Key Sky Events (Sept 16–17, 2025) – At a Glance
- Rare Meteor Outburst (Chi Cygnids): A newly identified meteor shower peaks in mid-September, with slow-moving “shooting stars” radiating from Cygnus around the nights of Sept 14–16 amsmeteors.org earthsky.org. Rates are modest (~1–2 meteors per hour at best) but any sighting carries bragging rights earthsky.org earthsky.org. Dark, moonless evening skies on Sept 16–17 offer a chance to spot these elusive meteors.
- Aurora Alert (Northern Lights): Earth is being buffeted by a fast solar wind stream (~700 km/s) from a gaping coronal hole on the Sun spaceweather.com. A strong G3 geomagnetic storm hit on Sept 14, lighting up auroras as far south as Arizona and southern Europe spaceweather.com. Minor storm conditions (Kp ~5, G1) are expected on Sept 16–17, meaning high-latitude skywatchers should watch for auroral displays after nightfall spaceweather.com.
- Moon & Jupiter Meet at Dawn: In the pre-dawn hours of Sept 16 and 17, a striking celestial grouping occurs in the eastern sky. The waning crescent Moon will lie between brilliant Jupiter and Gemini’s twin stars, Castor and Pollux (with nearby Procyon adding to the scene) earthsky.org. Look east about 1–2 hours before sunrise for this beautiful triangle of moon and stars.
- Saturn at Its Brightest:Saturn reaches opposition on Sept 21, but already on Sept 16–17 it’s big, bright, and visible all night. The ringed planet rises at sunset in the east (in Pisces/Aquarius) and shines yellow-white at magnitude ~0.4 earthsky.org. In a telescope, Saturn’s rings are nearly edge-on (tilted just ~2°) and its moons (like Titan) are on display earthsky.org. Now is the best week of 2025 to observe Saturn’s rings, despite their thin appearance this year.
- Eclipse Season (September 2025): While no eclipse occurs on Sept 16–17, this period falls between two notable events. On Sept 7, a total lunar eclipse (Blood Moon) turned the full Corn Moon red for observers across Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia earthsky.org. Later this week, on Sept 21, a partial solar eclipse will occur (especially visible at sunrise on Sept 22 in New Zealand, parts of eastern Australia, the Pacific islands, and Antarctica) timeanddate.com. Reminder: Never view the Sun directly without proper solar filters!
- New Comets in View: Amateur astronomers have new targets in the night sky. Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN), discovered on Sept 12, is already about magnitude 6–7 earthsky.org earthsky.org – just shy of naked-eye brightness – with a ~2.5° long tail photographed near the star Spica earthsky.org. It’s low in the west after sunset (best seen from the Southern Hemisphere for now) and should brighten into October earthsky.org earthsky.org. Meanwhile Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) is approaching Earth; it may peak around magnitude +4 to +5 in early October (faintly visible to the naked eye under dark skies) space.com. Currently ~mag 9–10, it’s a binocular/telescope object poised to brighten each week space.com space.com.
1. Rare Chi Cygnid Meteor Shower Peaks (Sept 14–16)
One of the most intriguing sky events this week is the Chi Cygnid meteor shower, an unusual, recently discovered meteor display. First noticed in 2015 by NASA astronomer Peter Jenniskens and colleagues, the Chi Cygnids have shown a pattern of increased activity every 5 years (with upticks observed around 2010, 2015, 2020, and now 2025) earthsky.org earthsky.org. This year’s return was expected to climax around September 13–15, 2025 earthsky.org earthsky.org, and indeed low-light cameras detected a flurry of slow-moving meteors from this source in recent days earthsky.org earthsky.org. The Chi Cygnid radiant (the part of the sky meteors appear to shoot from) lies in the constellation Cygnus (the Swan), near the star Eta Cygni amsmeteors.org. Fortunately, Cygnus is almost directly overhead by mid-evening for mid-northern latitudes, so these meteors can be spotted as soon as it gets dark (no need to wait until the wee hours) amsmeteors.org earthsky.org.
