Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening's sky
The night sky is full of wonder, here's what to look out for tonight.
Wednesday, Dec. 11: Summer Triangle points at Venus (after sunset)
It's one of the most famous asterisms (a shape of stars, but not an official constellation) in the summer night sky, but tonight the Summer Triangle continues its post-sunset farewell with an extra point of light. Look southwest shortly after sunset, and you'll see Deneb in Cygnus (top), bright Vega in Lyra (below Deneb), and Altair in Aquila (left of Vega) form their usual triangle. This unmistakable shape of stars all this week points like an arrow at Venus, shining at mag -4.2 above southwest. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, Dec. 10: The Pleiades (after dark)
Look southeast after dark, and you'll see the bright planet Jupiter. Tonight, use it as a guiding light to find one of the night sky's most spectacular sights — the Pleiades. Pronounced "Plee-err-deez," this open cluster of seven bright stars (or six to older eyes) shine together in the constellation Taurus. Also known as "Seven Sisters" and M45, the Pleiades are all hot, young stars a mere 445 light-years away from the solar system. Their intense starlight illuminates clouds of gas and dust between them. Get the Pleiades in your peripheral vision to appreciate their collective brightness. — Jamie Carter
Monday, Dec. 9: Jupiter in Taurus (after sunset)
Look east after sunset tonight for the bright planet Jupiter shining at mag. -2.8. It's firmly in the clutches of the constellation Taurus, "the bull." Just to Jupiter's right will be orange-reddish star Aldebaran, whose name means "eye of the bull." Around Aldebaran, you'll see a smattering of stars in a V-shape. That's the Hyades, one of the closest open clusters of stars to the solar system, at around 150 light-years. — Jamie Carter
Night sky for tonight and the weekend
Friday, Dec. 6: Saturn, the moon and Venus align (after sunset)
Look to the southwest after dark, and you'll see a beautifully balanced panorama of the waxing crescent moon, now 32%-illuminated, flanked by two of the solar system's most beautiful planets. Below the moon will be Venus, shining brightly at mag. -4.1, while above will be Saturn, the ringed planet, at mag 1. Just beyond Saturn, but hidden to the naked eye, will be the dim seventh planet Neptune. — Jamie Carter
Saturday, Dec. 7: Jupiter at opposition (after sunset)
Jupiter will rise gloriously in the east after dark tonight as soon as the sun sets in the west. It's a special day for the "King of Planets" because, as seen from Earth, it reaches opposition, the night when Earth passes between it and the sun. The planet's disk will be 100% illuminated as seen from Earth, and Jupiter will look at its brightest and best for all of 2024. If you have binoculars, you'll be able to see some of its four Galilean moons — Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. If you have a small telescope, you'll see its colorful cloud belts. Don't worry if it's cloudy — because Jupiter will be bright and visible all night for the rest of the month. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, Dec. 8: First quarter moon and Saturn (after dark)
In the southern sky after dark, you'll find a half-lit moon at its first quarter phase when its entire right-hand side (from the Northern Hemisphere) is illuminated. Look for three dark patches in a row on the moon's lit side — ancient lava pains called maria — called the "seas" of Serenity, Tranquility and Fertility. Just below and to the right will be Saturn, shining at mag. 1. — Jamie Carter
Thursday, Dec. 5: A crescent moon close to Venus (after sunset)
Here's another spectacular sight of the crescent moon and Venus together for a third night. Although not in as close a conjunction as yesterday, tonight, the waxing crescent moon — now 22%-illuminated — will shine to the upper-left of Venus. More views of the waxing crescent moon and Venus are coming early in 2025. — Jamie Carter
Last night Kevin McCarthy captured this beautiful photograph of the moon and Venus from Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. You should be able to catch a similar view tonight where Venus will appear to the moon's lower right, pending clear skies!
"The pairing just as the sun set allowed some blue to remain in the sky at the time I took this shot. I think that adds to the photo instead of the normal pitch-black background," McCarthy told Space.com in an email. — Daisy Dobrijevic
Wednesday, Dec. 4: A crescent moon and Venus in close conjunction (after sunset)
Now 14%-illuminated, the waxing crescent moon will today shine just a couple of degrees from Venus in the eastern sky after dark. The planet is brightening as it gets closer to Earth, though paradoxically, less of its disk is on show. Tonight, it's in a 66%-illuminated gibbous phase and shines at mag. -4.2, but by February, it will become a 13%-illuminated crescent yet shine at mag. -4.8. It will shine more brightly despite less of its disk being lit by the sun for two reasons — it will be much closer, and the clouds in its atmosphere reflect a lot of light. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, Dec. 3: A crescent moon (after sunset)
Look to the southwest an hour after sunset, and you'll see a 7%-illuminated waxing crescent moon in Sagittarius, just below bright Venus. The moon will set soon after, so don't waste time. — Jamie Carter
Monday, Dec. 2: Jupiter and the constellation Auriga (after sunset)
After yesterday's" New Cold Moon," the skies will be dark and perfect for stargazing. Look to the northeast, and you'll see Jupiter shining at magnitude -2.8, one of the brightest lights in the night sky. To its upper-left will be Capella, the brightest star in the constellation Auriga. Going anti-clockwise from Capella, see if you can pick out the constellation's four other bright stars — Menkalinan, Mahisim, Elnath and Hassaleh — circling toward Jupiter and back. — Jamie Carter
Tonight and the weekend
Friday, Nov. 29 - Navajo constellation Átsé Ets'ózí (after sunset)
Today, it's Native American Heritage Day in the U.S., an excellent opportunity to see and interpret the night sky in a way familiar to Indigenous people in North America. It's not an exact science because there are multiple Indigenous tribes and cultures, but one familiar shape of stars in the night sky is the Western constellation of Orion. Centered on the three bright stars that make up the famous Orion's Belt, which rises in the east about three hours after sunset tonight — is Átsé Ets'ózí (First Slim One), a male image in Najavo culture that uses Orion's Sword as a knee. In Ojibwe culture, the stars Procyon in Canis Minor and Aldebaran in Taurus are added to form a vast figure called Biboonkeonini (The Wintermaker). — Jamie Carter
Related: The Native American night sky: 7 starry sights to see
Saturday, Nov. 30 - Mars makes a triangle (before midnight)
As we reach the end of November, Mars becomes a pre-midnight object. Get outside and look to the east shortly before that time. The red planet rises below a panorama of bright stars, including Betelgeuse, Rigel, Orion's belt, Capella and Sirius. However, closer to it, you'll see it make a triangle shape with Procyon in the constellation Canis Minor (the eighth-brightest star in the night sky), to its right and above, the bright golden star Pollux in Gemini. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, Dec. 1 - The Winter Circle (before midnight)
With a new moon imminent, it's the perfect moonless night to get a grip on one of the largest and most impressive star-hops possible to make in Earth's night sky. Get outside after 10:00 p.m. local time and look to the southeast for a mess of bright stars. Make a circle (or hexagon?) out of them, going anti-clockwise from the bottom. First, find Sirus — the brightest star in the night sky — then go above-right to Rigel in Orion, to the right of the hunter's three belt stars. Now go up to orangey Aldebaran (don't confuse it with interloper Jupiter), then above-left to Capella high in the sky, then directly down to two stars together, Pollux and Castor in Gemini. Now go below-right to Procyon (ignoring Mars, just outside the circle)and below-right again back to Sirius. Practice finding and naming these stars, and you can level up your stargazing knowledge. — Jamie Carter
Thursday, Nov. 28 - A crescent moon on Thanksgiving (before sunrise)
A delicate crescent moon will grace the night sky about two hours before sunrise today — Thanksgiving in the U.S. Just 7%-illuminated, it will rise in the east and sine below bright stars Spica (above) and Arcturus (above and left). Use a pair of binoculars to see "Earthshine" — sunlight reflected from Earth's day side and onto the moon's night side. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, Nov. 26 - The M-shaped constellation of Cassiopeia (after sunset)
Look north, preferably about four hours after sunset, and you'll see one constellation that will be unmistakable. Cassiopeia is typically described as a W-shaped constellation, but tonight, it will look more like an M. A circumpolar constellation that revolves around the north star, Polaris, it's almost always in the northern hemisphere's night sky. In fall, it rides high and takes over from another famous shape of stars, the Big Dipper of Plough. That particular asterism (not an official constellation) is currently low on the horizon, as in the memory aid "spring up, fall down." — Jamie Carter
