Texas
September Astronomy: What's in the North Texas sky this month?
![September Astronomy: What's in the North Texas sky this month? September Astronomy: What's in the North Texas sky this month?](https://media.nbcdfw.com/2024/09/KS_Sept24ZodiacalLight.09.03.24.png?resize=1200%2C675&quality=85&strip=all)
What’s happening in the skies over North Texas this month? September holds some spectacular sights in the night and morning sky. Check out the list below.
THE SUNSET PLANET, VENUS
Venus is visible in the western sky for up to an hour after sunset. On Sept. 4, a waxing crescent moon is less than 5° west of Venus. On Sept. 5, they switch places, now 7° apart with the moon southeast of Venus. The pair is still 5° high 30 minutes after sunset.
By mid-September, Venus remains quite low after sunset. Venus during the last few days of September, stands 7° high in the western sky, 30 minutes after sunset and remains visible for nearly another hour.
Venus’s distance from the Earth varies from 24 million miles to 162 million miles. Mars averages a distance from the Earth of 140 million miles. The closest recorded distance to Mars from Earth was recorded in August 2003 when the two were 34.8 million miles apart. According to NASA, the two will not be that close again until the year 2237.
MORNING PLANETARY DELIGHT
The pre-dawn hours will feature six planets. Keep an eye on Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn in the hours before sunrise. The planets always appear lying along the ecliptic, which is the plane of our solar system.
Mercury is 48 million miles away from Earth when they are at their closest. The maximum distance between the two when they are on opposite ends of their orbits is 137 million miles.
Mars averages a distance from the Earth of 140 million miles. The closest recorded distance to Mars from Earth was recorded in August 2003 when the two were 34.8 million miles apart. According to NASA, the two will not be that close again until the year 2237.
Jupiter’s distance from the Earth varies from 336 million miles to 600 million miles.
Saturn’s distance varies from the Earth. When the two are closest, they lie approximately 746 million miles apart, or eight times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
At their most distant, when they lie on opposite sides of the Sun from one another, they are just over a billion miles apart, or 11 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
When Neptune and the Earth line up on the same side of the Sun, at their closest, they are only 2.7 billion miles apart. But when the planets are on opposite sides of the Sun, they can put as many as 2.9 billion miles between them.
FOLLOW THE ZODIACAL LIGHT
During the September pre-dawn, a glow caused by millions of tiny dust particles filling our inner solar system can be observed on clear moonless nights from very dark locations. The zodiacal light is a faint cone-shaped glow. This zodiacal light shines with similar or a bit fainter brilliance than the Milky Way and is located along the ecliptic, which is angled steeply to the horizon this month, improving your chances of seeing it.
The first two weeks of September are the most favorable time this month to view this phenomenon. Any glow from the urban lights of Dallas-Fort Worth will limit the view.
PEAK OF THE ε-PERSEID METEOR SHOWER
September is not known for its meteor showers. From Sept. 5 through Sept. 2, the ε-Perseids meteor shower runs. Despite their name, these meteors are not caused by the same comet, Swift-Tuttle, as the August Perseids. They simply appear to radiate from the same point in the night sky –which is how meteor showers get their names.
At their maximum, you can look for roughly five ε-Perseids per hour, coming from the general area of the constellation Perseus high in the southwest sky.
The ε-Perseids can be seen from anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere. You are more likely to see them if you have an unobstructed view with clear skies in a very dark place far from any urban light sources.
WHEN DOES THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION FLY OVER NORTH TEXAS?
The International Space Station will make flybys across the North Texas sky this month. The ISS appears as a fast-moving star across the night sky.
The ISS rotates around the Earth at a speed of 17,500 mph. The ISS rotates about its center of mass at a rate of about four degrees per minute so that it will complete a full rotation once per orbit. This allows it to keep its belly towards the Earth. One revolution around the planet takes about 90 minutes (16 per day).
Also, the ISS sits at an altitude of 250 miles above the Earth. By the way, that is 1.32 million feet. Most commercial airplanes fly between 33,000 to 42,000 feet.
A SEPTEMBER FULL MOON
On Sept. 17, there is a full moon.
This full moon is called the “Corn Moon.” It gets its name after the time of year that corn is harvested.
It is also called the “Harvest Moon.” This is given to the full moon closest to the fall equinox. The reason why the Harvest Moon varies is that the lunar month doesn’t line up with the equinox. Usually, the closest full moon occurs in September, but every three years or so, it falls in October. When the October full moon is not a Harvest Moon, it is known as the Hunter’s Moon.
Other names refer to the “Autumn Moon”, “Child Moon”, “Falling Leaves Moon”, “Yellow Leaf Moon” and “Mating Moon.”
MOON PHASES
![](https://media.nbcdfw.com/2024/09/KS_Sept24MoonPhases.09.03.24.png?resize=218%2C123&quality=85&strip=all)
Also, check out other phases of the moon this month.
On Sept. 18 at 8:23 a.m. CDT., the moon will be at perigee, it is closest to the Earth for this orbit at 222,007 miles.
On Sept. 5 at 9:53 a.m. CDT., the moon will be at apogee, its farthest from the Earth for this orbit at 252,408 miles.
THE SEPTEMBER EQUINOX
On Sept. 22 the seasons officially change. The September Equinox is also called the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the Vernal Equinox in the Southern Hemisphere.