What to expect? Meteor showers are notoriously unpredictable, and the Chi Cygnids are a minor shower – don’t anticipate a torrent of fireballs as with the Perseids or Geminids. In fact, experts say you might only catch a handful per night (perhaps 1–3 meteors hourly at the peak) under ideal dark-sky conditions earthsky.org earthsky.org. However, Chi Cygnid meteors have some special charms: they are exceptionally slow-moving (entry speeds ~15 km/s, versus ~60 km/s for Perseids) amsmeteors.org earthsky.org. Their leisurely streaks last a bit longer, making them easier to spot and enjoy. And because this shower is “new” and not fully understood, spotting even one or two Chi Cygnids gives you “thrill of the hunt” bragging rights earthsky.org earthsky.org! “Meteor showers are always inherently unpredictable. But there’s a good chance [for a few Chi Cygnids]!” one astronomy outreach team noted of this year’s event earthsky.org.
The best time and way to watch is during the evening hours (around 9–11 PM local time) on Sept 16 and 17, when the Cygnus radiant is high overhead and skies are fully dark. Moonlight will be minimal – the moon is a waning crescent rising very late at night, so it won’t interfere during prime evening viewing earthsky.org earthsky.org. Find a safe, dark location away from city lights, give your eyes time to adapt to darkness (at least 20 minutes), and recline comfortably facing north or east (so that Cygnus is in your field of view, but not directly in the center). Patience is key: you may see nothing for a while, then suddenly a faint, slow “shooting star” gliding across the sky. If it traces back to the overhead Swan, you’ve likely spotted a Chi Cygnid meteor. These meteors tend to be faint, so darker skies greatly increase your chances amsmeteors.org amsmeteors.org. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere have the best view, as Cygnus soars high; in the Southern Hemisphere, Cygnus stays lower on the horizon, so Chi Cygnid meteors will be much harder to catch down under amsmeteors.org.
Fun fact: During the last known Chi Cygnid activity in 2020, specialized cameras recorded 449 meteors attributed to this shower over the entire outburst period (not per hour, but in total) earthsky.org earthsky.org. This year, scientists are eager to see if 2025 brings an even stronger showing. If you do spot any Chi Cygnids, you can contribute to science by reporting your observation to meteor organizations. “If you see one or just a few Chi Cygnids, you’ll have bragging rights until the regular, more reliable meteor showers start early next month,” EarthSky notes earthsky.org. Meteor expert Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society encourages observers to submit counts, noting that even low activity from such an obscure shower is valuable data earthsky.org earthsky.org. In short, keep your eyes peeled – you might catch a “rare” meteor streak that few others have seen, making you part of this cosmic mystery’s unfolding story.
2. Auroras Alert: Geomagnetic Storms Bring Northern Lights South
Skywatchers at high latitudes should be on the lookout for aurora borealis (Northern Lights) on the nights of Sept 16–17, thanks to an ongoing space weather disturbance. The Sun is “blowing a gale” of solar wind right now – Earth has entered a stream of fast solar wind (over 700 km/s) flowing from a giant, butterfly-shaped coronal hole on the Sun spaceweather.com. When this high-speed solar wind struck Earth’s magnetic field on Sept 14, it sparked a much stronger geomagnetic storm than expected. In fact, a G3-class storm (Strong) was recorded late on Sept 14 UT (around 03:00 UTC Sept 15), indicating a major disturbance in Earth’s magnetosphere swpc.noaa.gov. The result: Auroras exploded across the night sky in dozens of locations much farther south than usual. Observers reported brilliant green and purple auroral displays in “more than a dozen U.S. states from Alaska to Arizona” and similarly low latitudes in Europe spaceweather.com. One astonished skywatcher in Ontario, Canada, noted, “I certainly wasn’t expecting that!” after stumbling across vivid auroral curtains dancing overhead spaceweather.com. In short, this solar wind “gale” delivered a surprise light show to millions who rarely get to see the Northern Lights.
