Night sky for tonight: Visible planets, stars and more in this evening's sky
The night sky is full of wonder, here's what to look out for tonight.
MONDAY, OCT. 7: DRACONIDS METEOR SHOWER AND CRESCENT MOON AND ANTARES (AFTER SUNSET)
Oct. 7's Draconid meteor shower will appear to travel from the northern sky, close to the Big Dipper. (Image credit: Haitong Yu via Getty Images)
Hope for clear skies to the north today. If you're in the northern hemisphere, arguably the year's most convenient meteor shower, the Draconids, will peak. Rates of "shooting stars" tend to peak when the course constellation is highest in the sky, typically after midnight. However, since Draco is circumpolar (appearing to rotate around Polaris, the North Star), it's always visible, so you may see some as soon as it gets dark. As twilight fades, don't forget to look to the southwest, where a now 23%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine just a couple of degrees from Antares in Scorpius. — Jamie Carter
NIGHT SKY: FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
FRIDAY, OCT. 4: GO 'ARC TO ARCTURUS' (AFTER SUNSET)
Here's a famous star-hop that will work well this month but be nearly impossible by November. Face north-northwest when it gets completely dark, and you'll see the familiar shape of the Big Dipper, its seven stars shaped like a bowl (on the right) and a handle(on the left). Follow the curve of its handle and keep going, and you'll reach Arcturus, which is low above the western horizon. About two hours after sunset, Arcturus will set, and the Big Dipper will be dead on the northern horizon. — Jamie Carter
SATURDAY, OCT. 5: CRESCENT MOON AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
A delicate crescent moon beside Venus is one of the sky's most beautiful sights and one of October's sky-watching highlights. It's on offer to anyone who looks southwest in a clear sky immediately after sunset tonight, where a delicate 9%-lit waxing crescent moon will shine very low on the horizon just below and left of the planet. They'll be about four degrees apart, the span of your three middle fingers at arm's length. Venus will likely be easier to see. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, OCT. 6: CRESCENT MOON AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
Although the moon has moved another 27th of its journey around Earth, it's still a slim crescent and remains very close to Venus. Tonight, the 15%-lit waxing crescent will shine to the left of Venus and will likely be easier to see than last night. You'll also see "Earthshine" on the moon's dark limb — sunlight reflected from Earth's oceans and ice caps. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, OCT. 3: MILKY WAY (AFTER SUNSET)
The Milky Way is always visible in the night sky, but it's only prominent between April and October in the Northern Hemisphere. This week is a good time to get a last look at the bright star fields of Sagittarius and Scorpius. You must be in a dark sky destination, such as a Dark Sky Place or anywhere that looks dark on a light pollution map. Look south as soon as it gets completely dark. You'll see the Milky Way's center, its brightest section, close to the horizon, with a stream of stars thinning out as it arcs high above your head through Cassiopeia, a constellation of five stars shaped like the letter W. You just saw the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2: 'RING OF FIRE' ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE
Did you see the total solar eclipse on April 8? Here's the follow-up. There are at least two solar eclipses yearly, but not all are total. What happens today is an annular solar eclipse, where the new moon passes directly in front of the sun but doesn't cover it completely. Since the moon will be farther from Earth than on April 8, its disk will be too small to completely cover the sun, creating instead a "ring of fire."
To see the ring today, you'll need to be within a narrow 165 miles (267 kilometers) wide path stretching 8,800 miles (14,163 kilometers) across the Pacific Ocean, South America (the Patagonia region of southern Chile and Argentina) and the South Atlantic Ocean. It's a sparsely populated area, home to just 175,000 people. Most eclipse chasers are headed to Easter Island (Rapa Nui, a remote island 2,200 miles (3,540 km) west of Chile. Much of South America will see a partial solar eclipse. Everyone, whether in the path or not, will need to wear solar eclipse glasses or use solar filters on telescopes and binoculars to observe the event safely. — Jamie Carter
Editor's note: You can keep up with all the solar eclipse action with our solar eclipse live blog. We will also be streaming the eclipse live on Space.com.
