Keep a lookout for September's stargazing highlights with Astro Dog's night sky guide

September may not have the drama of last month’s eclipses, but there is still plenty to look forward to.

On September 23, the autumn equinox marks the moment when day and night are of equal length. From this point until the spring equinox, nights will be longer than days, bringing darker skies and more observing time.

The Milky Way captured from Staindale Lake, Dalby Forest. Photo credit: Astro Dog.

placeholder image — The Milky Way captured from Staindale Lake, Dalby Forest. Photo credit: Astro Dog.

This also means we are truly within aurora season! With the longer, darker nights significantly increasing our chances of catching the northern lights.

September also brings the Aurigid meteor shower, the best time of year to observe the faint planet Neptune at opposition, and a fine selection of lunar and planetary conjunctions.

Here are the astronomy highlights for September:

• September 1, Peak of the Aurigid meteor shower.

• September 3, Moon appears close to the Pleiades open star cluster.

• September 4, Last quarter moon.

• September 5, Moon appears close to bright star Elnath.

• September 7, Moon appears close to planet Mars and bright star Pollux.

• September 8, Moon appears close to the Beehive star cluster and planet Jupiter.

• September 9, Moon appears close to planet Jupiter.

• September 11, New moon.

• September 14, Moon occults Venus.

• September 17, Moon appears close to bright star Antares.

• September 18, First quarter moon.

• September 23, Autumn equinox plus Moon appears close to bright star Deneb Algedi.

• September 26, Full Harvest Moon plus Neptune at opposition.

• September 27, Moon appears close to planet Saturn.

• September 30, Moon appears close to the Pleiades open star cluster.

For more detailed information on all of these astronomical events and more, you can watch our Night Sky Guide video for September on our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@astrodoguk.

You can also stay up to date with future astronomical events on Facebook (www.facebook.com/astrodoguk) and Instagram, including alerts for the northern lights.

Or you can visit our website at www.astro-dog.co.uk for more information and to book a place at one of our stargazing experiences.

If you head out to enjoy the night sky at any point in the near future, we wish you all good luck and clear skies.