Western Asia. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240924_16_100 See more details • • •	25 Moon at Last Quarter Moon at Last Quarter 25 September 2024 6:50 am - 7:50 am The Moon reaches last quarter phase – rising in the east at around midnight and appearing high in the sky by sunrise. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240924_08_100 See more details NGC 55 is well placed NGC 55 is well placed 25 September 2024 11:58 am - 12:58 pm NGC 55 (mag 8.2), a barred irregular galaxy in Sculptor culminates at around midnight local time. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240924_17_100 See more details Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Conjunction of the Moon and Mars 25 September 2024 11:50 pm - 26 September 2024 12:50 am The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 4°53'. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240925_20_100 See more details • • •	26 Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Conjunction of the Moon and Mars 25 September 2024 11:50 pm - 26 September 2024 12:50 am The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 4°53'. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240925_20_100 See more details Close approach of the Moon and Mars Close approach of the Moon and Mars 26 September 2024 12:45 am - 1:45 am The Moon and Mars pass close to each other. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240925_15_100 See more details • •	27 Daytime Sextantid meteor shower 2024 Daytime Sextantid meteor shower 2024 27 September 2024 6:31 pm - 7:31 pm The Daytime Sextantid meteor shower reaches its peak. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240927_10_100 See more details •	28 Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) passes perihelion Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) passes perihelion 28 September 2024 12:00 am - 1:00 am Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) makes its closest approach to the Sun. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240927_19_100 See more details 47 Tuc is well placed 47 Tuc is well placed 28 September 2024 11:56 am - 12:56 pm The second brightest globular cluster in the sky, 47 Tuc (NGC 104; mag 4.0), in Tucana culminates at around midnight local time. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240927_17_100 See more details • •	29
30 Asteroid 20 Massalia at opposition Asteroid 20 Massalia at opposition 30 September 2024 5:46 am - 6:46 am Asteroid 20 Massalia makes closest approach to the Earth. https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20240929_14_100 See more details •

Are you fascinated by the Night Sky? Have you got an interest in Astronomy and learning more about the universe? Then membership of the Hibiscus Coast Astronomical Society (Inc) will be exactly what you are looking for.

We are a group of people who come from all walks of life that share a common interest in astronomy.

The society is an incorporated society and has a set of rules that it must adhere to in accordance with the Incorporated Societies Act. An annually elected committee run the business of the society.

We have loads of fun. We learn about the universe and what it is made from. At each meeting we have a presentation on a certain topic and these topics generally link together in a series. But it also doesn’t matter if you miss a presentation. The presenters also keep us informed of current happenings in the night sky.

We also have a Facebook page where information is shared. You don’t have to be a society member to receive information from that source.

Members receive notification of upcoming meetings via email and the subject of the presentation for that meeting. The meeting generally lasts about one and a half hours, and there is ample time for questions after the talk.

We would love for you to join us at our meetings. We have that common bond and we all share our knowledge with each other. The practical viewing times prove to be really popular and the presenters are there to help navigate around the constellations and planets.

To become a member click on the Shop link and buy a membership for the year. We have different membership types: Family and Individual. Students are welcome to join for free.

Thank you for your interest in the club and supporting us as a member. By becoming a member, you are not only growing the club, but also contributing to the ongoing education in our younger generation.

Hibiscus Coast Astronomical Society

Meetings

September 2024

About

Membership

Articles

NGC 4945: Unveiling the Mysteries of the ‘Milky Way Twin’

The Enigmatic Rings of Jupiter: A Comprehensive Overview

Understanding Supernovae and Their Significance

Education