September Is Packed With Stunning Sky Events—With Planet Parades, Eclipses, and Northern Lights

The fall is prime time to enjoy the outdoors leaf peepingStargazers will also have plenty to see this month. There are many things to look forward to this month, including spectacular planet gatherings, solar eclipses and Saturn’s opposition.

It’s also September which means that it is officially aurora season in the northern hemisphere—and experts say this year could produce above-average lights sightings given the sun’s 11-year peak of activity, known as solar maximum. The U.S. is in its final month for viewing the Milky Way’s core. It’s visible until November. visit a dark-sky park It is especially visible around the new moon of Sept. 21.

Plan your September stargazing. What to look for this month in the night skies.

Sept. 1-7: Morning Planet Parade

In the early morning sky, you can see Venus, Jupiter and Uranus. Uranus and Neptune can only be seen with strong binoculars, or through a telescope. Mercury, which is usually located just below Venus during the first hour of sunrise, joins in on the fun. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune will be aligned on the eastern sky.

Sept. 7: Lunar Eclipse

The full corn moon in September will cause a partial lunar eclipse to occur in some parts of world including Asia, Russia. eastern Africa and Australia. In the U.S., we won’t have another lunar eclipse until 2026. You can still watch the eclipse even if you are not in the viewing zone. Time and Date’s livestream You can watch the event from your own home.

Moon and Jupiter meet on September 16

In the early morning of September 16, a thin crescent moon appears just above Jupiter. The duo will appear above the eastern skyline around 2 a.m.

Saturn Reaches Opposition on Sept. 21,

As it approaches opposition on September 21, the planet’s rings will be their largest and most vibrant. Earth is smack between the planet’s ring and the sun during opposition. Our bright star puts the planet in the spotlight—kind of like the full-moon effect—and it’s best viewed around midnight. Saturn is at opposition on September 21, but you’ll still be able to see the sixth planet of our solar system until October.

Sept. 21: Partial Solar Eclipse

A partial solar eclipse will occur in mid-September over Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica as well as portions of the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. according to NASA. New Zealand is arguably the country with the best view. Both the north island and south island enjoyed optimal visibility on that morning from around 5:40 to 8:40 NZST. per Time and Date.

September 22: Fall Equinox

The autumnal equinox of this year occurs at 2:19 pm. ET. The sun is passing over the celestial pole on the first day in fall. according to Adler Planetarium. If you’ve waited to see the northern lights, now is your chance. plan an aurora chaseNow is the time.