Even though summer is over, there are still planets to look for in the nights and evenings through September and early Fall. While summer brings warm nights to stargaze, September and Fall means that it gets darker faster, giving us more time to look for these amazing celestial bodies. Take a look at what planets you can expect to find, and when, below:
Mercury
Mercury is going to move out of the evening into the morning sky by mid-September if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere. Sky watchers in the Northern Hemisphere can find Mercury visible before sunrise in the first two weeks of October – you may also see Mercury and Jupiter in conjunction on the morning of October 11, 2016!
Venus
Seeing Venus this month will be easier from the Southern Hemisphere. While it’s rather low on the horizon at twilight, it will become easier to see through October and November.
Mars
Mars just isn’t as bright as it was earlier in the year right now. In September, it will be close to Saturn and the star Antares (the brightest star in the Scorpioconstellation) – these two planets and the star will make a noticeable triangle in the sky though, so you can look for that shape to see this planet.
Jupiter
While Jupiter will be lost in the glare during sunset early this month and won’t be visible in the evening sky for September, you can see it in the morning sky come October.
Saturn
Because Mars is so much brighter than Saturn, you can use that as your guide and look for Saturn close to it and the star Antares this month. Saturn has a golden colour in the sky, which you can see more clearly with a pair of binoculars. If you want to see Saturn’s famous rings though, you’ll need a telescope.
If you want to learn more about what you can see in the sky at any given week, subscribe to SkyNews Astronomy magazine! Not only do they have tips on what you can see in the sky on a weekly basis, they also provide guides on how to observe different astronomy events like comets, asteroids, planets, stars, and constellations. Plus, they provide helpful information on what stargazing gear you need to make the most out of your sky watching. Visit the SkyNews website today to learn more.
Featured image source: Space.com
Story source: EarthSky.org
