Top astronomical events in September include a trio of meteor showers, viewings of Saturn and the International Space Station, and the fall equinox.
SEATTLE — The September episode of The Sky Above, hosted by KING 5 meteorologist Leah Pezzetti, features a breakdown of upcoming celestial events including a trio of meteor showers and some interesting factoids about the fall equinox, plus a conversation with a bright teenager who is making it her mission to get youth excited about astronomy.
Lunar events
September promises to deliver spectacular astronomical events, headlined by a rare total lunar eclipse and multiple meteor showers that will grace the night sky.
The month opens with the full moon on Sept. 7, called a Corn Moon. NASA Solar System Ambassador Keith Krumm noted that it’s sometimes a Harvest Moon, but that changes based on whichever is closest to the equinox. This year, that bumps the Harvest Moon to October.
He also noted that the October, November and December full moons will all be super moons. Super moons are when the moon is closest to Earth so they appear about 10% bigger and 30% brighter.
The full moon coincides with a total lunar eclipse visible from start to finish across Asia and Western Australia. The eclipse will paint Australian skies in an eerie reddish hue for 82 minutes, earning it the nickname “blood moon.”
Glimpses of some phases will also be possible from Europe, Africa, eastern Australia and New Zealand.
Meteor shower trio
Three distinct meteor showers will provide sky watchers with shooting star displays throughout September.
The Aurigids, which originate from comet Kiess with its 2,000-year orbital period around the sun, will peak from Sept. 1-5. Observers can expect approximately five meteors per hour with good brightness by looking northeast after midnight.
The Epsilon Perseid Meteor Shower, unconnected to the more famous Swift-Tuttle comet but instead linked to an unknown periodic comet, reaches its peak on Sept. 12. This shower will also produce about five meteors per hour, with optimal viewing in the northeast constellation Perseus.
The month concludes with the Sextantids on Sept. 27. These meteors originate from Apollo Asteroid 2005AD in the constellation Sextans, with best viewing opportunities shortly before dawn.
Krumm recommends viewing in a dark place away from bright lights. He advises using red lights to help eyes adjust to viewing.
Additional September highlights
Sky enthusiasts should mark their calendars for several other notable events.
On Sept. 9, the International Space Station will make a visible pass from 10:30 to 10:45 p.m.
Three days later, on Sept. 12, the moon will appear near the Pleiades Cluster, creating a striking celestial pairing.
Saturn will shine particularly bright on Sept. 21, the same day as the new moon phase.
A new season
The autumnal equinox arrives at 11:19 a.m. on Sept. 22, officially marking the beginning of fall. Krumm explained that the term originates from the Latin words “equi” (equal) and “nox” (night), reflecting the nearly equal hours of daylight and darkness. Sunrise and sunset will occur around 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., respectively.
Local viewing opportunities
For anyone interested in getting into astronomy, the Seattle Astronomical Society will host several star parties throughout September.
Sept. 13: Paramount Park, Shoreline, 7 p.m.
Sept. 19: Bonney Lake and Duvall, 6 p.m.
Sept. 20: Bonney Lake and Snoqualmie Point Park, 7 p.m.
Sept. 26: Covington City Park and Duvall, 6 p.m.
These events provide opportunities for both novice and experienced astronomers to observe September’s celestial phenomena with expert guidance and quality equipment.
Anisha Bajaj, president and founder of the Youth Astronomers Society of Seattle (YASS), discussed her involvement with the Seattle Astronomical Society.
“Our main goal is to make astronomy more accessible for people our age,” said Bajaj.
At age 16, Bajaj has already completed research through a George Mason University program looking into exoplanets. She has also researched the pros and cons of Earth-based and space-based telescopes, plus the various ways to observe stars.
Bajaj just launched a website for YASS and hopes to encourage teens to get into astronomy through her group.