A thin waning 26-day-old moon low in the dawn sky and reddened from the low altitude and twilight … [+]
Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The Night Sky This Week: September 11-18, 2023
This week is perfect for moon-gazing. Most people assume that the best time to watch our satellite is when it’s full, but it’s actually far more pleasing sight—in my view—when it’s a delicate crescent. This week it’s possible to watch it wane to a slender crescent in the predawn hours before it reappears on the other side of the sun in the post-sunset sky.
As it swaps between morning and evening it moves towards being in a specific position in its orbit to cause something extra-special on October 14 next month—an annular solar eclipse visible from nine U.S. states (and a partial solar eclipse visible across the rest of the Americas).
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the moon, planets and stars this week:
Monday, September 11: A Crescent Moon In ‘The Beehive’
Monday, September 11: A Crescent Moon In ‘The Beehive’
If the Pleiades (M45)—now visible in the east late at night—is the best-looking open cluster of stars in the night sky, the Beehive Cluster (M44) is the close behind. However, seeing it requires rising early.
Before dawn today look east to see a 12%-lit waning crescent moon just 3º from M44, which looks fabulous in a pair of 10×42 or 10×50 binoculars. Below and to the right will be a super-bright Venus.
Tuesday, September 12: Crescent Moon Displaying ‘Earthshine’ With Venus
Tuesday, September 12: Crescent Moon Displaying ‘Earthshine’ With Venus
The awesome sight of a very slender crescent moon, just 6%-lit, is on offer before sunrise today in the east-northeast. The moon will be displaying “Earthshine”—sunlight reflected by Earth on to the lunar surface—and Venus will once again be in close attendance.
Wednesday, Sept. 13: A Razor-Thin Crescent Moon
Wednesday, September 13: A Razor-Thin Crescent Moon
Another early rise today could score you a super-slim 2.4%-lit crescent moon in the east-northeast, though since it will only appear in the gathering dawn you’ll need a cloud-free horizon to see it. To increase your chances of laying eyes on it, use a pair of binoculars. About 4º to the moon’s upper-right will be Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo.
Friday, September 15: New Moon
Today is New Moon, when our satellite is roughly between the Earth and the Sun and lost in the latter’s glare. It won’t cause a solar eclipse this month, but in 29 days its path will cross the ecliptic—the apparent path of the sun through our sky—to do exactly that.
A fabulous “ring fire” annular solar eclipse will be visible on October 14, 2023 from eight U.S. states—from Oregon through Texas—as well as from Central and South America.
Sunday, Sept. 17: The Crescent Moon And Spica
Sunday, September 17: The Crescent Moon And Spica
Tonight brings a much more convenient evening view of the crescent moon, which will rise in the west-southwest just after sunset. Barely 8% illuminated, bright star Spica will be visible just its lower-right. Binoculars may be required. Mars will be close by, but likely too low to see.
The Summer Triangle.
Object Of The Week: Summer Triangle
Rising in the east after dark and overhead around midnight by July and August, the Summer Triangle is one of the anchors of the summer night sky. Comprising Deneb in Cygnus (top left), bright Vega in Lyra (top right) and Altair in Aquila (bottom, center), from a really dark sky you’ll be able to see the Milky Way streaming through the Summer Triangle. Specifically it flows behind Deneb and Altair.
This week the Summer Triangle—now on its last legs—will be seen inching towards the western sky.
A woman uses a pair of binoculars near Victoria Harbour in the hope of seeing a ‘supermoon’ on a … [+]
Stargazing Tip Of The Week: Get Some Binoculars
There’s a lot to be said about naked-eye stargazing. Not only is it perfectly possible to spend your entire astronomical career without any optics, but it’s that immersive wide-eyed view of the night sky that is, for many stargazers, the whole point of being outside in the first place.
However, absolutely any pair of binoculars will allow you to reveal a second layer of the night sky—particularly star clusters—that are just beyond human eyesight. Focus your binoculars carefully and drag them across the Milky Way around the Summer Triangle and you’ll be astounded at the rich star fields you’ll see.
Times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live. Check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