What made this storm so intense? Scientists point to the Russell–McPherron effect, a phenomenon that tends to enhance geomagnetic activity around the time of the equinoxes spaceweather.com. Essentially, during a few weeks near each equinox (late September and late March), the orientation of Earth’s and the Sun’s magnetic fields can line up just right to pump more energy into Earth’s magnetosphere spaceweather.com. This effect helped amplify the recent solar wind impact from a routine G1 (Minor) level up to G3 (Strong) storming spaceweather.com. Space weather experts note that we are approaching the autumnal equinox (Sept 23), so Earth’s aurora zone is primed for activity. “We can expect more of these ‘equinox storms’ from now through mid-October,” Spaceweather.com reports, advising skywatchers to stay alert for auroras during this period spaceweather.com.
For Sept 16–17, NOAA forecasters predict continued unsettled geomagnetic conditions, with minor storm (G1, Kp ~5) intervals possible as the high-speed solar wind persists spaceweather.com. This means auroras are likely again at high latitudes (Scotland, Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, etc.), and there’s even a chance of sightings down into the northern tier of the U.S. (e.g. northern States like Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, upstate New York) or continental Europe (Scotland, southern Scandinavia, maybe northern Germany) if Kp reaches 5. Even at lower latitudes where auroras are rare, be aware: under strong conditions, a faint green glow or pillars might appear low on the northern horizon. Peak times for auroras tend to be around local midnight to pre-dawn, but auroras can occur anytime it’s dark if the geomagnetic conditions are right.
To maximize your chances of seeing the Northern Lights, find a dark location with an open view to the north. Look for a diffuse greenish or whitish glow that doesn’t move like light pollution – auroras can appear as steady glows, pulses, or tall curtain-like arcs that move and ripple. Long-exposure photos (even a 5–10 second smartphone exposure) can help confirm faint auroras that are at the edge of naked-eye visibility. If a G1–G2 level storm materializes on Sept 16/17, observers in places like Canada, Northern US states, Northern Europe, and New Zealand’s South Island could catch auroral activity. Keep watch on real-time aurora alerts (many apps and services provide Kp index updates). The window is promising because the Moon is a thin crescent (only ~20–10% illuminated) rising very late, so moonlight won’t wash out the sky during the prime aurora viewing hours.
Lastly, it’s worth noting we are near the peak of Solar Cycle 25 (the Sun’s 11-year activity cycle), which means sunspots, solar flares, and geomagnetic storms are on the upswing. This increases the chances of auroras in general. Already in 2025, multiple aurora displays have graced skies at uncommon latitudes. If you’ve never seen the aurora before, now is a great time to try – nature’s most dynamic light show might be on for you. Just remember, auroras are fickle: a stunning display one night can be completely absent the next. But with the Sun’s “gale” still blowing, this week offers a real opportunity to catch the Northern (or Southern) Lights in action spaceweather.com spaceweather.com.
Tip: The Southern Hemisphere (aurora australis) may also see activity at high southern latitudes (Tasmania, New Zealand, Patagonia, Antarctica) during these storms. All the same guidance applies – look south toward the horizon for any ethereal glows. Happy aurora hunting, and clear skies!
3. Planetary Highlights: Moon-Jupiter Conjunction at Dawn
Early risers on September 16 and 17 are in for a treat: the Moon and planets are staging a beautiful pre-dawn show in the eastern sky. In the hours before sunrise on Tuesday the 16th and Wednesday the 17th, look eastward to spot a slender waning crescent Moon (about 30% illuminated on Sept 16, and an even slimmer 20% on Sept 17) joining forces with brilliant Jupiter and the bright stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini. On the morning of September 16, the Moon will appear almost exactly between Jupiter and the twin stars of Gemini (Castor and Pollux) earthsky.org, forming a striking line-up or gentle triangle in the sky. Jupiter – by far the brightest point of light in that area – will shine just to the west (right) of the Moon, while Castor and Pollux (the “head” stars of Gemini) twinkle to the Moon’s east (left) earthsky.org. Adding to the scene, the bright star Procyon (of Canis Minor) will be visible down to the southeast of the grouping earthsky.org, and Orion’s bright star Betelgeuse will be glimmering low on the horizon as well. Then, on the morning of September 17, the Moon will have moved eastward in its orbit – now sitting a bit below the Gemini twins – making a slightly wider triangle with Jupiter above it. The entire configuration is easy to see with the naked eye, even in light-polluted areas (Jupiter and the Moon are bright!). It’s a lovely celestial gathering that any early bird can enjoy – a great excuse to wake up a bit early, grab a coffee, and step outside for a look before the day begins.