Wednesday, Nov. 27 - A waning crescent moon occults Spica (before sunrise)
From about two hours before sunset, the beautiful sight of a 13%-illuminated waning crescent moon will be visible in the east just half a degree above Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Spica and one of the 20 brightest stars in the night sky. However, if you're in the eastern half of the U.S., eastern Canada or the north-western Bahamas, and you're in position looking to the southeast at around 5:35 a.m. EST, you'll see Spica disappear behind the moon's crescent. It will reappear about 75 minutes later, though the sky will be bright by then. Binoculars will help, as will this detailed map from In-The-Sky.org, which will also give you the specific timings for your exact location. — Jamie Carter
Monday, Nov. 25 - The Belt of Venus phenomenon (sunset)
If you have a clear sky, watch a sunset in the west. However, what happens after that is interesting. Swivel 180 degrees to face east, and you'll see a dark blue band appear on the horizon with a deep pink color above. The blue band will rise as you watch it, and the pink will dissipate. Astronomers call it the Belt of Venus, but what is it? It's Earth's shadow being projected onto its atmosphere. It will soon combine with night and disappear. — Jamie Carter
Tonight and the weekend
Friday, Nov. 22 - Last Quarter Moon with Regulus, Mars and the Beehive Cluster (around midnight)
Look to the east shortly before midnight tonight, and you'll see Mars — now shining unmistakably red as it gets closer to Earth — forming a loose triangle with bright star Procyon to its right and the "twins" of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, just above it. If you have keen eyes, dark skies, or a pair of binoculars, look for the Beehive Cluster (M44) just below the red planet. This star cluster is 610 light-years away in the constellation Cancer. Wait an hour, and the half-illuminated last quarter moon will appear below, with Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, just above it. — Jamie Carter
Saturday, Nov. 23 - The Pleiades, plus Jupiter in the horns of Taurus (after sunset)
Look to the south after sunset tonight for one of the night sky's most beautiful sights, an open cluster of sparkling young blue stars in the constellation Taurus called the Pleiades. Also known as M45 and the "seven sisters," these stars, just 445 light-years away from the solar system, light up the clouds of gas and dust between them, giving the cluster an innate brightness that is hard to miss. Look to the left, and you'll see the bright planet Jupiter. Trace out the stars of the constellation Taurus, the bull — most noticeable for its V-shape of stars entered on reddish star Aldebaran — and you'll see that the giant planet is between the celestial animal's horns. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, Nov. 24 - Capella and the Auriga constellation with Jupiter (after sunset)
Dozens of significant constellations of bright stars in the sky are very famous to stargazers, but few people know. One is the constellation of Auriga (the "charioteer"), a near-rectangle of five stars that will be visible in the southeast after dark tonight. Its brightest star is Capella, which means goat in Latin. It's the sixth-brightest star in the night sky. The lower-right star in the constellation is Elnath, which presently has Jupiter for company. — Jamie Carter
Thursday, Nov. 21 - Explore waning gibbous moon (before midnight)
Look east at moonrise where you are (about 11:00 p.m. local time) to see the 21-day-old waning gibbous moon rise. Few people watch the moon in this phase, but it's a beautiful late-night sight. With 58% of its Earth-facing side illuminated tonight, it's the perfect time of the month to see features like Mare Imbrium and Mare Nubium (vast lava plains) and the famous Kepler and Copernicus craters (lunar craters in the Oceanus Procellarum). Above the moon will be bright Mars, with shining stars Procyon and Sirius level with the planet, farther to the right. — Jamie Carter
Editor's note: Fancy taking a more in-depth tour of our rocky companion? Check out our moon observation guide to learn more about what you can see on the lunar surface.
Wednesday, Nov. 20 - Mercury (after sunset)
Start your sky-watching tonight 30 minutes after sunset in the southwest, when you may be able to spot Mercury, which tonight will be at its highest point in the sky during its current evening apparition. At magnitude -0.3, it may be possible to see it with the naked eye as a reddish dot. If you have binoculars, use them only after the sun has entirely set. Mercury will be below and to the right of Venus. — Jamie Carter
Wednesday, Nov. 20 - Moon and Mars (moonrise)
Check out the time of moonrise where you are (about five hours after sunset) tonight in the east to see Mars and the 70%-illuminated waning gibbous moon separated by about two degrees, the width of the two of your fingers held at arm's length against the sky. Mars is shining at a magnitude of 0.3 and rapidly brightening as its distance to Earth shortens. It's currently 81 million miles (131 million kilometers) distant. Mars will get closest to Earth on Jan. 12, 2025, at 59 million miles (96 million kilometers). That happens once every 26 months, as does its opposition four days later when it will be fully lit by the sun from our point of view, so it will shine at its brightest and best. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, Nov. 19 - A waning gibbous moon rises with Pollux (before midnight)
Look to the eastern night sky at the precise time of moonrise where you are tonight (about four hours after sunset), and you'll see our satellite, now looking slightly oblong, with a bright star above it. That's Pollux, a star 34 light-years distant and nine times larger than our sun. It's one of the "twins" of Gemini. The other, Castor, will be slightly farther above the moon. Castor isn't just one star, but six. It's 51 light-years away. — Jamie Carter
Monday, Nov. 18 - Draco, the Dragon, roars in the north (after sunset)
Some constellations are tiny. Others are vast. Draco, the dragon, belongs to the latter camp, a vast, loose, faint shape of stars that make a vague serpent's tail between the constellations of Hercules, Cepheus, Ursa Minor and Ursa Major. Look north tonight and see if you can find the head of the dragon, four stars of equal brightness to the lower-right of bright star Vega. Its tail then zigzags its way up and then down to the Big Dipper via 11 stars, finishing due north just above Dubhe. Draco is home to the Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543), the Tadpole Galaxy (UGC 10214) and the Spindle Galaxy (M102). — Jamie Carter
Tonight and the weekend
Friday, Nov. 15 - Full 'Beaver Supermoon' and the Pleiades (sunset/moonrise)
Today, we see the rise of the full moon and its occultation of the Pleiades. For the best view of the November full moon (2024's final supermoon), be somewhere at sunset to watch the fully-lit orangey orb rise in the east into the dusk sky (check the exact time of moonrise where you are). Just after midnight, the moon will move through and cover up the "Seven Sister" stars, the Pleiades. However, the moon will be so bright that it will be difficult to see the Pleiades.
Since the Pleiades is close to the ecliptic — the sun's path through the sky, which the moon's orbital path intersects — the moon occasionally appears to travel through this naked-eye open star cluster of stars. — Jamie Carter
Saturday, Nov. 16 - Waning gibbous moon, the Pleiades and Jupiter (after sunset/moonrise)
The almost full moon will rise a little later tonight but should have more impact than yesterday because it will appear in the east in a darker sky. Check the time of moonrise where you are and be in place to see a more profoundly orangey full moon than last night.
Look above the moon, and you'll see the Pleiades open star cluster of stars, which the moon occulted last night. Look again an hour after the moonrise, and you'll see the bright planet Jupiter rise beneath the moon. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, Nov. 17 to Monday, Nov. 18: Leonid meteor shower peaks (midnight)
Some of the fastest shooting stars of the year come from the Leonid meteor shower, which peaks close to midnight tonight. Watch from late at night tonight through dawn tomorrow, and you can typically expect fast meteors with long, bright tails and perhaps even an unexpected outburst of activity during the peak. However, even the average 15 shooting stars per hour during the peak will be tricky to see this year thanks to the presence of a bright, waning gibbous moon, which will bleach the sky and make Leonaids hard to spot. — Jamie Carter
Thursday, Nov. 14 - How to find Polaris, the North Star (after sunset)
Contrary to popular belief, the North Star is not the brightest in the night sky. It's the 48th brightest and is a triple-star system, with a yellow supergiant and two smaller stars. It's simple to find and will be a valuable navigational tool for the rest of your life. First, identify the stars' W (or M) shape in the northeastern night sky after sunset tonight. That's Cassiopeia. You'll find Polaris halfway between Cassiopeia and the easily recognizable stars of the Big Dipper, which tonight will be low on the northwest horizon.
