In this month's Sky Notes:

Planetary Skylights

Looking West: Saturn low in
Libra 05-Sep at 20:40h
(Click image for full-size view)

Saturn remains low in the South-Western twilight sky, the sole bright planet visible in the evening sky.

There's a Total Lunar Eclipse in the early hours of 28th September.  (See the article further down this page.)

Looking South: Neptune
in Aquarius 15-Sep at 21:00h
(Click image for full-size view)

Neptune comes to opposition on Sept 1st when it lies due south at midnight and lies between the two naked eye stars of sigma and lambda Aquarii, but you will require a telescope to spot its tiny grey/blue disk.

Looking East: Uranus, in
Pisces 15-Sep at 21:00h
(Click image for full-size view)

Uranus lies in Pisces, low to the east but will be better placed next month. The minor planet Vesta comes to opposition on Sept 29th in Capricornus, upper right of its chief star Diphda.

Looking East: Venus, Mars
and Jupiter, 25-Sep at 05:20h
(Click image for full-size view)

Venus and Mars reside in the dawn sky above the east horizon, and are joined by the waning crescent moon on the 10th. Venus cannot be mistaken, Mars appears ruddy in hue. Both are almost level with one another in the sky. Mars lies just above Regulus in Leo on the 24th/25th

Finally, Jupiter returns to the early morning sky, later in the month. Look for it below Venus and Mars. The three form a slanting line on the 25th.

Total Lunar Eclipse

Illustrations of the moon at various stages of a lunar eclipse

Undoubtedly the highlight this September will be a total Lunar Eclipse on the 28th. The downside being it occurs during the early morning hours.

If skies are clear however it will definitely be worth setting the alarm as the eclipse takes place when the moon is at Perigee, closest to the Earth in its orbit, so it will be a so called 'supermoon' eclipse, and will no doubt attract much media attention.

The initial part of the eclipse starts at 01:10h, but the noticeable umbral contact commences from 02:06h with totality beginning at 03:10h. Mid totality arrives at 03:47h with totality ending at 04:23h. The end of umbral contact is at 05:27h and the whole thing is over by 06:24h.

Meteor Activity

There are no major noteworthy meteor showers in September; however you may spot a few Piscids which have two peaks: the 8th and the 21st. Rates are low, only 6 or 7 per hour at best. As with all meteor showers early morning viewing will be best.

September 2015 Sky Charts

Click each image to see a full-size Sky Chart:
Looking South
Mid September - 21:00h

Looking North
Mid September - 21:00h
Looking East
Mid September - 21:00h
Looking West
Mid September - 21:00h
 
Overview with Milky Way
Mid September - 21:00h
 

 

Additional Image Credits:

  • Planets and Comets where not otherwise mentioned: NASA
  • Sky Charts: Stellarium Software