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Editors of EarthSky
Astronomy Essentials
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.
September 7, 2024
Sapphire: September birthstone comes in many colors
Sapphire, the September birthstone, is typically blue, the color caused by small amounts of titanium and iron in the crystal structure.
September 3, 2024
Astronomy Essentials
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!
September 1, 2024
Pioneer 11 swept past Saturn 45 years ago today
Pioneer 11 was the 1st spacecraft to encounter Saturn. A true pioneer, it paved the way for the 2 Voyagers in 1980 and 1981 plus Cassini from 2004 to 2017.
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.
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.
September 1, 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.
August 30, 2024
The return of Sirius in the morning signals seasonal change
A sign of the changing season is the return of Sirius before sunup. Want to make sure you've spotted Sirius? The 3 stars in Orion's Belt point to it.
August 22, 2024
Does a supermoon have a super effect on us?
The extra pull of gravity from a supermoon creates higher-than-usual tides. But the moon doesn't pull a human body as strongly as an ocean.
August 18, 2024
Asaph Hall finds Mars moon Phobos 147 years ago today
On this date in 1877, American astronomer Asaph Hall discovered Phobos, the larger of Mars' 2 moons. He discovered the other moon, Deimos, later that year.
August 17, 2024
