Night Sky Tonight: What to See This Week

~2 min
Topics:Skywatching
Night Sky Tonight: What to See This Week
©Vito Technology

Looking for what to see in the sky this week? This guide highlights the upcoming astronomical events. Scroll down for sky maps and viewing tips, and use the Sky Tonight app to check when and where each object will appear in your sky.

Contents

Sky Events Tonight: September 12

  • Moon tonight: Waxing crescent Moon.
  • Planets visible tonight: Evening — Venus. Late evening to dawn — Saturn and Neptune. Late night to dawn — Uranus. Before dawn — Jupiter and Mars. Details: Planets Visible Tonight
  • Constellations visible tonight: Northern Hemisphere — Aquila, Cygnus, Capricornus, Delphinus, Sagitta, Equuleus, Vulpecula. Southern Hemisphere — Aquila, Capricornus, Pavo, Indus, Delphinus, Sagitta, Equuleus, Vulpecula, Microscopium. Details: Constellations in September 2026

Upcoming Astronomical Events: September 12-18, 2026

DateEventBest timeEquipment
September 13Moon near SpicaSoon after sunsetNaked eye
September 14Moon near VenusSoon after sunsetNaked eye
September 14Lunar occultation of Venus09:26–13:42 GMT; mostly in daylightBinoculars or telescope
September 16Venus, Moon, and Antares line upAfter sunsetNaked eye
September 17Moon near AntaresEveningNaked eye
September 17Lunar occultation of AntaresLate evening/nightNaked eye/binoculars

Below, you’ll find sky events arranged by date, with quick viewing tips to help you choose the best nights for stargazing. All dates are listed in GMT, so the exact calendar date may differ in your local time zone; however, the times shown on the sky maps are given in local time.

September 13: Moon near Spica

Night Sky on September 13: Moon near Spica
Shortly after sunset, look low in the western sky for the young crescent Moon near Spica, the brightest star in Virgo. The Moon will be visible to the naked eye, but Spica may be difficult to pick out in bright twilight, especially from mid-northern latitudes. A clear western horizon is essential, and binoculars may help once the Sun is safely below the horizon.
©Vito Technology

September 14: Moon near Venus

Night Sky on September 14: Moon near Venus
After sunset, look low in the western sky for the young crescent Moon close to brilliant Venus in Virgo. The pair will be easy to spot with the naked eye, though you’ll need a clear, unobstructed western horizon because both objects remain relatively low in the evening sky from mid-northern latitudes.
©Vito Technology
Night Sky on September 14: lunar occultation of Venus
From some locations, the Moon will pass directly in front of Venus, temporarily hiding the planet from view. The lunar occultation will be visible from parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia, and western Russia. For many observers, the event will take place in daylight. Venus is bright enough to be seen in daytime under favorable conditions, but binoculars or a telescope can make it easier to spot. Never point optical equipment anywhere near the Sun.
©Vito Technology

September 16: Venus forms a line with the Moon and Antares

Night Sky on September 16: Moon, Venus, and Antares
After sunset, look toward the southwest for Venus, the waxing crescent Moon, and Antares forming a long chain across the evening sky. Brilliant Venus marks one end of the lineup, while reddish Antares shines at the other, with the Moon between them. The entire lineup stretches about 36° across the sky — roughly three and a half clenched fists held at arm’s length. All three objects are visible to the naked eye, though a clear horizon will help as the group gradually sinks lower in the west.
©Vito Technology

September 17: Moon near Antares

Night Sky on September 17: Antares near the Moon
After sunset, look for reddish Antares close to the crescent Moon. The pair will appear low in the sky from many northern locations, but much higher from farther south. Bright Venus will also shine closer to the horizon.
©Vito Technology
Night Sky on September 17: Lunar occultation of Antares
On September 17, the Moon will pass directly in front of Antares, briefly making the bright red star disappear behind the lunar disk. Only a few lucky observers — mainly in parts of southern Australia and Antarctica — will get to see the occultation; elsewhere, the Moon will pass near Antares without hiding it. In southern Australia, the occultation occurs late in the evening, close to moonset.
©Vito Technology

Night Sky Tonight: Bottom Line

There is almost always something worth seeing in the night sky. Use this guide to choose the best events for tonight and the coming days, but remember that visibility depends on your location, local time, weather, and light pollution. For the most accurate view, check the exact position of each object in the Sky Tonight app before you go outside.

Want to plan beyond the dates listed here? Check the full monthly calendar of astronomical events in September 2026.

Text Credit:
Topics:Skywatching
Trustpilot