Planetarium Show: Late Summer Stars, Moon and Planets

Organised by : South Downs Planetarium

In September, from dark locations and when there is no bright Moon in the sky, the faintly glowing band of the Milky Way will be seen arching right across the sky, with the stars of the Summer Triangle well placed. The familiar W-shaped pattern of Cassiopeia, the Queen, is now distinctive in the eastern sky.

The Harvest Moon will be bright for a day or two before and after 18th September, rising a little after 8 pm for several days after Full Moon.

There is also a fine display of planets. The ringed planet Saturn is seen to the south-east as soon as darkness falls, although the rings are now closing and are not as well displayed as they were just a few years ago. The brilliant Jupiter rises in the late evening followed closely by the lovely Red Planet, Mars.

The planetarium opens 45 minutes before show time. Please prebook your tickets and look very carefully at the directions shown on the website: road works mean that the only sensible approach by car is currently from the northeast.