September Skies

Interested in doing a little stargazing? This is what is in store for this month:

Mars and Saturn have been closing in on each other.  They are about 5 degrees apart at the end of August. Saturn can be seen in the low above the southwestern horizon at sunset. 

Mars is in the southwest sky in the evening, setting about three hours after the Sun. Mars passes Antares, the rival of Mars, on Sept. 28. A waxing crescent moon will be near Mars and Antares on Sept. 28-29

By the end of September, Saturn changes from setting three hours after the Sun to two hours after the Sun. A waxing crescent moon will be near Saturn on Sept. 27.

Venus is below Jupiter in the east-northeastern sky before sunrise.  A thin crescent moon is near the giant planet before sunrise on September 20.

Mercury will also be closest to Spica (a star) on the 20th. A waxing crescent moon will be near Mercury and Spica on Sept. 25.

  

First Quarter Moon: September 2
Full Moon: September 8
Last Quarter Moon: September 15
New Moon: September 24

Autumnal Equinox: Sept 22 at 10:29pm EDT