See The Moon Align With Jupiter And Uranus: The 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.

The Night Sky This Week: September 4-10, 2023

Jupiter is rising. There are still two months to go before the giant planet reaches its bright annual opposition, when it will rise at sunset and set at sunrise. However, between now and December 30, Jupiter will be in a period of apparent retrograde motion while in the constellation Taurus—appearing to go backwards in the sky.

Why? Earth orbits the sun much faster than the outer planets, so often overtakes them. They then appear in our sky to be moving backwards for a short time—much like if you overtake a vehicle on the highway.

This week you can see Jupiter with the moon and also close to Uranus. Here’s everything you need to know about watching the moon, planets and stars this week:

Monday, September 4: Moon Aligns With Jupiter, Uranus And The ‘Seven Sisters’

With the full “Blue Moon” rising last week our natural satellite is now appearing a few hours after sunset, which is creeping ever earlier as the fall equinox approaches later this month.

Look to the east-northeast just before midnight and you’ll see a 68%-lit waning gibbous moon about 5º each from Jupiter (right) and the sparkling seven stars of the nearest open cluster to us, the Pleiades, also called the “Seven Sisters” (left). Just below the moon, and detectable by binoculars, will be the blueish dot of Uranus.

Tuesday, September 5: The Moon And The ‘Seven Sisters’

Yesterday night’s pre-bedtime tableau is tonight tweaked slightly with the moon now 57%-lit and just below the Seven Sisters. Another spectacular sight for naked eyes—but even better through binoculars.

Wednesday, September 6: Last Quarter Moon

Today our satellite will reach its Last Quarter phase, rising after midnight and clearing the way for 10 successive nights of dark, moonless skies. Make the most of the warm late-summer nights in the northern hemisphere because stargazing will next month become a more chilling experience.

No wonder this month—and specifically this week and next—are such a popular time for annual star parties above the equator.

Saturday, September 9: A Crescent Moon And Venus In A ‘Winter Sky’

Look east an hour before sunrise today and you’ll see the fabulous sight of a 26%-lit waning crescent moon above a super-bright planet Venus—and all against a backdrop of famous winter stars such as Orion’s Belt, Betelgeuse, Procyon, Sirius, Capella and Aldebaran. Wow!

Star-Shapes Of The Week: The ‘Teapot’ And The ‘Summer Triangle’

Although it’s at its best in June and July from the northern hemisphere, have a look for the famous “Teapot” asterism (star-shapes) in the southwest after dark and you’ll have found Sagittarius, which lies across the Milk Way’s center.

Much higher—and easier to see—will be the vast three-pronged “Summer Triangle” asterism. Find these two patterns and you’ll be in the right place to see the dense star fields of the Milky Way streaming down to the horizon. Look to the left of the Summer Triangle for the ringed planet, Saturn.

Stargazing Tip Of The Week: Seeing Red

Night vision is everything in stargazing. If you don’t believe me, go stand in the dark for 20 minutes and you’ll realise you can see so much more than when you first ventured outside. Stay outside for an hour and you will see even more. However, this night vision is easily lost. Even a brief a glance at a bright white light from a smartphone screen can ruin your night vision, which will then take you another 20 minutes to get back.

The best way to use light at night is to get a red flashlight, which won’t damage your night vision nearly as much. Most stargazing apps for smartphones now have red light modes—though be sure to activate them before it gets dark. Regardless, turn down the brightness of your smartphone’s screen. Red light beats white light, but the less light of any color, the better.

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.