TUESDAY, OCT. 1: COMET A3 (TSUCHINSAN-ATLAS) (PRE-DAWN)
Here's one last chance for those in the northern hemisphere to try for a naked-eye view of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan Atlas before it's only visible to those in equatorial regions for a few mornings. If you're having trouble finding it in the horizon haze, consider using a pair of binoculars or a telescope to give you a better chance. If you want a souvenir shot, see how to photograph comets, the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography. — Jamie Carter
FOR THE WEEKEND AHEAD
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28 - COMET TSHUCHINSHAN-ATLAS (PRE-DAWN)
If you're up for an early start to the weekend, this morning presents another great chance to try for a naked-eye view of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). That said, given the fickle of comets, it may be wise to have a pair of the best binoculars or one of the best telescopes to give yourself the best chance. Also, check out how to photograph comets, our best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29 - COMET TSHUCHINSHAN-ATLAS (PRE-DAWN)
MONDAY, SEPT. 30: COMET A3 (TSUCHINSAN-ATLAS) (PRE-DAWN)
Here's a chance for sky-watchers in the northern hemisphere to glimpse Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS before it disappears for a few weeks. Now, three days after its perihelion — its closest point to the sun — it may be getting less bright and tougher to see before sunrise as it retreats into the sun's glare. Look east-southeast an hour before sunrise. — Jamie Carter
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27 - COMET TSHUCHINSHAN-ATLAS (PRE-DAWN)
Early Friday morning, we could see the first opportunity for sky-watchers in the northern hemisphere to glimpse Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS). It arrives today at perihelion — its closest point to the sun — as it gets to within 36 million miles (58 million km) of our star. That means it should reach peak brightness. Comets are fickle and hard to predict, but it's possible it could be visible to the naked eye. To see if that prediction comes true, be outside looking east-southeast an hour before sunrise. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25 - A PREVIEW OF THE WINTER NIGHT SKY (PRE-DAWN/AFTER SUNSET/ALL NIGHT)
Few people realize that the stars rise four minutes earlier each night, returning to where they are precisely 23 hours and 56 minutes later. This is what astronomers call a sidereal day, and over a month, it means stars rise two hours earlier. Today that means you can effectively go stargazing at 4:00 a.m. on Sept. 25, look east, and see the same sky as you would see at 10:00 p.m. in December.
You'll see some of the brightest stars in the night sky in the famous winter constellations: Rigel and Betelgeuse in Orion (as well as Orion's belt rising on its side), Aldebaran in Taurus, Capella in Auriga, Pollux and Castor in Gemini, Procyon in Canis Minor and Sirius in Canis Major.
With Betelgeuse at the center, you can trace-put the stars to make a vast shape known variously as the Great Hexagon, also known as the Winter Hexagon and Winter Circle.
As a bonus, you'll find Jupiter above Betelgeuse and Mars to its left, about four degrees (the span of your three middle fingers at arm's length) from a waning crescent moon.— Jamie Carter
Related: How to see the 'Great Hexagon' of bright winter stars
THURSDAY, SEPT. 26 - MOON AND POLLUX
Pollux is the brightest star in the constellation Gemini and one of the most colorful in Earth's sky. It's also one of the closest bright stars at just 34 light years. This morning it will shine just 1.6 degrees from the waning gibbous moon (about the width of your pinky finger at arm's length), about a third of which will be illuminated tonight. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 24 - LAST QUARTER MOON (ALL NIGHT)
The moon will rise half-lit in the east at midnight tonight, as seen from Earth. That's because it reaches the Last Quarter (also called the Third Quarter), which marks the completion of three-quarters of its monthly journey around the sun. That moment officially comes at 2:50 p.m. EDT when the moon is below the horizon for those in North America.
