The night sky of September 2023 will provide a series of celestial spectacles for both observers and astronomers. According to NASA’s skywatching tips, many exciting events will take place throughout the month.
Venus, the second planet from the sun, has been the evening star for most of the year. However, it has now evolved into an object of the morning sky. Rising in the eastern sky just before dawn, Venus appears as a luminous moon. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere can see this hot, cloud-covered Planet at a height of 30 to 40 Degrees above the horizon.
Saturn and Jupiter, the gas giants of the solar system, will also be visible in September. Saturn will set a few hours before sunrise, leaving Jupiter to rule the skies until dawn.
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The event to mark on the calendar is September 4th when Jupiter will be closest to the Moon, high in the southwest before dawn. This combination is expected to create an astonishing sight.
September will also have the fourth and final month of the year on the 29th. Supermoons occur when the full moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit. This month’s full moon, known as the “Harvest Moon”, historically signaled increased light for farmers in the Northern Hemisphere to harvest their crops before the first frost.
For those who like to go out in the pre-dawn hours, there becomes an attraction known as starlight. This faint, triangular or cone-shaped pillar of light is best seen during the quinox in March and September. Another advantage is that the Southern Hemisphere plays an important role.
The origin of starlight remains controversial, with possible sources ranging from comets to Mars and asteroids. The best conditions for viewing this phenomenon are relatively dark skies, especially in the latter part of September when the absence of the Moon improves visibility.
