Celestial Events in September 2024: The Month of Saturn!

~9 min
Topics:Skywatching
Sky in September 2024
©Vito Technology, Inc.

September is a stargazer's dream come true! This month has it all: a bright comet, a Supermoon, an equinox, a lunar eclipse, a brilliant Saturn, and even more. And to see all these events, you don't need anything but our free Sky Tonight app – it'll help you easily find celestial objects in the sky above you and ensure you don't miss out on the key astronomical highlights of the month. Now, let's dive into what September has in store for us!

Contents

Astronomical events in September 2024

We provide event dates in Greenwich Mean Time. For your location, the exact date may differ. To find out the time of the event at your location, use the Sky Tonight application.

*The highlighted events are the outstanding events of the month.

About magnitude: the faintest magnitude for stars and planets visible to the naked eye in cities with moderate light pollution is about 4. The limiting magnitude of an optical device depends on its specification but rarely exceeds 11.

Bortle Scale of Light Pollution
Wondering if you can spot that galaxy or nebula from your backyard? 🌌Our infographic has the answers! Here we use the Bortle Scale to illustrate how light pollution affects what you see. Get to know the night sky and enhance your stargazing experience!
See Infographic

Planets in September 2024

Northern Hemisphere

At the beginning and middle of the month, Mercury (mag -0.3) is visible for about an hour before sunrise, low above the eastern horizon in Leo. The planet reaches its maximum distance from the Sun as seen from Earth on September 5, so take your chance to catch this elusive planet. Venus (mag -3.9) can be seen very low on the western horizon for about an hour in the evening in Virgo.

Mars (mag 0.7) is visible in the morning, starting the month in Taurus and then moving into Gemini. Jupiter (mag -2.1) can be observed from night until morning in Taurus. Saturn (mag 0.7) is visible all night in Aquarius.

For dimmer planets, grab a pair of binoculars or a telescope. Spot Uranus (mag 5.6) in the morning sky within Taurus. Neptune (mag 7.8) remains above the horizon all night in Pisces.

Planets in September for the Northern Hemisphere
The recommendations for observing planets are based on the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and correspond to the middle of a given month.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

Southern Hemisphere

Mercury (mag -0.3), which reaches maximum visible distance from the Sun early this month, can be spotted early in the morning, low above the horizon in Leo. Venus (mag -3.9) is visible in the evening sky in the west, located in Virgo.

Mars (mag 0.7) appears in the morning in the northern sky, starting the month in Taurus and later moving into Gemini. You can find Jupiter (mag -2.1) in Taurus from night until morning hours. Saturn (mag 0.7) stays visible all night in Aquarius.

Uranus (mag 5.6) can be seen at night and in the morning in Taurus, while Neptune (mag 7.8) is visible around the same time in Pisces. Both Uranus and Neptune are faint planets, so you'll need binoculars or a telescope to spot them.

Constellations in September

For those watching from the Northern Hemisphere, well-placed constellations in September include Cygnus, Delphinus, and Corona Borealis.

Constellations in September (Northern Hemisphere)
Constellations visible from the Northern Hemisphere in September.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, your top picks for September's constellations are Capricornus, Microscopium, and Indus.

Constellations in September (Southern Hemisphere)
Constellations visible from the Southern Hemisphere in September.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

We could go into the nitty-gritty of how to track down these star patterns by other stars, but let's face it – spotting small constellations like Delphinus or Indus can be tricky, especially for beginner stargazers. That's where technology comes to the rescue! You can make things easier by using a stargazing app, such as Sky Tonight, to navigate the night sky.

All you need to do is open the app, type in the name of the constellation you're trying to find, and tap the target icon next to the matching result. Voila! The app will immediately show you exactly where that constellation is located in the sky for your specific location. And if you're curious to learn more about what you're looking at, just tap on the object's name to get all the details you need. With this tool, you can explore the wonders of the night sky like a seasoned pro.

