Each Monday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The week opens with the moon at first quarter and closes with the full harvest moon glowing near Saturn, but there’s more going on in the sky than our natural satellite growing in brightness. It’s a great week for finding Fomalhaut, the “Autumn Star,” one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It’s close to Saturn, which remains in the shrinking planet parade before dawn. It’s also worth being ready to chase aurora this week because, in the few weeks after the fall equinox (which occurred last week), geomagnetic activity can produce more intense Northern Lights and Southern Lights. Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:
Tonight, half of the moon’s Earth-facing side is lit, marking the first quarter phase. The bright waxing gibbous moon will now rise later each evening and brighten the sky toward full phase in a week.
After dark, a waxing gibbous moon (87% lit) shines directly above Fomalhaut, the “Autumn Star,” with Saturn about the same distance to its left. Fomalhaut is the brightest star in Piscis Austrinus, visible from mid-northern latitudes only in autumn. Fomalhaut sits low in the south.
There’s a changing of the guard going on in the night sky. Two seasonal stars — Capella in the northeast and Arcturus in the west — shine at nearly equal brightness. Capella, in Auriga, heralds winter’s approach, while Arcturus in Boötes bids farewell to summer.
The almost-full harvest moon, 98%-lit, rises about three degrees to Saturn’s upper left in the evening sky. Although Saturn’s rings are nearly edge-on this year, even a small telescope will show them. Neptune lies just to Saturn’s left, but it’s invisible without binoculars or a telescope.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.