🌠 Astronomy’s Highlight Month: September 2025 Brings Blood Moon, Double Eclipse, and Planetary Shows

September 2025 is a month to circle in your calendar if you love stargazing. The sky calendar is packed with rare phenomena: from a blood-red Moon to a partial solar eclipse, and from close conjunctions to oppositions of distant planets. It’s a period where both beginners and seasoned observers can witness something special. With a bit of planning and clear skies, you can catch multiple highlights in a single month. Below is an overview of the main events, with tips to enjoy them to the fullest.

Stargazing in September is awesome! Picture from July 19, 2025

🌕 7 September – Full Corn Moon & Total Lunar Eclipse

On 7 September at 18:09 GMT, the Moon reaches its full phase, known as the Corn Moon. Traditionally, this marked the time when farmers brought in their harvest, and the name is centuries old. At the same time, a total lunar eclipse will occur between 17:30 and 18:52 GMT. During totality, the Moon will turn deep red due to sunlight refracted through Earth’s atmosphere – a phenomenon known as a Blood Moon. The eclipse will be fully visible in Asia, Australia, and eastern Africa, while in Europe the eclipsed Moon will rise above the horizon. For the best view, find a location with an unobstructed horizon and bring binoculars.

🔭 8 September – Moon Near Saturn and Neptune

The night after the Blood Moon, the nearly full Moon passes close to two gas giants. At 17:44 GMT, the Moon will be just 3°31’ from Saturn, shining brightly in the constellation Pisces. Saturn is visible to the naked eye, but a telescope will reveal its rings in detail. Later, at 20:33 GMT, the Moon will approach Neptune to within 2°33’. Neptune is too faint for the naked eye, but through a telescope you can spot a small bluish disk. This double conjunction is a great opportunity to observe both a nearby and a distant planet in one evening.

✨ 12 September – Moon Near the Pleiades

On 12 September, the 68% illuminated Moon will be close to the Pleiades, one of the most famous open star clusters. The conjunction occurs at 21:48 GMT with a separation of just 1°00’. The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, are often visible even from urban areas. Through binoculars, you’ll see dozens of blue stars packed closely together. The combination of the bright Moon and the sparkling cluster creates a striking contrast. This is an ideal moment for astrophotography, especially with a wide-angle lens.

🌌 16 September – Moon Near Jupiter

On 16 September, the 29% illuminated Moon will be close to Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. The conjunction occurs at 11:06 GMT with a separation of 4°42’. Jupiter is extremely bright (magnitude -2.0) and easy to spot in the constellation Gemini. With binoculars, you may also see some of its four largest moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The slim crescent Moon next to the bright planet makes for a photogenic scene. It’s a nice warm-up for Jupiter’s opposition later in the year.

💫 19 September – Venus, Regulus & Lunar Occultation

On 19 September, a rare triple spectacle will unfold. Venus, the brightest planet in the sky, will be just 0°24’ from Regulus, the main star of the constellation Leo, at 08:57 GMT. Shortly after, the Moon will pass in front of Venus, an event known as a lunar occultation. This occultation will be visible from large parts of Africa, Europe, Asia, Canada, and Greenland. The event begins at 10:33 GMT and ends at 14:27 GMT. To the naked eye it’s already impressive, but through a telescope you can watch Venus slowly disappear behind the lunar disk and reappear.

🪐 21 September – Saturn at Opposition, New Moon & Partial Solar Eclipse

21 September is one of the busiest days of the month for observers. Saturn reaches opposition at 05:37 GMT, meaning the planet is directly opposite the Sun and visible all night. This is the best time of year to view Saturn’s rings and moons. Later that day, at 19:54 GMT, the New Moon will make the night sky extra dark for deep-sky observing. At the same time, a partial solar eclipse will occur between 17:29 and 21:53 GMT, visible in southern Australia, parts of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, and Antarctica. A day of contrasts: from the darkest night sky to a dimmed Sun.

Time to make beauty pictures of our nature!

🍂 22 September – September Equinox

On 22 September at 18:20 GMT, the September equinox takes place. This is the moment when day and night are approximately equal in length everywhere on Earth. In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the start of astronomical autumn, while in the Southern Hemisphere it signals the beginning of spring. The Sun is positioned directly above the equator, creating unique lighting conditions at sunrise and sunset. Many cultures hold harvest festivals or rituals around this time. It’s also a good moment to reflect on the changing seasons and the Sun’s influence on daily life.

🔭 23 September – Neptune at Opposition

Neptune reaches opposition on 23 September at 12:45 GMT. This is when the planet is closest to Earth and visible all night. With a magnitude of 7.7, Neptune is too faint for the naked eye, but with a telescope or good binoculars you can see it as a small bluish disk. It lies in the constellation Pisces, close to the ecliptic. Opposition is also the best time to photograph this distant ice giant. While it may not appear as spectacular as Jupiter or Saturn, spotting Neptune is a special achievement for amateur astronomers.

🔴 24 September – Moon Near Mars

On 24 September, the 7% illuminated Moon will be close to Mars. The closest approach occurs at 11:56 GMT with a separation of 3°36’. Mars has a distinctive reddish hue and lies in the constellation Virgo. The slim crescent Moon next to the planet makes the contrast especially beautiful. Through a telescope, you may be able to spot polar caps or darker surface regions. This is a calm but photogenic finale to a month full of astronomical highlights.

💡 Viewing Tip: Plan your observations well in advance and keep an eye on the weather forecast. Even a simple pair of binoculars can reveal much more detail, and for eclipses, an unobstructed horizon is essential.