TheSky (c) Astronomy Software 1984-1998

Sydney Observatory night sky map

CASSIOPEIA

URSA MINOR

CEPHEUS

September 2015

A map for each month of the year, to help you learn about the night sky

www.sydneyobservatory.com

This star chart shows the stars and constellations visible in the night sky for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart,
Adelaide and Perth for September 2015 at about 7:30 pm (local standard time). For Darwin and similar northern locations the
chart will still apply, but some stars will be lost off the southern edge while extra stars will be visible to the north. Stars down to a
brightness or magnitude limit of 4.5 are shown. To use this chart, rotate it so that the direction you are facing (north, south, east
or west) is shown at the bottom. The centre of the chart represents the DRACO
point directly above your head, called the zenith, and the
outer circular edge represents the horizon.

North

Star brightness

Last quarter:
New Moon:
First quarter:
Full Moon:

LACERTA
Deneb
CYGNUS

NE

LYRA
Vega

05th
13th
21st
28th

NW

Zero or brighter
1st magnitude
2nd
3rd
4th

Moon phase

LYRA
CORONA BOREALIS

HERCULES

BOOTES

VULPECULA
SAGITTA

PEGASUS
DELPHINUS

Arcturus

Altair
EQUULEUS

SERPENS
AQUILA
OPHIUCHUS
SCUTUM
First quarter
SERPENS
Moon on 21st

PISCES

Zubeneschamali
CAPRICORNUS

East

SAGITTARIUS

Centre of the Galaxy

SAGITTARIUS
MICROSCOPIUM
PISCES
AUSTRINUS
PISCIS AUSTRINUS CORONA AUSTRALIS
Fomalhaut

Zubenelgenubi

VIRGO

SCORPIUS

Spica

Centre of the Galaxy

TELESCOPIUM

Mercury on 7th
LUPUS

ARA
NORMA

GRUS
GRUS INDUS
INDUS

CETUS

LIBRA

Antares
AntaresSaturn
LIBRA
M6 SCORPIUS

M7

West

AQUARIUS

CORVUS

PAVO

SCULPTOR

CIRCINUS
CENTAURUS
Alpha
Alpha Centauri
Centauri

TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE

POINTERS
APUS
Beta Crucis
APUS

PHOENIX
TUCANA

OCTANS

SMC
Achernar

CENTAURUS
Hadar
Beta
Centauri

Jewel Box

Mimosa
Coalsack
MUSCA

South Celestial
Pole
MUSCA

South Celestial Pole

CHAMAELEON

SOUTHERN CROSS

CRUX
CRUX

HYDRUS

Chart key

MENSA

Bright star
HOROLOGIUM
LMC
RETICULUM
VOLANS
Faint star
DORADO
Ecliptic
Milky Way
P Planet
LMC or Large Magellanic Cloud
South
PICTOR
SMC or Small Magellanic Cloud
Canopus
SE

FORNAX

SW
CARINA

VELA

ANTLIA

CAELUM
The spring equinox occurs on the 23rd
of September, which marks the movement of the sun over the equator from the northern
to the southern part of the sky. The best time to view the Moon using binoculars or a small telescope is a few days either side of
PYXIS
the first quarter Moon. To the south-west of the sky is Crux (the Southern Cross) which can be easily located using the two
nearby stars commonly referred to as the Pointer Stars. The brighter of the two pointers is Alpha Centauri the closest star
PUPPIS
system to our own. In the centre of the sky are the constellations of Scorpius (the Scorpion) and Sagittarius (the Archer), with
Libra (the Scales) further to the west, and Capricornus
(the mythical half goat-half fish) further to the east.
COLUMBA

Sydney Observatory, with a magnificent view overlooking Sydney Harbour, is open 10am
to 5pm daily except closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and open
10am to noon on New Years Eve. Open Monday to Saturday for night sessions (times
vary depending on the season) for sky viewing through one of our telescopes (cosy
Adhara
planetarium session if cloudy), and 3D movies about the Universe. Bookings are
essential for night programs.
For more information, check the website at www.sydneyobservatory.com.au or call (02)
9921 3485. Sydney Observatory is at 1003 Upper Fort Street, Observatory Hill, in the
historic Rocks area of Sydney.
Sydney Observatory is part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. The Sydney Observatory night sky map is prepared by Dr M Anderson using the
software TheSky. This months map was compiled by Brenan Dew 2015 Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, Sydney.