Following on from last month’s stunning solar eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower, more than a few of us have got the stargazing bug. So much so, in fact, that I’ve already found myself checking the moon forecast and keeping an eye on the sky for unusual sights.
If you’re the same, then you’re probably wondering what unusual sights might await us in the night sky this month. Well, September isn’t going to be quite as dramatic as August, but there’s still plenty to spot above our city at night. So here’s a guide to all the astronomical occurrences taking place this month – that we can see, at least…
Meteor showers
There will be two meteor showers in the skies over London this month. But viewing conditions are not ideal for either of them.
The first is the Aurigids meteor shower, which will take place between August 28 and September 5. The shower will peak on August 1, but this is just days after the August full moon. As such, the moon’s brightness overshadows the meteor shower’s activity, making it very difficult to see in the sky.
The second is the Epsilon Perseids meteor shower, which is active from September 5 – 21. This shower will peak on September 9. For the stargazing fanatics among you, keep an eye on the Perseus constellation to spot the shower’s radiant point. This particular shower will also be difficult to spot, due to infrequent activity. While the Perseids meteor shower had as many as 150 shooting stars an hour, the Epsilon Perseids will have just 5 an hour at its peak.
Still, you might get lucky and spot a shooting star or an outburst!
Saturn
Fancy spotting one of our solar system’s incredible planets? All throughout September, Saturn will be visible to the naked eye. It’s bright enough in September for us to spot even without a telescope!
However, you will need a telescope to see the planet’s famous rings. Keep an eye out for it below the square of Pegasus in the sky. (And if you don’t know where that is, just ask one of your stargazing friends.)
The equinox and the equilux
Okay, so I’m kind of cheating with this inclusion, as it’s not really a stargazing thing. But you can sort of see it – if you sit and watch the sky all night long, maybe.
On September 23, the sun will move from the northern half of the sky to the southern half. This is the autumnal equinox, when it crosses the celestial equator, and marks the beginning of autumn.
A few days after the equinox, there will be a day when the daytime and the nighttime are the same length. This is known as the equilux, and it will take place on September 25. And, yes, unfortunately, this does mark the day when the nights start to get longer than the days.
Neptune
On September 26, Neptune’s orbit will bring it to the opposite side of Earth from the Sun. Known as ‘opposition’, this is when Neptune will be at its closest and brightest. This is the easiest time during Neptune’s orbit to spot the planet.
Disclaimer: you will need a telescope to view this particular sight in the sky. Even at its closest point, Neptune is too far away for the naked eye to spot it. Keep an eye out for the constellation of Pisces to find it.
Harvest Moon
And again, this one’s cheating a bit, but it still counts! This month’s full moon is known as the Harvest Moon. And no, the moon won’t suddenly sprout wheat or corn. Instead, it’s just the seasonal name for the first full moon in September.
The September full moon will occur on Saturday, September 26. It is just an ordinary full moon – no eclipses or supermoons happening this month. But a full moon remains a wonderful, mysterious sight in the sky (to me, at least…).
The Milky Way?
Let’s get this out of the way at the top. You won’t be able to see the Milky Way from London. However, if you can get out of the city to a place with much less light pollution, September is a great month for Milky Way spotting. Head to a Dark Sky Discovery site to maximise your chance of seeing it in the sky overhead at night.
So, whether you’re a recent convert to stargazing in the city, or are always checking out the night sky, be sure to keep an eye out for these astronomical sights this September.
*This article was written with the help of Royal Museum Greenwich’s ‘Night sky highlights – September 2026‘
