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 * * * SKY & TELESCOPE's SKYWATCHER'S BULLETIN - September 13, 2004 * * *

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Welcome to S&T's Skywatcher's Bulletin. More information on the items
below is available on our Web site, SkyandTelescope.com, at the URLs
provided. (If the links don't work, just manually type the URLs into your
Web browser.) Clear skies!
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AURORA ALERT FOR MID-NORTHERN LATITUDES

An active sunspot complex generated a solar flare on September 12th that
produced an Earthward-directed coronal mass ejection. The solar particles
arrived at Earth much earlier than anticipated, and a mid-northern (and
southern) latitude aurora alert has been issued for tonight (the 13th)
through to tomorrow morning (Eastern Daylight Time). It's possible that
auroral activity will continue into the night of September 14-15. More
details will be posted on the Solar Terrestrial Dispatch page at:

http://www.spacew.com/

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THE ELUSIVE SEPTEMBER TAURIDS

A new meteor shower, called the September Taurids, might peak on the
evening of September 13-14. The exact date and time of maximum activity
are uncertain, so by keeping your eye on the sky around the predicted date
you can help refine our knowledge of this little-studied event.

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/meteors/article_1335_1.asp

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SEEKING THIN CRESCENT MOONS

Here's your guide for hunting one of nature's most captivating sights; the
next possible sighting will be after the new Moon of September 14th.

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/objects/moon/article_1173_1.asp

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NEW COMET HEADING SUNWARD

Comet ASAS (C/2004 R2), discovered in early September, will pass fairly
close to the Sun -- both in the sky and literally -- during the coming
weeks. It reaches perihelion on October 7, 2004, well inside the orbit of
Mercury and just 0.11 astronomical unit from the Sun. Until the end of
September, this 10th-magnitude comet should be visible in small telescopes
to Southern Hemisphere observers.

http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/objects/comets/article_1350_1.asp

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SKY AT A GLANCE

Mercury continues to shine at dawn, far to the lower left of brilliant
Venus. To read more about what's happening in the night sky this week,
visit "This Week's Sky at a Glance":

http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/ataglance/

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EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES (Advertisement)

It's back to school time. Make learning astronomy fun with these
kid-friendly books and games!

There Once was a Sky Full of Stars
> http://SkyandTelescope.com/campaigns.asp?id=369

Great Ideas for Teaching Astronomy
> http://SkyandTelescope.com/campaigns.asp?id=395

Cosmic Decoders
> http://SkyandTelescope.com/campaigns.asp?id=396

Night Sky Monopoly
> http://SkyandTelescope.com/campaigns.asp?id=397

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Copyright 2004 Sky Publishing Corp. S&T's Skywatcher's Bulletin is
provided as a free service to the astronomical community by the editors of
SKY & TELESCOPE magazine. This bulletin may not be redistributed or
republished in any form without written permission from Sky Publishing;
send e-mail to permissions{at}SkyandTelescope.com or call +1 617-864-7360.
More information about astronomical observing is available on our Web site
at http://SkyandTelescope.com/observing/.
(Continued to next message)

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