When and where to look: Approximately 1 to 2 hours before your local sunrise is ideal (for most mid-northern latitudes, that means around 4:30–6:00 AM local time in September). At that time, Jupiter will be roughly 40° above the eastern horizon – high enough to clear most buildings or trees. The Moon will be slightly lower, and Castor/Pollux a bit higher. If you have a clear view toward the east-northeast, you’ll notice Jupiter first (extremely bright white, magnitude around –2.6). The Moon’s crescent will be obvious nearby. Pollux and Castor (forming an almost vertical pair about 4.5° apart) will be fainter than Jupiter but still very noticeable (Pollux is magnitude ~1.2, a golden-orange hue; Castor is slightly dimmer at ~1.6 and white). The Moon on the 16th sits about 4° west of Pollux (roughly a few finger-widths at arm’s length) astronomy.com, and on the 17th it will be a bit further below. No telescope is needed – in fact, the view is better with the unaided eye or binoculars, to take in the whole arrangement. In binoculars, you might also catch a bonus: Jupiter’s Galilean moons. All four of Jupiter’s largest moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) are visible in steady binoculars or a small scope, appearing as tiny star-like points in a line near Jupiter. On Sept 16, observers with telescopes will also see a special treat: Jupiter’s moons line up on one side in order (this is mentioned in some astronomy magazines as a highlight that morning astronomy.com).
This Moon–Jupiter meetup is not only pretty to look at, it’s also a useful skywatching guidepost. It highlights the constellation Gemini (marking the twins’ heads), and it points the way to finding Venus, which is farther down near the horizon (for those with an unobstructed view and maybe binoculars). Speaking of Venus: although not part of the tight grouping with the Moon and Jupiter, Venus has recently re-emerged as the brilliant “Morning Star.” By Sept 16–17, Venus rises about 1.5 hours before the Sun and gleams extremely bright (magnitude –4.6) very low in the east during dawn. If you scan below the Moon/Jupiter with binoculars around the first light of dawn, you might pick up Venus blazing near the horizon (it will become easier to see later in the month as it climbs higher). In fact, just a couple days after our target dates – on September 18 and 19 – the crescent Moon will sink down next to Venus in the morning sky, and on Sept 19 the Moon will actually occult (cover) Venus for some parts of the world earthsky.org. (The occultation at ~12:00 UTC Sept 19 is visible from areas of Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Europe, and parts of Russia and the Middle East earthsky.org – a rare event where Venus disappears behind the Moon’s unlit side in daylight!). So, consider the Moon-Jupiter meet-up on the 16th–17th as the opening act of a week of planetary delights.
For now, enjoy the serenity of the dawn sky on September 16–17: the slim Moon illuminated by earthshine (the ghostly glow on its dark side), giant Jupiter nearby ruling the sky, and winter stars like Gemini, Orion, and Canis Minor making an early appearance. It’s a reminder that even while most people sleep, the cosmos is putting on a silent morning show. If you snap a photo, you’ll capture a lovely tableau – and don’t forget to mark your calendar for that Moon–Venus meeting on the 18th/19th, too!
4. Saturn at Opposition: Ringed Planet on Full Display
Not to be outdone by fleeting meteors and dawn alignments, the planet Saturn is currently at its most impressive of the year. On September 21, 2025, Saturn reaches “opposition” – the point in its orbit when it lies opposite the Sun in our sky (rising at sunset, setting at sunrise) earthsky.org. This is essentially Saturn’s peak viewing window of 2025, and in the nights around Sept 16–17 we are very close to that peak. Saturn is now shining bright and steady all night long, outshining most stars around it. You can find Saturn easily: look toward the southeast sky after dusk. Saturn will be the bright, golden-hued “star” in the constellation Pisces (near the Aquarius border) – there are no similarly bright stars in its immediate vicinity this month, so it stands out. It’s currently about magnitude +0.4 to +0.5, roughly as bright as the star Procyon or slightly dimmer than Arcturus. Unlike twinkling stars, planets shine with a steadier light, so Saturn will appear constant and may have a slight yellowish tint.