Saturn at opposition 2024: best time to see the planet

Saturn will be at its brightest around September 8, as the planet reaches opposition. During this time, it will be visible all night long, appearing as a prominent (mag 0.6) yellowish dot to the naked eye.

Opposition occurs when a planet is positioned directly opposite the Sun from Earth's perspective. This alignment means that Saturn is fully illuminated by the Sun, making its disk and rings shine at their brightest. As the Sun sets in the west, Saturn will rise in the east, providing ideal viewing conditions.

Saturn Opposition
In astronomy, opposition occurs when a celestial object is opposite the Sun as seen from Earth.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

This period is the best time to observe Saturn's rings, which will be inclined at an angle of 13º, nearly their maximum tilt. A small 4-inch telescope is sufficient to see Saturn’s famous rings. Additionally, you might notice an unusual brightening of the rings, known as the Seeliger Effect, for a few days around the opposition. You can learn more about this effect in our dedicated article on opposition.

September Equinox 2024: first day of a new season

This year, the September equinox falls on September 22, 2024, at 12:44 GMT (07:44 a.m. EDT). At this time, neither of the Earth’s hemispheres will be tilted towards or away from the Sun. As a result, both hemispheres will receive almost the same number of hours of sunlight. This is why this day is popularly known as the day of equal day and night (read our dedicated article to find out why this isn't quite true).

Equinoxes and Solstices
Equinoxes occur at the points where the Earth’s celestial equator and the ecliptic intersect. Solstices occur at the points where the Earth’s celestial equator is farthest from the ecliptic.
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The September equinox brings autumn to the Northern Hemisphere and spring to the Southern Hemisphere. After the equinox, the Earth's Northern Hemisphere gradually tilts away from the Sun, causing temperatures to drop, plant life to slow down, and other signs of autumn to appear. Find out why we have seasons in our dedicated article.

Equinoxes and solstices aren't events observable from the Earth — you can only see their after-effects. To find out the science behind them, and the interplay between the Earth’s orbit, celestial equator, and ecliptic, watch our 40-second video.

And if you're confused about the difference between equinoxes and solstices, take a quiz. You might not get 10/10 on the first try, but here's a hint — start the quiz again for a better result and new questions!

Equinoxes & solstices quiz intro#2
Only 10% of people can get the top score in this tricky quiz about equinoxes and solstices!🌝🌏 Test your knowledge and try to join the elite few!
Take the quiz!

Zodiacal light

Around equinoxes, you can spot the curious phenomenon called the zodiacal light. It looks like a hazy pyramid of light located above the sunrise or sunset points on the horizon.

Zodiacal light
Zodiacal light or false dawn is a band of light in the night sky, thought to be sunlight reflected from cometary dust.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

Not to mistake it for the light of the nearby town, remember that in autumn, the zodiacal light appears just before dawn. In spring, it can be seen just after dusk. So in September, Northern Hemisphere observers should look for the zodiacal light in the morning, and Southern Hemisphere observers in the evening. If you're lucky enough to live in tropical latitudes, you can see the zodiacal light all year round!

The source of the zodiacal light is the dust orbiting our Sun in the inner Solar System. Sunlight reflects off the dust grains to create this beautiful light effect. Find out where these dust grains come from and how to tell the zodiacal light from the Milky Way in our dedicated article.

Equinox Full Moon

This month’s Full Moon will occur on September 18 at 02:34 GMT (September 17, 10:34 p.m. EDT). It will be the closest Full Moon to the equinox, called a Harvest Moon. In astronomy (and astrology), it’s also considered a Supermoon — a Full Moon that looks brighter and larger to observers on Earth.

Near the autumnal equinox, the Full Moon rises much faster than usual, because this is when the angle of the Moon's orbit relative to the Earth's horizon is at its minimum. For several nights in a row, a large Full Moon rises shortly after sunset. The extra light extended the evening working hours for farmers, that’s why it's called a Harvest Moon.

While observers in the Northern Hemisphere can enjoy the faster-rising Full Moon in September, those in the Southern Hemisphere can see this phenomenon around the March equinox.

