Look Out for Potential Auroras, a Partially Eclipsed Supermoon, and Extra in September’s Night time Sky

September welcomes a flurry of night-sky sights, from potential above-average northern lights — recognized to amplify across the equinoxes — to optimum planet viewing and the crème de la crème of lunar sightings: {a partially} eclipsed supermoon.

In case you’re heading out to sky-watch, bear in mind dark-sky locales, corresponding to a stargazing lodge, present the perfect vantage level. You possibly can pack a pair of stargazing binoculars, or select an lodging with a telescope, however most of the month’s sightings are seen to the bare eye.

Listed here are the perfect night-sky sights to control this month, together with the place and when to look, and ideas for snagging the perfect view.

Sept. 5: Mercury Reaches Best Western Elongation

Our photo voltaic system’s innermost planet, Mercury, can be extra simply seen than regular on Sept. 5. It reaches its best western elongation—the place it’s farthest from the solar—round 11 p.m. ET on Sept. 4, in response to EarthSky. That stated, it gained’t be seen within the sky till the pre-dawn hours of Sept. 5, from round 5:45 to six:15 a.m., in response to SkySafari. You possibly can spot it with the bare eye due to its -0.3 magnitude, roughly between the brightness of Sirius and Polaris. Look towards the japanese horizon, with Mars, Jupiter, and Uranus in a diagonal row above it.

Sept. 7: Saturn at Opposition

Saturn and its rings will exhibit the night time of Sept. 7, when the planet reaches opposition—when it lies reverse from the solar when considered from Earth. It can shine at its brightest magnitude (0.57) of the yr tonight. Search for a yellowish dot touring above the east-southeast horizon within the constellation Aquarius after sundown. You possibly can see Saturn with the bare eye, however a yard telescope will enable you to admire its eye-popping rings.

Sept. 17: Partially Eclipsed Full Harvest Supermoon

In case you missed the primary supermoon of the yr in August, you’re in luck. The total harvest moon the night of Sept. 17 — the second of 4 supermoons in 2024 — comes with a particular deal with. Stargazers throughout a lot of the world, together with the U.S. (outdoors of Alaska), western Europe, components of Asia, and Africa, will see {a partially} eclipsed harvest supermoon round 10:45 p.m. ET, in response to SkySafari. The lunar present will start round 8:41 p.m. ET because the moon enters Earth’s gentle outer shadow; our neighboring house rock may have that signature eclipse “chew” lacking from 10:13 to 11:16 p.m. EDT.

Sept. 20: Neptune at Opposition

By means of a yard telescope or stargazing binoculars, you may snag top-of-the-line views of Neptune for 2024. The distant planet will attain its closest level to Earth (opposition) on Sept. 20 round 6:45 p.m. ET, in response to Star Stroll. Will probably be seen by a lot of the night time above the east-southeast horizon. Search for Saturn, seen to the bare eye, to the precise of it as effectively.

Sept. 22: September Equinox

On Sept. 22, the solar will cross the celestial equator, marking autumn within the northern hemisphere and spring within the southern hemisphere. The equinoxes are recognized to supply significantly highly effective aurora shows, so obtain a northern lights app to maintain tabs on the chance of a contiguous U.S. sighting — or, even higher, plan a northern lights journey to an aurora hotspot for the times main as much as and following Sept. 22. On this night time, the moon can even method the Pleiades star cluster, often known as the Seven Sisters, making for a blinding finish to the summer time (or winter) season.

Sept. 22: Chicagohenge

You’ve doubtless heard of Manhattanhenge, however do you know Chicago’s skyline has its personal tackle the solar-alignment spectacle, too? On Sept. 22, the solar aligns completely with the Windy Metropolis’s east-west-facing streets throughout dawn and sundown: 6:45 a.m. and seven:02 p.m. native time, in response to Secret Chicago, which recommends watching on Washington Road from Millennium Park, or on E. Randolph Road between State Road and Michigan Avenue.