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 in the eastern sky after sunset this month, and moves across the sky towards the west. Best views will be early hours of the morning at the beginning of the month and around midnight near the end of the month, as this is when it will be highest in the southern sky.

Cygnus can be seen near the zenith after sunset this month. It sets in the north west shortly after sunrise, so best views will be just after sunset.

Taurus rises in the east a couple of hours after sunset. It gets higher as the night goes on, so best views will be just before dawn near the beginning of the month. Towards the end of the month, it rises earlier and reaches its highest point an hour or two before sunrise.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Venus is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Mars can be seen high in the eastern sky this month. It rises between 10 and 11pm and moves high towards the south, so can be best seen before dawn. Mars will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 17^th.

Jupiter rises in the east around sunset and sets in the west around sunrise. It can be best seen in the southern sky in the early hours of the morning. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 11^th and at opposition on the 26^th.

Saturn can be seen low in the southern sky. It moves from the east to the west over the course of the night, with best views around midnight. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 8^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises in the east around sunset and can be best seen high in the south just before dawn. Uranus will undergo lunar occultation on the 14^th.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It moves from the east to the west across the southern sky during the night, and can be best seen in the early hours of the morning. Neptune will be at opposition on the 16^th.

Meteor Showers

The Aurigids reach their peak on the 1^st. Their radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Auriga. Meteors will be visible all night as Auriga is circumpolar. Best views will be shortly before dawn as Auriga reaches its highest point after sunrise. You will likely be able to see around 5 meteors per hour.

The September ε-Perseids reach their peak on the 9^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Perseus. Meteors will be visible all night as Perseus is circumpolar. This constellation reaches its highest point around 05:00 BST and so best views will likely be shortly before dawn. You will likely be able to see around 4 meteors per hour.

The Daytime Sextantids reach their peak on the 27^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Sextans. Meteors will be visible between 04:41 and 06:20 BST when Sextans is in the sky. It reaches its highest point after dawn so best views are likely to be before sunrise. You will likely be able to see around 1 meteor per hour.

Moon

Full Moon: 10^th

Last Quarter: 17^th

New Moon: 25^th

First Quarter: 3^rd

The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 7^th and apogee, its furthest point on the 19^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 28^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Points of Interest

Asteroid 3 Juno will be at opposition on the 7^th in the constellation of Aquarius.

The September Equinox, where the day and night are of equal length takes place on the 23^rd.

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

Last updated: 18^th July.