Month of Planets

September is rich with opportunities for planetary viewing. In fact, dedicated observers can technically view all five naked-eye planets this month. 

We’ll be covering the planets in greater detail in the coming weeks as we cover the history, mythology and observing highlights of our solar system neighbors. To listen to an overview of this month’s planetary line-up, check out Sky & Telescope’s podcast here:

September 2020: Four Planets & More! - Sky & Telescope

This year, September's equinox takes place on the 21st at 9:31 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Another celestial event associated with this equinox is the Harvest Moon. As explained in this month's Sky Tour astronomy podcast, it's the name traditionally assigned to the Full Moon that falls closest to the autumnal equinox.

Jupiter shines prominently in the southern twilight - for most observers this will be the first celestial object visible after sunset - with Saturn joining Jupiter just a few degrees east.

This Week's Sky at a Glance, August 28 - September 5 - Sky & Telescope

Betelgeuse is dimming again. . . somewhat. After its historic fade last winter to magnitude +1.6, Orion's red supergiant Betelgeuse fully recovered, to +0.4, before it disappeared into the sunset for the season. But now as it emerges low in the east before dawn, it seems to have faded back down to about +0.9.

Mars and Venus remain visible easily in the morning hours, we’ll provide charts for the planets as we cover them individually next week! If you can’t wait until then, check out Sky & Telescope’s weekly update:

Join us Wednesday 9/9 @ 6:00 PM for our virtual program “Tour of the Solar System.” Email LBmartin@cityofwestminster.us to register for this free virtual program.

Check back each weekday @ 5:00 pm for more observing guides and science news!

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Stay well, and clear skies!