Stargazing Calendar for September 2025
The night skies hold something extraordinary this month, with rare alignments, two eclipses, and bursts of light from meteor showers set to captivate observers. For fans of stargazing, September 2025 promises a celestial show you won’t want to miss.
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List of Meteor Showers in September 2025
- Antihelion Source: Start on December 10; multiple peaks; end September 10.
- Aurigids: Start on August 28; peak on August 31; end on September 5.
- ν-Eridanids: Start on September 1; peak on September 6; end on October 29.
- September ε-Perseids: Start on September 5; peak on September 9; end on September 21.
- ε-Eridanids: Start on September 10; peak on September 12; end on September 14.
- χ-Cygnids: Start on September 3; peak on September 14; end on September 25.
- Daytime Sextantids: Start on September 9; peak on September 27; end on October 9.
- Southern Taurids: Start on September 10; peak on October 10; end on November 20.
We also have a complete list of meteor showers for the entire year of 2025 here.
List of Planetary Conjunctions in September 2025
- Close approach of Venus and the Beehive Cluster in Cancer on September 1.
- Close approach of the Moon, Saturn and Neptune in Pisces on September 8.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Pisces on September 8.
- Close approach of the Moon and Pleiades in Taurus on September 12.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter in Gemini on September 16.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Venus in Leo on September 19.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Virgo on September 24.
Moon Phases in September 2025
As you know, the Moon has a big impact on the visibility of celestial bodies and astronomical events in the night sky. So to help you with stargazing, here’s a calendar of the phases of Moon for this month of September 2025:
September 1: Close approach of Venus and the Beehive Cluster
Venus and the Beehive Cluster (also known as M44 or Messier 44) will make a close approach, passing within 1°08′ of each other.
Both objects will be in the constellation of Cancer with Venus being at apparent magnitude -4.0; and the Beehive Cluster at 3.1. The Moon will be 9 days old waxing gibbous at 63%.
September 6: Uranus enters retrograde motion
Uranus will start its retrograde motion—appearing to pause in its eastward journey through the constellations and then drift westward instead. This apparent change of direction is something all the outer planets in our solar system go through from time to time, usually a few months before they reach opposition.
To ancient skywatchers, retrograde motion was baffling. It didn’t match their idea that planets traveled in perfect circles around Earth. Today, we know the effect is simply a matter of perspective: as Earth orbits the Sun, our shifting viewpoint makes the planets seem to reverse direction in the sky, even though they’re still steadily moving eastward overall.
Uranus can be spotted in the constellation of Taurus with an apparent magnitude of 5.7.
September 6: ν-Eridanids meteor shower peak
The Nu Eridanids is a variable rate meteor shower. Some meteors may also be spotted between September 1 to October 29. They will radiate from the constellation of Eridanus at the speed of 67 km/s on average. Unfortunately, with the Moon being 14 days old, waxing gibbous at 98%, only a day away from full moon, stargazing conditions will be far from ideal this early September 2025.
September 7: Total lunar eclipse
There will be a total lunar eclipse between 16:27 and 19:56 UTC. (See featured photo at the top of the article.) This happens when the Moon passes completely through the Earth’s dark shadow, also known as umbra. This lunar eclipse will be visible anywhere the Moon happens to be above the horizon at that time. First the Moon will get darker gradually and then it will shift to a rusty red or blood red color. See NASA’s fact sheet below.
September 8: Close approach of the Moon, Saturn and Neptune
The Moon, Saturn and Neptune will make a close approach (appulse) passing within 3°30′ of each other.
The Moon will be at apparent magnitude -12.7, Saturn at magnitude 0.6, and Neptune at magnitude 7.8, all in the constellation of Pisces. Unfortunately, the Moon will be 16 days old, waning gibbous at 97%.
September 8: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
The Moon and Saturn will reach conjunction passing within 3°59′ of each other while sharing the same right ascension.
The Moon will be at apparent magnitude -12.7 and Saturn at magnitude 0.6 both in the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune on September 8.)