Its left-hand half will be illuminated, as observed from the northern hemisphere. It will set in the west around midday on Wednesday, Sept. 25. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, SEPT. 23 - LAST CHANCE FOR THE MILKY WAY (ALL NIGHT)
With the moon rising late at night, there's one last window of moonless dark skies to see the Milky Way while it's still prominent. Now sinking into the southwestern horizon, it's still an incredible sight if you can escape light pollution. You should get a fantastic view any night for the rest of this month. Come October, however, it will be lost in the horizon haze, not returning to view until April. — Jamie Carter
What to look for this weekend
FRIDAY, SEPT. 20 - FOMALHAUT (ALL NIGHT)
September is the perfect month to look for Fomalhaut, the "autumn star," from mid-northern latitudes. It's the 18th brightest star in the night sky, but one generally associated with the southern hemisphere. Those observing from about 40 degrees north and below can see it this month just above due south, below Saturn. It's in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish, just 25 light-years away from the solar system. — Jamie Carter
Related: Fomalhaut: 'Eye of Sauron' With A 'Zombie Planet'
SATURDAY, SEPT. 21 - GREAT SQUARE OF PEGASUS (AFTER SUNSET)
After it gets dark tonight — and any night this month — look to the east, and you'll quickly find four stars that appear to make a square (albeit on its side, so looking more like a diamond). It will be just to the right of the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia.
The corner four stars — Scheat, Alpheratz, Markab and Algenib — make up the Great Square in the constellation of Pegasus. It's likely more prominent than you might expect, and it's hard to ignore after you've found it. Its rise in the east signals the coming of autumn, which begins tomorrow. — Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, SEPT. 22 - MOON AND THE PLEIADES ON THE EQUINOX (PRE-DAWN)
It's not something you can see, but today at 7:44 a.m. EDT is equinox, meaning equal night in Latin. It means roughly 12 hours of day and 12 hours of night worldwide (although that technically occurs on Sept. 26 for 40 degrees latitude). It's a landmark moment of the year for stargazers and amateur astronomers in the northern hemisphere because there will finally be more darkness than daylight.
However, today's real attraction is the close pass of the 75%-illuminated waning gibbous moon and the Pleiades. There will be just 0.2 degrees between the two at 5:17 a.m. EDT. Uranus will be just below but too dim to see with the naked eye. — Jamie Carter
Read more: See the moon meet up with the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades this weekend
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19 - THE NORTHERN CROSS
The Southern Cross is a fabulous sight for those in the Southern Hemisphere, but did you know there's also a Northern Cross? It's more commonly known as the constellation Cygnus, the swan, though it looks much more like a cross than a bird to most eyes. Face southeast tonight anytime after dark, and you should be able to pick out Deneb, a bright star and one of the corners of the famous Summer Triangle asterism. Return to Debeb, and you'll see three stars close to it within the Summer Triangle and another single star in the middle of the Summer Triangle, called Albireo. Put them together, and you have the head of a swan (Albireo) with the wings behind or, more obviously, a simple cross. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 17 - FULL 'HARVEST SUPERMOON', A PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
The Earth partially eclipsing the second-largest supermoon of the year may seem like a terrific double-header not to miss, but it's set to be a slightly underwhelming event. Although the moon turns full at 10:34 p.m. EDT, that's not when to look. Instead, look east at moonrise to make the best of the moon illusion, the human brain's strong tendency for the moon to appear larger than it is when it's just coming over the horizon. This phenomenon will explain why the rising "Harvest Moon" will look full rather than because it's a supermoon, which, although it places it closer to Earth than on average, will make no discernable difference to its visible size. For the proof, go look at the full moon once it's risen higher —it won't look any different from any other. As a bonus, on the other side of the sky at moonrise, bright Venus will shine close to Spica.
Later in the evening, a partial lunar eclipse will occur. It will see only a small slither of the moon's edge (just 8.4%) recede into Earth's central shadow, with the best time to view it 10:12-11:15 p.m. EDT (3:12-4:15 a.m. GMT on Wednesday, Sept. 18). However, it's also fun to watch the Earth's fuzzier penumbral shadow travel across the moon. You can get a full schedule for your location on Timeanddate.
