Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Thursday 1 October to Thursday October 8
The Last Quarter Moon is Saturday October 3. Daylight savings starts on the 4th. The Moon is at
perigee (when it is closest to Earth) on the 2nd.
Saturn is low above the north-western horizon. Mars forms a triangle with with the bright stars Procyon and Pollux and the waning Moon. Jupiter is low on the horizon.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Mars and Jupiter at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Saturn is low above the north-western horizon. Mars forms a triangle with with the bright stars Procyon and Pollux. Jupiter is low on the horizon forming a line with crescent Moon and the bright star Regulus.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Mars and Jupiter at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. Mercury is close to Venus on the 6th and 7th.
Venus is a clear thin "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes, and even 10x50 binoculars (although the brightness may make it hard to see due to internal lens reflections).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th and is visible the entire night. But is best for telescopic observation from around midnight on, and its rings are widening.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.
Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).
Mercury returns to the evening twilight. Mercury is close to Venus on the 6th-7th.
Venus leaves is becoming bigger and brighter but is slowly returning horizon-wards. Venus is close to Mercury on the 6th-7th.
Mars is low in the twilight. Mars forms forms a triangle with with the bright stars Procyon and Pollux and the waning Moon on the 5th.
Jupiter climbs higher the morning twilight but remains low on the horizon forming a line with crescent Moon and the bright star Regulus.
Saturn Saturn is at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th and is visible the entire night. In the evening, Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Thursday September 24 to Thursday 1 October
The Full Moon is Sunday September 27.
Saturn is low above the north-western horizon. Mars forms a line with the bright stars Castor and Pollux. Jupiter is low on the horizon.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark.
The bright star Spica is below it and brightening Mercury is close to Spica.
Venus is a clear "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes (although the brightness may make it hard to see).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. On the 27th it is close to the Full Moon. Saturn is rising before Nautical Twilight, but is best for telescopic observation from around midnight on, and its rings are widening.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.
Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).
Mercury returns to the evening twilight. Mercury is close to the bright star Spica in the twilight on the 26th.
Venus leaves behind the bright star Spica and is becoming bigger and brighter but is slowly returning horizon-wards.
Mars is low in the twilight. Mars forms a line with the bright stars Castor and Pollux.
Jupiter climbs higher the morning twilight.
Saturn is low in the northwest in the morning sky. In the evening, Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. On the 27th it is close to the Full Moon.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Thursday September 17 to Thursday September 24
The First Quarter Moon is Saturday September 19. This is an apogee First Quarter Moon, when it is furthest from the earth. Earth is at Equinox on the 23rd when the day is more or less equal to night in length.
Saturn is low above the north-western horizon. Mars forms a line with the bright stars Procyon and Pollux. Jupiter is low on the horizon.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. Venus is at maximum brilliance on the 19th.
The bright star Spica is below it and Mercury is low above the horizon.Mercury will rise higher in the twilight coming closer to Spica over the coming week.
Venus is a clear "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes (although the brightness may make it hard to see).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
Eastern horizon on the evening of Saturday, September 19 as seen from Adelaide at 22:00 ACST (click to embiggen).
Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn is rising around 8:00 pm local time, but is still best for telescopic observation in the morning, and its rings are widening.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time. 
Mercury returns to the evening twilight.
Venus leaves behind the bright star Spica and is becoming bigger and brighter. Venus is at maximum brilliance on the 19th.
Mars is low in the twilight. Mars forms a line with the bright stars Procyon and Pollux.
Jupiter climbs higher the morning twilight.
Saturn is in the northwest in the morning sky. It is now rising before astronomical twilight, but is best seen in the morning.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Tuesday, September 08, 2026
Occultation of Antares, Tuesday September 17/18, 2026. (Approaching first Quarter)
 |  |  |
| The western sky at 23:37 ACST Tuesday, September 17, as seen from
Adelaide. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). | The western sky at 00:0 AEST Wednesday, September 18, as seen from Canderra. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). | The western sky at 23:59 AEST Tuesday, September 17, as seen from Melbourne. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). |
This is an occultation best seen from the east coast south of Sydney around midnight. You will need a level, unobstructed horizon, like the sea, yo see this. The Moon is Approaching first Quarter and low above the horizon. The Moon sets before Antares can reappear.
| Place | Disappears Bright Limb | Reappears Dark Limb |
| Adelaide ACST | 23:37 | - |
| Brisbane AEST | - | - |
| Canberra AEST (18th) | 00:00 | - |
| Darwin ACST | - | - |
| Hobart AEST | 23:51 | - |
| Melbourne AEDST | 23:59 | - |
| Perth AWST | - | - |
| Sydney AEST | - | - |
Labels: Antares, binocular, Occultation, telescope
Thursday September 10 to Thursday September 17
The New Moon is Friday September 11.