By mid-evening (9–10 PM local time), Saturn climbs higher in the south, providing even better viewing. Around midnight, Saturn will culminate (reach its highest point in the sky) in the south, giving the sharpest views in a telescope (since you’re looking through less atmosphere). This week is a perfect time to train a telescope – even a small 60–90 mm refractor – on Saturn, because Saturn’s rings and moons are visible. Keep in mind, this year Saturn’s rings are nearly edge-on from Earth’s perspective (tilted only ~2°) earthsky.org. That means the rings appear as a thin band of light rather than the wide open tilt we saw a few years ago. They won’t be as striking or bright as at their maximum tilt, but you can still see the ring system encircling the planet (the famous “ring gap” – Cassini Division – might be hard to discern due to the shallow angle). The upside is that with the rings edge-on, Saturn’s globe casts almost no shadow on the rings, so during opposition the planet and rings are perfectly face-on illuminated – a phenomenon called the Seeliger effect causes the rings to surge in brightness at the moment of opposition. In short, Saturn may actually look a bit brighter around opposition than usual, and you might notice the rings glint a little more because we’re seeing them with full sunlight (this effect is brief but interesting).
Even with ordinary binoculars, Saturn’s not a resolved disk, but you might notice an elongation (due to the rings). A small telescope at ~50x magnification or more will definitely reveal Saturn’s rings – a breathtaking sight if you’ve never seen them. Saturn’s largest moon, Titan (magnitude ~8.5) is also visible in any telescope as a tiny dot near the planet. At opposition, Titan reaches its maximum brightness and appears on either side of Saturn every ~16 days (check a Saturn moon chart for its position on the night you observe). Other moons like Rhea, Tethys, Dione (all around mag 10) and Iapetus (mag ~11) can be spotted with larger amateur scopes on clear nights.
For those without optical aid, simply enjoy Saturn with the naked eye. Realize that you are seeing a planet over 1.3 billion kilometers away, yet bright enough to pierce our skies. If you’re in a dark location, you might even detect that Saturn is among the background glow of the Milky Way’s outer edge (the autumn Milky Way is faint in that region, but present). And fun fact: During the total lunar eclipse earlier this month (Sept 7), Saturn was right near the eclipsed Moon in the sky earthsky.org earthsky.org – some eclipse watchers saw Saturn next to the reddish Moon, a cosmic coincidence. Now, without the Moon’s glare, Saturn reigns alone.
Marking Saturn’s opposition is also a reminder that summer is turning to fall (in the Northern Hemisphere) – Saturn often comes to opposition in late summer. So as you gaze at Saturn these nights, you might feel the first hints of autumn in the air. Don’t miss this opportunity to observe the “Jewel of the Solar System” at its brightest and best. Whether through a telescope or just your eyes, Saturn never fails to awe, especially when you reflect on those stunning rings made of countless icy particles, gracefully orbiting an enormous gas giant world. As EarthSky notes, “On September 20–21, 2025, Earth flies between Saturn and the sun… Saturn will be visible all night. Its rings are tilted just 2° – nearly edge-on – and visible through any small telescope” earthsky.org. Clear skies and happy Saturn spotting!
5. Eclipse Season: September’s Lunar Eclipse & Upcoming Solar Eclipse
We are currently in an eclipse season, and while the dates Sept 16–17 themselves don’t have an eclipse, it’s worth highlighting the spectacular eclipses bookending this period. In early September, skywatchers across much of the globe were treated to a Total Lunar Eclipse, and in just a few days a Partial Solar Eclipse will occur.
