Sky notes with lecturer Brian Woosnam of the North Wales Astronomy Society.

The evening skies now have very much an autumn feel, with darkness falling as early as 20hrsBST after mid month.

The summer’s bright constellations are now visible only in the western sky.

This is the best time of year for observing the night sky. Sunday 29th saw British Summer time end at 2am.

The Planets

Venus can be found in Leo from 3am in the morning sky and moving closer to the Sun.

Jupiter can be found in Aries from 7pm the gas giant is the brightest than anything in the evening sky and is in retrograde motion.

Saturn the ringed planet can be found in Aquarius and also in retrograde motion.

The Moon Phases

Last quarter 6th, First quarter 22nd, Full moon 28th.

Saturday 28th 12 per cent partial lunar eclipse maximum will be at 9.15pm

The Orion meteor shower

There will be a favourable showing of the Orionids during the third week of the month, which is produced by debris shed from the famous comet Halley.

The Orionids have reasonable activity with observed rates of perhaps 10-15 meteors per hour during their broad peak centered on 21st – 22nd and about half this rate for a few nights either side.

The Constellations

21.00 – 23.00 BST in the East

Taurus with its Pleiades star cluster M45 which can be seen with the naked eye 407 light years away and is also easy target with binoculars, Perseus also has a star cluster M34 distance 1,450 light years away, Andromeda with its spiral galaxy M31 2.3 million light years away this is the next galaxy to our own milky way galaxy and is another easy target with binoculars, Pisces with its spiral galaxy M74 32 million light years away.

21.00 – 23.00 BST in the South

Pegasus has globular cluster M15 30,600 light years away, Aquarius has globular cluster M2 37,000 light years away, Cassiopeia has a spiral galaxy M103 17.5 million light years away and Cygnus has an open cluster M29 4,400 light years away.

21.00 – 23.00 BST in the West

Lyra has a planetary nebula M57 1,140 light years away and globular cluster M56 31,000 light years away; Hercules has two globular clusters M13 23,400 light years and M92 25,400 light years away.

Of the two M13 is an easy target with binoculars.

02.00 in the East

Sees the return of the winter constellations Orion with its great emission nebula M42 1,500 light years away and can be seen with the naked eye just under the belt stars from a dark site and is an easy target with binoculars, Gemini has an open cluster 2,800 light years away, Auriga has three open cluster M36 4,100 light years, M37 4,400 light years and M38 4,200 light years away.

Deep sky objects

M31, M33, NGC663, NGC891, M77 and M74

Events during the month

Monday 2nd the Pleiades cluster m45 can been seen just to the left of the moon and Jupiter will be just to the right.

Monday 2nd October Brian Woosnam will be doing a lecture on “Space Missions “ at The Fron Community Centre Ffordd Bugail Colwyn Bay LL29 8TN at 7pm.

Ticket are available Adults £5 Children £2 .

If you would like a ticket please email brianwoosnam1@btinternet.com payment can be made by bank transfer to Mr B Woosnam sort code 070806 account 31673531.

Tuesday 3rd the moon passes between bright star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster m45.

Tuesday 10th at drawn the crescent moon will be above Venus.

The moon today is apogee 405,426 km from the Earth,

Wednesday 11th early this morning in the dawn sky Venus and the crescent moon will put on a stunning show.

Saturday 21st tonight after the moon sets at 10pm is a good time to look out for the Orionid meteor shower the debris from Hallet’s comet entering the Earth's atmosphere.

Saturday 28th tonight there will be a 12 per cent partial lunar eclipse maximum will be at 9.15pm and the planet Jupiter will be very close.

Sunday 29th British Summer time ends at 2am.

Also the moon will be between the planet Jupiter and the Pleiades cluster m45.