Northern Lights, New Comet & Saturn Shine: Must-See Sky Events on Sept 25

Summary

Aurora Alert (Equinox Northern Lights): Earth’s magnetic field is in an equinox state – meaning it’s extra vulnerable to solar wind disturbances. Even a gentle gust of solar wind can breach our planet’s magnetic defenses (the Russell–McPherron effect) around the September equinox ^[1]. While no major geomagnetic storm is forecast (Kp indices expected to stay below G1 storm levels) ts2.tech ^[2], high-latitude skywatchers should stay alert for auroras after nightfall. Minor displays of the Northern Lights could still flare up if any solar wind stream arrives, potentially painting the northern horizon green in parts of Canada, Northern Europe, and similar latitudes. Always monitor NOAA space weather updates for any sudden solar flares or CMEs that could spark auroras.
Saturn at Peak Brilliance: The planet Saturn just reached opposition on September 21, and it’s now at its closest and brightest of the year ts2.tech ts2.tech. All night long on Sept 25–26, Saturn will shine like a golden-white “star” in the eastern sky after sunset, climbing high overhead by midnight. NASA notes that “Saturn will be at its closest and brightest all year!” during this period ts2.tech. Even a small backyard telescope will reveal Saturn’s famous rings (which are nearly edge-on this year) ts2.tech and perhaps a few moons like Titan ts2.tech. Don’t miss Saturn’s show – it won’t be this bright again until next year’s opposition!
New Comet Graces Evening Dusk: A newly discovered comet, C/2025 R2 (SWAN), is now emerging into the evening sky. This long-tailed comet was just found in early September and has already brightened to about magnitude +7 – just shy of naked-eye visibility ts2.tech. Under dark skies, binoculars can now pick it up as a fuzzy star with a faint ~2° tail ts2.tech. Comet SWAN is lurking low in the west after sunset, near Virgo/Libra. It’s best seen from the Southern Hemisphere at the moment ts2.tech (where the comet appears higher in the sky). Northern Hemisphere observers will find it a bit more challenging, as the comet stays low in twilight – but each day it climbs a little higher. This visitor takes ~22,000 years to orbit the Sun, making it a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle to catch while you can ^[3]!
Moon & Mars at Sunset: Look toward the southwestern sky after sunset on Sept 25 for a delicate conjunction. The young waxing crescent Moon (only ~5–10% illuminated) ts2.tech will be hanging low above the horizon and pointing its sunlit edge toward a faint “star” just nearby – that’s Mars. On the evening of September 25, the slim Moon will form a picturesque triangle with Mars (just a few degrees apart) ^[4]. Mars is quite dim now (magnitude ~1.6) and hugging the horizon at dusk ts2.tech, so you’ll need a clear view and perhaps binoculars to spot its reddish dot right after sunset. Both Moon and Mars set shortly after the Sun, making this a brief but beautiful post-sunset sight.
Meteor Showers & Dark Skies: No major meteor showers peak on these nights, but don’t count out “shooting stars.” The Southern Taurid meteor stream (debris from Comet Encke) is just getting underway around Sept 23 and will slowly ramp up through October ts2.tech. Only a few slow-moving meteors per hour are expected from the Taurids in late September ts2.tech – but this shower is known for occasionally producing bright fireballs. Meanwhile, the rare Chi Cygnid meteor outburst that flared up in mid-September has faded; the International Meteor Organization noted that “the last of any Chi Cygnids” were expected around now ts2.tech. Sporadic meteors (random background ones) will still produce ~5–10 meteors per hour under dark skies ts2.tech. With the Moon being just a thin crescent that sets early, the late-night sky will be moonless and ideal for meteor-spotting ts2.tech. Find a dark location, let your eyes adapt, and you may catch a few streaks of light zooming by each hour.
ISS Flyovers & Satellite Sights: The International Space Station (ISS) is making a series of bright passes this week. If your skies are clear around dawn or dusk, watch for a fast-moving, steady bright light gliding across the sky – often the brightest object after the Moon ts2.tech. (Unlike planes, the ISS doesn’t blink or change direction.) Many locations have evening passes currently; for instance, parts of Europe can spot the ISS in early evening, while some North American regions get predawn sightings ts2.tech ts2.tech. Check NASA’s Spot the Station service to get exact times for your area ts2.tech. In addition, satellite “trains” from recent SpaceX launches might be visible: on Sept 24, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying NASA/NOAA space weather satellites, and frequent Starlink launches continue ts2.tech. One pre-dawn launch this week even created a glowing “space jellyfish” plume in the sky ts2.tech. And if you heard about a bright fireball over Texas on Sept 21 or India on Sept 19 – those were reentering rocket stages, not natural meteors ts2.tech. (A Chinese rocket breakup produced the spectacular streak over India ts2.tech.) These events show how human space activity can also light up the night!
Know When & Where to Look: Plan your skywatching for the late evening and early morning hours of Sept 25–26, weather permitting. Saturn rises at sunset and is visible all night, while the Moon-Mars pairing is low at dusk, and Venus and Jupiter grace the dawn sky. Weather Outlook: around the equinox many areas enjoy crisp, clear autumn nights – a high-pressure system over Europe has brought mostly clear skies to large parts of the continent ts2.tech, whereas parts of the central U.S. have seen cloudier conditions with passing fall storm systems ts2.tech. Always check your local forecast; if you have clear skies, take advantage of the dark nights this week. Bundle up, find a dark location away from city lights, and look up – the cosmic show is on display!