Earth's northern axis points at Polaris, so it remains perfectly still as all other stars travel across the sky (because Earth rotates). Those close to Polaris appear to move in circles around it in a time-lapse. — Jamie Carter
Wednesday, Nov. 13 - The Fall Triangle (after sunset)
Here's a great way of getting to know the fall night sky, even from a light-polluted city. Go outside about an hour after sunset and look to the northeast. Find two bright objects — the bright Pleiades open cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus, above east-northeast and the bright, white star Capella in the constellation Auriga, above northeast. Draw an imaginary line between them. Now, look for a third star above to complete an equilateral triangle. You'll come to Mirfak, the brightest star in the constellation Perseus. It's a supergiant double star about 510 light-years distant and intrinsically 5,000 times brighter than the sun. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, Nov. 12 - North Taurid meteor shower (around midnight)
The peak of the Southern Taurids a week ago wasn't a major event, nor is the meteor shower it spills into tonight's Northern Taurids. Peaking Monday through tonight, it will bring up to about five shooting stars per hour. Like its sister shower, it tends to produce bright fireballs, but tonight, they'll be fighting against the bright light of the waxing gibbous moon. — Jamie Carter
Monday, Nov. 11 - Jupiter approaches its bright opposition (after sunset)
The solar system's largest planet, Jupiter, is now approaching its best of the year. Come Dec. 7, it will reach its annual opposition when it will be relatively close to Earth at 380 million miles (612 million kilometers) and shine at a magnitude of -2.8. By then, it will rise in the east at sunset and set in the west at sunrise. With a month to go before its opposition, Jupiter is already rising in the east two hours after sunset, and now, just 388 million miles (625 million kilometers), it's already shining at a magnitude of -2.75. In short, it's beginning to dominate the night sky, which means it's time to find a pair of binoculars (to see its four giant moons) and a telescope (to see its pink cloud bands). — Jamie Carter
Tonight and the weekend
Friday, Nov. 8 - First quarter moon (after sunset)
Tonight, the waxing crescent moon becomes a waxing gibbous moon — gibbous meaning rounded — as our natural satellite becomes half-lit by the sun, as seen from Earth.
For stargazers, it's a critical moment because the moon has brightened enough to begin to bleach the night sky and make faint stars more challenging to see, a situation that will get more profound during the next week as the moon waxes towards becoming a full "Beaver Moon." A waxing gibbous moon is illuminated from the right, whereas a waning gibbous moon (the week after the full moon) is illuminated from the left. — Jamie Carter
Saturday, Nov. 9 - Altair, the 'Flying Eagle' (after sunset)
You probably know the prominent, iconic asterism called the Summer Triangle. It's home to the Milky Way and dominates the northern hemisphere's summer night sky.
It's now long past its best, but it can still be easily seen as it sinks into the western horizon immediately after sunset tonight. It comprises three bright stars — Deneb (in the constellation Cygnus), highest in the western sky tonight; Vega (in Lyra), below right; and Altair (in Aquila), below left.
The latter gets little attention. Shining above Venus, if you come outside immediately after sunset, it's a mere 17 light-years away, one of the closest stars to our solar system. In Arabic, Altair is called Al Nasr Al-Tair, which translates as the Flying Eagle (Aquila is Latin for eagle). It spins on its axis once every 10 hours. — Jamie Carter
Sunday, Nov. 10 - Waxing gibbous moon occults Saturn (after sunset)
Thursday, Nov. 7 - Saturn and 'royal star' Fomalhaut (after sunset)
Look southwest after dark; you'll see a bright 37%-illuminated waxing crescent moon approaching two shining points of light due south.
The upper point will be the ringed planet Saturn, and below it will be Fomalhaut, the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, and just 25 light-years distant. At magnitude +1, it's one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
It's also one of the four Royal Stars of the Persian culture, and called the Watcher of the South. The other stars are Aldebaran (Watcher of the East), Regulus (Watcher of the North) and Antares (Watcher of the West). All are regarded as guardians of the sky. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, Nov. 5 - Waxing crescent moon and Venus (after sunset) and the South Taurid meteor shower peaks (midnight)
Look west again after sunset today to have an easier, albeit slightly wider, view of the now 18%-illuminated crescent moon and Earth's closest planetary neighbor, Venus.
Tonight, we also see the peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower. Though its five shooting stars per hour may seem like nothing to get excited about, Taurids tend to be bright fireballs, so it's a great night to go stargazing. — Jamie Carter
Tuesday, Nov. 5 - Crescent moon and Venus/South Taurid meteor shower peaks
Look west again after sunset today to have an easier, albeit slightly wider, view of the now 18%-illuminated crescent moon and Earth's closest planetary neighbor, Venus.
Tonight, we also see the peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower. Though its five shooting stars per hour may seem like nothing to get excited about, Taurids tend to be bright fireballs, so it's a great night to go stargazing. — Jamie Carter
Monday, Nov. 4: Waxing crescent moon and Venus (after sunset)
Venus is well into its apparition as the 'Evening Star' in 2024, but if you want the best view of the brightest planet, catch it when a crescent moon slides past it. That happens tonight, with the sight of an 11%-illuminated crescent moon and the second planet above the western horizon. The two will be about three degrees apart, less than the width of your three middle fingers held at arm's length against the night sky. Venus will be above the moon. — Jamie Carter
Tonight and the weekend
FRIDAY, NOV 1: SAGITTA, THE ARROW (AFTER SUNSET)
Here's another small constellation taking shelter within the Summer Triangle. After finding Altair at the bottom of that vast asterism of stars, travel to its top right to find a small shape of four stars in the shape of an arrow. It's best seen by identifying its two close stars and then taking a 90-degree turn to see its other two stars. Together, they slice off a corner of the Summer Triangle. — Jamie Carter
SATURDAY, NOV. 2: ANDROMEDA GALAXY
You'll need a very dark sky for this, but with a new moon yesterday, it's the perfect opportunity to see one of the farthest objects possible to see with the naked eye. A whopping 2.5 million light-years distant, the Andromeda Galaxy — also known as M31 — is visible to keen eyes in the northeastern evening night sky in the northern hemisphere. It's between Cassiopeia and the Great Square of Pegasus, with the right-hand "V" in Cassiopeia's "W" shape acting as an arrowhead straight to it. M31 is the most remarkable galaxy for those stargazing from the northern hemisphere and can be easily found as a fuzzy patch in binoculars, even under urban skies. At about half a trillion stars, it's larger than the Milky Way and will collide with it in a few billion years. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, NOV. 3: CRESCENT MOON, MERCURY AND ANTARES (AFTER SUNSET)
Early today sees the end of Daylight Savings Time in North America, where clocks will "fall back" this fall (as opposed to "springing forward" in spring) at 02:00 a.m. local time across the continent. However, you won't need to know the time for today's main sky sight, which will see a 6%-lit crescent moon tangle with Antares and Mercury in the western sky after sunset. The action will happen immediately after sunset and sink soon after, so grab a glimpse. Venus will be shining brightly above the melee to act as your guide. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, OCT. 31: HALLOWEEN STARGAZING (AFTER SUNSET)
With many outside trick-or-treating, Halloween is the perfect time for stargazing and sharing the night sky. Venus will shine in the southwest at dusk, while dimmer Saturn rides high in the southeast. The Summer Triangle will be visible high above the southwest, while the stars of the Big Dipper will shine low above the northern horizon. About two hours after sunset, Jupiter will rise in the east. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30: THE 'DEMON STAR' ON DEVIL'S NIGHT (AFTER DARK)
The night before Halloween, Devil's Night, provides an excellent excuse to look for a star known as the "Demon Star." Algol in the constellation Perseus is the ultimate example of what astronomers call a variable star, dipping from +2.1 to +3.4 magnitude for about 10 hours every 69 hours. That happens because it's three stars that regularly eclipse each other. Its name comes from the Arabic "Al Ra's al Ghul," which translates to "the head of the demon," according to Britannica.
Algol is easily visible to the naked eye as soon as it darkens. You'll find it halfway between Cassiopeia and the Pleiades star open cluster in the northeast night sky. Tonight, it's also above Jupiter. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, OCT. 29: PLEIADES RISING (AFTER SUNSET)
If you're an avid stargazer then you'll be excited to see the return to the early evening night sky this month of the closest and most spectacular open cluster of stars. The Pleiades, also called the "Seven Sisters," are six or seven bright stars (depending on how good your eyesight is) arranged in a mini-Big Dipper shape. It's in the constellation of Taurus — above the "V" of Taurus — and heralds the rise of some of the brightest stars in the night sky, such as Orion's Belt, Betelgeuse and Sirius.
