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Your guide to constellations, deep-sky objects,
planets, and events.

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Tonight's Sky, highlights of the September
Sky.

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If you have a clear view to the west, you
might be able to spot Venus hanging low over

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the horizon right after sunset.

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Catch a quick look through a telescope if
you can.

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After nightfall, look for Mars and Saturn
in the southwestern sky.

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The two planets will move farther apart as
the month progresses, with Saturn setting

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well before Mars in late September.

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Use a telescope to get a better view of the
planets before they dip below the horizon.

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September nights feature the “wet quarter”
of the sky.

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Two neighboring constellations bear ancient
references to water.

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Aquarius is one of the oldest constellations,
recognized even by early civilizations.

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In ancient mythologies, Aquarius is the god
of the waters.

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Look for the Water Jar, a group of stars shaped
like a "Y."

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A rich, compact cluster of stars can be seen
in Aquarius.

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Known as M2, it contains about 150,000 stars
located about 37,500 light-years away.

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Binoculars present it well,

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but a small telescope reveals much more detail
in the cluster’s compact center.

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Nearby lies the great constellation Capricornus.

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Known in mythology as the Water Goat, it represents
a creature that fed and watered the infant

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Zeus, ruler of the Greek gods.

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Algedi is the brightest star in Capricornus.

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It’s visible in binoculars as an elongated
star.

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This odd shape is due to a visual trick.

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From our distant vantage point, two unrelated
stars appear to be close together.

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Capricornus also hosts a dense cluster of
stars, M30.

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A small telescope easily resolves individual
stars in the cluster.

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Late in the month, dim Mercury makes a brief
appearance in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

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If you spot it, aim a telescope at Mercury
to get a slightly better look.

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On September 1st, skywatchers in parts of
Africa will see the Moon pass directly in

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front of the Sun, creating an 
annular solar eclipse.

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During an annular solar eclipse, the Moon
is farther away from Earth than during a total

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solar eclipse, so it appears smaller and doesn’t
completely cover the Sun.

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A partial solar eclipse will be visible from
most of the African continent.