Saturn is above the north-western horizon. Mars passes close to Wasat (δ Geminorum). Jupiter is low on the horizon.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. The bright star Spica is below it and mercury is peeping above the horizon.
mercury will rise higher in the twilight over the coming week.
Venus is a clear "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes (although the brightness may make it hard to see).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn is rising around 8:00 pm local time, but is still best for telescopic observation in the morning, and its rings are widening.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time.
The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen).
This is an occultation best seen from the east coast south of Sydney around midnight with a level, unobstructed horizon. The Moon is approaching First Quarter and is low above the horizon. The Moon sets before Antares can reappear.
| Place | Disappears Bright Limb | Reappears Dark Limb |
| Adelaide ACST | 23:37 | - |
| Brisbane AEST | - | - |
| Canberra AEST (18th) | 00:00 | - |
| Darwin ACST | - | - |
| Hobart AEST | 23:51 | - |
| Melbourne AEDST | 23:59 | - |
| Perth AWST | - | - |
| Sydney AEST | - | - |
Mercury returns to the evening twilight.
Venus leaves behind the bright star Spica and is becoming bigger and brighter.
Mars is low in the twilight. Mars passes close to delta Geminorum.
Jupiter returns to the morning twilight.
Saturn is in the northwest in the morning sky. It is now rising before midnight, but is best seen in the morning.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
Tuesday, September 01, 2026
Thursday September 3 to Thursday September 10
The Last Quarter Moon is Friday September 4. The Moon is at perigee on September 7.
Saturn is above the north-western horizon. Mars passes close to delta Geminorum and the crescent Moon is near Mars on the 7th.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. It is now leaving the bright star Spica behind.
Venus is a clear "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes (although the brightness may make it hard to see).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn is rising around 8:30 pm local time, but is still best for telescopic observation in the morning, and its rings are widening.
The inset shows the telescopic view of Saturn at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time.
Mercury is lost in the twilight.
Venus leaves behind the bright star Spica and is bdeoming bigger and brighter.
Mars is low in the twilight. Mars passes close to delta Geminorum and the crescent Moon is near Mars on the 7th.
Jupiter is lost in the twilight.
Saturn is in the northwest in the morning sky above Mars. It is now rising before midnight, but is best seen in the morning.
Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.
Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.
Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/
Labels: weekly sky
September Skies 2026, and Astrophiz podcast
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| Western sky on the evening of Wednesday, September 2 as seen from Adelaide
at 19:21ACST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. has been coming closer to to the bright star Spica and is closest on the 2nd. Venus is a clear "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes (although the brightness may make it hard to see). Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset) | North-Eastern horizon on the morning of Monday, September 7 as seen from
Adelaide
at 5:03 ACST (90 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen). Saturn is above the north-western horizon. Mars is low in the east.The Moon is near Mars. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise) . |
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| Western sky on the evening of Monday, September 14 as seen from Adelaide
at 19:01 ACST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Venus is well above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. It is close to the thin crescent Moon. Venus itself is a clear "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes. Mercury is just peeping over the horizon. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset) | Western sky on the evening of Saturday, September 26 as seen from Adelaide at 19:01 ACST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Mercury is Visible close to the bright Star Spica at nautical twilight, below Venus.Venus is a thinning "Crescent Moon" shape. Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset) |
| September | |
| 01 September 2026 | Venus close to Spica: 1.4° in the evening sky |
| 07 September 2026 | Moon close to Mars: 3° in the morning sky |
| 09 September 2026 | Moon close to Jupiter: 0.8° in the morning twilight. |
| 14 September 2026 | Venus close to crescent Moon (0.6° apart) with Spica and Mercury below in the evening. |
| 17 September 2026 | Moon close to Antares in the evening sky. Occultation in south-eastern states and South Australia around midnight. |
| 19 September 2026 | Apogee First Quarter Moon |
| 23 September 2026 | Earth at Equinox |
| 26 September 2026 | Mercury very close to Spica: 0.9° in the evening twilight. With Venus above. |
| 27 September 2026 | Full Moon. |
Earth is at Spring equinox on the 23rd.
Mercury enters the evening twilight late in the month. From the 16th it can be seen low above th western horizon, forming a line with Spica and Venus, On the 26th, Mercury will be less than a degree from 1st magnitude Spica, with Venus above.
