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Visible planets and night sky guide for September

Visible planets and night sky guide for September 2024. This evening, see the waxing moon shining near the red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius.

September 10, 2024

What does opposition mean for an outer planet?

Opposition is when Earth passes directly between the sun and an outer planet, placing the outer planet on the opposite side of the sky from the sun.

Scott Levine

September 8, 2024

Saturn at opposition – brightest for 2024 – on September 8

Don't miss Saturn at opposition on and around the night of September 8, 2024. That's when our planet Earth passes between the sun and Saturn.

Editors of EarthSky

September 7, 2024

Saturn’s rings: Top tips for seeing those glorious rings

If you want to see Saturn's rings, September 2024 is a great time to look. Grab a telescope, find a dark sky and read the tips found here!

Editors of EarthSky

September 1, 2024

Mercury farthest from the sunrise on September 5

Mercury reaches its greatest elongation - greatest distance from the sunrise - on September 5, 2024. Look east at dawn. It'll brighten for the next few weeks.

Editors of EarthSky

September 1, 2024

Meteor shower guide 2024: The Draconids best around Oct 8

The Draconids will be best before dawn around the nights of October 7-8. Your 2024 meteor shower guide here. Under dark skies you might catch about 10 per hour.

Editors of EarthSky

Marcy Curran

September 1, 2024

Zodiacal light: Start watching for it now

The zodiacal light is an eerie light extending up from the horizon before dawn around the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Southern Hemisphere? Look after sunset!

Deborah Byrd

Bruce McClure

August 30, 2024

Venus after sunset 2024: Back in the evening sky

Venus after sunset will next reach greatest elongation on January 9-10, 2025. Look for a blazingly bright object in the sunset direction in evening twilight.

Editors of EarthSky

August 30, 2024