Saskatchewan Skies: Mercury remains elusive for northern viewers
This astronomical update details the positions of various planets and lunar events visible in the night sky throughout September 2026. It notes that Mercury and Venus remain difficult to view for northern observers due to the tilt of the ecliptic.
Why it matters
Provides practical guidance for amateur astronomers and enthusiasts tracking celestial movements.
The moon begins the month at waning gibbous phase, among the stars of Taurus. Sept. 3, the Pleiades share the spotlight, rising just before midnight. Last quarter occurs Sept. 4, with Mars three degrees south Sept. 6; this is also when the moon reaches perigee of 368,259 kilometres.
Sept. 8, the moon is 0.5 degrees north of the Beehive Cluster (M44), and later on occults Jupiter in the daytime sky. The next day, Regulus is 0.6 degrees north of the moon, while new moon occurs Sept. 10. Venus is occulted Sept. 14 for Southern Hemisphere viewers; the close-up event is a poor showing for Northern Hemisphere viewers, though, as the bright planet hugs the horizon at sundown.
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