Brilliant Venus and a Harvest Moon
Use the Moon to find Antares and the Teapot, spot brilliant Venus, welcome the equinox, and see the Harvest Moon near Saturn and Neptune.
Skywatching Highlights
- Sept. 14-20: Use the Moon to find Antares and the Teapot; dark skies may reveal the Milky Way center
- Sept 18: Venus reaches peak brilliance for this evening appearance
- Sept. 22: September equinox; fall begins in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere
- Sept. 26: Harvest Moon rises near Saturn and Neptune
Transcript
The Moon joins a tea party… Venus cranks up the brightness… the seasons officially change… and the Harvest Moon meets up with some planetary neighbors.
That's What's Up for September.
From September 14 through 20, let the Moon guide you to a few celestial landmarks. About an hour after sunset, look south to find the Moon in the evening sky.
Night by night, the Moon shifts position against the background stars, passing near Antares.
This bright, reddish star marks the heart of the constellation Scorpius.
Next you'll see the Teapot, a group of stars in neighboring Sagittarius that really does resemble a teapot, complete with a handle, lid, and spout.
If you are under an especially dark sky… you may see hazy steam rising from the Teapot's spout.
