2026, September 15-18: Watch the waxing crescent moon pass Antares, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, and Sagittarius. See earthshine, photograph the lunar crescent, and follow the moon’s path toward the Harvest Moon.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus as an Evening Star
September’s Evening Crescent Moon
The moon waxes toward the Harvest Moon phase, passing Libra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, and Sagittarius.
Highlights
As brilliant Venus disappears into evening twilight, the crescent moon opens a gap with the Evening Star. Here’s what to see at 45 minutes after sunset:
- September 15: The lunar crescent, 24% illuminated, is less than 10° above the southwest horizon, over 18° to Venus’ upper left. The Evening Star is low in the west-southwest. The moon is in front of Libra, less than 20° to Antares’ lower right, Scorpius’ brightest star. Tonight, look for earthshine on the moon’s night portion from sunlight reflecting from Earth’s features. The effect is visible to the unaided eye and is a nice view through a binocular or spotting scope. Photograph it with a tripod-mounted camera or a steady camera phone. Use exposures up to a few seconds. Vary the zoom to capture the moon with Antares and Venus or include only the crescent.
- September 16: This evening the moon, 33% illuminated, is less than 15° above the southwest horizon. It is 6.5° to Antares’ lower right. Look carefully for Pi Scorpii (π Sco), 0.8° to the moon’s upper right. Use a binocular. The moon is bright enough this evening to cast shadows on the ground.
- September 17: The thick crescent moon, 42% illuminated, is 16° above the south-southwest horizon, 5.8° to Antares’ left. Find the curved end of Scorpius’ tail, Shaula, stinger, and Lesath, 12° to the moon’s lower left. Tonight, even while close to Antares, the lunar orb is in front of Ophiuchus, nearly 15° below Sabik, the constellation’s right knee.
- September 18: The First Quarter phase occurs at 3:44 p.m. Central Time after the moon rises in the eastern regions of the Americas. After sunset, it is less than 20° above the southern horizon, in front of Sagittarius, 4.1° to Alnasl’s upper right, the tip of the Archer’s arrow. The moon is nearly 20° to Antares’ upper left and nearly 10° to Shaula and Lesath’s upper left.
Watch the moon appear farther east each evening, passing Scorpius and approaching the bright Harvest Moon phases.
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