September 2023 – Astronomy Now

Messier 2: a fine globular cluster in Aquarius

25 September 2023 Mark Armstrong

Messier 2 is probably the best globular cluster of the late-summer/early autumn sky, being a big and bright telescopic target that can also be swept up through 10 x 50 binoculars.

NGC 488: Pisces’ hidden galaxy that’s a work of art

18 September 2023 Mark Armstrong

NGC 488 in Pisces is an oval-shaped face-on spiral galaxy that’s a bit of a hidden gem.

The Great Square of Pegasus: heralding autumn

11 September 2023 Mark Armstrong

Longer autumnal nights are taking over from more balmy late-summer evening. Behold the grand appearance in September’s late-evening southern sky of the Great Square of Pegasus

Comet 2P/Encke on close approach to Earth

11 September 2023 Mark Armstrong

For the next month or so you can see the return of periodic comet 2P/Encke (Encke’s Comet).

Venus’ brilliant evening showing for the rest of the year

6 September 2023 Mark Armstrong

Venus is now a brilliant ‘morning star’ seen for a short time in the pre-dawn eastern sky.

Observe a fine trio of planetary nebulae in Cygnus

4 September 2023 Mark Armstrong

Planetary nebulae are arguably the most popular of all deep-sky objects.

Comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) brightening with nice tail

4 September 2023 Mark Armstrong

Comet C/2023 P1 (Nishimura) was discovered by on August 11 by Hideo Nishimura of Japan. It’s currently in the pre-dawn sky and visible through large binoculars, but you’ll need to observe as soon as possible this week.