September 9: September ε-Perseid meteor shower peak
The September Epsilon Perseids will peak this September 2025 with a zenithal hourly rate of 5 if stargazing conditions are ideal. Unfortunately, the Moon will be 17 days old waning gibbous at 93%.
Some meteors may also be spotted between September 5 and 21. They will radiate from the constellation of Perseus at the speed of 64 km/s on average.
September 12: Close approach of the Moon and Pleiades
The Moon and the Pleiades star cluster (M45) will make a close approach or appulse, by passing within 58.4 arcminutes of each other. This will happen in the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing Uranus entering retrograde motion on September 6.)
You can observe this astronomical event with the naked eye because the Moon will be at apparent magnitude -12.3 and M45 at 1.3. The Moon will be 20 days old, meaning it will be waning gibbous at 61%.
September 12: ε-Eridanids meteor shower peak
The Epsilon Eridanids are a variable rate meteor shower peaking on September 12. Some meteors may also be spotted between September 10 and 14. They will radiate from the constellation of Eridanus at the speed of 59 km/s on average. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing ν-Eridanids meteor shower peak on September 6.) The Moon will be 20 days old, meaning it will be waning gibbous at 61%.
September 14: χ-Cygnids meteor shower peak
The Chi Cygnids are another variable rate meteor shower that will peak on September 14. Some meteors may also be spotted between September 3 and 25. They will radiate from the constellation of Cygnus at the speed of 15 km/s on average. The Moon will be 22 days old, meaning it will be a waning crescent at 43%.
September 16: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter will be at conjunction by sharing the same right ascension and passing within 4°33′ of each other.
Around the same time, the two bodies will also make a close approach (appulse) reaching 4°28′ from each other, but not sharing the same right ascension.
The two celestial bodies will meet in the constellation of Gemini with the Moon at apparent magnitude of -11.3 and Jupiter at -2.1. The Moon will be a 24 days old waning crescent at 23%.
September 19: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
The Moon and Venus will be at conjunction by sharing the same right ascension and passing within 48′ of each other.
Around the same time, the two bodies will also make a close approach (appulse) reaching 43.6′ from each other, but not sharing the same right ascension. In northern Africa, Europe, western Russia, parts of northern Canada, and Greenland this distance will be so close as to lead to a lunar occultation of Venus, meaning the Moon will pass in front of Venus thereby hiding it from view temporarily.
Look for the two bodies in the constellation of Leo. The Moon will be a 27 days old, very thin waning crescent at 3%. Despite this, the Moon will still be at apparent magnitude of -9.5, while Venus will be at magnitude -3.9.
September 21: Saturn at opposition
Saturn will be at opposition at around midnight local time. Look for the planet in the highest point in the sky and opposite to the Sun in the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune on September 8.)
At about the same time the planet will reach perigee at 8.55 AU and be closest to us and so appear larger in the sky and easier to observe. Its apparent magnitude will be 0.6, so visible to the naked eye. This would also be a good opportunity to use binoculars or a telescope for better observations, including Saturn’s rings. The Moon will be at the new moon phase, so stargazing won’t be interfered with in this end of September 2025.
September 21: Partial solar eclipse
A partial solar eclipse takes place when the Moon covers only a portion of the Sun, resembling a bite off a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely watched through a specialized solar filter or by looking at the Sun’s reflection. This partial eclipse will be visible in New Zealand, Antarctica, and the southern Pacific Ocean. See NASA’s fact sheet below.
September 22: September equinox
The September equinox is the beginning of autumn for those in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of spring for those in the southern hemisphere.
The Sun’s annual trip through the zodiac constellations carries it across the celestial equator on the day of the equinox, giving everyone on Earth nearly exactly 12 hours of day and night. The term equinox is a combination of the Latin words aequus (equal) and nox (night).
September 23: Neptune at opposition
Neptune will reach opposition, when it lies opposite to the Sun in the sky, reaching the highest point in the sky around midnight local time, regardless of where in the world you are.
