SkyCaramba

Venus is in the archer's bow in Sagittarius and will pass by a couple stars it passed right in front of about four decades ago. Mercury begins its retreat from the evening sky. Saturn changes direction and Neptune is about to.

Mercury's at its best showing for the current evening display. Venus went by the feet of Ophiuchus last week. Now it's the messenger planet's turn. Two lunar occultations happen this week. Uranus approaches opposition.

The microscope gave us a lot more to see. But the constellation named for it isn't much to look at. Venus scoots farther into the evening sky. Saturn's slowing down. The Pleiades rise around sunset. Jupiter heads toward Cancer.

Very careful observers may see Leonis Minorid meteors. Mercury barely makes it into the evening. Venus and Saturn continue on opposite sides of the sky. A star in the scorpion's head should look a lot brighter than it does.

How much magnification would you need to see the astronauts' bootprints on the moon? Let's find out. Venus and Saturn are on opposite sides of the sky. Mars is about to slow down. Mercury barely makes it into the evening.

The celestial dragon could breathe out some fireballs this week. Meteor colors give us clues about what meteors are made of and what's happening as they pass through the air. Venus keeps inching its way into the evening sky. Jupiter holds still. Mars moves past the twins.

The moon passes in front of the sun for an annular eclipse this week. There's plenty of planetary action all night. And some people may be able to spot what's been called a false dawn, thanks to dust in the solar system.

Mars passed by Mebsuta and is now approaching Mekbuda. Both stars are named for parts of a lion's paw.

Mercury's out of sight.

Venus moves alongside Virgo.

The September equinox starts the week.

The moon is about as far north as it can get.

And we have a meteor shower you're more likely to hear with the help of a radio than to see.

The moon passes in front of Saturn this week. Then it goes through Earth's shadow.

Mars passes by Mebsuta, named for a lion in Arabian star lore.

And why is red light right for astronomers at night?