Eyes Up, Stargazers! Here’s What You Can See in September Night Skies
September brings dazzling planets, a harvest moon and the official shift to autumn.
September offers stargazers a variety of celestial events to observe before the full apple cider and hoodie season arrives. The month kicks off with two meteor showers, one ending early in the month and the other starting later. The Aurigids meteor shower peaks on September 1, while the Southern Taurids meteor shower lasts from September 20 to November 20, peaking in early November.
The moon will align with several planets throughout September, providing opportunities to spot them in the night sky. On September 7, the moon and Mars will be visible together shortly after 3 a.m. local time. The following morning, the moon will be followed by Jupiter, making both easy to find. Mercury and the moon will meet up at sunset on September 12, and the moon will align with Venus on September 14-15.
September also marks the beginning of autumn, with the fall equinox occurring on September 22 at 8:05 p.m. ET. This event signifies the start of apple cider, bonfire, and hoodie season, as well as the Halloween season. Opposition refers to a planet's closest approach to Earth along its orbit, making it easier to observe. On September 25, Neptune will be in opposition, appearing close to Saturn and the moon in the night sky. However, its faintness may make it challenging to see due to light pollution.
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