It will be at apparent magnitude 7.8, so not visible to the naked eye, but a small telescope will suffice. Look in the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of Saturn and Neptune on September 8.) The Moon will be a 2 days old waxing crescent at 4%.
At around the same time, Neptune will also reach its closest point to Earth (perigee) at a distance of 28.88 AU.
September 24: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The Moon and Mars will be at conjunction by sharing the same right ascension and passing within 3°56′ of each other.
Look for the two bodies in the constellation of Virgo. The Moon will be at apparent magnitude of -9.7, while Mars will be at magnitude 1.6. The Moon will be a 3 days old waxing crescent at 9%.
September 27: Daytime Sextantids meteor shower peak
The Daytime Sextantids will peak this September 2025 with a zenithal hourly rate of 5 if stargazing conditions are ideal. With the Moon a 6 days old waxing crescent at 30%, the conditions will be quite decent, baring unfavorable atmospheric conditions.
Some meteors may also be spotted between September 9 and October 9. They will radiate from the constellation of Sextans at the speed of 32 km/s on average.
Positions of the Planets in September 2025
- Mercury: The closest planet to the Sun can be seen at dawn and dusk travelling across the constellation of Leo. This planet, being the closest to the Sun, will appear to move quickly in the night sky and its position will change in the following weeks.
- Venus: The sister planet can be seen travelling across the constellation of Cancer and then Leo later in the month. Just like Mercury, Venus can only be seen at dawn and dusk.
- Mars: The red planet can be seen in the constellation of Virgo.
- Jupiter: The gas giant is visible in the constellation of Gemini. Jupiter can easily be spotted with the naked eye, even in highly illuminated cities.
- Saturn: The ringed giant can be seen with the naked eye in the constellation of Pisces.
- Uranus: The ice giant can be seen in the constellation of Taurus with the use of a telescope.
- Neptune: The blue giant requires a telescope pointed in the constellation of Pisces in order to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Large Asteroids in September 2025
- Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet can be seen in the constellation of Cetus with the help of a telescope.
- Vesta: This large asteroid can be seen in the constellation of Libra with a telescope.
- Pallas: The asteroid can be observed with a telescope in the constellation of Delphinus.
- Hygiea: The fourth largest asteroid can be found with a telescope in the constellation of Taurus.
- Pluto: This distant dwarf planet can be found in the constellation of Capricornus with the help of a large telescope.
Major astronomical events next month – October 2025
- October 2: Dwarf planet Ceres at opposition
- October 6: October Camelopardalids meteor shower peak
- October 8: Draconids meteor shower peak
- October 10: Southern Taurids meteor shower peak
- October 11: δ-Aurigids meteor shower peak
- October 18: ε-Geminids meteor shower peak
- October 18: Dwarf planet Eris at opposition
- October 22: Orionids meteor shower peak
- October 24: Leonis Minorids meteor shower peak
- October 29: Comet 3I/ATLAS at perihelion
Conclusion
September 2025 offers a rich lineup of stargazing events, highlighted by a total lunar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse, and multiple meteor showers lighting up the night. From the bright streaks of the ν-Eridanids to the subtle flashes of the Daytime Sextantids, the skies will be full of activity.
To ensure you don’t miss out on any celestial happenings, sign up for our newsletter to receive stargazing calendars and more updates. Keep your telescopes ready and clear your calendar for these cosmic highlights!
Sources:
- Planetary ephemerides produced by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
- International Meteor Organization
See also:
- Previous month’s calendar: Stargazing Calendar for August 2025
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Paul Tomaszewski
Paul Tomaszewski is a science & tech writer as well as a programmer and entrepreneur. He is the founder and editor-in-chief of CosmoBC. He has a degree in computer science from John Abbott College, a bachelor's degree in technology from the Memorial University of Newfoundland, and completed some business and economics classes at Concordia University in Montreal. While in college he was the vice-president of the Astronomy Club. In his spare time he is an amateur astronomer and enjoys reading or watching science-fiction. You can follow him on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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