September will be an exciting month in the sky. For the first time in several months, there will be a bright planet in the evening to observe. Saturn will rise in the east before it is fully dark and pass through the southern sky during the night. It will be the only bright object in this dark part of the sky, so it should be unmistakable. Saturn’s rings also will make it unmistakable through a telescope. However, the tilt of the rings gradually changes, and currently they are almost edge-on to earth. As a result, Saturn will look more like it has been pierced by an arrow than having beautiful rings.

Mars will also be in the evening sky, but it will set during twilight and probably will not be visible. Jupiter, followed several hours later by brilliant Venus, will be in the morning sky. Mercury will be in the morning sky early in September and in the evening sky at the end of the month, but it should be too close to the Sun to be seen.

Saturn’s orbital movement has taken it into the westernmost part of the large, dim constellation Pisces (the Fish). It will be below or to the lower left of a circlet of seven dim stars that represent the westernmost of the constellation’s two fish. As a help in locating this most recognizable part of Pisces, the circlet also is just below the Great Square of Pegasus (the Winged Horse). The western fish is tied by a long, eastward pointing “v” shaped string to the eastern fish that is just below the middle stars of Andromeda (the Princes). At the point of the “v” is the constellation’s brightest, although dim, star. It represents the knot that ties the strings together. In Greek and Roman mythology, the fish represented Aphrodite and her son Eros (Roman, Venus and Cupid). According to the story, they were fleeing from the giant Typhon when they jumped into a stream and turned into fish. Before swimming away to safety, they tied their tails together with a string so they would not be separated.

Saturn will reach opposition on September 20 when it will be opposite the Sun in the sky. On this night, Saturn will rise at sunset, be at its highest point about half way up in the southern sky after midnight, set at sunrise, and be at its brightest and closest to Earth for the year. Also, since Saturn’s opposition occurs two days before the autumnal equinox, its position in the sky closely approximates where the Sun will be in six months on the spring equinox. During these six months, Earth’s orbit will take it to the opposite side of the Sun, and the Sun will appear to be in Pisces. (Take my word for it; never look at the Sun.)

Observing Highlights

-Sept. 7: Mars will pass close to the right of Spica in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden) low in the western sky. Look soon after sunset with binoculars, but it will be hard to see. Also, the Moon will be to the upper right of Saturn after they rise about an hour after sunset.

-Sept. 8:The Moon will be to the left of Saturn.

Sept. 16: After they rise at about 2:00, the Moon will be to the left or upper left of Jupiter and to the right of Castor (below) and Pollux (above), the twin stars of Gemini (the Twins).

-Sept. 19: After they rise about two hours before dawn, the crescent Moon will form a tight grouping with brilliant Venus and Regulus to its lower right in the constellation Leo (the Lion).

-Sept. 20: Saturn will be at opposition tonight. Neptune will be just to the left of Saturn and will be visible with a telescope.

-Sept. 22: The day of the autumnal equinox that marks the start of fall in the northern hemisphere. On this day the Sun will be directly above the equator. It will rise straight in the east, set straight in the west, and everyone will have 12 hours of daylight except at the poles.

-Sept. 27: Star Party sponsored by Grout Museum & Black Hawk Astronomy Club, Prairie Grove Park, Waterloo, 8-9:30. The Moon will be to the left of bright Antares, which represents the heart of Scorpius (the Scorpion).