September 22, 2026: The autumnal equinox occurs today. Learn why daylight and darkness are not exactly equal, how the ecliptic changes angle with the horizon, and why the Harvest Moon rises at nearly the same time each evening.
Tag: Mars
2026, September 21: Harvest Moon Nights Begin as Venus and Jupiter Dominate the Sky
September 21, 2026: Venus nears its greatest brilliancy while the Harvest Moon grows brighter each evening. Saturn rises earlier as opposition approaches, and Jupiter and Mars dominate the predawn sky.
2026, September 17: Mars Passes Pollux Before Sunrise: Watch the Red Planet Align With Twins
September 17, 2026: Before sunrise, Mars passes Pollux in a wide conjunction while Jupiter shines from Cancer. Follow the Red Planet’s eastward march against Gemini as it closes the gap with Jupiter.
2026, September 16: Venus After Sunset, Moon Near Antares, Saturn Near Opposition, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 16, 2026: Brilliant Venus shines low in evening twilight while the crescent moon appears near Antares. Saturn nears opposition, and Jupiter and Mars are in the eastern predawn sky.
2026, September 14: Lunar Crescent Near Venus, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 14, 2026: The crescent moon appears near Venus after sunset while Jupiter and Mars shine before sunrise. Saturn nears opposition, Uranus is easy to locate near the Pleiades, and Neptune remains a challenging binocular target.
2026, September 12: Mars Passes Castor Before Sunrise While Closing on Jupiter
September 12, 2026: Before sunrise, Mars passes Castor in a wide conjunction while continuing its eastward march in front of Gemini. Jupiter shines lower in the eastern sky as Mars slowly closes the gap for their November conjunction.
2026, September 11: Venus in Evening Twilight, Saturn Nears Opposition, Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise
September 11, 2026: Brilliant Venus appears deeper into evening twilight while Saturn approaches opposition. Before sunrise, Jupiter and Mars shine from the eastern sky as Mars closes the gap to Jupiter.
2026, September 9: Moon-Regulus Conjunction Before Sunrise Confirms Star’s Return to Morning Sky
September 9, 2026: A thin crescent moon appears near Regulus before sunrise while Jupiter and Mars brighten the eastern sky. The conjunction signals Regulus’ return to morning visibility after its solar conjunction.
2026, September 8: Jupiter-Moon Conjunction Before Sunrise Previews October Occultation
September 8, 2026: A thin crescent moon is above Jupiter before sunrise with earthshine visible on the lunar night portion. The close conjunction previews a Jupiter occultation during October's Harvest Moon lunation.
2026, September 7: Crescent Moon with Jupiter and Mars Before Sunrise, Venus in Evening Twilight
September 7, 2026: The waning crescent moon aligns with Castor and Pollux before sunrise while Jupiter and Mars shine in the eastern sky. After sunset, brilliant Venus shines low in the west-southwest as it pulls away from Spica.