NASA is again with its month-to-month roundup of what to look out for within the sky over the approaching weeks.

Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn all characteristic, although with the long-awaited Artemis I mission set to get underway this weekend, we’re additionally giving the moon a particular point out.

But let’s begin with Mars. Gaze skyward earlier than dawn and also you’ll spot the crimson planet excessive within the south, the planet distinguishable by its salmon-pink coloration. And take notice, you don’t want binoculars to view Mars, only a clear sky.

“Over the course of the month, Mars works its way eastward from Aldebaran toward reddish Betelgeuse, creating a sort of ‘red triangle’ in the morning sky,” NASA says on its web site, including that it’ll then seem to “hit the brakes and halt its eastward motion, to hang out in that triangle for the next month or so.”

This month additionally presents a superb alternative to look at Jupiter, the biggest planet in our photo voltaic system. The celestial physique hit the headlines final month when the James Webb Space Telescope captured an astonishing picture exhibiting the planet as we’ve by no means seen it earlier than.

Before dawn, on the morning of September 11, you’ll see Jupiter simply a few finger-widths from the moon — at the very least, that’s the way it’ll look from Earth.

You can simply view Jupiter with the bare eye, however if in case you have a pair of binoculars or telescope helpful, you’ll additionally have the ability to get a glimpse of Jupiter’s 4 massive moons, which can seem as little starlike factors of sunshine very near the planet.

NASA notes that its Jupiter-orbiting Juno spacecraft is about to make a fly-by of one in every of these icy moons, Europa, on September 29, coming inside simply 200 miles of its floor whereas gathering a trove of science knowledge to ship again to Earth.

Once you’ve got Jupiter in your sights, recognizing Saturn must be a breeze.

“On the night of the 9th, Jupiter and Saturn escort the moon across the sky,” NASA says. “You’ll discover the trio rising within the southeast within the first couple of hours after darkish, and gliding westward collectively over the course of the evening. By the top of the month, you’ll discover the pair of planets rising even earlier, showing within the east quickly after it will get darkish, with shiny Jupiter hanging low within the sky.

Finally, we advocate taking a second to gaze on the moon to ponder how our nearest neighbor is as soon as once more on the heart of our quest to launch astronaut missions past low-Earth orbit. The job begins on Saturday with the launch of NASA’s Artemis I mission utilizing essentially the most highly effective rocket it’s ever constructed. The mission can be uncrewed, however it’ll pave the way in which for astronaut voyages, together with a lunar touchdown earlier than the top of this decade. And from there, we may go on to Mars within the 2030s.

If you need assistance recognizing any of the planets or stars talked about above, then merely seize one in every of these super-useful astronomy apps, which embrace augmented-reality options that will help you simply establish all the things you see within the evening sky.

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