SkyEye

The Calendar

The Solar System

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for 'wanderer'. Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.

Sun Leo → Virgo

The solar north pole is most inclined toward the Earth early this month.

Mercury Virgo

For observers in the southern hemisphere, this tiny planet soars high above the western horizon after sunset, reaching greatest elongation east on 21 September. Northerners must look much closer to the horizon to find this elusive planet.

Venus Leo → Virgo

Best seen from the northern hemisphere this month, the morning star is easing towards the eastern horizon.

Mars Libra → Scorpius → Ophiuchus

The red planet passes close by the red star Antares on 28 September. An evening sky object, it sets well before midnight.

Jupiter Cancer

The largest planet in the solar system is a morning sky object and rises earlier every day.

Saturn Libra

Saturn now sets ahead of Mars. Look for the ringed planet in the west after sunset.

Uranus Pisces

Uranus rises in mid-evening and is getting ever brighter as it approaches opposition next month. It is occulted by the Moon on 11 September.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system. Opposition was late last month so this blue ice giant is aloft most of the night, setting only just before dawn.