The Pleiades will rise tonight in the east as the sun sets. Becoming visible just above east-southeast as it gets dark. Look straight at the Pleiades and see its six or seven stars. However, looking slightly to its side is a better way to appreciate the Pleiades. Try it! Instead of points of light, you'll see what seems like a very bright patch. This technique, called averted vision, is also handy for looking at galaxies through a telescope. It works because while direct vision is necessary for detail, peripheral vision is sensitive to brightness. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, OCT. 28: DELPHINUS, THE DOLPHIN (AFTER SUNSET)
You'll probably know how to find the famous Summer Triangle in the sky. Just look high above the southwest to see its three bright stars — Deneb (top), Vega (middle) and Altair (bottom). However, close to Altair is a small constellation worth searching out. Just above Altair and to the left, you'll find Delphinus, the dolphin (or is it a tadpole?) that's most easily found by locating its four brightest stars in a diamond shape, which is known to stargazers as "Job's Coffin." — Jamie Carter
Tonight and the weekend
FRIDAY, OCT. 25: CONJUNCTION OF VENUS AND ANTARES (AFTER SUNSET)
It's been a few weeks since the crescent moon tangled first with Venus, then Antares. Since then, the planet has inched closer toward the massive star, and tonight, they'll be in conjunction — very close to each other. Look to the southwest after dark to see Venus positioned slightly higher than Antares, separated by about three degrees. — Jamie Carter
SATURDAY, OCT. 26: CRESCENT MOON AND REGULUS (PRE-DAWN)
Now waning towards the new moon — and an inevitable eclipse of the sun — our natural satellite will tonight be 30%-lit as it sails through the constellation Leo. Look to the southeast before dawn; you'll see it just three above Regulus, Leo's brightest star and one of the brightest in the night sky. It's about 78 light-years from the solar system. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, OCT. 27: THE 'GOAT STAR' RISING (AFTER SUNSET)
Look to the northeast after dark, and you'll quickly see the constellation Cassiopeia high in the sky. What's that bright yellow-orange star below it? The brightest star of the constellation Auriga, the charioteer, and the sixth brightest in the night sky, Capella, will be with us for many months. Just 43 light-years from the solar system, it's two giant binary stars — each about 10 times larger than the sun — and two fainter, distant, red dwarf stars. Capella is the "Goat Star" because it was once used as a guiding light for shepherds. Look just above-right of Capella and, in a dark sky, you'll see an elongated triangle of stars, with one close to Capella and two tighter stars more distant. They're called "The Kids," meant to be Capella's offspring. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, OCT. 24: LAST QUARTER MOON (AFTER SUNSET)
Today's last or third quarter moon sees our satellite half-lit as seen from Earth as it transitions from being a waning gibbous moon to a waning crescent moon. Rising around midnight and setting around noon tomorrow, it's an important waymarker for sky-watchers because it signals the opening of a window of dark, moonless evenings that will last for the next ten nights or so. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 23: WANING GIBBOUS MOON AND MARS (JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT)
Though mostly the same sight as last night, tonight — again, just before midnight — you'll be able to watch a now 51%-lit waning gibbous moon rising in the east-northeast alongside Mars and below the stars of the constellation Gemini. Once again, Capella, Jupiter and the stars of Orion will shine brightly above. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, OCT. 22: JUPITER, WANING GIBBOUS MOON AND MARS (JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT)
Be outside looking to the east-northeast just before midnight local time, and you'll see a gaggle of bright celestial objects appear individually. Bright Jupiter will be an easy spot, with Capella to its upper left. Rising below will be a very bright, 70%-lit waning gibbous moon, which will appear to the right of the two bright stars in Gemini, Castor and Pollux and farther to the left of the unmistakable stars of Orion's Belt. Either side of its three belt stars — Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka — will be ruddy Betelgeuse and blue Rigel. Wait for the moon to rise a few degrees above the horizon, and Mars will appear below it. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, OCT. 21: COMET TSUCHINSAN-ATLAS AND THE MILKY WAY (AFTER SUNSET)
Is comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) still visible to the naked eye? By now, it may not be, but it's still worth looking for the icy visitor from the solar system's edge. As it creeps higher into the night sky, tonight it enters the constellation Ophiuchus, the thirteenth yet roundly ignored zodiacal constellation (zodiacal meaning the sun passes through it). It will now be visible above the southwest horizon as soon as it darkens. It's a long shot, but if you're in a dark sky destination away from light pollution, the Milky Way may be visible in the southwest, providing a backdrop to the comet. — Jamie Carter
FRIDAY, OCT. 18: CASSIOPEIA (AFTER SUNSET)
If you're a novice stargazer, locating Cassiopeia will give you a greater understanding of navigating the night sky. As a bonus, it's easy to find this time of year. Look to the northeast for a slightly misshapen W-shape of five bright stars. If you can't find it, look to the northeast for the Big Dipper, which is always roughly opposite. That's because the stars in the north appear to rotate around Polaris, the North Star, which you'll find between them in a dark patch of sky. While the Big Dipper is easily found all spring and summer ("spring up, fall down"), the opposite is the case for Cassiopeia, which will be easy to see all fall and winter, albeit mainly as an inverted W. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, OCT. 17: FULL 'HUNTER'S SUPERMOON'
Another "supermoon"?! Yes — and not only that but the biggest and brightest of the year. Why? October's full moon will be the closest to Earth, that's all. With the moon taking a slightly elliptical journey around Earth each month, it's sure to happen every year. Be outside looking east at moonrise where you are — during dusk — to see it appear on the horizon draped in orange hues. October's full moon is considered the "Hunter's Moon" by early Native American tribes who used its all-night light to hunt for game. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 16: NEW MOON / JUPITER IN TAURUS (AFTER SUNSET)
Despite the moon shining brightly tonight, it's a good time to look east from about two hours before midnight dark for the stars of the constellation Taurus, "the bull," not least because there's currently an extra "star." First, look for Aldebaran, the "eye of the bull," and the brightest star in Taurus. Now, find the faint "V" of Taurus. That's the Hyades star clusters, one of the closest to the solar system. Above will be the fuzzy Pleiades, and to the lower left will be bright Jupiter. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, OCT. 15: COMET TSUCHINSAN-ATLAS (AFTER SUNSET)
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is climbing higher into the night sky, though likely getting dimmer as it does. It's now between Venus and Arcturus but still relatively close to the sun, so be looking west as soon as the sun sets. A pair of binoculars or a telescope may be decisive. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, OCT. 14: WAXING GIBBOUS MOON AND SATURN (AFTER SUNSET)
Fresh from its bright opposition in September, Saturn remains an excellent target for naked eye stargazers. As luck would have it, tonight it will rise with the almost full moon, appearing just after sunset in North America. Once the moon has risen into a darker sky and lost its golden yellow look, you'll see Saturn trailing behind it by just the width of your pinky finger at arm's length. From parts of South and East Africa, India, China and Southeast Asia, the moon will appear to occult Saturn, according to In-The-Sky.org. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, OCT. 13: COMET TSUCHINSAN-ATLAS (AFTER SUNSET)
Look again to the western sky after dark to have another slight chance of seeing Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) and its tail, either with your naked eyes or using a pair of binoculars or a telescope to give you a better chance. Today, we also see the opening of the launch window for NASA's EscaPADE mission to Mars, which will launch on the debut flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket. — Jamie Carter
FRIDAY, OCT. 11: SUMMER TRIANGLE POINTS AT THE MOON (AFTER SUNSET)
After dark on Oct. 11, look for the Summer Triangle high in the sky above the moon. (Image credit: Starry Night/Jamie Carter)
The most famous shape from July through fall is the Summer Triangle, a vast asterism with three bright stars — Vega, Deneb and Altair — making its corners. It's on the wane by now, but it's still prominent. After dark tonight, it will be visible high above the southwest, appearing to point like an arrowhead at the now 63%-lit waxing gibbous moon in the south. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, OCT. 10: FIRST QUARTER MOON
The name of today's phase of the moon is rather misleading. At first quarter, the moon appears half-lit — as it always is — with only one side illuminated as seen from Earth. Earth's perspective is everything when it comes to the moon. It's tidally locked to Earth, so it always shows the same face and rotates only once with respect to the sun in each orbit. Where you are on Earth with respect to the equator affects what a first-quarter moon looks like; from the northern hemisphere, the moon's right-hand side is lit, while from the southern hemisphere, it's the left-hand side. Either way, the first quarter moon is when the night skies begin to get brightly lit by moonlight in the early evenings, making stargazing trickier. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, OCT. 7: DRACONIDS METEOR SHOWER AND CRESCENT MOON AND ANTARES (AFTER SUNSET)
Oct. 7's Draconid meteor shower will appear to travel from the northern sky, close to the Big Dipper. (Image credit: Haitong Yu via Getty Images)
Hope for clear skies to the north today. If you're in the northern hemisphere, arguably the year's most convenient meteor shower, the Draconids, will peak. Rates of "shooting stars" tend to peak when the course constellation is highest in the sky, typically after midnight. However, since Draco is circumpolar (appearing to rotate around Polaris, the North Star), it's always visible, so you may see some as soon as it gets dark. As twilight fades, don't forget to look to the southwest, where a now 23%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine just a couple of degrees from Antares in Scorpius. — Jamie Carter
NIGHT SKY: FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
FRIDAY, OCT. 4: GO 'ARC TO ARCTURUS' (AFTER SUNSET)
Here's a famous star-hop that will work well this month but be nearly impossible by November. Face north-northwest when it gets completely dark, and you'll see the familiar shape of the Big Dipper, its seven stars shaped like a bowl (on the right) and a handle(on the left). Follow the curve of its handle and keep going, and you'll reach Arcturus, which is low above the western horizon. About two hours after sunset, Arcturus will set, and the Big Dipper will be dead on the northern horizon. — Jamie Carter
SATURDAY, OCT. 5: CRESCENT MOON AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
A delicate crescent moon beside Venus is one of the sky's most beautiful sights and one of October's sky-watching highlights. It's on offer to anyone who looks southwest in a clear sky immediately after sunset tonight, where a delicate 9%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine very low on the horizon just below and left of the planet. They'll be about four degrees apart, the span of your three middle fingers at arm's length. Venus will likely be easier to see. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, OCT. 6: CRESCENT MOON AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
Although the moon has moved another 27th of its journey around Earth, it's still a slim crescent and remains very close to Venus. Tonight, the 15%-lit waxing crescent will shine to the left of Venus and will likely be easier to see than last night. You'll also see "Earthshine" on the moon's dark limb — sunlight reflected from Earth's oceans and ice caps. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, OCT. 3: MILKY WAY (AFTER SUNSET)
The Milky Way is always visible in the night sky, but it's only prominent between April and October in the Northern Hemisphere. This week is a good time to get a last look at the bright star fields of Sagittarius and Scorpius. You must be in a dark sky destination, such as a Dark Sky Place or anywhere that looks dark on a light pollution map. Look south as soon as it gets completely dark. You'll see the Milky Way's center, its brightest section, close to the horizon, with a stream of stars thinning out as it arcs high above your head through Cassiopeia, a constellation of five stars shaped like the letter W. You just saw the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2: 'RING OF FIRE' ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE
Did you see the total solar eclipse on April 8? Here's the follow-up. There are at least two solar eclipses yearly, but not all are total. What happens today is an annular solar eclipse, where the new moon passes directly in front of the sun but doesn't cover it completely. Since the moon will be farther from Earth than on April 8, its disk will be too small to completely cover the sun, creating instead a "ring of fire."
