September Skies 2026, and Astrophiz podcast

To be read in conjunction with the astrophiz podcast #241

   

Western sky on the evening of  Wednesday,  September 2  as seen from Adelaide at 19:21ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. has been coming closer to to the bright star Spica and is closest on the 2nd. Venus is a clear “Crescent Moon”  shape and is increasing in size.  The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes (although the brightness may make it hard to see). Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (90 minutes after sunset)	North-Eastern horizon on the morning of Monday, September 7 as seen from Adelaide at 5:03 ACST (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).  Saturn is above the north-western horizon.  Mars is low in the east.The Moon is near Mars.  Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (90 minutes before sunrise) .
Western sky on the evening of  Monday,  September 14  as seen from Adelaide at 19:01 ACST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. It is close to the thin crescent Moon. Venus itself is a clear “Crescent Moon”  shape and is increasing in size.  The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes. Mercury is just peeping over the horizon. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (60 minutes after sunset)	Western sky on the evening of  Saturday,  September 26  as seen from Adelaide at 19:01 ACST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).  Mercury is Visible close to the bright Star Spica  at nautical twilight, below Venus.Venus is a  thinning “Crescent Moon” shape. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time  (60 minutes after sunset)

 Mercury enters the evening twilight late in the month. From the 16th it can be seen low above th western horizon, forming a line with Spica and Venus, On the 26th, Mercury will be less than a degree from 1st magnitude Spica, with Venus above.

Venus is now in Virgo. It begins to sink in the evening sky dut is still well visible after the sky is fully dark. Venus is a distinct “Crescent Moon” phase in even small telescopes. For the first couple of days, Venus will be less than 2°from Virgo’s brightest star, Spica. On the 14th, Venus is 2°from the 4-day-old waxing crescent Moon, an impressive sight in the evening sky. On the 19th, Venus is at its greatest brilliance at − 4.5 magnitude.

Saturn is rising higher ahead of opposition next month, when it is biggest and brightest as seen for earth.  At the beginning of the-month it is rising around 8:30 pm and is highest at 2:30 am. Mid-month it is rising around astronomical twilight and is highest around 1:30 pm. By the end of the Month, it is highest around midnight. On September 27th the full Moon is ~6° from Saturn. The rings are widening

Morning sky:

Mars is above the eastern horizon at astronomical twilight in the morning. Mars in Gemini. On the 7th, it is 4° south of the 25-dayold waning crescent Moon. 

Saturn is highest around 2pm to midnight as the month rolls on. While in a good viewing position in the evening, it is still best telescopically in the very early morning. 

Jupiter enters the morning sky and -is low above the horizon. On the 9th, the planet will be around 2° from the 27-day‑old waning crescent Moon, low above the horizon it the twilight. By the end of the month it is still low, but more readily seen.

First Quarter perigee moon at 21:58 ACDST on February 24. Actual First Quarter is 8:48 on the 25th and perigee is 21:58 (a 1 day 10 hour difference).	First Quarter apogee moon at 19:34 ACST on September 19, actual First Quarter is 07:19, apogee is 13:30 (an ~6 hour difference). The size difference between this and the Perigee First Quarter in February will be clear in telescopes.

 Occultation of Antares, Tuesday September 17/18. (Approaching first Quarter)

The western sky at 23:37 ACST Tuesday, September 17, as seen from Adelaide. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).	The western sky at 00:0 AEST Wednesday, September 18, as seen from Canderra. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).	The western sky at 23:59 AEST Tuesday, September 17, as seen from Melbourne. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).

An occultation best seen from the east coast south of Sydney around midnight. The Moon is Approaching first Quarter and low above the horizon. Antares sets before it can reappear.

Place	Disappears Bright Limb	Reappears Dark Limb
Adelaide ACST	23:37	-
Brisbane  AEST	-	-
Canberra AEST (18th)	00:00	-
Darwin ACST	-	-
Hobart AEST	23:51	-
Melbourne AEDST	23:59	-
Perth AWST	-	-
Sydney AEST	-	-

Stars:

The northern sky as seen at 19:28 ACST from Adelaide on September 11 (90 minutes after sunset, New Moon). The bright stars Altair, Deneb and Vega are seen forming the ‘Winter triangle” in the northern sky.  Sagittarius is at the Zenith and  the location of the globular cluster M22 is indicated by the box. The inset shows the telescopic view. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset.

The Southern sky as seen at 19:28 ACST from Adelaide on September 11 (90 minutes after sunset, New Moon). The bright stars alpha and beta Centauri are readily visible with the Southern Cross below. The globular clusters 47 Tucana and Omega Centauri are  indicated. The inset shows the telescopic view of 47 Tucana. The small and large Magellanuic clouds are also seen. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset.

 Scorpius the scorpion is now heading westwards.  Sagittarius, and the heart of the Milky way, is at the zenith from around 8 pm. This is an excellent time to observe the wealth of clusters in this area. The magnificent globular cluster M22 is at its highest that this time. It’s rival Omega Centauri is setting but still high and readily visible, and the other magnificent globular cluster 47 Tucana is rising. The three form a broad triangle across the Southern Sky. To the north the winter triangle of Deneb, Vega and Altair is clear

By mid month, the classic Andromeda galaxy is seen rising low above the northern horizon, while in the south the two dwarf galaxies, the Magellanic clouds, are rising too, with the SMC almost at its highest.

The southern cross is at about the 4 o’clock position, with the pointers above, just to the south of the pointers is the obviously triangular constellation of Triangulum Australae, the above that is Ara, the altar. These dim constellations are often overlooked but are interesting and have some nice small clusters in them. 

Meteors: No notable meteor showers this month.