September Is Packed With Stunning Sky Events-With Planet Parades, Eclipses, and Northern Lights

"Plus, September means it's officially aurora season in the northern hemisphere-and experts say this year could produce above-average lights sightings given the sun's 11-year peak of activity, known as solar maximum. September is also one of the last months for Milky Way core viewing in the U.S. Our galaxy's luminous center remains visible until about November, so there's no time like the present to visit a dark-sky park to see it, especially around the Sept. 21 new moon."

"Throughout the month of September, stargazers can catch Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn in the pre-dawn sky. (As always, spotting Uranus and Neptune will require strong binoculars or a telescope.) The lineup turns even more enchanting in the first week of the month, as Mercury joins the party just below Venus for around an hour before sunrise. Catch Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter aligned in the eastern sky, Uranus in the south, and Saturn and Neptune in the southwest."

September offers numerous notable celestial events for northern hemisphere observers. Planetary alignments are visible in the pre-dawn sky, with Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn observable, and Mercury briefly joining early in the month. A lunar eclipse of the full corn moon will be visible across parts of Asia, Russia, eastern Africa, and Australia on Sept. 7. On Sept. 16, a thin crescent moon will pass just above Jupiter before sunrise. Saturn reaches opposition on Sept. 21, providing prime views of the ringed planet. Auroral activity may be above average due to solar maximum, and the Milky Way core remains visible through about November.

Read at Travel + Leisure