To see the ring today, you'll need to be within a narrow 165 miles (267 kilometers) wide path stretching 8,800 miles (14,163 kilometers) across the Pacific Ocean, South America (the Patagonia region of southern Chile and Argentina) and the South Atlantic Ocean. It's a sparsely populated area, home to just 175,000 people. Most eclipse chasers are headed to Easter Island (Rapa Nui, a remote island 2,200 miles (3,540 km) west of Chile. Much of South America will see a partial solar eclipse. Everyone, whether in the path or not, will need to wear solar eclipse glasses or use solar filters on telescopes and binoculars to observe the event safely. — Jamie Carter
Editor's note: You can keep up with all the solar eclipse action with our solar eclipse live blog. We will also be streaming the eclipse live on Space.com.
TUESDAY, OCT. 1: COMET A3 (TSUCHINSAN-ATLAS) (PRE-DAWN)
Here's one last chance for those in the northern hemisphere to try for a naked-eye view of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan Atlas before it's only visible to those in equatorial regions for a few mornings. If you're having trouble finding it in the horizon haze, consider using a pair of binoculars or a telescope to give you a better chance. If you want a souvenir shot, see how to photograph comets, the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography. — Jamie Carter
FOR THE WEEKEND AHEAD
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 - COMET TSHUCHINSHAN-ATLAS (PRE-DAWN)
If you're up for an early start to the weekend, this morning presents another great chance to try for a naked-eye view of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). That said, given the fickle of comets, it may be wise to have a pair of the best binoculars or one of the best telescopes to give yourself the best chance. Also, check out how to photograph comets, our best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29 - COMET TSHUCHINSHAN-ATLAS (PRE-DAWN)
MONDAY, SEPT. 30: COMET A3 (TSUCHINSAN-ATLAS) (PRE-DAWN)
Here's a chance for sky-watchers in the northern hemisphere to glimpse Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS before it disappears for a few weeks. Now, three days after its perihelion — its closest point to the sun — it may be getting less bright and tougher to see before sunrise as it retreats into the sun's glare. Look east-southeast an hour before sunrise. — Jamie Carter
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 - COMET TSHUCHINSHAN-ATLAS (PRE-DAWN)
Early Friday morning, we could see the first opportunity for sky-watchers in the northern hemisphere to glimpse Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). It arrives today at perihelion — its closest point to the sun — as it gets to within 36 million miles (58 million km) of our star. That means it should reach peak brightness. Comets are fickle and hard to predict, but it's possible it could be visible to the naked eye. To see if that prediction comes true, be outside looking east-southeast an hour before sunrise. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25 - A PREVIEW OF THE WINTER NIGHT SKY (PRE-DAWN/AFTER SUNSET/ALL NIGHT)
Few people realize that the stars rise four minutes earlier each night, returning to where they are precisely 23 hours and 56 minutes later. This is what astronomers call a sidereal day, and over a month, it means stars rise two hours earlier. Today that means you can effectively go stargazing at 4:00 a.m. on Sept. 25, look east, and see the same sky as you would see at 10:00 p.m. in December.
You'll see some of the brightest stars in the night sky in the famous winter constellations: Rigel and Betelgeuse in Orion (as well as Orion's belt rising on its side), Aldebaran in Taurus, Capella in Auriga, Pollux and Castor in Gemini, Procyon in Canis Minor and Sirius in Canis Major.
With Betelgeuse at the center, you can trace-put the stars to make a vast shape known variously as the Great Hexagon, also known as the Winter Hexagon and Winter Circle.
As a bonus, you'll find Jupiter above Betelgeuse and Mars to its left, about four degrees (the span of your three middle fingers at arm's length) from a waning crescent moon.— Jamie Carter
Related: How to see the 'Great Hexagon' of bright winter stars
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26 - MOON AND POLLUX
Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the most colorful in Earth's sky. It's also one of the closest bright stars at just 34 light years. This morning it will shine just 1.6 degrees from the waning gibbous moon (about the width of your pinky finger at arm's length), about a third of which will be illuminated tonight. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 24 - LAST QUARTER MOON (ALL NIGHT)
The moon will rise half-lit in the east at midnight tonight, as seen from Earth. That's because it reaches the Last Quarter (also called the Third Quarter), which marks the completion of three-quarters of its monthly journey around the sun. That moment officially comes at 2:50 p.m. EDT when the moon is below the horizon for those in North America.
Its left-hand half will be illuminated, as observed from the northern hemisphere. It will set in the west around midday on Wednesday, Sept. 25. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, SEPT. 23 - LAST CHANCE FOR THE MILKY WAY (ALL NIGHT)
With the moon rising late at night, there's one last window of moonless dark skies to see the Milky Way while it's still prominent. Now sinking into the southwestern horizon, it's still an incredible sight if you can escape light pollution. You should get a fantastic view any night for the rest of this month. Come October, however, it will be lost in the horizon haze, not returning to view until April. — Jamie Carter
What to look for this weekend
FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 - FOMALHAUT (ALL NIGHT)
September is the perfect month to look for Fomalhaut, the "autumn star," from mid-northern latitudes. It's the 18th brightest star in the night sky, but one generally associated with the southern hemisphere. Those observing from about 40 degrees north and below can see it this month just above due south, below Saturn. It's in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish, just 25 light-years away from the solar system. — Jamie Carter
Related: Fomalhaut: 'Eye of Sauron' With A 'Zombie Planet'
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21 - GREAT SQUARE OF PEGASUS (AFTER SUNSET)
After it gets dark tonight — and any night this month — look to the east, and you'll quickly find four stars that appear to make a square (albeit on its side, so looking more like a diamond). It will be just to the right of the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia.
The corner four stars — Scheat, Alpheratz, Markab and Algenib — make up the Great Square in the constellation of Pegasus. It's likely more prominent than you might expect, and it's hard to ignore after you've found it. Its rise in the east signals the coming of autumn, which begins tomorrow. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 - MOON AND THE PLEIADES ON THE EQUINOX (PRE-DAWN)
It's not something you can see, but today at 7:44 a.m. EDT is equinox, meaning equal night in Latin. It means roughly 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night worldwide (although that technically occurs on Sept. 26 for 40 degrees latitude). It's a landmark moment of the year for stargazers and amateur astronomers in the northern hemisphere because there will finally be more darkness than daylight.
