The constellation Vulpecula, which represents a fox carrying a goose, is high in the southeast as night falls. It’s near the middle of the Summer Triangle, which is defined by the bright stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
September 19: Vulpecula
September 20: Dumbbell Nebula
The Dumbbell Nebula, which is the last breath of a dying star, is in the constellation Vulpecula, the fox, which stands high in the southeast at nightfall. Seen through a telescope, the nebula resembles a hand weight like you would use at the gym.
September 21: Moon and Antares
The Moon is in the southwest at nightfall this evening. The bright star Antares, which represents the heart of the scorpion, stands to its lower left.
September 22: Autumn
Today is the September equinox, which is the beginning of autumn in the northern hemisphere. This is one of two times of year when the Sun rises due east and sets due west for almost the entire planet (the other is the March equinox).
September 23: First-Quarter Moon
The Moon is at first quarter at 8:55 p.m. CDT today. Sunlight will illuminate half of the lunar hemisphere facing Earth. After that, the Moon will enter its waxing gibbous phase, growing fatter each day until it’s full on October 1.
September 24: Moon and Planets
The Moon has some bright companions this evening. The planet Jupiter is close to the upper left of the Moon, with the fainter planet Saturn farther from the Moon. Jupiter outshines all the other pinpoints of light in the evening sky right now.
September 25: Moon and Saturn
Look for the planet Saturn quite close to the Moon this evening. It looks like a bright star and is just above the Moon at nightfall. The brighter planet Jupiter stands a bit to their right.