Tuesday, September 9 Face the setting Sun just north of due west this evening, then look 90 degrees to your left for the Moon, just west of due south. Although the Moon's right half is illuminated, the Moon's phase is called First Quarter because the Moon has moved a quarter of the way around the sky from the Sun's position. As the sky darkens, look for Antares 11 degrees to Moon's lower right. On Wednesday and Thursday, first-magnitude Mercury is 3.3 degrees below Regulus in E at dawn. For about 15 minutes, starting an hour before sunrise, binoculars show pair in same field.
Mercury climbs higher in next week and brightens, fast becoming prominent to unaided eye.
In WSW at dusk, use binoculars to see Spica 5 degrees to Venus' lower right. Mars is 19 degrees to Venus' upper left. To lower left of Moon at nightfall, look for the eight stars of 2nd and 3rd magnitude forming the Teapot in the constellation Sagittarius, the Archer. In the south an hour after sunset, look for a 2nd-magnitude star 7 degrees below the Moon. It is Nunki, or Sigma Sagittarii, brightest star in handle of the Teapot.