Woking Planetarium

Read our September sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!

Map

Constellations

These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.

Pegasus appears after sunset in the eastern sky, moving across to the west during the night. By the end of the month it begins to set before sunrise. Look for the prominent Great Square of Pegasus to find it.

Aquila the Eagle can be seen high in the southern sky after sunset, setting in the west in the early hours of the morning. As the month goes on it sets earlier in the night.

Aquarius rises a little after sunset this month in the south eastern sky. It moves low across the southern sky during the night, setting in the west shortly after sunrise. As the month continues, it rises and sets a little earlier.

Planets

Mercury follows the Sun closely this month so will not be visible. It reaches its highest altitude of 5° before sunset on the 1^st and aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 6^th. It will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 8^th. Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation on the 13^th and dichotomy (half phase) on the 18th. None of these events will be visible from Woking.

Venus sets very soon after the Sun in the south western sky this month, so is unlikely to be visible. It will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 10^th. This event will not be visible from Woking.

Mars will not be visible this month, as it is located on the opposite side of the Sun to the Earth. It will reach apogee, its furthest point from the Earth, on the 20^th.

Jupiter can be seen low in the south eastern sky at sunset this month. It moves southwards during the night, setting in the western sky in the early hours of the morning. The time it sets gets later as the month continues. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 18^th.

Saturn can be seen to the right of Jupiter in the sky. It appears low in the south eastern sky at sunset, moving southwards before setting in the west in the early hours of the morning. As the month continues it sets later. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 17^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises shortly after sunset in the eastern sky, and moves high into the southern sky where it disappears at dawn. As the month goes on, it’s position at dawn gets further west and lower.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises due east and moves across to the west during the night. Neptune will reach opposition on the 14^th.

Meteor Showers

The Aurigids reach their peak on the 1^st. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Auriga. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn, as Auriga is highest in the sky after the sun rises. You will be able to see about 5 meteors per hour.

The September ε-Perseids reach their peak on the 9^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) is in the constellation of Perseus. This constellation is circumpolar so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn as Perseus is highest in the sky after the Sun rises. You will be able to see about 4 meteors per hour.

The Daytime Sextantids reach their peak on the 27^th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) is in the constellation of Sextans. Meteors will be visible between 04:44 and sunrise around 06:23. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn as Sextans is highest in the sky after dawn. You will be able to see about 1 meteor per hour.

Moon

Full Moon: 21^st

Last Quarter: 29^th

New Moon: 7^th

First Quarter: 13^th

The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 11^th and apogee, its furthest point on the 26^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 9^th and aphelion, its furthest point, on the 18^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Points of Interest

Comet 4P/Faye reaches perihelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 10^th. It will be located in the constellation of Taurus, reaching its highest point of 51° at 05:11 BST. You will need a large telescope to see it.

Asteroid 2 Pallas reaches opposition on the 11^th. It lies in the constellation of Pisces and will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. You will need at least a four-inch telescope to see it, and it will be visible between 21:22 and 04:23 BST.

The September Equinox takes place on the 22^nd. On this day, both day and night are exactly 12 hours long around the globe. It marks the first day of autumn for those in the northern hemisphere, and the first day of spring for those in the southern hemisphere.

The dwarf planet 136472 Makemake reaches solar conjunction on the 30^th. It is unobservable as it gets lost in the Sun’s glare.

Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.

Last updated: 18^th July.