September 2026 offers several opportunities for stargazers to observe planetary alignments and seasonal transitions. Between September 14 and 20, the Moon will serve as a guide for locating the red star Antares in the constellation Scorpius and the Teapot asterism in Sagittarius. Under optimal dark-sky conditions, observers may also be able to view the center of the Milky Way galaxy near the Teapot's spout.
Venus is set to reach its peak evening brilliance on September 18. The planet will appear as a prominent light source low on the western horizon shortly after sunset. Following this, September 19 marks International Observe the Moon Night, an annual event encouraging global participation in lunar science and observation.
The September equinox occurs on September 22, signaling the start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. On this day, the Sun will be positioned directly over the Earth's equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths globally.
The month concludes with the Harvest Moon on September 26. Rising in the east after sunset, the Moon will appear near Saturn and the more distant planet Neptune. While Saturn is visible to the naked eye, NASA notes that Neptune requires binoculars or a telescope for viewing due to its faint magnitude.
Source: NASA
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