Sky Calendar

A thin waning crescent Moon passes close to Jupiter in the morning sky. Look east before dawn — visible to the naked eye. The occultation itself is not visible from Ukraine.

Venus shines at its brightest of the evening season — unmistakable in the twilight low above the western horizon right after sunset.

The astronomical start of autumn: day and night are nearly equal across the planet. The equinox moment is 00:06 UTC.

On the night of September 25–26 Neptune, the most distant planet of the Solar System, sits opposite the Sun — its closest and brightest of the year. A telescope is required to see it.

The Moon passes close to Jupiter in the morning sky — an eye-catching naked-eye pair. The occultation is not visible from Ukraine, only a close approach.

An unusual shower: the Draconids are best seen in the evening of October 8–9 rather than before dawn like most showers. The radiant is in Draco, high in the northwest. Usually weak, but occasionally delivers surprises.

Vesta, the brightest asteroid in the sky, is at its best for the year. Ordinary binoculars and a sky chart are enough to hunt down this tiny 'star'.

The night of October 21–22 is the peak of the Orionids, born from the dust of Halley's Comet. Best after midnight once Orion climbs higher. A bright Moon (about 80% full) will interfere this year, so only the brightest meteors will show.

On the night of November 2–3 the Moon passes very close to Jupiter — a bright pair in the night sky. The occultation itself is visible only from Asia and Australia; from Ukraine it is a striking close approach.

A thin crescent Moon lines up with brilliant Venus in the morning sky — one of the most photogenic pairs of the autumn. The occultation is not visible from Ukraine.

Peaking November 11–12. Not a rich shower, but famous for slow, bright fireballs; active from October through December. The young crescent Moon sets in the evening and won't interfere.

On November 15–16 Jupiter and Mars come together in the morning sky: dazzling white Jupiter next to reddish Mars — a contrasting naked-eye pair.

The best chance to catch elusive Mercury: it reaches its greatest apparent distance from the Sun. Look low above the southeastern horizon before dawn.

Uranus sits opposite the Sun at its brightest of the year. Under a truly dark sky it hovers at the edge of naked-eye visibility; binoculars find it easily.

Now in the morning sky, Venus again reaches peak brilliance — the Morning Star in full glory above the eastern horizon before dawn.