Summer is closing out fast in the Northern Hemisphere, but stargazers will have celestial sights to look for both before and after the Autumnal Equinox arrives on September 22.
As AccuWeather reports, September also brings a dramatic shift in the amount of sunlight. The length of day will shrink by more than an hour across over half of the United States. In the far northern U.S., Sept. 30 will have more than 100 minutes less daylight than Sept. 1, making nights noticeably longer by the end of the month.
Here are the top astronomy events to look for in September:
Orion glows next to a Celestial Alignment on Sept. 7
Early risers will be treated to a predawn gathering on Labor Day weekend as the crescent moon appears near Mars and Jupiter in the eastern sky.
The best views will come about an hour before sunrise, when the moon, Mars and Jupiter will be visible above the eastern horizon. The famous constellation Orion will appear nearby, making this an easy scene to spot even for casual stargazers.
An encore is in store on the morning of Tuesday. Sept. 8, although the moon will be a thin, bright sliver just above Jupiter.
Autumnal Equinox Arrives on Sept. 22
September is a season of change, with cooler nights and the first hints of fall foliage providing early hints that the end of summer is drawing near.
For meteorologists, autumn kicks off on Sept. 1, while the equinox marks the beginning of astronomical fall, which in 2026, takes place at 8:05 p.m. EDT on Sept. 22.
The equinox happens when the sun’s direct rays cross the equator, causing days and nights to be about 12 hours each, almost everywhere around the world. After the equinox, the Northern Hemisphere will be tipped away from the sun, causing nights to last longer than days.
The Harvest Moon Shines on Sept. 26
The first full moon of fall will rise just a few nights after the season begins, an event known as the Harvest Moon. (Other nicknames for the month’s full moon include the Corn Moon, the Autumn Moon, the Falling Leaves Moon and the Rutting Moon.)
The Harvest Moon is one of the most popular full moons of the year. It is the nickname given to the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox.
“For several evenings, the Moon rises very soon after the Sun sets, resulting in an abundance of bright moonlight early in the evening. Traditionally, this extra light aided farmers and crews in harvesting their summer-grown crops,” The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains.
—
Photo Credit: Darkfoxelixir / Shutterstock.com
