Be sure to enjoy the rich regions of Scorpius and Ophiuchus this month before they sink below the western horizon. Just above them lies a rich region around the heart of the Milky Way, brimming with star clusters and bright nebulae. In contrast, the eastern half of the sky is relatively empty, although you can still find several constellations, including Pisces, the Fishes; Cetus, the Whale; and Eridanus, the River.

Lying in the constellation Tucana, the Small Magellanic Cloud can be found close to the beautiful globular cluster 47 Tucanae, also known as NGC 104, which is a must-see target in the September southern skies. It is visible to the naked eye as a hazy star, while a small telescope shows its bright centre and many of its glittering stars. This cluster is 15,000 light-years away. Other visible targets include the globular clusters M22 in Sagittarius, NGC 6397 in Ara, and M4 in Scorpius. The open clusters M6 and M7 in Scorpius are also visible.

There are also a few interesting targets in Aquarius. The globular cluster M2 appears as a fuzzy star through binoculars and is near the star Beta Aquarii. And the planetary nebula NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula, appears as a faint fuzzy disc through a small telescope. Another globular cluster, M15, in Pegasus, is thought to be 13.2 billion years old and can be picked out with binoculars, while a small telescope shows it clearly.

The Mornington Peninsula Astronomical Society will host its biannual Telescope Learning Day on September 20. Suitable for all ages and for absolute beginners on their astronomy journey – whether you own a telescope or not – the day involves talks during the afternoon and early evening, then telescope practice and use outdoors as it darkens. Booking are essential; see the website for more details.

By Nerida Langcake
This article appeared in the September 2025 issue of the Mornington Peninsula Magazine.