In the night sky this week through September 25, 2026. As the seasons change, the night sky continues to offer plenty to explore. From bright planets near the horizon to the beautiful constellations overhead, there is always something worth stepping outside to see. Grab a comfortable lawn chair, maybe a cup of coffee, and let’s take a look at what’s happening in the sky this week!
Summer is coming to an end, and the first day of fall arrives on Tuesday, September 22, with the autumnal equinox. This is the time of year when day and night are roughly equal in length, giving us close to 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.
🌙 Evening Sky: Venus, Mercury & Saturn
✨ Venus: Catch It While You Can
Venus is nearing the end of its evening appearance, so this is a good time to try catching it before it disappears into the twilight. It sits very low in the western sky, which can make it challenging to spot if you have trees, buildings, or hills blocking your view. However, Venus reaches its greatest brightness this week, making it a brilliant sight if you have a clear horizon.
Look toward the west shortly after sunset and try to find a location with an unobstructed view.
☄️ Mercury: A Quick Appearance
If you’re quick, you may be able to catch Mercury about 25 minutes after sunset. It appears below Venus and will be close to the horizon.
Mercury can be difficult to see because of its low position and the lingering twilight. Binoculars may help you locate it, but be sure to put them away before the Sun sets if you are scanning near the horizon. Never point binoculars or a telescope toward the Sun.
🪐 Saturn: The Evening Highlight
The real evening star this week, however, is Saturn!
The ringed planet rises at approximately 7:30 PM and remains visible for most of the night. It is bright enough to stand out from the surrounding stars, making it one of the easier planets to identify.
Saturn is also approaching its October opposition, when Earth will be positioned between the Sun and Saturn, giving us favorable viewing conditions. Its rings are gradually opening again after appearing nearly edge-on in 2025. By September 2026, they are noticeably more open, although they are still far from their widest appearance.
If you have a small telescope, Saturn is definitely worth a look. Even a modest backyard telescope can reveal its famous rings, and with good viewing conditions, you may also be able to spot Titan, Saturn’s largest moon.
It is one of those sights that can make you appreciate just how amazing our solar system really is!
🌅 Morning Sky: Mars & Jupiter
If you’re willing to set the alarm a little earlier, the morning sky has some great sights of its own!
🔴 Mars: A Rusty Red Planet
Mars rises around 1–2 AM in September and can be found in the constellation Gemini. It will pass south of the star Pollux, giving skywatchers a chance to compare two different-looking objects.
Mars appears reddish-orange, while Pollux shines with a more yellowish-orange hue. The contrast makes them interesting to observe together.
That rusty color isn’t just your imagination. Mars gets its reddish appearance from iron minerals in its surface material that have oxidized—essentially, they have rusted—over billions of years.
Mars will gradually become brighter as Earth and Mars move closer together in their respective orbits. Keep watching it over the coming months as its appearance changes.
🟠 Jupiter: The Brightest Morning Planet
Jupiter rises around an hour before sunrise and will be brighter than any other star in the sky.
Look toward the eastern sky in the early morning hours. Jupiter’s brightness makes it relatively easy to identify, even if you aren’t familiar with many constellations.
If you have binoculars or a telescope, Jupiter is especially rewarding. You may even be able to spot some of its four largest moons, known as the Galilean moons:
- Io
- Europa
- Ganymede
- Callisto
These moons were observed by Galileo Galilei in 1610. Depending on the viewing conditions and your equipment, you may see them as tiny points of light lined up near Jupiter.
✨ Constellation of the Week: Lyra the Lyre
Look overhead this week, and you may notice a bright star that stands out among the surrounding stars. That is Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, which represents a lyre, a stringed musical instrument.
Lyra is one of the three constellations that make up the Summer Triangle, along with Cygnus the Swan and Aquila the Eagle.
⭐ Meet Vega
Vega is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and is a prominent star in the northern celestial hemisphere. Although Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky overall, Vega is an excellent star to learn because it is so easy to locate during summer and early fall.
Vega is part of the Summer Triangle along with:
- Deneb — The bright star in Cygnus the Swan.
- Altair — The bright star in Aquila the Eagle.
- Vega — The brightest star in Lyra the Lyre.
Together, these three stars form a large triangle high in the evening sky.
🎶 The Story Behind Lyra
In Greek mythology, Lyra represents the musical instrument of Orpheus, a legendary musician whose music was said to be so beautiful that it could charm people, animals, and even the gods.
The lyre was traditionally made using a tortoise shell, with strings stretched across a wooden frame. The constellation honors the instrument and the story of Orpheus.
When you’re outside this week, try finding Vega first. Once you locate it, look for the surrounding stars that form Lyra. You don’t need a telescope to enjoy this constellation—just a reasonably dark sky and a little patience.
🌠 Until Next Week…
The first day of fall is a reminder that the seasons are always changing, both here on Earth and in the night sky. Venus is making its last evening appearance, Saturn is becoming a great target for telescope viewing, and the morning sky offers Mars and Jupiter for those willing to get up early.
So, whether you spend five minutes looking up from your backyard or set aside an entire evening for stargazing, take a little time to enjoy the sky above us.
Clear skies, and happy stargazing! 🌌✨