September Skywatch: Harvest Moon, Equinox & Planetary Pairings
September Skywatch: Harvest Moon, Equinox & Planetary Pairings
Hello, sky-watchers of Latin America and the Caribbean! September invites us to celebrate the Harvest Moon, the equinox and some delightful Moon–planet and cluster meetups. Whether you’re gazing from Buenos Aires, Bogotá or Kingston, here’s your friendly, day-by-day guide to the month’s highlights. Clear skies!September 7: Full “Harvest” Moon
Rising at sunset on the 7th, September’s Full Moon—often called the Harvest Moon—climbs in soft, golden light. This is the brightest Moon of the month, ideal for an evening stroll or gathering with friends. With binoculars, notice how the lunar “seas” contrast with the highlands and look for the bright rays radiating from craters like Tycho.September 8: Saturn, Neptune & the Moon
Before dawn on the 8th, scan the southeastern sky to see a waning gibbous Moon drifting past golden Saturn. With a small telescope or binoculars, you can also pick out much fainter Neptune nearby—a challenging but rewarding pairing.September 12: Moon meets the Pleiades (M45)
On the evening of the 12th, look high in the southwest for the Moon sliding just above the misty glow of the Pleiades star cluster (M45) in Taurus. Through binoculars, enjoy the contrast of the Moon’s bright curve against the cluster’s dozens of blue-white stars.September 14: Last Quarter Moon
By the 14th, the Moon wanes to Last Quarter, rising around midnight with its left half illuminated. This phase offers dramatic side-lighting along the terminator—perfect for tracing lunar valleys, rilles and mountain shadows through binoculars.September 16: Moon meets Jupiter
In the pre-dawn sky of the 16th, a slender waning crescent Moon will sit just south of brilliant Jupiter. This lovely rendezvous is easy to spot even with the naked eye; binoculars will frame them together beautifully against the glow of early morning.September 21: New Moon
The New Moon on the 21st slips into the Sun’s glare, leaving the sky at its darkest. It’s your best window all month for hunting faint deep-sky treasures—galaxies, nebulae and globular clusters will shine in even small telescopes.September 22: September Equinox
Mark the equinox on the 22nd—the Sun crosses the celestial equator, giving us roughly equal day and night. It’s the official start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring down south. Rise early for a sunrise photo at due east!September 29: First Quarter Moon
Closing out the month, the Moon reaches First Quarter on the 29th, appearing half-illuminated at sunset. With binoculars, follow the terminator for dramatic shadows and enjoy one last lunar viewing before the October skywatch begins.For full details—exact times, viewing tips, and more—please refer to Celestron’s 2025 Celestial Calendar and 2025 Moon Calendar.
Catch last month’s skywatch highlights here, and don’t miss October's upcoming cosmic wonders in our next post. Happy observing!.