Venus is now in Virgo. It begins to sink in the evening sky dut is still well visible after the sky is fully dark. Venus is a distinct “Crescent Moon” phase in even small telescopes. For the first couple of days, Venus will be less than 2°from Virgo’s brightest star, Spica. On the 14th, Venus is 2°from the 4-day-old waxing crescent Moon, an impressive sight in the evening sky. On the 19th, Venus is at its greatest brilliance at − 4.5 magnitude.
Saturn is rising higher ahead of opposition next month, when it is biggest and brightest as seen for earth. At the beginning of the-month it is rising around 8:30 pm and is highest at 2:30 am. Mid-month it is rising around astronomical twilight and is highest around 1:30 pm. By the end of the Month, it is highest around midnight. On September 27th the full Moon is ~6° from Saturn. The rings are widening
Morning sky:
Mars is above the eastern horizon at astronomical twilight in the morning. Mars in Gemini. On the 7th, it is 4° south of the 25-dayold waning crescent Moon.
Saturn is highest around 2pm to midnight as the month rolls on. While in a good viewing position in the evening, it is still best telescopically in the very early morning.
Jupiter enters the morning sky and -is low above the horizon. On the 9th, the planet will be around 2° from the 27-day‑old waning crescent Moon, low above the horizon it the twilight. By the end of the month it is still low, but more readily seen.
Moon:
| September 4 | Last Quarter Moon (ideal for star gazing) |
| September 7 | Moon at perigee |
| September 11 | New Moon (also ideal for star gazing total solar eclipse northern hemisphere) |
| September 19 | First Quarter Moon (Moon at apogee) |
| September 27 | Full Moon |
 |  | |
| First Quarter perigee moon at 21:58 ACDST on February 24. Actual First Quarter is 8:48 on the 25th and perigee is 21:58 (a 1 day 10 hour difference). | First Quarter apogee moon at 19:34 ACST on September 19, actual First Quarter is 07:19, apogee is 13:30 (an ~6 hour difference). The size difference between this and the Perigee First Quarter in February will be clear in telescopes. |
Occultation of Antares, Tuesday September 17/18. (Approaching first Quarter)
| | |
| The western sky at 23:37 ACST Tuesday, September 17, as seen from
Adelaide. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). | The western sky at 00:0 AEST Wednesday, September 18, as seen from Canderra. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). | The western sky at 23:59 AEST Tuesday, September 17, as seen from Melbourne. The Moon is about to occult the bright star Antares low on the horizon. The inset shows the telescopic view at the time. (click to embiggen). |
An occultation best seen from the east coast south of Sydney around midnight. The Moon is Approaching first Quarter and low above the horizon. Antares sets before it can reappear.
| Place | Disappears Bright Limb | Reappears Dark Limb |
| Adelaide ACST | 23:37 | - |
| Brisbane AEST | - | - |
| Canberra AEST (18th) | 00:00 | - |
| Darwin ACST | - | - |
| Hobart AEST | 23:51 | - |
| Melbourne AEDST | 23:59 | - |
| Perth AWST | - | - |
| Sydney AEST | - | - |
 |  |
| The northern sky as seen at 19:28 ACST from Adelaide on September 11 (90 minutes after sunset, New Moon). The bright stars Altair, Deneb and Vega are seen forming the 'Winter triangle" in the northern sky. Sagittarius is at the Zenith and the location of the globular cluster M22 is indicated by the box. The inset shows the telescopic view. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset. | The Southern sky as seen at 19:28 ACST from Adelaide on September 11 (90 minutes after sunset, New Moon). The bright stars alpha and beta Centauri are readily visible with the Southern Cross below. The globular clusters 47 Tucana and Omega Centauri are indicated. The inset shows the telescopic view of 47 Tucana. The small and large Magellanuic clouds are also seen. Similar views will been seen elsewhere in Australia 90 minutes after sunset. |
Scorpius the scorpion is now heading westwards. Sagittarius, and the heart of the Milky way, is at the zenith from around 8 pm. This is an excellent time to observe the wealth of clusters in this area. The magnificent globular cluster M22 is at its highest that this time. It’s rival Omega Centauri is setting but still high and readily visible, and the other magnificent globular cluster 47 Tucana is rising. The three form a broad triangle across the Southern Sky. To the north the winter triangle of Deneb, Vega and Altair is clear
By mid month, the classic Andromeda galaxy is seen rising low above the northern horizon, while in the south the two dwarf galaxies, the Magellanic clouds, are rising too, with the SMC almost at its highest.
The southern cross is at about the 4 o'clock position, with the pointers above, just to the south of the pointers is the obviously triangular constellation of Triangulum Australae, the above that is Ara, the altar. These dim constellations are often overlooked but are interesting and have some nice small clusters in them.
Meteors: No notable meteor showers this month.
Labels: Astrophiz, Monthly sky
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