What’s Out Tonight?

September 2024 Notes

★  About 90 minutes after Sunset ★

Planets
Venus is low in the West and sets about 1.5 hours after the Sun. Saturn is low in the East, in the constellation Aquarius and is visible most of the night—it is near the Circlet of Pisces. Saturn is not conspicuously bright and can be easy to miss. Jupiter, in Taurus rises in the East around midnight. Jupiter is alway bright and easy to spot. Mars, in Gemini rises a little after Jupiter and will rival Jupiter in brightest during January 2025.

Constellations
This is the month for the Summer Triangle because it is directly overhead and stretches/points due South. The thickest and brightest part of the Milky Way Band hovers at the horizon, just west of due South. Looking north, Cassiopeia is level with and to the right of Polaris, the North Star. The Big Dipper is on the opposite side but the bowl hangs lower, toward the horizon. Follow the curved handle of the Big Dipper to the bright star Arcturus hanging lower due West. Oh, if you get up before sunrise and look east, you will find Orion on its side.