Name: Dark Sky Weekend
Start: 2026-09-11
End: 2026-09-13

Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the Mile High City this week.

September 14:

DAS General Meeting: “A Graphical Tour of the Cosmos”w/ Dr. Ed Friedman: Free, in-person event at Secular Hub: 7:00PM
Check out the waxing crescent Harvest Moon near Venus: low in the western sky in the constellation Virgo just after sunset at 8:00PM

September 15:

On September 15, 1966: Gemini 11 returned to Earth after a three-day mission that included rendezvous and docking with an Agena target vehicle and two spacewalks. The mission also carried several astronomical experiments, including ultraviolet and “dim sky” photography.

September 16:

DAS Astrophotography Special Interest Group (ASIG) – Advanced Image Processing: Free, virtual, members’ only event via Zoom (see membership email or Slack for details): 7:00PM

September 17:

Look for the waxing crescent Harvest Moon near Antares, the bright red giant in the heart of Scorpius low in the southwestern sky around 8:00PM

September 18:

Standley Lake Stargazing: International Observe the Moon Night: Free, in-person event at Majestic View Nature Center: 7:30PM
Northern Colorado Astronomical Society Stargazing: Free, in-person event at Fossil Creek Reservoir (registration required): 7:30PM
Colorado Springs Astronomical Society Star Party: Free, in-person event at Garden of the Gods: 7:30PM
Astronomical League Live: “As the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Graduates from Construction to Discoveries” with Dr. Dominic Benford: Free, virtual event via Facebook: 5:00PM
CU Boulder Observatory Open House: Free, in-person event at Sommers-Bausch Observatory: 8:00PM
First quarter Harvest Moon: 2:43PM
The fist quarter Harvest Moon reaches apogee, its farthest distance from Earth in its orbit at 404,221km: 9:00PM

September 19:

DAS International Observe the Moon Night Open House: Free, in-person event at Chamberlin Observatory and Observatory Park: 5:00PM-10:00PM
Standley Lake Stargazing: International Observe the Moon Night: Free, in-person event at Standley Lake Regional Park & Wildlife Refuge: 7:30PM
Colorado Springs Astronomical Society Star Party: Free, in-person event at Castelwood Canyon State Park: 7:30PM
Astronomy Night with NoCo Astronomical Society: Free, in-person event at Firefly Meadow Nature Area (registration required): 7:30PM
Look for the waxing gibbous Harvest Moon in the Teapot asterism in the southern sky in the constellation Sagittarius around 8:00PM

September 20:

Colorado Skies: The Fall Equinox at Fiske Planetarium

Colorado Skies: The Fall Equinox: Ticketed, in-person lecture at Fiske Planetarium: 2:30PM

This Week’s Solar System Summary:

The Sun rises around 6:40 AM at the start of the week and 6:45 AM by Sunday, while sunset moves from about 7:09 PM to 7:00 PM, continuing the steady decline in daylight as we approach the autumn equinox.
The Moon moves from the afternoon and evening sky early in the week toward the evening and late-night sky by the weekend. The First Quarter Moon occurs September 18.
Mercury remains very difficult to observe, low in the western sky after sunset and close to the Sun. It will gradually become easier to spot later in the month.
Venus shines brilliantly in the western sky after sunset, but it is getting lower each evening as it approaches the end of its evening apparition. It sets roughly an hour after the Sun, so look for it soon after sunset with a clear western horizon.
Mars rises around 1:30 AM and is visible in the eastern sky during the predawn hours. It is slowly brightening and becoming a more interesting morning target.
Jupiter rises around 3:30–4:00 AM and is visible in the eastern sky before sunrise. It is the brighter of the two morning planets and should be relatively easy to spot with an unobstructed eastern horizon.
Saturn rises around 8:00 PM and remains visible for most of the night. It is the best-placed planet for evening observing this week and is becoming an increasingly prominent target as it approaches its October opposition.
Uranus rises around 10:15 PM and remains above the horizon into the following afternoon. It is well placed for late-night observing, with binoculars recommended for most observers. Under very dark skies, experienced observers may be able to see it without optical aid.
Neptune rises around 7:30–8:00 PM and is visible throughout most of the night. It reaches opposition later this month, making September an excellent time to seek out this distant blue planet with a telescope.

This Week’s Meteoric Activity:

You can keep track of the activity of meteor showers as well as those beyond the limits of visual observing by visiting the NASA Meteor Shower Portal.