- Total Lunar Eclipse on September 7, 2025: This was the Harvest Full Moon (often called the Corn Moon in September) and it passed through Earth’s shadow, resulting in a lengthy total lunar eclipse earthsky.org. If you were in Europe, Africa, Asia, or Australia, you likely had the eclipse visible at your location (at least in part). In fact, this eclipse was notable for its broad visibility – about 85% of Earth’s population was within the night side for some stage of the eclipse timeanddate.com. Totality lasted an impressive ~83 minutes earthsky.org, and at maximum eclipse (around 18:11 UTC) the Moon was deep red – a true “Blood Moon.” Many observers commented on how dark the eclipse was; the Moon was in the constellation Aquarius, and with the Moon’s glare gone, stars and Saturn popped into view during totality earthsky.org earthsky.org. If you missed it, there are many photos online (the eclipse peaked around moonrise for Europe/Africa and around midnight for East Asia/Australia). The next total lunar eclipse won’t occur until 2028, so this was a special one. Lunar eclipses are safe to view with the naked eye (no protection needed), and they offer a wonderful spectacle of the Moon changing color and brightness. Fun note: some observers even glimpsed a faint green tint at one edge of the Moon at the very end of totality – a result of Earth’s ozone layer filtering red light (a subtle effect). Overall, this eclipse gave skywatchers a dramatic start to September’s celestial events.
- Partial Solar Eclipse on September 21, 2025: Two weeks after the lunar eclipse, the New Moon will slide partly in front of the Sun, creating a partial solar eclipse. This eclipse occurs on Sept 21 (Sept 22 local date in some areas) and will be primarily visible in the Southern Pacific region. Specifically, New Zealand will see this eclipse at sunrise on the morning of Sept 22 (local time) – the Sun will rise already partially eclipsed for Kiwis timeanddate.com. A thin slice of eastern Australia (coastal New South Wales, perhaps including Sydney at sunrise) also gets a partial eclipse at dawn timeanddate.com. The eclipse path also covers parts of Antarctica and many South Pacific islands (e.g. Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Niue, Cook Islands, Vanuatu – all mentioned as having a view of the partial eclipse) timeanddate.com timeanddate.com. At maximum, about 85% of the Sun’s diameter will be covered by the Moon (magnitude 0.855) en.wikipedia.org – a very deep partial eclipse though not total. This occurs over the open ocean. For viewers in, say, Auckland or Wellington, the Sun will be roughly 70–80% obscured at peak, creating a dramatic crescent sunrise (weather permitting). If you happen to be in these regions, plan for safe viewing: use proper solar filters or eclipse glasses to watch the Sun, or project the Sun’s image using a pinhole. Even at 85% coverage, the Sun’s exposed portion is blindingly bright and can cause serious eye damage if looked at without protection. The peak of this eclipse (in UTC) is around 21:10 UTC on Sept 21, but New Zealand’s local peak is after 6 AM on the 22nd (right after sunrise). This eclipse also interestingly falls the day before the September equinox (which occurs on Sept 22, 2025).
While North America and Europe will miss this eclipse entirely, it’s still notable globally – and there will be more eclipses coming. In fact, 2025 has another solar eclipse on March 29, 2025 (partial) and looking ahead, 2026 will feature a total solar eclipse visible in Europe. If you’re an eclipse chaser, mark your calendar for March 14, 2025 as well – that’s the next total lunar eclipse visible in the Americas. Each eclipse is unique; for instance, the Sept 7 lunar eclipse was one of the longest since 2022 timeanddate.com, and the Sept 21 solar eclipse coincides with the equinox, meaning the terminator (shadow line) will be oriented interestingly on Earth.
To summarize: no eclipse on Sept 16–17 themselves, but we are in the midst of an eclipse season earthsky.org earthsky.org. Many skywatchers enjoyed a stunning red Moon on Sept 7, and those in the right locales will catch a chunk bitten out of the Sun on Sept 21. Even if you can’t see the solar eclipse in person, it’s likely there will be live webcasts (for example, from New Zealand observatories). And of course, always prioritize eye safety during solar eclipses – use ISO-certified solar viewing glasses or filters. Solar eclipses, even partial, are unforgettable if you experience them safely, as the daylight grows eerily dim and the Sun turns into a crescent. Fingers crossed for clear skies in the South Pacific on eclipse day!
6. Comets and Celestial Surprises: New Discoveries in 2025
Comet lovers have reason to be excited – two new comets are gracing our skies, adding a dash of the unexpected to September 2025’s lineup. While these comets are not yet bright enough to see without optical aid, they are notable space visitors that you can hunt with binoculars or amateur telescopes, and they may brighten further in the coming weeks.
- Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN): This comet was just discovered on September 12, 2025 by the SWAN instrument on the SOHO spacecraft earthsky.org. It caused a buzz because it was discovered already relatively bright – about magnitude 7 (on the threshold of naked-eye visibility) earthsky.org. In fact, by Sept 15 it had brightened to around mag 6.9 (or even a bit brighter) according to observers earthsky.org earthsky.org. Photographs taken in mid-September show Comet SWAN with a beautiful tail roughly 2.5° long – that’s five full-moon widths! – stretching across the stars earthsky.org. One image on Sept 14 captured the comet near the bright star Spica in Virgo earthsky.org, which helped skywatchers locate it. Currently, Comet SWAN is located in the constellation Virgo, low in the western sky after sunset. It is very near the Sun from Earth’s perspective (only about 30° elongation) en.wikipedia.org, so it’s visible only in twilight and mainly from the Southern Hemisphere or lower Northern latitudes. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere have the better view at the moment, as the comet is somewhat higher in their evening sky earthsky.org earthsky.org. From places like Australia, southern Africa, or South America, one might catch it with binoculars just after sunset, appearing as a small fuzzy star with a faint extension (the tail) in long-exposure images. Northern Hemisphere observers near subtropical latitudes (southern U.S., Mediterranean Europe, etc.) have managed to glimpse it extremely low on the horizon at dusk – reports came in of a sighting from Tucson, Arizona on Sept 13 using a telephoto camera earthsky.org. What’s next for Comet SWAN? The orbital calculations suggest this comet has an incredibly long period (~22,500 years) – essentially a one-time visitor in human terms earthsky.org. It will make its closest approach to Earth around October 12–19, 2025 earthsky.org, coming about 0.26 AU from us (approximately 39 million km). There’s hope it could brighten to around magnitude 5.5–6 at that time earthsky.org earthsky.org, potentially becoming a naked-eye object in dark skies. However, comets are fickle – some forecasts say it might not get much brighter, or it could even break apart (as comets sometimes do when nearing the Sun). As of now, it’s holding steady. Each day, Comet SWAN is moving a bit farther from the Sun’s glare in the evening sky, so viewing conditions will improve. By late September, observers in mid-northern latitudes might finally get a better look as it climbs higher after sunset. If you want to try to spot it: use binoculars about 30–60 minutes after sunset, scanning the west-southwest horizon near where the Sun went down. You’ll need a very clear view and dark sky since it’s faint. It helps to know it’s in Virgo, moving toward Libra. Astrophotographers with sensitive cameras have the best shot to capture that tail. Whether or not Comet SWAN becomes a naked-eye comet, it’s exciting to have an unexpectedly bright comet in our skies – it underscores the dynamic nature of the solar system. (Fun note: The name “SWAN” comes from the instrument that found it; this isn’t a tribute to an astronomer’s last name, but rather the SOHO satellite’s Solar Wind ANisotropies camera that often catches comets.)
- Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon): Discovered in January 2025 by the Mount Lemmon Survey in Arizona space.com space.com, Comet A6 Lemmon has been slowly brightening all year as it travels inward. Now, in mid-September, it’s still relatively dim (around magnitude 10 or so space.com), but that’s about to change. This comet will reach its closest point to Earth on October 20, 2025, and predictions suggest it might reach magnitude +4 to +5 at peak brightness space.com space.com. If so, that would make it faintly visible to the naked eye under dark skies, and certainly an easy binocular target. Even conservative estimates have it around mag 6–7 by late October space.com space.com, which is still quite good. Comet Lemmon is currently tracking through the northern sky (it has been observed in Corona Borealis in mid-Sept astronomy.com). Through the rest of September, it will gradually brighten and move eastward. By early October it should be around mag 7–8 and by mid-October perhaps mag 5–6, visible in binoculars as a fuzzy star with a possible short tail space.com space.com. It will start in the morning sky and then switch to the evening sky by around October 12 as it comes around the Sun’s vicinity space.com. Keep in mind, these forecasts can change – comets often surprise us. As a note of realism, an astronomer (Daniel Green) has a more cautious forecast that Comet Lemmon might only reach ~mag 7.3 at best space.com. So we’ll temper expectations: hope for the best (maybe a naked-eye comet!), but be prepared for a binocular-only object. For now, if you have a telescope, you might locate Comet Lemmon in the constellation Boötes or Canes Venatici predawn (consult an up-to-date star chart or astronomy app for exact position). It’s currently faint, so don’t expect to see much detail yet. But by the end of September, it could reach magnitude 8–9, and by the time it’s easier in the evening sky (mid-October), it could be a rewarding fuzzball for casual observers. Sky & Telescope and other outlets will likely provide finder charts as it brightens. Joe Rao of Space.com notes that there’s “hope it may even become bright enough to glimpse with the naked eye under dark, non-light-polluted skies”, though he advises keeping expectations in check and enjoying the comet with binoculars if possible space.com space.com.
