This Week's Targets and How to Find Them

  • Oceanus Procellarum (lunar mare)
    • This is the large mare on the western side of the Moon. It's the biggest mare on the Moon and goes right up to the western edge of the Moon. Best on the full Moon Sept 30/Oct 1 2020, but visible Sept 30 to Oct 11 2020.
  • Nubium (lunar mare)
    • To the east/right of Gassendi, the diamond ring. It is the lowest and most cenral mare, kind of under Wilma's chin. Best on the full Moon Sept 30/Oct 1 2020, but visible Sept 28 to Oct 9 2020.
  • Humorum (lunar mare, bonus)
    • Right under Gassendi, to the left/west of Nubium. Southwesterly most mare. Best on the full Moon Sept 30/Oct 1 2020, but visible Sept 30 to Oct 11 2020.
  • Theophilus (lunar crater)
    • There are 2 craters just south of Theophilus that look like a dumbbell. It's above and to the east/right of the dumbbell craters (Cyrillus N and Catharina S). Visible on Sept 23 2020.
  • Posidonius (lunar crater)
    • North of the prominent mares on the phase where you can see it (Serenitatis and Tranquilitatis). Just north of Serenitatis, right on the edge. It has another small crater to the southeast that makes it look like an upside-down BB8. Visible on Sept 21, 2020.
  • Beta Cyg (double star)
    • Albireo! This is the tail star of Cygnus and is a famous double star. Look for the bottom star in Cygnus's cross. They're different colours! Visible until about February.
  • Omicron Cyg (double star)
    • If you make a triangle out of Deneb, the chest star (one further down) and the first wing star to the northwest, Omicron Cyg lies close to the hypotenuse, about in the middle / 3 finger widths from either star. It's slightly above where the hypotenuse would be, but you should be able to find several stars close together there. Visible until about February.
  • Jupiter (planet)
    • In conjunction with the Moon on Sept 24/25, 2020. Jupiter is to the west of Saturn and is brighter. On the 24th it'll be closer to the Moon than Saturn. On the 25th, further. If looking in binos / telescope, you may be able to see all 4 Galilean Moons! In order from east to west: Callisto, Gannymede, Europa, (Jupiter), Io.
  • Saturn (planet)
    • In conjunction with the Moon on Sept 24/25, 2020. Saturn is to the east of Jupiter and is dimmer. On the 24th it'll be further from the moon than Jupiter. On the 25th, closer. If looking in binos/telescope, you may be able to see Titan to the southeast of Saturn.
  • M31 (deep sky object)
    • Look for Cassiopeia. The deeper side of the W (the side closer to Cygnus, or at this time of the year, further south) points directly at the Andromeda Galaxy. 15º away so you have to travel pretty far, but it's in a straight line. Visible until about April.
  • Zodiacal Light (optional, solar system object)
    • A faint triangle of light extending up from the horizon in the east before Sunrise (in northern latitudes). It's the sun's light reflecting off the dust in the plane of the solar system. Hard to see and easily washed out by light pollution, but it's best visible at this time of the year (around the fall equinox) and in the spring (around the spring equinox), when the ecliptic is most vertical compared to the horizon.