The nearly First Quarter Moon passes about one-third of a degree to the South of Antares in Scorpius. Although just a close approach as seen from North America, this is an occultation (an eclipse of the star) as seen from Australia and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

The Moon started a new cycle a week ago, and now has progressed about 25 percent through the current cycle. Thus it has reached First Quarter phase. It appears about 90 degrees to the left of the Sun, causing it to appear in the southern sky at sunset. Shaped roughly like a capital letter "D", it sets at roughly midnight.

The nearly First Quarter Moon passes about one-third of a degree to the South of Antares in Scorpius. Although just a close approach as seen from North America, this is an occultation (an eclipse of the star) as seen from Australia and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

The nearly First Quarter Moon passes about one-third of a degree to the South of Antares in Scorpius. Although just a close approach as seen from North America, this is an occultation (an eclipse of the star) as seen from Australia and parts of the Southern Hemisphere.

The Moon started a new cycle a week ago, and now has progressed about 25 percent through the current cycle. Thus it has reached First Quarter phase. It appears about 90 degrees to the left of the Sun, causing it to appear in the southern sky at sunset. Shaped roughly like a capital letter "D", it sets at roughly midnight.

Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation East (about 27 degrees) on the 11th, but the geometry does not favor the Northern Hemisphere. The planet hovers near the western horizon for a short time after sunset. Brighter Venus and fainter Mars also appear nearby, but none are easy to view.

Venus is very low in the western sky as it gets dark, setting shortly thereafter. It is close to both Mercury and Mars in the second week of the month, but observers need sharp eyes, very clear skies and a low western horizon to see any of them.

Mars, now in Virgo, is very hard to see but near Venus and Mercury in the western evening twilight. It is heading for conjunction with the Sun in early December, but is already low in the glare of the setting Sun.

Jupiter, in Sagittarius, rules the early evening southern and southwestern sky. Not counting currently elusive Venus and the Moon, Jupiter is the significantly the brightest object and cannot be missed in the southern heavens. The Moon passes near on the evening of the 9th. Check out Jupiter with a small telescope to see as many as 4 of the Galilean Moons discovered nearly 400 years ago by who else but Galileo himself.

Saturn is in conjunction with the Sun (that is, in line with the Sun, but on the far side) on September 4 and cannot be seen, at least not in the first few weeks of the month. By month's end it , however, early risers may catch very low in the eastern sky before dawn, in Leo.