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 'What's Up' this month is available as a downloadable Word document right at the bottom of this page. 

The New Season starts here. Autumn will be with us this month, possibly the best time for observing, dark by nine yet still warm enough for comfort. In the East the Pleiades beckon and Orion peeks. Neptune will be at opposition on the 11th of September.

The phases of the Moon are as follows:

• Full - 2nd September
• Last Quarter - 10th September
• New - 17th September
• First Quarter - 24th September

Darkest Skies due to the lack of moonlight are from the week of 14th to the 20th of the month, hence the best time to observe the sky. Apogee on 6th at 253,911 miles, Perigee on the 18th at 220,746 miles, so equinoctial spring tides, the highest and lowest tides of the year.

Mercury, is too close to the sun for observation from the UK.

Venus, is a brilliant morning object, highest and easiest to see on the 14th.

Mars, dominates the sky with its orange glare, rises at 9.30 on the 1st.

Jupiter, still an evening object in Sagittarius, getting closer to Saturn, sets at 1:00 am.

Saturn, in Sagittarius, low in the southwest and setting about 2:00 am.

Uranus in Cetus is visible all night not far from the brilliant red Mars.

Neptune is at opposition on September 11th so is also visible all night.

Pluto is still visible all evening in Sagittarius between Saturn and Jupiter.

Comets

No bright comets this month 

Minor Planets

No bright asteroids this month.

Meteors

Alpha Aurigids peak on the 1st (Tuesday) ZHR is 6 with some outbursts of 140, but unfortunately a full moon spoils them. Piscids peak on the 8th (Tuesday) and again on the 21st (Monday, no moon). Delta Auririds peak on the 29th (Saturday) with a full moon to spoil them.

Deep Sky

First look in the West first and catch these before they set:

• M3, M10, M12, M63 the sunflower galaxy, M51 the Whirlpool and M101 Pinwheel.

In the South::

• M55, M8 the lagoon nebula, M20 the trifid 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 bodes galaxy. Try for Kembles Cascade in Camelopardalis, or for binoculars the double cluster.

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, the auriga triplet M36, 37 and 38. Later M1 the crab and M35 rise.