Wherever you watch the full "supermoon" rise from today, watch for Saturn to its upper-right. — Jamie Carter
Read more: Don't miss the Harvest Moon Supermoon lunar eclipse tonight! Here's what to expect
Editor's note: If you are unable to watch the lunar eclipse in person you can watch all the action unfold online here on Space.com. We have rounded up several lunar eclipse livestreams that are showing the Super Harvest Moon on Sept. 17.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18 - A TRUE 'HARVEST SUPERMOON' (PRE-DAWN)
Although it was yesterday that the "supermoon" was celebrated, it's early this morning that the moon reaches perigee — its closest point to Earth on its slightly elliptical monthly orbital path. It reached that point at 8:26 a.m. EDT today. So, if you catch it close to moonset where you are, you'll see the true "supermoon." However, it won't be quite full — see its slightly ragged lower-right edge (as seen from the northern hemisphere). Come back at moonrise later today and you'll see an almost full moon with a slightly more ragged top-right edge. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, SEPT. 16 - SUMMER TRIANGLE AND SUMMER DIAMOND (AFTER SUNSET)
Summer is almost over. How do we know? The Summer Triangle of stars — Deneb, Vega and Altair — and beginning to sink in the west as it gets dark. After riding high all summer, the famous asterism is now looking lop-sided as the night wears on. However, it's got some staying power yet, with tonight offering the chance to make the triangle into a diamond. Face south, and you'll see Altair at the bottom of the triangle, at its tip, with Deneb high up above the east and Vega towards the west. Now make a triangle on the other side of Altair and Vega, with a reasonably bright star called Rasalhague. It's the brightest star in Ophiuchus, a large yet little-known constellation, one of the 13th zodiacal constellations. With Deneb opposite, Rasalhague makes a Summer Diamond shape. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 17 - MOON OCCULTS SATURN (PRE-DAWN)
Last month, sky-watchers in Europe saw Saturn occulted — covered up or eclipsed — by the moon. This month, it's the turn of those in North America to watch the ringed planet dramatically disappear for about 45 minutes behind an almost full moon. This lunar occultation of Saturn will take place between 4:08 a.m. and 8:07 a.m. EDT and will be visible along the western United States, Australia, western Canada and north-western Mexico, to name but a few. To see if the occultation is visible from your location, check out IntheSky.org.— Jamie Carter
Related: Astrophotographer captures Saturn vanishing behind the moon in mesmerizing photo.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13 - VENUS CLOSE TO SPICA (AFTER SUNSET)
If you've yet to see Venus this year, tonight is an excellent opportunity. The second planet from the sun has been conspicuous by its absence from the evening night sky since 2023 but is now beginning to shine more brightly after sunset just above the west-southwest horizon. After the sun and moon, it's the brightest object in the night sky, shining at magnitude -3.9 tonight.
As a bonus, you'll find another bright object nearby, just a couple of degrees (the span of your two smallest fingers at arm's length) to the left. That's Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo and the 16th brightest star in the night sky. This bluish-white helium star is about 262 light-years distant and hugely luminous (it's about 2,300 times more luminous than the sun).
Try to catch Venus as the "Evening Star" and Virgo's brightest star quickly after sunset because they will sink soon after.
The sight of Spica is associated with summer in the northern hemisphere, so its disappearance soon after sunset signals that the summer season is about to end, with autumn officially arriving in the northern hemisphere on Sept. 22. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, SEPT. 12 - MOON IN THE AFTERNOON (DAYTIME)
The week before the full moon is perfect for seeing the moon in the afternoon. It rises in the southeast (as seen from the northern hemisphere) in mid-afternoon. Since it's already reached its first quarter phase, it's now a waxing gibbous moon, which means over half of its visible face is illuminated, and it's waxing towards full.
Since the moon is 400,000 times less bright than the sun, it won't be immediately apparent in a blue sky, but keep looking, and you'll quickly see it with your naked eyes. As the day progresses into the evening, it will rise higher and become more prominent and then dominate the southern sky as twilight takes hold.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11 - FIRST QUARTER MOON (MIDDAY TO MIDNIGHT)
The moon takes 29.5 days to orbit Earth, roughly dividing its journey into four phases. Tonight sees it reach first quarter, which marks the halfway point between a new and full moon.
Rising around midday and setting around midnight, the moon will be precisely 50% illuminated — as seen from Earth — at 2:06 a.m. EDT (0606 GMT). That's because it's at a 90-degree angle from the sun, so only its eastern side will receive sunlight.
It's an excellent naked-eye target for twilight that puts the eastern side of the moon on display.— Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 10 - MOON AND ANTARES (AFTER SUNSET)
During evening twilight, a half-moon will shine brightly in the south. Look to its right, and you'll see the red supergiant star Antares, the brightest in the constellation Scorpius, one of the 13 zodiac constellations. It's prominent at this time of year from both hemispheres. Look carefully, and you'll notice the reddish-orange color of Antares, a symptom of its relatively low temperature.