However, today's real attraction is the close pass of the 75%-illuminated waning gibbous moon and the Pleiades. There will be just 0.2 degrees between the two at 5:17 a.m. EDT. Uranus will be just below but too dim to see with the naked eye. — Jamie Carter
Read more: See the moon meet up with the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades this weekend
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19 - THE NORTHERN CROSS
The Southern Cross is a fabulous sight for those in the Southern Hemisphere, but did you know there's also a Northern Cross? It's more commonly known as the constellation Cygnus, the swan, though it looks much more like a cross than a bird to most eyes. Face southeast tonight anytime after dark, and you should be able to pick out Deneb, a bright star and one of the corners of the famous Summer Triangle asterism. Return to Debeb, and you'll see three stars close to it within the Summer Triangle and another single star in the middle of the Summer Triangle, called Albireo. Put them together, and you have the head of a swan (Albireo) with the wings behind or, more obviously, a simple cross. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 17 - FULL 'HARVEST SUPERMOON', A PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
The Earth partially eclipsing the second-largest supermoon of the year may seem like a terrific double-header not to miss, but it's set to be a slightly underwhelming event. Although the moon turns full at 10:34 p.m. EDT, that's not when to look. Instead, look east at moonrise to make the best of the moon illusion, the human brain's strong tendency for the moon to appear larger than it is when it's just coming over the horizon. This phenomenon will explain why the rising "Harvest Moon" will look full rather than because it's a supermoon, which, although it places it closer to Earth than on average, will make no discernable difference to its visible size. For the proof, go look at the full moon once it's risen higher —it won't look any different from any other. As a bonus, on the other side of the sky at moonrise, bright Venus will shine close to Spica.
Later in the evening, a partial lunar eclipse will occur. It will see only a small slither of the moon's edge (just 8.4%) recede into Earth's central shadow, with the best time to view it 10:12-11:15 p.m. EDT (3:12-4:15 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, Sept. 18). However, it's also fun to watch the Earth's fuzzier penumbral shadow travel across the moon. You can get a full schedule for your location on Timeanddate.
Wherever you watch the full "supermoon" rise from today, watch for Saturn to its upper-right. — Jamie Carter
Read more: Don't miss the Harvest Moon Supermoon lunar eclipse tonight! Here's what to expect
Editor's note: If you are unable to watch the lunar eclipse in person you can watch all the action unfold online here on Space.com. We have rounded up several lunar eclipse livestreams that are showing the Super Harvest Moon on Sept. 17.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18 - A TRUE 'HARVEST SUPERMOON' (PRE-DAWN)
Although it was yesterday that the "supermoon" was celebrated, it's early this morning that the moon reaches perigee — its closest point to Earth on its slightly elliptical monthly orbital path. It reached that point at 8:26 a.m. EDT today. So, if you catch it close to moonset where you are, you'll see the true "supermoon." However, it won't be quite full — see its slightly ragged lower-right edge (as seen from the northern hemisphere). Come back at moonrise later today and you'll see an almost full moon with a slightly more ragged top-right edge. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, SEPT. 16 - SUMMER TRIANGLE AND SUMMER DIAMOND (AFTER SUNSET)
Summer is almost over. How do we know? The Summer Triangle of stars — Deneb, Vega and Altair — and beginning to sink in the west as it gets dark. After riding high all summer, the famous asterism is now looking lop-sided as the night wears on. However, it's got some staying power yet, with tonight offering the chance to make the triangle into a diamond. Face south, and you'll see Altair at the bottom of the triangle, at its tip, with Deneb high up above the east and Vega towards the west. Now make a triangle on the other side of Altair and Vega, with a reasonably bright star called Rasalhague. It's the brightest star in Ophiuchus, a large yet little-known constellation, one of the 13th zodiacal constellations. With Deneb opposite, Rasalhague makes a Summer Diamond shape. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 17 - MOON OCCULTS SATURN (PRE-DAWN)
Last month, sky-watchers in Europe saw Saturn occulted — covered up or eclipsed — by the moon. This month, it's the turn of those in North America to watch the ringed planet dramatically disappear for about 45 minutes behind an almost full moon. This lunar occultation of Saturn will take place between 4:08 a.m. and 8:07 a.m. EDT and will be visible along the western United States, Australia, western Canada and north-western Mexico, to name but a few. To see if the occultation is visible from your location, check out IntheSky.org.— Jamie Carter
Related: Astrophotographer captures Saturn vanishing behind the moon in mesmerizing photo.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13 - VENUS CLOSE TO SPICA (AFTER SUNSET)
If you've yet to see Venus this year, tonight is an excellent opportunity. The second planet from the sun has been conspicuous by its absence from the evening night sky since 2023 but is now beginning to shine more brightly after sunset just above the west-southwest horizon. After the sun and moon, it's the brightest object in the night sky, shining at magnitude -3.9 tonight.
As a bonus, you'll find another bright object nearby, just a couple of degrees (the span of your two smallest fingers at arm's length) to the left. That's Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo and the 16th brightest star in the night sky. This bluish-white helium star is about 262 light-years distant and hugely luminous (it's about 2,300 times more luminous than the sun).
Try to catch Venus as the "Evening Star" and Virgo's brightest star quickly after sunset because they will sink soon after.
The sight of Spica is associated with summer in the northern hemisphere, so its disappearance soon after sunset signals that the summer season is about to end, with autumn officially arriving in the northern hemisphere on Sept. 22. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, SEPT. 12 - MOON IN THE AFTERNOON (DAYTIME)
The week before the full moon is perfect for seeing the moon in the afternoon. It rises in the southeast (as seen from the northern hemisphere) in mid-afternoon. Since it's already reached its first quarter phase, it's now a waxing gibbous moon, which means over half of its visible face is illuminated, and it's waxing towards full.
Since the moon is 400,000 times less bright than the sun, it won't be immediately apparent in a blue sky, but keep looking, and you'll quickly see it with your naked eyes. As the day progresses into the evening, it will rise higher and become more prominent and then dominate the southern sky as twilight takes hold.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11 - FIRST QUARTER MOON (MIDDAY TO MIDNIGHT)
The moon takes 29.5 days to orbit Earth, roughly dividing its journey into four phases. Tonight sees it reach first quarter, which marks the halfway point between a new and full moon.
Rising around midday and setting around midnight, the moon will be precisely 50% illuminated — as seen from Earth — at 2:06 a.m. EDT (0606 GMT). That's because it's at a 90-degree angle from the sun, so only its eastern side will receive sunlight.
It's an excellent naked-eye target for twilight that puts the eastern side of the moon on display.— Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 10 - MOON AND ANTARES (AFTER SUNSET)
During evening twilight, a half-moon will shine brightly in the south. Look to its right, and you'll see the red supergiant star Antares, the brightest in the constellation Scorpius, one of the 13 zodiac constellations. It's prominent at this time of year from both hemispheres. Look carefully, and you'll notice the reddish-orange color of Antares, a symptom of its relatively low temperature.
Around 604 light-years from Earth, Antares is 700 times the sun's diameter. If it were in the solar system, it would engulf Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Its name means "anti-Ares" or "rival of Mars" because the red planet passes close to it every 26 months. Scorpius is a region of the sky rich in star fields and deep sky objects (such as the Butterfly Cluster (NGC 6405 and Messier 6), Ptolemy's Cluster (NGC 6475 or M7) and M4) because it's near the center of the Milky Way. — Jamie Carter
Read more: Night sky, September 2024: What you can see tonight [maps]
SEPT. 6 - A CRESCENT MOON AND SPICA (AFTER SUNSET)
Look due west again tonight just after sunset, and with a clear view low to the west-southwest horizon, you'll see a crescent moon a little higher in the sky.
This time, Venus will be farther to the lower right of the crescent moon, close to the horizon. Now around 13% illuminated, it should be possible to see a trace of light on the moon's dark side, opposite the crescent. That's sunlight reflected from Earth onto the moon; it's called "Da Vinci glow," "planet-shine," or "Earthshine."
Look carefully, and you'll see a star to the moon's right. That's Spica in Virgo, one of the brightest stars that the moon appears to frequently pass on its monthly journey around Earth. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5 - A CRESCENT MOON AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
Look west just after sunset for a remarkable sight denied to stargazers since last year. The two brightest objects in the sky aside from the sun — the moon and Venus — will tonight shine about six degrees (the span of your three middle fingers held at arm's length) from each other for a short time after sunset.
You'll need a good view low to the western horizon (try a tall building or observe from a west-facing beach). The crescent moon will be very delicate and may require binoculars. Venus is known as the "Evening Star" in its current apparition because it's visible after sunset. — Jamie Carter
Related: Night sky, September 2024: What you can see tonight [maps]
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4 - YOUNG MOON VISITS VENUS
As the sun sets on Wednesday, Sept. 4 the waxing crescent moon will be just above the western horizon near a bright Venus. A very thin crescent moon will be located just several finger-widths to Venus' lower right (to its celestial west) — close enough that both can be seen by binoculars (orange circle in the image above).
