In Our Skies, September and October 2026

Mark your calendar and prep your telescope. September 8 about 3:00 p.m. EDT, the Moon will occult Jupiter. This is a daylight event. However, October 6, about 4:15 a.m. EDT, the Moon will occult Jupiter again, and this time it will be dark, providing better contrast.
September 23 is Autumnal Equinox, so this is the first day of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. For our friends in the Southern Hemisphere, this is the first day of Spring.
September 26 Neptune will be at opposition, meaning it will be on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun.
October 4 Saturn will be at opposition.
October 7 is the evening of the peak of the Draconids Meteor Shower. This shower is best viewed in early evening shortly after dark. This differs from other showers that peak in the early morning hours. While only a few meteors per hour are predicted (~10), the dark Moon will aid in seeing the ones it does produce.
October 21 is the Orionids Meteor Shower. This year a lot of moonlight will wash out the fainter meteors.
October 12 Mercury is at its greatest eastern elongation. Look low in the western sky just after sunset.