The Naked-Eye Night Sky This Week

Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.

What To See In The Night Sky This Week: September 5-11, 2022

Venus isn’t long for this world. A fixture of the pre-dawn morning sky for most of 2022, Earth’s hotter “sister planet” is in its last six weeks or so of visibility as a bright “Morning Star.” However, before it goes it’s got a few more roles to play in some beautiful conjunctions—starting this week with a close “pass” of bright star Regulus.

Here’s what’s going on in the night sky this week:

Monday, September 5, 2022: Venus meets Regulus

Look east before sunrise and with naked eyes you’ll easily see the bright planet Venus. It will be just 1º or so from (though much brighter than) Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation of Leo “the Lion.” You may need binoculars for Regulus.

Wednesday, September 7, 2022: The Moon and Saturn

Summer has seen Saturn—the beautiful “ringed planet”— creep across the southern night sky. At its brightest last month, it will today, just after sunset, be visible in the southeastern twilight sky a mere 4º from a 92%-lit waxing gibbous Moon well on its way to its “full” phase later this week.

Saturday, September 10, 2022: ‘Harvest Moon’ and Neptune

Today sees the Moon turn full, the phase of our natural satellite in space when it is fully illuminated by the Sun from our point of view on Earth. This month’s “Harvest Moon” is one of the most well-known full Moons of the entire year, perhaps because its name is used across the northern hemisphere where crops are being harvested at this time of year.

Something truly special about tonight’s “Harvest Moon” is that it will shine just under 3° from Neptune. Check the exact moonrise times where you are, get in position and watch the “Harvest Moon” appear as a beautiful orange orb on the eastern horizon. With binoculars you might also harvest yourself a glimpse glimpse the eighth planet from the Sun (though that might be easier once it’s properly dark).

Sunday, September 11, 2022: The Moon and Jupiter

Look to east an hour after sunset tonight see a 96%-lit waning gibbous Moon about 4º below a very bright Jupiter. The giant planet will reach its annual “opposition” in a few weeks, which is when it will shine at its brightest of the year.

Constellation of the week: Aquila, The Eagle

The constellation of Aquila, the Eagle, straddles the Milky Way and has Altair as its brightest star. Just 16 light years distant, Altair is the 12th brightest star in the night sky.

Visible in at the zenith this week after dark, Altair forms the lower point of the “Summer Triangle”—an informal asterism with bright Vega in Lyra and Deneb in Cygnus as the the top two stars. Just above Altair is the star Tarazed, which is 460 light years distant.

Times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live. Check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.