As summer winds down across the Northern Hemisphere, the night sky is set to showcase some of the year’s most captivating celestial events.
Among the highlights for September 2024 are a Super Harvest Moon eclipse, the opposition of Saturn, and the arrival of the autumnal equinox, offering stargazers multiple opportunities to witness the wonders of our solar system.
The Super Harvest Moon Eclipse
One of the highlights of September 2024 will be the Super Harvest Moon Eclipse, occurring on the night of September 18. This celestial event is particularly special because it combines several astronomical phenomena. The full moon, known as the Harvest Moon—the closest full moon to the autumnal equinox—will also be a supermoon, meaning it will appear slightly larger and brighter in the sky due to its proximity to Earth.
During this event, the moon will partially pass through Earth's shadow, resulting in a partial lunar eclipse. This eclipse will be visible across most of North America, except for western Alaska, as well as from parts of South America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The best time to observe the eclipse will be at 10:44 p.m. EDT, when the eclipse reaches its peak. Although only part of the moon will be obscured, the combination of the supermoon and the eclipse will make for a striking visual display in the night sky.
Saturn at Opposition
In addition to the Super Harvest Moon Eclipse, September is also an excellent time to observe Saturn. On September 8, Saturn will reach opposition, meaning it will be directly opposite the sun in the sky and at its closest approach to Earth. This alignment will make Saturn particularly bright and visible throughout the night. During this period, stargazers can see Saturn with the naked eye, but a telescope will reveal the planet’s stunning rings and several of its largest moons.
Saturn’s opposition is one of the best opportunities to observe the gas giant and its complex system of moons. The planet’s brightness during this time will be a highlight for both amateur and professional astronomers, providing a chance to explore its rings and the unique characteristics of moons like Titan and Enceladus.
The Autumnal Equinox and the Changing Seasons
The autumnal equinox will occur on September 22 at 8:43 a.m. EDT, marking the official start of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. This equinox is notable for being the earliest start to astronomical fall since 1796, offering longer nights for stargazing as the balance of daylight shifts.
Following the equinox, the nights will become longer than the days in the Northern Hemisphere, providing more opportunities to enjoy the star-studded sky. As the season changes, stargazers can look forward to cooler weather and clearer skies, ideal conditions for observing celestial phenomena.
Marvelous Moons Beyond Earth's Orbit
September is also a great month to observe some of the largest moons in our solar system, particularly those orbiting Jupiter and Saturn. **Jupiter’s Galilean moons—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—**are easily visible with binoculars or a small telescope. These moons, discovered by Galileo in 1610, continue to captivate astronomers with their distinct characteristics, such as Io’s intense volcanic activity and Europa’s potential subsurface ocean.
Saturn’s moon Titan, the second-largest moon in the solar system, can also be observed this month. Titan’s thick atmosphere and methane lakes make it a fascinating object of study, with NASA’s Dragonfly mission set to explore its surface in the 2030s. Observing Titan, even from nearly 900 million miles away, offers a glimpse into the complex environments that exist on moons beyond Earth.
