THIS MONTH’S PLANETS
Jupiter and Saturn are a dazzling duo from September through to October
Planet of the month
Jupiter will be visible all through the night, a lovely sight to the naked eye, through binoculars or in the eyepiece of a telescope. Finding it will be easy: as the western sky begins to darken, turn your back on the deepening twilight so you are facing the southeast and you’ll see a blue-white ‘star’ glinting above the horizon. That’s Jupiter, and as the sky darkens the planet will become brighter and more obvious until it’s impossible to miss. Jupiter will be very obvious, looking like a bright ‘star’ to the left of fainter, more yellowhued Saturn. At the start of our observing period it will set at around 04:30, and by mid-October will be setting at 02:00, but that will still give you plenty of time to enjoy observing it.