Sky Events 2023
September 2023
September 1: Conjunction of the Moon and Neptune
The Aurigid meteor shower reaches its peak activity of around 6 meteors per hour.
September 4: Jupiter enters retrograde motion
Conjuntion of the Moon and Jupiter, with an angular separation of 3°18′
September 6: Third Quarter Moon
September 18: Venus at its greatest brightness
September 19: Neptune at opposition
September 22: First Quarter Moon
Mercury at its greatest western elongation
September 23: Autumnal Equinox
September 26: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn, with an angular separation of 2°38′
September 29: Full Moon
Planets in September
Mercury: Greatest western elongation on September 22 with the bright planet rising 100 minutes before sunrise.
Venus: Impressively bright morning planet, visible against dark skies at the end of the month, rising four hours before sunrise.
Mars: Not visible this month. 🙁
Jupiter: Bright morning planet reaching its highest position under darkness from mid-month. The Moon is close on September 4 & 5.
Saturn: Evening planet, currently well presented. Reaches 24º altitude under dark sky conditions.
October 2023
October 1: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter, with an angular separation of 3°23′
October 2: The Andromeda Galaxy is well-placed for observation.
October 6: Third Quarter Moon
October 9: The Draconid meteor shower reaches peak activity.
October 10: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus, with an angular separation of 6°29′
October 14: Annular Solar Eclipse (partial in Maine)
October 15: The Triangulum Galaxy is well-placed for observation
October 21: First Quarter Moon
October 22: Orionid meteor shower reaches peak activity.
October 23: Venus reaches its greatest western elongation
October 24: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn, with an angular separation of 2°46′
October 27: The Perseus Double Cluster is well-placed for observation.
October 28: Full Moon, and partial lunar eclipse
October 29: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter, with an angular separation of 3°08′
Planets in October
Mercury: Best during first week of October, bright in the morning.
Venus: Brilliant morning planet at greatest western elongation on October 24, 46.4º from the Sun.
Mars: Not visible this month.
Jupiter: Jupiter is very bright (mag. -2.8) and really well placed this month in southern Aries.
Saturn: Well placed evening planet in Aquarius. A gibbous Moon is nearby on the evenings of October 23 and 24.