PARADE OF PLANETS • September 2026

MORNING
Mars rises in the east around 1 AM in the constellation Gemini. This is not the best time to view Mars through a telescope because it is fairly far away from Earth and thus appears small—difficult to see any detail. Yes, it is reddish in color which makes it easier to identify. Mars gets close to Earth every 26 months and at these times it will appear large enough in telescopes to see its various features. The next time this will occur is February 2027.Jupiter rises around 3 AM in the constellation Cancer. Jupiter is always a favorite in a telescope, even a small one because the four Galilean moons are always visible as well as the two equatorial and parallel bands on its cloud “surface.” The Great Red Spot is not easy to recognize anymore because its color is pale and blends in with its surroundings. As a “star,” Jupiter is always brighter than any other star except for Venus.

EVENING
Venus is up in the western sky after sunset. You can’t miss it because it is the brightest “star” in the whole sky. It sets about 90 minutes after the Sun. 
Saturn, in Pisces, rises in the east as the Sun is setting in the west. This is called Opposition (opposite the Sun). At opposition, Saturn is the brightest it gets in the sky, appears the largest in telescopes and stays in the sky all night long.

Remember • Twinkle Factor
The planets DO NOT normally twinkle like stars unless they are very close to the horizon or the atmosphere is extremely turbulent. So, even thought Saturn is not very bright, it is easier to identify because it does not twinkle. And, Mars is the same but every 26 months, it gets very bright and can't be missed. Mars also has a red tint to it.

SKY 
WATCH
There should be a naked eye NOVA star showing for a few days in the night sky sometime during the next year. Click here for more information.

September 2026 Sky Chart