Skywatchers viewing the pair from southerly latitudes will be able to see the moon more easily, as the pair will be close to the horizon at sunset for everyone else.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4 - MERCURY (PRE-DAWN)
Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, is rarely seen. Since it orbits so close to our star, it's typically lost in its glare and impossible to see. That changes occasionally when its position in the solar system relative to Earth puts it temporarily high above the horizon on a few successive days. It can only ever be visible from Earth just before sunrise or just after sunset. The former is the case tonight, with Mercury's so-called "greatest western elongation" from the sun (at 18 degrees) placing it just above the eastern horizon about half an hour before sunrise this morning. You'll need a good view low to the eastern horizon, but at magnitude +0.4 the tiny planet is relatively dim — don't expect much more than a red dot. It's worth returning at the same time on Saturday, Sept. 8, when Mercury appears a little higher in the sky. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 3 - NORTHERN LIGHTS (AFTER SUNSET)
There is no guarantee of northern lights tonight, or any night this month, but something about September makes them more likely and, in theory, more intense. Given that the nights are drawing in in the northern hemisphere, and the moon sets early all this week, it may be a good week to see them at lower latitudes than is typical.
The reason is what's known as the Russell-McPherron Effect. It's a hypothesis from a paper published in 1973 that the tilt of the Earth's axis at the time of equinox (which occurs on Sept. 22) puts it side-on to the sun, meaning Earth's magnetic field is aligned to the solar wind. This means a greater chance of more intense geomagnetic storms, which cause aurora displays.
You'll need to consult the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center to see if there's a favorable prediction tonight (a G4 or a G5 geomagnetic storm is what you want if you live in mid-northern latitudes), but aurora hunters often claim that the equinoxes are the best times for beautiful displays. Pay special attention to NOAA's 3-day Forecast and the prediction for the aurora view line for tonight and tomorrow. — Jamie Carter
Related: Aurora season is here: What to expect from the northern lights in 2024/25
What to look out for this weekend
SATURDAY, AUG. 31 - AUGURID METEOR SHOWER (PRE-DAWN)
It won't be a spectacular display, but expect about six "shooting stars" per hour as the Aurigid meteor shower peaks tonight. It's named after the Auriga constellation, which will rise in the northeast around midnight and highest just before dawn breaks. It's not worth staying up for per se, but if you're out stargazing in the early hours today, keep an eye out for fast-moving meteors. The Aurigids are active each year from Aug. 28 through Sept. 4.— Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, SEPT. 1 - CRESCENT MOON AND MERCURY (PRE-DAWN)
Mercury orbits the sun every 88 days, closer to the sun than Earth, so we see it briefly emerge from the sun's glare only now and again. Today, it will be just below and right from a very slim crescent moon about an hour before sunrise in the pre-dawn sky. It won't be easy to see with the naked eye, but the moon will help you find it. Look out for mesmerizing Earthshine (sunlight is reflected off Earth) on the moon's dark side. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, SEPT. 2 - FALSE DAWN (PRE-DAWN)
On Monday, Sept. 2, at 9:55 p.m. EDT, the moon will officially reach its new moon phase. It’s impossible to see because it’s roughly between the Earth and the sun, so lost in the latter’s glare (unless there's a solar eclipse, which is precisely what will happen next month when an annular solar eclipse will be seen from the southern hemisphere). That makes it the perfect night to see faint objects in the night sky. If you can get far away from light pollution, September is a great time to see the “false dawn” or zodiacal light, which becomes visible about an hour before sunrise in the eastern sky. It is sunlight scattered off dust in the solar system and is brightest close to the autumnal equinox, which will occur later this month. — Jamie Carter
Related: Wonder at the 'false dawn' of zodiacal light in early autumn
FRIDAY, AUG. 30 - CRESCENT MOON AND THE WINTER STARS (PRE-DAWN)
Look to the east for a view on the morning of Aug. 30, of a slim, waning crescent moon in the subtle light of dawn. Just a tenth of its surface will be sun-lit as it glides below two stars, Castor and Pollux, in the constellation Gemini. The top star, Castor, is 51 light-years distant, while the yellowish Pollux, between it and the moon, is 34 light-years away. These "twins" of Gemini are best known as winter evening stars. Look to the right, and you'll see other winter stars, including the three famous stars of Orion's Belt — Mintaka, Alnilam and Alnitak — and ruddy Betelgeuse. This red supergiant will one day go supernova. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY AUG 28 - CATCH 6 PLANETS ACROSS THE SKY
From late August to early September mornings, six planets — Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn — will be visible across the morning sky. Looking East. South and West, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be relatively easy to spot the other three will be a bit more of a challenge.
You'll need a small telescope or binoculars to see the dimmer planets Uranus and Neptune and Mercury will only appear about 30 minutes or so before sunrise.
You can use a program like Stellarium to discover what is visible in the night sky from your viewing location at a particular time.
TUESDAY, AUG. 27: WATCH ALGOL BRIGHTEN
The summer nights are perfect for observing the strange star Algol (or Beta Persei) in the constellation Perseus. It is one of the most easy-to-monitor variable stars.
During a ten-hour period that repeats every 2 days, 20 hours, and 49 minutes, Algol dims noticeably and then re-brightens when a companion star with an orbit nearly edge-on to Earth crosses behind the much brighter main star, reducing the total light output we perceive.
Algol normally shines at magnitude 2.1, similar to the nearby star Almach in Andromeda. But while dimmed to minimum brightness, Algol's magnitude of 3.4 is almost the same as the star Rho Persei (ρ Per), which shines just two finger widths to Algol's lower right (or 2.25 degrees to the celestial south). — Chris Vaughan
MONDAY, AUG. 26 - THIRD QUARTER MOON
A third (or last) quarter moon looks half-lit and appears around midnight. The sight of it rising in the east late at night can be dramatic. This moon phase is much-loved by naked-eye stargazers precisely because it rises so late, leaving the early evening night sky dark enough to see faint constellations and deep sky targets.
A third-quarter moon always sets in the western daytime sky in the early afternoon. Over the next week, it will shrink to a crescent moon, which will be best seen in the east in the pre-dawn hours towards the end of this week. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, AUG. 27 - CRESCENT MOON, JUPITER AND MARS
From the wee hours until dawn on Tuesday morning, Aug. 27, the pretty, waning crescent moon will shine above the planets Jupiter and Mars in the eastern sky, setting up a nice widefield photo opportunity. (Image credit: Chris Vaughan/Starry Night)
In the very early hours of this morning, a plump crescent moon will rise in the east above a couple of planets. Directly below will be Jupiter, shining at a magnitude -2.2, followed by Mars at +2. To the right of Jupiter will be Aldebaran, the brightest star in the Taurus constellation, while above all of that will be the sparkling Pleiades open cluster of stars. Look at the same time on Wednesday, Aug. 28, and you'll see a slimmer crescent moon alongside Mars. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, AUG. 22 - SMALL CONSTELLATIONS ON HIGH
On late August evenings, four small constellations sit high in the southeastern sky below the very bright star Vega. The easiest one to see is Delphinus, the Dolphin, which is composed of four medium-bright stars forming a small elongated diamond connected to a star extending to the lower right (or celestial southwest).
Equuleus, the Little Horse is positioned about a fist's diameter below Delphinus. Diminutive Equuleus is the second to last constellation by size, after Crux, the Southern Cross. Sitting a generous fist's width above Delphinus is the next smallest constellation by area, Sagitta, the Arrow. And sweeping a palm's width higher will bring you to the stars of Vulpecula, the Fox.
Except for the slightly larger fox, each of these small constellations will fit within the field of view of binoculars. The Milky Way passes through Sagitta and Vulpecula, populating them with a variety of deep sky objects. The sky between those two constellations hosts a dark dust lane. -- Chris Vaughan
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 21 - LOOK FOR HARPALUS CRATER
It's not every day you can gaze at the moon and spot a landmark from one of the most iconic sci-fi films. The Harpalus crater served as the rocket landing site in the 1950s movie "Destination Moon."
Due to its close proximity to the lunar north pole, the Harpalus crater is significantly foreshortened when viewed from Earth, often appearing more oval than circular. But the moon's axial wobble, known as libration, occasionally but regularly tilts features close to the edge toward us and then away, letting us get a peek 'around the edge' of the moon.
This month, Harpalus will be well placed for observation as the crater will be tipped slightly toward us. When viewed through a small telescope you'll be able to make out the details on the walls and floor of the 25-mile (40 kilometers) wide crater and even another small crater within it.
The crater remains fully illuminated until Aug. 27, when the terminator (the division between the illuminated and dark hemispheres) will return and plunge the crater back into darkness, by Sept. 5 the crater will be out of view. -- Daisy Dobrijevic
TUESDAY, AUG. 20 - MOON AND SATURN (ALL NIGHT)
Saturn will reach its annual opposition in just a few weeks when it will be at its biggest and brightest in Earth's sky of the entire year. Tonight there's a preview, when it appears next to an almost full moon. Rising in the east after sunset at about 9:30 p.m. local time, the two will shine together all night. However, it's always impossible to glimpse Saturn's famous ring pattern with the naked eye. You'll need a small telescope for that.
