Sirius (which is part of the Winter Triangle that is made up of Betelgeuse, Procyon, and Sirius) is located in Canis Major, or the Big Dog. As comparison, at that time, Venus will also appear to be about ten times brighter than the second brightest planet in the night sky, Jupiter.

Venus began the month rising into the eastern portion of the night sky at about 5:30 a.m. (local times, and about 1.5 hours before the Sun appears in the sky), and is appearing earlier as the month of September progresses so that by the end of the month it will appear in the night sky at about 3:30 a.m. (about four hours before the Sun appears).

The glowing gold light of Venus in the early morning sky will appear in a crescent shape. The goldish color is due to the reflected sunlight from the Sun as it prepares to rise later in the morning.

During the end of September and early into October, Venus, the second closest planet to the Sun, will appear close to the star Regulus and the planet Saturn. Saturn will be to the left of Venus and below it in the sky.

Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo, will appear between Venus and Saturn. Saturn is brighter than Regulus. Because Saturn is a planet it will shine with a steadier light than the star Regulus. Planets “shine” due to reflected light from the Sun, while stars “shine” from their own light.


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