Partial lunar eclipse in September 2024

During the Full Moon on September 18, a partial lunar eclipse will occur between 00:41 GMT and 04:47 GMT. This eclipse will be quite subtle, with only 3.5% of the lunar surface covered by Earth's umbral shadow, making it appear as if a teeny-tiny bite has been taken out of the Moon.

September 2024 Lunar eclipse visibility map
Visibility map of partial lunar eclipse on September 18, 2024.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

The partial lunar eclipse will be visible from Europe, much of Asia, Africa, North and South America, as well as the Arctic and Antarctica. If you're in one of these areas, be sure to catch it! This will be the last lunar eclipse of 2024, with the next one — a spectacular total eclipse where the Moon turns red — occurring in March 2025.

While you're waiting for the next eclipse, test your knowledge of solar and lunar eclipses with our fun quiz! Surprisingly, it's one of our most difficult quizzes, so you'll have to try hard.

Man for eclipses quiz
Can solar eclipses be seen from the Moon? When was a solar eclipse first recorded on video? Test your knowledge of solar and lunar eclipses with this quiz.
Take the quiz!

Meteor showers in September 2024

Only two minor meteor showers will peak in September — the September Epsilon (ε) Perseids on September 9 and the Daytime Sextantids on September 27.

Epsilon Perseids are way weaker than their August namesake and produce only 8 meteors per hour during the peak of activity. The good news is that the Moon will reach its First Quarter phase on September 11, meaning that the second half of the night remains free of moonlight during the peak of this meteor shower. Epsilon Perseids are better visible from the Northern Hemisphere, starting from about 10-11 p.m. local time.

The Daytime Sextantid meteor shower (ZHR = 5) occurs during the day (hence the name), as its radiant point is close to the Sun. Most of the meteors are washed out by the sunlight, but you can catch some "shooting stars" in the twilight before the Sun is fully up. Look for them around 4 or 5 a.m., when the Sun isn't blocking the view. Learn more about astronomical events that can be visible during the daytime.

You can read more about these two meteor showers in our dedicated article.

Comets in September 2024

Here are some of the best visible comets this month. To observe them, you’ll need at least powerful binoculars or a telescope. To locate these comets in the sky, use the Sky Tonight app.

Throughout most of September, comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) will be too close to the Sun to be observed. However, by the end of the month, the comet will be far enough from the Sun to be (hardly) visible in the morning hours, particularly in the Southern Hemisphere. On September 27, the comet will reach perihelion — the closest point to the Sun in its orbit. At best, around this time, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) could reach a magnitude of -1, making it easily visible to the naked eye. At worst, it might have a magnitude of 4, which is barely visible to the naked eye under ideal conditions. After perihelion, the comet will temporarily disappear but is expected to reappear in early October, shining at its brightest. Follow the latest updates on C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) with the dedicated article.

Don't miss your last opportunity to observe comet 13P/Olbers before it disappears for another 69 years! In early September, look for the comet in the evening sky about two hours after sunset. It will be visible from both hemispheres, low above the northwestern horizon. 13P/Olbers will be quite faint, with a magnitude of 8-9, so you'll need powerful binoculars or a small telescope to see it. Towards the end of the month, its proximity to the Sun in the sky will make it harder to spot.

How to navigate the night sky?

Want to discover objects in the sky, like stars and planets? Try out the Sky Tonight app on your phone. It's like a map that shows what's up there when you look up. And guess what? You don't even need the internet once you get on your phone. So, if you're camping or hiking, it still works.

Just open the app, point your phone at the sky, and it tells you the names of constellations, stars, and more. And if you want to get really good at knowing what's in the night sky, there are videos that can teach you how to use the app.

Bottom line: celestial events in September 2024

September 2024 is packed with exciting astronomical events, including a partial lunar eclipse, Saturn at opposition, and the September equinox. Use the free Sky Tonight app to easily navigate the night sky and catch all the action. Don’t miss your chance to observe comets and the zodiacal light this month!

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Topics:Skywatching
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