It signals the point where the Earth experiences roughly equal lengths of day and night. Also, this will mark the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
![](https://media.nbcdfw.com/2024/09/KS_AutumnalEquinox2.09.03.24.png?resize=218%2C123&quality=85&strip=all)
With the passing of the September Equinox, the Earth has traveled 438 million miles around the Sun. The Earth is moving at an orbital speed of 66,616 mph. This speed is fast enough to cover the planet’s diameter in 7 minutes and the distance to the Moon in 4 hours.
THE TRANSIT OF A JUPITER MOON
Ganymede, Jupiter and the solar system’s largest moon will transit across the planet this month.
The moon’s huge shadow crosses Jupiter’s polar region from about 1:45 a.m. to 3:40 a.m. CDT. on Sept. 28.
Please enjoy these events happening in the night sky this month. Until then…Texans, keep looking up!
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Texas
Michigan vs. Texas early odds, picks: Week 2 college football prediction
![Michigan vs. Texas early odds, picks: Week 2 college football prediction Michigan vs. Texas early odds, picks: Week 2 college football prediction](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2139,h_1203,x_460,y_82/c_fill,w_1440,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/college_football_hq/01j6w1wt993ja8867jsv.jpg)
The biggest game on the early college football schedule comes this Saturday in what has become an SEC vs. Big Ten matchup thanks to conference realignment, as Texas goes on the road to Michigan.
Lines are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
Texas: -7.5 (-102)
Michigan: +7.5 (-120)
Texas to win: -280
Michigan to win: +225
Over 44.5 points (-110)
Under 44.5 points (-110)
FPI picks: Texas wins in 64 percent of simulations
+ Texas is 4-1 against the spread in its last 5 games
+ Michigan is 4-1 against the spread in its last 5 games
+ Longhorns are 0-5 against the spread in last 5 against Big Ten teams
+ Wolverines are 2-6-1 against the spread in their last 9 at home on Saturday
+ Total went under in 8 of the Longhorns’ last 11 games on a Saturday
+ Michigan has won its last 20 straight home games
+ Texas is 7-0 straight-up in its last 7 road games
+ The total went over in 8 of Michigan’s last 12 games
Texas: 71 percent of bettors predict the Longhorns will win the game and cover the spread
Michigan: 29 percent of wagers suggest the Wolverines will win the game or keep it within a touchdown
College Football HQ early prediction: Texas wins by 10 and covers the spread
When: Sat., Sept. 7
Time: 12 p.m. Eastern
TV: Fox network
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
–
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams
Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks
Texas
New Texas law takes effect requiring parental approval for children to create social media accounts
![New Texas law takes effect requiring parental approval for children to create social media accounts New Texas law takes effect requiring parental approval for children to create social media accounts](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/09/socialmedia.png)
A new law has taken effect in Texas that requires parental approval for a child to create a social media account.
Parts of the SCOPE Act, or House Bill 18, went into effect on Sunday after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the legislation last year.
In a committee hearing last year, Republican state Rep. Shelby Slawson cited threats that unmonitored social media use could pose for children, including cyberbullying and child predators, according to Fox 4.
“A Texas teenager was rescued from a shed in North Carolina where she was being held by a predator who allegedly lured her away by a chat app,” she said.
TELEGRAM BOSS’ ARREST IN FRANCE IS ‘EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO FREE SPEECH,’ TECH ENTREPRENEUR SAYS
A new law has taken effect in Texas that requires parental approval for a child to create a social media account. (Getty Images)
However, the law in its current form would not directly flag those types of contacts, Fox 4 reported.
Last week, a judge blocked provisions that would have required social media companies to filter out harmful content. But the judge allowed the requirement for parental consent for children creating an account and the authority for parents to supervise their child’s online activities.
Some social media companies have argued that there are already protections in place to protect children online.
“While we strongly agree with the underlying intent of the bill, we oppose the bill as filed,” Antigone Davis, a spokesperson for Facebook parent company Meta, told Fox 4.
![Social media apps](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/09/1200/675/socialmediaphone.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Parts of the SCOPE Act, or House Bill 18, went into effect on Sunday. (Getty Images)
“We’ve built over 30 tools to help young people be safe and have a positive experience on our platform,” Davis added. “We have parental supervision tools, set time limits, and the ability for parents to see who their child is following.”
In the same hearing last year, a Meta representative testified that Facebook and Instagram already have safeguards in place to protect children and that teenagers’ accounts use AI to screen for fake dates of birth being entered to create an account.
Meta also said it blocks targeted ads for a variety of topics on its platforms.
GERMANY STARTED CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO SOCIAL MEDIA USER FOR MOCKING POLITICIAN FOR BEING ‘FAT’
![A phone displaying social media apps](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/09/1200/675/phonesocialmedia.png?ve=1&tl=1)
Some social media companies said that there are already protections in place to protect children online. (Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Brian Dixon, a child psychiatrist with the Texas Medical Association, spoke at the hearing about what he has observed in his young patients regarding the impact of social media on their mental health.
“Now kids have access to all things all the time, and there is no filter. They have no perspective to when they are being advertised and when they are not,” he said.
Courts have blocked similar legislation passed in other states seeking to regulate social media access for young people.
Texas
Texas braces for heavy rain, flooding
![Texas braces for heavy rain, flooding Texas braces for heavy rain, flooding](https://assets1.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2024/09/02/844a5322-50e3-4570-a032-0be1555a7e66/thumbnail/1200x630/f9adc8e1787fa1dbdf2cb7e4e0e2b0b0/0902-en-cabrera.jpg?v=25685eaa472b1a5dbb5bd46ae506d232)
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