Mercury, the innermost planet of our solar system, will be more readily observable than usual on September 5. It attains its maximum western elongation—its greatest distance from the sun—approximately around 11 p.m. ET on September 4, as reported by EarthSky. Consequently, it will not be seen in the sky until the pre-dawn hours of September 5, approximately between 5:45 and 6:15 a.m., according to SkySafari. It is discernible to phrazle the unaided eye because to its -0.3 magnitude, about between the luminosity of Sirius and Polaris. Observe the eastern horizon, where Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus align diagonally above it.
On the night of September 7, Saturn and its rings will be prominently visible when the planet attains opposition, positioning itself directly opposite the sun as seen from Earth. It will reach its peak brightness of magnitude 0.57 tonight. Observe a yellowish dot traversing the east-southeast horizon inside the constellation Aquarius post-sunset. Saturn is visible to the naked eye, but a backyard telescope enhances the observation of its striking rings.
If you missed the first supermoon of the year in August, you are fortunate. The whole harvest moon on the evening of September 17 — the second of four supermoons in 2024 — offers a unique phenomenon. Observers throughout, including those in the U.S. (except Alaska), western Europe, some regions of Asia, and Africa, will see a partly obscured harvest supermoon at around 10:45 p.m. ET, as reported by SkySafari. The lunar event will begin at around 8:41 p.m. ET when the moon enters Earth's penumbral shadow; the characteristic eclipse "bite" will be absent from 10:13 to 11:16 p.m. EDT.
Utilizing a home telescope or stargazing binoculars, one may have an exceptional view of Neptune in 2024. The remote planet will attain its closest proximity to Earth (opposition) on September 20 at around 6:45 p.m. ET, as reported by Star Walk. It will be seen for a significant portion of the night above the east-southeast horizon. Observe Saturn, which is visible to the unaided eye, positioned to its right as well.
