Southern Skywatch September 2018 edition is now out!

Evening sky on Saturday September 1 looking west  as seen from Adelaide at 19:21 ACST (90 minutes after sunset).  Venus and the bright star Spica are close with Jupiter above. (The inset shows the telescopic view of Venus and Jupiter at this time, similar views will be seen Australia wide 90 minutes minutes after sunset).

The August edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.

This month still has only 4 of the bright planets in the evening sky as  Mercury remains in the morning sky until late in the month. There are planets brighter than magnitude -2 at the beginning of the month, but by the end of the month Mars and Jupiter have dropped below magnitude -2, while Venus achieves peak brilliance.  Venus , Jupiter and Mars are prominent in the evening sky and Saturn rises higher in the evening sky. Mars is past Opposition but still very bright.


Mercury is lost in the twilight and returns to the evening sky late in the month.

Venus is closest to the bright star Spica on the 1st, and is at its brighest on the 23rd. 

Jupiter is close to alpha Librae (Zubenelgenubi) at the beginning of the month,but draws away over the month . Jupiter is close to the Moon on the 14th.

 Mars was at opposition on July the 27th, this is the best opposition since 2003. It is still a very good telescopic target. More details at my Mars opposition site. September 20, Moon and Mars close.

Saturn is within a binocular field of the the Trifid Nebula and Lagoon Nebula this month. September 17 Moon close to Saturn.

September 12-13, crescent Moon near Venus.

September 14; Moon close to Jupiter. September 17 Moon close to Saturn. September 20, Moon and Mars close.

September 8, Moon at Perigee; September 20, Moon at Apogee.