What's Up?

This page shows a brief summary of what interesting things we can see in the sky this month.  

A more detailed version of the 'What's Up' this month is available as a downloadable PDF document right at the bottom of this page. 

As the new season dawns, Autumn greets us with some of the year's best stargazing opportunities. With darkness settling in by nine, the skies offer an ideal blend of early nightfall and lingering warmth, perfect for comfortable observations. This month, all the planets are visible, making for a celestial spectacle. The Pleiades beckon with their twinkling allure, while Orion begins to peek over the horizon. Plus, Saturn reaches opposition, offering a stunning view. It's the perfect time to embrace the wonders of the night sky.

The Sun

The Sun is currently very active.

Remember: to never look at the sun with a telescope, at worst you might blind yourself, at best you'll melt your telescope! If you are interested in Solar viewing, speak to our members, we have special equipment to help you! If you do not have a solar scope, you can watch using the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) or SDO.

The Moon

The phases of the Moon are as follows:

• New Moon - 2nd September
• First Quarter -11th September
• Full Moon - 18th September
• Last Quarter - 24th September

Visible window is small as followed by the Sun this month in early mornings.

An evening object, low in the Western sky.

At mag +0.6, moving from Taurus to Gemini.

Rises around 10.30pm and is visible all night.

Visible all night in Aquarius.

Visible all night, at mag 5.7, in Taurus.

Visible all night, magnitude 7.8.

Asteroids

No asteroids this month.

Comets

Comet C/2023 A3 will reach Perihelion on the 28th.

Meteors

The Alpha Aurigids peak on the 1st, the Piscids peak on the 8th and again on the 21st, and the Delta Auririds peak on the 29th.

Deep Sky

With Cygnus high in the sky and the Milky Way flowing through it, if you have photography equipment there is so much to explore from horizon to horizon.

Earlier in the evening, search in the West to catch these before they set; M3, M10, M12, M63, M51, M101.

In the South you will find; M55, M8 - The Lagoon Nebula, M20 - The Triffid Nebula, M22, M23, M25, M17 - The Omega Nebula, M16 - The Eagle Nebula and M11 - The Wild Duck Cluster.

In the North, circumpolar objects include M103 and M81. Overhead look for M52, M39, M29, M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula, M71, M56, and M57 - The Ring Nebula.

In the East objects are rising, such as M33, M34, M74, M45 - The Pleiades, M36, 37 and 38 - The Auriga Triplet.

Later in the evening, M1 - The Crab Nebula and M35 will rise.

Lots to see now the nights are darker!

Television

The next episode of the Sky at Night is on Monday 9th September on BBC Four - 2075: Our Place in Space at 22:00. The Sky at Night embarks on a journey into the future, exploring how space will revolutionise life on Earth over the next 50 years.

Here are all the past episodes that are available to watch, in case you missed any: BBC4 The Sky At Night

Clear Skies !