The start of the 2022 school year is accompanied by multiple astronomical phenomena to observe. In September 2022, a swarm of shooting stars is announced. Don’t miss Jupiter’s opposition either.
September begins: there are still a few weeks to admire the sky before the end of summer, a period so conducive to astronomical observations. Even if the temperatures gradually cool down, don’t let the arrival of autumn demotivate you: throughout the month of September, you will have great opportunities to go out to observe the skies.
These are the easily observable astronomical spectacles in September 2022.
Moon phases in September
The brightest star in the night sky is a must in astronomy. The spectacle offered by the Moon changes throughout the month, according to various phases that we can have fun identifying.
- the Saturday September 3 corresponds to the first quarter of the Moon. It is a half-moon that we can admire. It is also said that the star is in eastern quadrature.
- the Saturday September 10, it is the full moon. It’s beautiful, but not mystical. Its face, visible from Earth, is entirely illuminated by the Sun.
- the Saturday September 17, this is the last quarter. The Moon is in western quadrature.
- Then the Sunday September 25 is the day of the new moon. Do not expect to distinguish it in the sky, we do not see it.
Planets observable with the naked eye
All the planets visible without a scientific instrument, directly to the naked eye, are there in September 2022. You just have to wait until the end of the month to see little Mercury briefly.
The following table mentions the schedules of visibility of the planets with the naked eye, as well as the constellations in which to search for them.
| Mercury | Venus | March | Jupiter | Saturn | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From 1 to 4 | Mercuryinvisible | Venus6:30 a.m. – 7 a.m. Leo | March12:30 a.m. – 7 a.m. Taurus | Jupiter10:10 p.m. – 7 a.m. Whale | Saturn8:40 p.m. – 4:50 a.m. Capricorn |
| From 5 to 11 | Mercuryinvisible | Venus6:50 a.m. – 7:10 a.m. Leo | March0:10 a.m. – 7:10 a.m. Taurus | Jupiter9:40 p.m. – 7:10 a.m. Pisces | Saturn8:30 p.m. – 4:20 a.m. Capricorn |
| From 12 to 18 | Mercuryinvisible | Venus7:10 a.m. – 7:20 a.m. Leo | March0h – 7h20 Taurus | Jupiter9:10 p.m. – 7:20 a.m. Pisces | Saturn8:10 p.m. – 5:50 a.m. Capricorn |
| From 19 to 25 | Mercuryinvisible | Venusinvisible | March11:40 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. Taurus | Jupiter8:40 p.m. – 7:30 a.m. Pisces | Saturn8 p.m. – 3:20 a.m. Capricorn |
| From 26 to 30 | Mercury7:30 a.m. – 7:40 a.m. Virgo | Venusinvisible | March11:20 p.m. – 7:40 a.m. Taurus | Jupiter8:10 p.m. – 7 a.m. Pisces | Saturn7:40 p.m. – 2:50 a.m. Capricorn |
Other astronomical phenomena in September
Other astronomical phenomena are to be contemplated in September 2022.
- the Thursday, September 1, is the maximum activity of a swarm of shooting stars, the Alpha Auriginides. It is a shower of shooting stars that is quite rare to observe.
- the Sunday September 4, Mars lies north of the Hyades cluster and the star Aldebaran. Of course, these different elements are not really side by side: it’s a conjunction.
- the Thursday, September 8Saturn is visited by the nearly full Moon.
- Then, two days later, the Moon slips between Saturn and Jupiter, the Saturday September 10.
- The day after, Sunday September 11the Moon rises near Jupiter.
- the Thursday September 22admire the earthshine, also described as “earthlight”.
- the friday september 23we change the season: it is the day of the autumnal equinox.
- Finally, the monday september 26Jupiter is at opposition — an excellent time to attempt its observation.
You now know when to take advantage of astronomical events visible even without an instrument in September 2022. Good observations!