·   OK, now, let’s remember not to believe everything in email forwards. The recent internet flurry about Mars is a case in point. Sure, Mars made close approaches in 2004 and again in 2005. At those approaches, Mars appeared bright, like a very bright star. It definitely did not look as bright or as big as a full Moon as claimed in the email that seems to circulate every year around this time. I’m still wondering where that hoax came from.

·   The planet Jupiter is very brightly visible in the south and southwest sky after sunset. It will continue to sink lower as the weeks progress. A small telescope, or even binoculars, if held steadily, can offer you a view of Jupiter’s four largest moons. Jupiter is above the teapot shape of the constellation Sagittarius.

·   For the first two weeks of September, Venus, Mercury and Mars are very near the western horizon just after sunset. Venus is quite bright, but Mercury and Mars are quite dim and binoculars may be necessary. On September 1 a very thin crescent Moon is below them. On tne next night the crescent Moon has moved to their left.

·   On September 10 and 11, Venus and Mars reach conjunction, a very close approach. Very dim Mars is just below Venus. The star Spica (in the constellation Virgo) is to their left.

·   By the middle of September, Venus moves a bit higher in the west, while Spica, Mars and Mercury are sinking lower, soon to move below the horizon. Venus will continue to rise higher and higher as the weeks progress. It will move closer and closer to Jupiter. At the end of November, they will form a spectacular conjunction.

·   Saturn will be visible very near the eastern horizon before sunrise. Regulus, in the constellation Leo, is to the upper right of Saturn.

·   The Orionid Meteor Shower makes its yearly appearance for those with a dark sky.

·   The summer sky begins to slowly move into the fall sky.

·   The Summer Triangle is still easily visible for many more weeks, even into winter. Look for the stars Deneb at the upper left, Vega to its right and Altair. The Summer Triangle points roughly south. Deneb is the top of the Northern Cross, (official name Cygnus, the swan.) Vega is part of Lyra the harp and Altair is part of Aquila the eagle. Vega is nearly overhead for much of the month of September.

·   Facing south, look slightly to the left of the Summer Triangle for a very dim group of stars. This is Delphinus the dolphin.

·   In the northeast we can view the constellation Cassiopeia, which is shaped like the letter “W”.

·   The fourth line of the “W” that forms Cassiopeia points “up” to the crooked house shape of Cepheus the king.

·   The third line of the “W” points “downward” toward the Great Square of Pegasus the winged horse.

·   The corner of the Great Square nearest Cassiopeia begins a line of stars that underlines the “W.” This line of stars is Andromeda, the daughter of Cassiopeia and Cepheus.

·   If you are observing from a dark location you may be able to see the Andromeda Galaxy which looks like a very dim Moon-sized fuzzy patch below the “W” and above Andromeda. Binoculars will probably be necessary unless you are observing from a very dark location.

·   Following the second line of the “W” of Cassiopeia “downward” leads to the constellation Perseus, the hero.

·   If you have a very good view of the horizon or wait until later in the evening you may be able to see the Pleiades, or Seven Sisters, which is a dim but easily visible cluster of stars.

·   In the west look for the bright star Arcturus which is the bottom of the kite shape of Bootes the shepherd. If you are observing from a fairly dark sky, look above Arcturus for the faint little constellation Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. It is a semicircle of dim stars. The semicircle opens to the upper right.

·   To the right of Arcturus is the Big Dipper, (official name Ursa Major, the Big Bear.) The handle of the Big Dipper “arcs” to Arcturus. At this time of year, the big dipper is moving lower and lower in the northwest.

·   Between the kite shape of Bootes and the big bear, is a dim constellation called Canes Venatici. These are the hunting dogs.

·   The Pointer Stars of the Big Dipper point to Polaris, the North Star which is the end of the handle of the Little Dipper, Ursa Minor. The stars of Ursa Minor are fairly dim and difficult to spot. Many wrongly believe that the North Star appears very bright. However, from our vantage point on Earth, the North Star appears rather dim.

·   In the southwest near the horizon is the reddish star, Antares, the heart of Scorpius the scorpion.

·   As we progress into October, the star Capella, in the constellation Auriga is visible in the northeast.

·   If you are observing from a very dark area, the Milky Way may be visible. The Milky Way, our galaxy, looks like a cloudy or fuzzy patch through the sky. Every individual star we see is actually a part of the Milky Way. When we see the fuzzy patch through the sky, we are looking toward the densest, most intense parts of our galaxy.