Early risers are in for a treat this week as a delicate waning crescent moon sweeps through the predawn sky, passing bright star Pollux and Regulus, and planets Mars and Jupiter, before disappearing into a new moon. Along the way comes one of the week’s standout sights: a beautiful pairing of the moon and Jupiter on Sept. 8, with a daytime lunar occultation of the giant planet visible from much of North America through a telescope. As moonlight fades, the return of dark skies also brings one of the year’s best opportunities to spot the elusive zodiacal light before dawn. Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and the night sky from Monday, Sept. 7 through Sunday, Sept. 13.

Monday, Sept. 7: Moon, Pollux, Mars And Jupiter Look east before sunrise to see the 17%-lit waning crescent moon high above Pollux in the constellation Gemini, with Mars farther to the upper right and brilliant Jupiter lower in the east. It’s a striking triangular lineup of celestial sights to begin the week.

Tuesday, Sept. 8: Moon Meets Jupiter The thin 9%-lit crescent moon hangs just above Jupiter before dawn, creating one of the week’s finest naked-eye sights. Later, observers across much of North America can watch the moon briefly occult Jupiter in daylight through a telescope.

Wednesday, Sept. 9: Moon Meets Regulus Just two days before new moon, the slender 4%-lit waning crescent moon rises with Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. From today through around Sept. 24, dark, moonless mornings also provide one of the year’s best chances to spot the zodiacal light stretching up from the eastern horizon before dawn.

Thursday, Sept. 10: New Moon The moon reaches its new phase, leaving the night sky free of moonlight. The coming nights offer superb conditions for observing star clusters, galaxies and the Milky Way from dark locations.

Saturday, Sept. 12: Young Crescent Moon Look low in the west-southwest after sunset for the season’s first slender 4%-lit waxing crescent moon. It won’t be easy to find, but try if you have a clear view of the western horizon. Mercury also lies nearby, although it may also prove challenging to spot in the bright twilight.

Sunday, Sept. 13: Moon, Venus And Spica The 9%-lit waxing crescent moon forms a beautiful triangle with brilliant Venus and Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, low in the west-southwest after sunset. Find an unobstructed horizon and begin looking about 30 minutes after sunset before the trio sinks from view.

This is the best week of the month for deep-sky observing thanks to the new moon. If you have access to a dark location, look east about two hours before sunrise between Sept. 9 and Sept. 24 for the zodiacal light—a broad, softly glowing pyramid of sunlight reflected from dust left behind by comets and asteroid collisions in the inner solar system. It’s one of the most beautiful naked-eye sights of the year — but it’s not easy to see. Get yourself somewhere dark on a light pollution map — or head to a Dark Sky Place .

Constellation of the Week: Piscis Austrinus

Low in the southern sky about two hours after sunset, you’ll see — rising with, and to the right of, planet Saturn — a single bright star that immediately catches the eye. This is Fomalhaut, the brightest star in Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish. Unlike most constellations, this one is not about shape — it’s about isolation. Fomalhaut sits in a relatively empty region of the sky, making it stand out even more. That simplicity makes it a useful signpost for stargazing. At about 25 light-years away, Fomalhaut is relatively nearby and surrounded by a vast disk of debris — evidence of ongoing planet formation. It’s one of the few stars where we’ve directly imaged such a structure.

Stargazing Tip of the Week: Look For Zodiacal Light

Many people mistake the zodiacal light for the glow of a distant town, but under a genuinely dark sky it’s unmistakable. About two hours before sunrise, look east for a broad cone of soft light rising from the horizon. It’s sunlight reflecting from countless tiny dust particles orbiting the sun — a reminder that our solar system is still filled with the raw material left over from its formation.

The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium . Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.