September skywatching: Mars is on the move, fall equinox, Jupiter and Saturn get cozy – MLive.com

While there are no nighttime blockbusters on tap for us in September, there are enough cool things going on this month to keep us looking up at the night sky

September overnights got off to a gorgeous start with some unexpectedly intense Northern Lights shows that thrilled people across the Upper Peninsula and the northern half of the Lower Peninsula as well. The lights came out to play in the early mornings of Sept. 4 and 5. Fingers crossed that well get some more fall shows, or even a visit from STEVE.

RELATED: Sky phenomenon named STEVE showing up more

Weve pulled a few fun things from Whats Up: September 2022 Skywatching Tips from NASA to help guide you. The scientists there also do a monthly skywatching video. See the this months installment on YouTube here. Some of the highlights shared from NASA:

Illustration showing how Earth's tilt leads to the Northern and Southern Hemispheres receiving changing amounts of sunlight over the course of the year. At the equinoxes, neither hemisphere is more tilted toward the Sun, so both hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight. Image provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech

Dont Miss the Fall Equinox. September 22 is the fall equinox, which is the start of autumn in our hemisphere. Day and nighttime hours are of about equal length on equinoxes. Its one of two first days of fall that we mark in September. See MLive Meteorologist Mark Torregrossas explanation for that. The equinox also gives you a chance to check your visual compass against landmarks in your area. From NASA:

If you take note of exactly where the Sun appears to rise and set on the equinoxes, those points mark the locations of due east and due west, respectively. And thats something useful to know for skywatchers, whatever hemisphere you happen to live in. So take note of any buildings, tall trees, lampposts, and the like at those places on the horizon, and you can use them to find your bearings when looking skyward all year long.

Mars is on the Move. While Mars started this month high in the southern sky before sunrise, itll head east as September progresses. NASA explains it this way: Early in the month, its near orange-colored Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the bull. And 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. Then the Red Planet will appear to hit the brakes and halt its eastward motion, to hang out in that triangle for the next month or so.

On the night of Sept. 9, see the nearly full Moon escorted across the sky by Jupiter and Saturn. Photo provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech

Saturn and Jupiter Get Cozy. These two gas giants are buddying up in our evening skies this month. NASA is calling them planetary companions. The details: On the night of the 9th, Jupiter and Saturn escort the Moon across the sky. Youll find the trio rising in the southeast in the first couple of hours after dark, and gliding westward together over the course of the night. By the end of the month, youll find the pair of planets rising even earlier, appearing in the east soon after it gets dark, with bright Jupiter hanging low in the sky.

Want to learn more? Check out NASAs Night Sky Network here.

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September skywatching: Mars is on the move, fall equinox, Jupiter and Saturn get cozy - MLive.com