Autumn's celestial spectacle begins in September, offering New York residents a chance to explore the heavens. Here's a glimpse of the astronomical sights to behold.
Stargazing Delights Await New Yorkers in September 2025
Get ready, New Yorkers! The night sky over our city promises a spectacle of celestial wonders this September. Here's what you can expect:
The Epsilon Perseid meteor shower, a dazzling display of shooting stars, will streak across the sky from September 5 to 21, peaking on the night of September 9 when you might see about five meteors per hour. For the best view, find a dark spot away from city lights.
The fall equinox, marking the start of cooler and shorter days in the Northern Hemisphere, falls on September 22. But don't let that dampen your stargazing spirit; the second half of the month offers darker skies, making it ideal for spotting celestial bodies.
The new moon, the darkest lunar phase, occurs on September 21, further enhancing the dark skies. This makes the second half of the month perfect for stargazing.
If you're a planet-spotter, you're in luck! Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter will be visible in the night sky. Venus, known as the "morning star," will shine brightly just before sunrise in the eastern sky. Jupiter will be visible just after midnight by the end of September.
Saturn and Neptune will also grace the night sky around the same time. Neptune, which requires binoculars or a telescope to see, will be at opposition on September 23, making it appear brighter than usual. Unfortunately, the rings of Saturn will appear ringless on September 21, but they will come back into view in October.
The Aurigid meteor shower, with shooting stars appearing to come from the constellation Auriga, will be active from August 28 to September 5. The peak rate of around five to 10 meteors per hour will be observed on the first day of September.
The full moon, also known as the corn moon because it coincides with harvesting time, will rise on September 7.
Lastly, keep an eye out for the constellation Pegasus. Its distinctive diamond shape, formed by the stars Markab, Scheat, and Algenib, along with Alpheratz from the Andromeda constellation, will be visible in the night sky. Pegasus rises higher and higher throughout the month, offering a unique view of this majestic creature. For a different perspective, some North American viewers see Pegasus as a baseball diamond.
So, grab your telescopes and binoculars, find a dark spot, and enjoy the celestial show this September!
