September offers stargazers a look at distant galaxies and star clusters
September provides stargazers in Saskatchewan with optimal conditions to view the Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleiades star cluster. Local observatories are hosting public events to help residents identify these celestial objects.
Why it matters
Public astronomy events encourage scientific literacy and community engagement with the natural world.
September offers Saskatchewan stargazers a chance to spot distant galaxies and star clusters as the evening sky changes with the season.
Abigail Sadowski, a resident astronomer at the Kalium Observatory in Regina, said the Andromeda Galaxy is now getting higher in the sky throughout the month.
The Andromeda Galaxy is visible through binoculars or a telescope, while those away from city lights may be able to spot it with the naked eye.
Sadowski said it appears as a small, faint, fuzzy patch in the sky.
The light from Andromeda has travelled about 2.5 million years before reaching Earth, meaning observers are seeing the galaxy as it appeared millions of years ago.
“That's always a really fun one to look at, is our neighbouring galaxy,” Sadowski said.
The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters or Subaru, are another familiar sight returning to the evening sky.
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