Around 604 light-years from Earth, Antares is 700 times the sun's diameter. If it were in the solar system, it would engulf Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Its name means "anti-Ares" or "rival of Mars" because the red planet passes close to it every 26 months. Scorpius is a region of the sky rich in star fields and deep sky objects (such as the Butterfly Cluster (NGC 6405 and Messier 6), Ptolemy's Cluster (NGC 6475 or M7) and M4) because it's near the center of the Milky Way. — Jamie Carter
Read more: Night sky, September 2024: What you can see tonight [maps]
SEPT. 6 - A CRESCENT MOON AND SPICA (AFTER SUNSET)
Look due west again tonight just after sunset, and with a clear view low to the west-southwest horizon, you'll see a crescent moon a little higher in the sky.
This time, Venus will be farther to the lower right of the crescent moon, close to the horizon. Now around 13% illuminated, it should be possible to see a trace of light on the moon's dark side, opposite the crescent. That's sunlight reflected from Earth onto the moon; it's called "Da Vinci glow," "planet-shine," or "Earthshine."
Look carefully, and you'll see a star to the moon's right. That's Spica in Virgo, one of the brightest stars that the moon appears to frequently pass on its monthly journey around Earth. — Jamie Carter
THURSDAY, SEPT. 5 - A CRESCENT MOON AND VENUS (AFTER SUNSET)
Look west just after sunset for a remarkable sight denied to stargazers since last year. The two brightest objects in the sky aside from the sun — the moon and Venus — will tonight shine about six degrees (the span of your three middle fingers held at arm's length) from each other for a short time after sunset.
You'll need a good view low to the western horizon (try a tall building or observe from a west-facing beach). The crescent moon will be very delicate and may require binoculars. Venus is known as the "Evening Star" in its current apparition because it's visible after sunset. — Jamie Carter
Related: Night sky, September 2024: What you can see tonight [maps]
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4 - YOUNG MOON VISITS VENUS
As the sun sets on Wednesday, Sept. 4 the waxing crescent moon will be just above the western horizon near a bright Venus. A very thin crescent moon will be located just several finger-widths to Venus' lower right (to its celestial west) — close enough that both can be seen by binoculars (orange circle in the image above).
Skywatchers viewing the pair from southerly latitudes will be able to see the moon more easily, as the pair will be close to the horizon at sunset for everyone else.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 4 - MERCURY (PRE-DAWN)
Mercury, the closest planet to the sun, is rarely seen. Since it orbits so close to our star, it's typically lost in its glare and impossible to see. That changes occasionally when its position in the solar system relative to Earth puts it temporarily high above the horizon on a few successive days. It can only ever be visible from Earth just before sunrise or just after sunset. The former is the case tonight, with Mercury's so-called "greatest western elongation" from the sun (at 18 degrees) placing it just above the eastern horizon about half an hour before sunrise this morning. You'll need a good view low to the eastern horizon, but at magnitude +0.4 the tiny planet is relatively dim — don't expect much more than a red dot. It's worth returning at the same time on Saturday, Sept. 8, when Mercury appears a little higher in the sky. — Jamie Carter
TUESDAY, SEPT. 3 - NORTHERN LIGHTS (AFTER SUNSET)
There is no guarantee of northern lights tonight, or any night this month, but something about September makes them more likely and, in theory, more intense. Given that the nights are drawing in in the northern hemisphere, and the moon sets early all this week, it may be a good week to see them at lower latitudes than is typical.
The reason is what's known as the Russell-McPherron Effect. It's a hypothesis from a paper published in 1973 that the tilt of the Earth's axis at the time of equinox (which occurs on Sept. 22) puts it side-on to the sun, meaning Earth's magnetic field is aligned to the solar wind. This means a greater chance of more intense geomagnetic storms, which cause aurora displays.
