by Every Monday I pick the highlights of the northern (mid-northern) sky for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed get in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, solar eclipses and more.
Night Sky This Week: September 11-18, 2023
This week is perfect for looking at the moon. Most people think that the best time to watch our satellite is when it is full, but it is actually much more pleasant to see – in my opinion – when it is a bit faint. This week it’s possible to watch it shrink to a thin edge in the hours before it reappears on the other side of the sun in the post-sunset sky.
As it alternates between morning and evening it moves to a certain point in its cycle to cause something special on October 14 next month – a solar eclipse visible from nine US states (and a solar eclipse visible everywhere in America).
Here’s everything you need to know about watching the moon, planets and stars this week:
Monday, September 11: Crescent Moon in the ‘Behive’
If the Pleiades (M45) – now visible in the east at night – is the brightest star in the night sky, the Beehive Cluster (M44) is close behind. However, seeing it requires getting up early.
Before dawn today look east to see a 12%-lit waning moon just 3º from M44, which looks great in a pair of 10×42 or 10×50 binoculars. Below and to the right will be very bright Venus.
Tuesday, September 12: The Full Moon Shows ‘Earth Light’ and Venus
An awesome view of a very faint moon, just 6%-lit, is available before sunrise today in the east-northeast. The moon will be showing “Earth’s Light”—the sunlight reflected by the Earth on the moon—and Venus will be close again.
Wednesday, September 13: The Little Servant Moon
The Stellarium
Wednesday, September 13: Lesser Servant Moon
Another early rise today can give you a 2.4%-lit crescent moon in the southeast, although it will only appear at dawn and you’ll need a clear horizon to see it. To increase your chances of seeing it, use binoculars. About 4º to the upper-right of the moon will be Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo.
Friday, September 15: New Moon
Today is the New Moon, when our satellite is between the Earth and the Sun and is lost in the afterglow. It won’t cause a solar eclipse this month, but in 29 days its path will cross the ecliptic—the sun’s visible path in our sky—to do just that.
The October 14, 2023 solar eclipse will be visible on October 14, 2023 from Oregon to Texas—as well as Central and South America.
Sunday, September 17: Crescent Moon and Spica
The Stellarium
Sunday, September 17: Crescent Moon and Spica
Tonight brings an even better evening view of the waning moon, which will rise in the west-west-west just after sunset. At about 8% brightness, the bright star Spica will appear below it to the right. Binoculars may be needed. Mars will be close, but probably too low to see.
The Summer Triangle.
getty
Goal of the Week: Summer Triangle
Rising east after dark and heading into the middle of the night in July and August, the Summer Triangle is one of the anchors of the summer night sky. Featuring 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 flowing through the Summer Triangle. It mainly flows behind Deneb and Altair.
This week the Summer Triangle – now on its last legs – will be seen moving into the western sky.
Brilliant Tip of the Week: Get Binoculars
There is a lot to be said about stargazing. Not only is it possible to spend all your astronomy work without optics, but this is a wide-eyed view of the night sky, that is, for many stargazers, the whole place is outside in the first place.
However, any pair of binoculars will allow you to reveal the second layer of the night sky—especially the constellations—beyond the human eye. Focus your binoculars carefully and pull them across the Milky Way around the Summer Triangle and you’ll be amazed at the rich landscape of stars you’ll see.
The times and dates given apply to latitudes of central north. For more accurate information on a particular area, check out online planetariums like The Stellarium and Sky Live. Look Planetary ascendant/planetary setting, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times where you are.
I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.
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