Other celestial happenings: While Comet SWAN and Lemmon are the headline comet news, we should mention that 2025 also has an interstellar visitor – Comet 3I/ATLAS – passing through the inner solar system. This is only the third known interstellar comet (after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov). During September 2025 it’s being studied by astronomers as it swings past the Sun. However, 3I/ATLAS is not observable to amateurs (it’s very faint, requiring large telescopes), so it won’t be part of a skywatcher’s viewing list, but it’s exciting scientifically space.com. On the more visible side, Noctilucent Clouds season has ended by now (those eerie electric-blue clouds are seen in summer twilight, mainly at high latitudes, and fade by late August). But one atmospheric phenomenon to look for in mid to late September is the Zodiacal Light. As the equinox approaches, the orientation of the ecliptic at dawn/dusk makes the zodiacal light easier to spot. Before dawn in the Northern Hemisphere, in the east, you might catch a faint pyramid of light – the zodiacal light or “false dawn” – rising from the horizon about 80–120 minutes before sunrise earthsky.org earthsky.org. You need very dark skies (no light pollution and no Moon) to see it; it looks like a dim milky glow, often mistaken for distant city lights. Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere (where it’s spring), the zodiacal light is best seen after evening twilight in the west during this season earthsky.org earthsky.org. The weeks around the September equinox are prime for this subtle phenomenon because the dust along the solar system’s plane is oriented at a steep angle to the horizon earthsky.org earthsky.org. If you’re an avid skywatcher up before dawn (or out after dusk in the south) and have access to a dark site, see if you can spot this interplanetary dust glow. It’s one more beautiful reminder of our place in the solar system – sunlight scattering off billions of dust grains spread along the ecliptic. As EarthSky advises, “No matter where you live on Earth, look for the zodiacal light in the east before dawn around the time of your autumn equinox… You’ll need a dark sky” earthsky.org earthsky.org.
In summary, the nights (and mornings) of September 16–17, 2025 are packed with skywatching opportunities. We have a unique meteor shower possibly sprinkling a few slow meteors across the sky. A geomagnetic storm is in progress, potentially delivering auroral magic to those far north (and maybe even not-so-far north). The Moon and planets are arranging picturesque encounters at dawn, while Saturn beams down all night at maximum brightness. We’re in between dramatic eclipses, reminding us of cosmic alignments, and comets old and new are paying us a visit from the depths of space. It’s a wonderful time to look up!
Whether you’re an experienced amateur astronomer or a casual stargazer, there’s something for everyone: perhaps you’ll catch your first meteor, or show a friend Saturn’s rings through a telescope, or simply enjoy the calm of the pre-dawn moonrise. As always, check your local conditions (weather and light pollution) – clear, dark skies make all the difference. And if clouds foil one night, don’t be discouraged; the sky offers new wonders each evening. Keep this guide handy, bundle up if it’s chilly, and enjoy the cosmic show. The universe is putting on a performance above our heads – clear skies and happy skywatching!
Sources: Reputable astronomy and space weather outlets were consulted for the latest data and predictions, including the American Meteor Society amsmeteors.org, International Meteor Organization, EarthSky earthsky.org earthsky.org, Spaceweather.com spaceweather.com, NASA/NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center swpc.noaa.gov, Space.com and Sky & Telescope space.com, TimeandDate.com timeanddate.com, and others. These expert sources ensure the information above is up-to-date and accurate as of mid-September 2025. Enjoy the show, and eyes to the sky!