If you rise early in the morning on Aug. 21, wherever you are, you'll see the pretty sight of the moon and Saturn setting together in the southwestern sky before sunrise. However, if you're in parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Europe, the moon will pass in front of Saturn, blocking it from view for a short period. Countries with a good view include Brazil, Portugal, Spain, France and the U.K., according to In-The-Sky.org. From the U.K., this lunar occultation will take place from 4:25 to 5:23 a.m. GMT on Aug. 21. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, AUG. 19 - FULL STURGEON 'BLUE SUPERMOON'
The moon is the easiest target for the naked eye, but when you look at it does make a big difference. Although August's full moon will become officially 100%-lit at 2:26 p.m. EDT, 11:26 a.m. PDT and 18:26 GMT, the time to look at it will be moonrise. It's much easier to look at the moon as it appears on the eastern horizon, draped in subtle orangey light, compared to just 20 minutes later, when it will have risen higher into the sky and become a lot brighter and whiter.
The full moon is always at its most impactful when viewed on the horizon, thanks to the moon illusion. Today's full moon will be slightly bigger than usual because it will be slightly closer to Earth on its elliptical orbital path — hence the name 'supermoon' — though that will be virtually impossible to detect. It will also be a 'Blue Moon' thanks to a calendar quirk; it will be the third of four full moons in the astronomical season of summer. However, at no point will the moon look blue. — Jamie Carter
You can watch the Supermoon Blue Moon rise today in a free livestream starting at 3:30 p.m. EDT (1930 GMT), weather permitting.
FRIDAY, AUG. 16 - LATE AFTERNOON MOON (DAYLIGHT)
As the moon waxes towards being full next week, it rises earlier and will be easy to see shining brightly after dark, but it's visible many hours before sunset. Today, the moon will rise about 90% and be illuminated in the southeast at about 6:30 p.m. local time. The late-afternoon moon occurs because the moon is orbiting the Earth from west to east, traveling 13 degrees every 24 hours, thus rising around 50 minutes earlier each day. It will be a beautiful sight in a blue sky for a short time and dominate the post-sunset twilight sky. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY AUG. 15: LOOK OUT FOR JUPITER AND MARS
Just after midnight local time, Jupiter and Mars will come up over the east-northeast horizon and will be well-placed for viewing an hour or two later.
Jupiter will shine at magnitude -2.2 and Mars +0.8, but despite their large difference in brightness, the pair will make for an interesting skywatching sight.
The pair will appear very cozy in the night sky, appearing just 20 or so arc minutes apart, meaning you'll be able to fit both planets in the view of a telescope, with low-to-moderate magnification.
WEDNESDAY AUG. 14 - COMPARE THE COLORS OF STARS
Bright stars in the summer night sky are a great skywatching target for those in the Northern Hemisphere.
If you look at them long enough you should notice that they shine different colors. The color of a star is controlled by the temperature of its photosphere — the outer 'shell' which radiates light.
The colors change blue to white to yellow to orange, as temperature decreases, with the coolest stars appearing red.
The three prominent stars of the Summer Triangle asterism in the eastern sky —Deneb, Vega, and Altair — are A-class stars that appear blue-white to the naked eye, with temperatures ranging from 7,500 to 10,000 Kelvin. In contrast, Arcturus, visible in the western evening sky, is an orange K-class giant star with a temperature of around 4,300 K. Meanwhile, the reddish Antares, the heart of the Scorpius constellation, is an older M-class star with a cooler surface temperature of 3,500 K.
After midnight local time, look for the very bright, yellowish Capella rising in the northeast. You can estimate the temperatures of dimmer stars by comparing their color to these bright reference stars.
TUESDAY, AUG. 13 - MOON AND ANTARES (EVENING)
Look to the south immediately after sunset, and you'll see a waxing gibbous moon, now more than half-lit, shining brightly. Look to its upper left, and you may spy Antares, a reddish star now at its best. It's the brightest star in the iconic constellation of Scorpius and about 555 light-years from the solar system. Squint at it, and you'll more easily notice its reddish hue. The later you look, the closer the moon and Antares will be. From the South Pacific, the moon will occult (block) Antares, according to In-The-Sky.org. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 14 - JUPITER AND MARS IN CONJUNCTION (PRE-DAWN)
It will be worth getting up early for this, one of the closest conjunctions between planets this year. Visible in the southeast from about 2 a.m. local time until sunrise, Mars and Jupiter will get to just a third of a degree apart (a third of the width of your little finger held at arm's length). However, Jupiter, at magnitude -2.2, will be about 15 times brighter than Mars at magnitude +0.8. Although the two planets will appear at their closest this morning, it will be worth looking at the pair during the mornings before and after for a similar view. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, AUG. 12 - PERSEID METEOR SHOWER (OVERNIGHT)
Early this morning, the peak of the annual Perseid meteor shower took place, but don't despair if you missed it because of work or bad weather. Although you won't get another chance to see 50-75 "shooting stars" in an hour — as was possible last night — it will be wise to look skywards late tonight (preferably after midnight early on Tuesday, Aug.13) if skies are clear for the chance of a healthy number of bright meteors. If you can't escape to truly dark skies, keep any artificial lights away from your direct line of sight because there's always a chance of seeing one or two particularly bright "fireballs." The later you look, the higher the shower's radiant in Perseus will be in the northeastern sky. — Jamie Carter
You can also watch the Perseid meteor shower online for free with this livestream hosted by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project. The livestream will begin at 9 p.m. EDT on Aug. 12 (0100 GMT on Aug. 13).
MONDAY, AUG. 12 - FIRST QUARTER MOON (EVENING)
Tonight, the moon's eastern side will appear to be half-lit — its so-called first quarter phase — as it reaches its 90-degree angle away from the sun on its monthly orbit of Earth. Since a first-quarter moon always rises around midday and sets around midnight, it begins to bleach the evening night sky to make it more difficult to see stars (and "shooting stars" from the Perseid meteor shower). It's nevertheless a beautiful sight for the naked eye. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, AUG. 11 — MONDAY, AUG. 12: PERSEID METEORS PEAK (PRE-DAWN)
There's no better time to see shooting stars from the northern hemisphere than tonight. At its peak, the annual Perseid meteor shower can produce around 60 meteors per hour visible in the night sky. The radiant point (where the meteors will appear to emanate from) will be the constellation Perseus, which will rise in the northeastern sky around midnight.
Meteor showers can often be marred by strong moonlight, but not so the Perseids this year since the First Quarter Moon will set around midnight. Look skywards during the early hours of Monday for the best chance of shooting stars, though light pollution and the clarity of the sky will make a huge difference. If you can, get away from light pollution — at least 40 miles from a major urban area is wise — but wherever you watch from, make sure you don’t have any artificial lights in your line of sight. Sit back, relax in a lawn chair, keep warm, and take regular breaks. Never look at your smartphone; its white light will ruin your eyes' dark adaption, which takes about 20 minutes to cultivate and just a single second of white light to ruin.
If you cannot look for Perseids in person, you can watch them live online here on Space.com courtesy of the Virtual Telescope Project. The first livestream will begin at 9 p.m. EDT on Aug. 11 (0100 GMT on Aug. 12,) the second will begin at 9 p.m. EDT on Aug. 12 (0100 GMT on Aug. 13) coinciding with the anticipated peak activity of the Perseid meteor shower.
FRIDAY, AUG. 9 — SATURDAY, AUGUST 10 - CRESCENT MOON, SPICA, ANTARES AND THE MILKY WAY (AFTER SUNSET)
About a quarter of the moon's Earth-facing side is now lit by the sun. Across two nights, it will appear on either side of Spica. Arcturus in the constellation Boötes will appear directly above the pair, while to the south, the Milky Way will rise after dark. However, to see the arc of our galaxy, you'll need to be well away from light pollution. -- Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, AUG. 8 — CRESCENT MOON, VENUS AND SPICA (AFTER SUNSET)
Here's another chance to see the crescent moon dominating the post-sunset evening sky, with Venus shining stubbornly close to the western horizon. Look at the moon's dark left side. Can you make out any details? Since no sunlight shines directly on it, it should be dark, right?
The light you can see is called "Planet-shine," "Earthshine," or "Da Vinci Glow." It's sunlight shining on Earth and reflecting onto the moon. It's easiest to see in a crescent moon a few days old. -- Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 7 — CRESCENT MOON, VENUS AND SPICA (AFTER SUNSET)
A brighter, more obvious crescent moon will tonight be positioned about halfway between Venus, to its lower right, and bright star Spica, to its upper left. One of the 20 brightest stars in the night sky, Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. -- Jamie Carter
