September’s Night Sky Will Have 8 Celestial Wonders—Including Fireball Meteors, the ‘False Dawn,’ and a Harvest Moon
From the “false dawn” of the zodiacal light to Neptune at peak visibility, early autumn provides plenty of reasons to turn your eyes upward.
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As daytime travelers hit the road for autumn foliage , stargazers get an extended season of their own starting in September.
With the fall equinox approaching, nights grow longer across much of the Northern Hemisphere, and cooler temperatures make spending a few extra hours under the stars all the more inviting. From late-season views of the Milky Way core to the "false dawn" of the zodiacal light, September offers plenty of reasons to stay out after dark—especially from a stargazing resort or dark-sky park .
Read on for September's best skywatching moments, including when to look and what to search for.
Peak of the Epsilon Perseid Meteor Shower (Sept. 9 to 10)
While unrelated to August's more prolific Perseid meteor shower , the Epsilon Perseids are still known for producing occasional bright fireballs and luminous streaks. This year's shower will reach its peak just ahead of September's new moon, creating dark sky conditions that will offer excellent opportunities for spotting fainter meteors. Look for the radiant of this shower, capable of producing five to eight meteors per hour, in the constellation Perseus .
New Moon Ushers in Dark Nighttime Views (Sept. 10)
September's new moon arrives at 11:27 p.m. ET on Sept. 10, but skywatchers can take advantage of exceptional dark skies in the days before and after. Besides taking in the beauty of the Milky Way core, visible just after sunset toward the southwest, travelers can also try spotting the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). Located high in the east-northeast sky, right next to the "W" shape of the Cassiopeia constellation, this deep-sky object can easily be spotted with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope, per EarthSky .
Crescent Moon Meets Venus (Sept. 14)
One of the month's most beautiful pairings will take place on the evening of Sept. 14, when a thin crescent moon appears close to brilliant Venus. Look west after sunset to spot the pair low above the horizon as twilight fades.
Fall Equinox Marks Return of Longer Nights (Sept. 22)
The astronomical start of autumn arrives on Sept. 22 with the fall equinox, when day and night are roughly equal in length across much of the globe. For stargazers in the Northern Hemisphere, this seasonal transition marks a welcome turning point as nighttime hours begin to outpace the day.
Zodiacal Light Brightens the Predawn Sky (Sept. 22)
Following the fall equinox on Sept. 22, the prime viewing window for the elusive zodiacal light opens across the Northern Hemisphere. Often called the "false dawn," this subtle glow appears as a faint pyramid of light stretching upward from the eastern horizon roughly 80 to 120 minutes before sunrise. The phenomenon occurs when sunlight reflects off interplanetary dust grains along the inner solar system, with late September offering optimal conditions for early risers in dark-sky regions.
Venus at Greatest Visual Brilliance (Sept. 18 to 22)
Venus reaches peak brilliance in the second half of September, shining exceptionally bright low in the western sky after sunset. Nicknamed the "evening star," the planet easily outshines every star in the sky and becomes visible roughly 30 minutes after sunset.
Neptune Reaches Opposition (Sept. 25)
The solar system's most distant planet reaches opposition on Sept. 25, marking its closest and brightest appearance of the year. While Neptune will remain too distant to spot with the naked eye, it climbs within reach of a good set of binoculars or a small backyard telescope in the constellation Pisces. According to EarthSky , look for Neptune rising in the eastern sky just after sunset.
The Full Harvest Moon Rises (Sept. 26)
September's full "harvest moon" will glow in the eastern skies on Sept. 26. As the full moon closest to the fall equinox, it earned its traditional name from farmers who once relied on consecutive evenings of early moonlight to extend the harvest. While the harvest moon can be seen throughout the night, it's best to watch during moonrise—shortly after sunset—when the lunar orb appears larger than normal thanks to what NASA calls the moon illusion .
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