You'll need to consult the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center to see if there's a favorable prediction tonight (a G4 or a G5 geomagnetic storm is what you want if you live in mid-northern latitudes), but aurora hunters often claim that the equinoxes are the best times for beautiful displays. Pay special attention to NOAA's 3-day Forecast and the prediction for the aurora view line for tonight and tomorrow. — Jamie Carter
Related: Aurora season is here: What to expect from the northern lights in 2024/25
What to look out for this weekend
SATURDAY, AUG. 31 - AUGURID METEOR SHOWER (PRE-DAWN)
It won't be a spectacular display, but expect about six "shooting stars" per hour as the Aurigid meteor shower peaks tonight. It's named after the Auriga constellation, which will rise in the northeast around midnight and highest just before dawn breaks. It's not worth staying up for per se, but if you're out stargazing in the early hours today, keep an eye out for fast-moving meteors. The Aurigids are active each year from Aug. 28 through Sept. 4.— Jamie Carter
SUNDAY, SEPT. 1 - CRESCENT MOON AND MERCURY (PRE-DAWN)
Mercury orbits the sun every 88 days, closer to the sun than Earth, so we see it briefly emerge from the sun's glare only now and again. Today, it will be just below and right from a very slim crescent moon about an hour before sunrise in the pre-dawn sky. It won't be easy to see with the naked eye, but the moon will help you find it. Look out for mesmerizing Earthshine (sunlight is reflected off Earth) on the moon's dark side. — Jamie Carter
MONDAY, SEPT. 2 - FALSE DAWN (PRE-DAWN)
On Monday, Sept. 2, at 9:55 p.m. EDT, the moon will officially reach its new moon phase. It’s impossible to see because it’s roughly between the Earth and the sun, so lost in the latter’s glare (unless there's a solar eclipse, which is precisely what will happen next month when an annular solar eclipse will be seen from the southern hemisphere). That makes it the perfect night to see faint objects in the night sky. If you can get far away from light pollution, September is a great time to see the “false dawn” or zodiacal light, which becomes visible about an hour before sunrise in the eastern sky. It is sunlight scattered off dust in the solar system and is brightest close to the autumnal equinox, which will occur later this month. — Jamie Carter
Related: Wonder at the 'false dawn' of zodiacal light in early autumn
FRIDAY, AUG. 30 - CRESCENT MOON AND THE WINTER STARS (PRE-DAWN)
Look to the east for a view on the morning of Aug. 30, of a slim, waning crescent moon in the subtle light of dawn. Just a tenth of its surface will be sun-lit as it glides below two stars, Castor and Pollux, in the constellation Gemini. The top star, Castor, is 51 light-years distant, while the yellowish Pollux, between it and the moon, is 34 light-years away. These "twins" of Gemini are best known as winter evening stars. Look to the right, and you'll see other winter stars, including the three famous stars of Orion's Belt — Mintaka, Alnilam and Alnitak — and ruddy Betelgeuse. This red supergiant will one day go supernova. — Jamie Carter
WEDNESDAY AUG 28 - CATCH 6 PLANETS ACROSS THE SKY
From late August to early September mornings, six planets — Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn — will be visible across the morning sky. Looking East. South and West, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be relatively easy to spot the other three will be a bit more of a challenge.
You'll need a small telescope or binoculars to see the dimmer planets Uranus and Neptune and Mercury will only appear about 30 minutes or so before sunrise.
You can use a program like Stellarium to discover what is visible in the night sky from your viewing location at a particular time.
TUESDAY, AUG. 27: WATCH ALGOL BRIGHTEN
The summer nights are perfect for observing the strange star Algol (or Beta Persei) in the constellation Perseus. It is one of the most easy-to-monitor variable stars.
During a ten-hour period that repeats every 2 days, 20 hours, and 49 minutes, Algol dims noticeably and then re-brightens when a companion star with an orbit nearly edge-on to Earth crosses behind the much brighter main star, reducing the total light output we perceive.
Algol normally shines at magnitude 2.1, similar to the nearby star Almach in Andromeda. But while dimmed to minimum brightness, Algol's magnitude of 3.4 is almost the same as the star Rho Persei (ρ Per), which shines just two finger widths to Algol's lower right (or 2.25 degrees to the celestial south). — Chris Vaughan
MONDAY, AUG. 26 - THIRD QUARTER MOON
A third (or last) quarter moon looks half-lit and appears around midnight. The sight of it rising in the east late at night can be dramatic. This moon phase is much-loved by naked-eye stargazers precisely because it rises s