Auroras Dance Under Equinox Skies

It’s aurora season! The autumnal equinox (September 22) is traditionally a prime time for auroras because of the way Earth’s magnetic field interacts with the solar wind this time of year. Researchers have observed that around the equinoxes, cracks tend to open in Earth’s magnetosphere, allowing even relatively minor solar activity to trigger auroral displays ^[5] ^[6]. This is known as the Russell–McPherron effect – essentially, “even a gentle gust of solar wind can breach our planet’s magnetic defenses” near the equinox ^[7].

Over the past week, the Sun has kept forecasters on their toes. Around September 22, Earth was brushed by a high-speed solar wind stream (from a coronal hole) and a tangled region of solar wind called a corotating interaction region. NOAA predicted G1-class geomagnetic storms (minor) for that period, with a slight chance of moderate G2 storms when that solar wind first hit ^[8] ^[9]. Indeed, auroras were sighted in preceding nights – a strong G3 storm even hit in mid-September (auroras dipped as far south as Arizona and southern Europe during that event) ts2.tech ts2.tech. By the equinox itself, geomagnetic activity reached unsettled to active levels (Kp 4, just below minor storm) as the Earth’s magnetic field responded to the incoming solar wind ^[10] ^[11].

For September 25–26, however, conditions are expected to calm down. The official geomagnetic forecast calls for quiet conditions with Kp values mostly in the 1–3 range ^[12] ^[13], meaning no significant storms are anticipated. That said, high latitude observers (e.g. in Scandinavia, Scotland, Iceland, Canada, Alaska, etc.) should remain vigilant on dark clear nights – even a minor uptick in the solar wind could produce a modest auroral glow on the horizon. The equinox crack effect means the door is still open for auroras: as space weather experts like to say, “auroras love equinoxes” ^[14].

If any aurora borealis does occur on these nights, it will most likely be confined to higher latitudes (aurora oval brushing northern Canada, Alaska, northern Eurasia). At mid-latitudes, the best chance is a faint glow low in the northern sky if a minor geomagnetic substorm happens. For instance, Kp 4 (just below storm level) can sometimes bring a dim aurora fringe into the northern tier of U.S. states or central Europe. So it’s worth peeking outside after midnight when geomagnetic activity often peaks.

On the Sun itself, activity has ticked up slightly. On September 23, one of the Sun’s active regions flared and produced an M1.0-class solar flare, which is a moderate strength event ^[15]. This flare caused a brief R1 (minor) radio blackout over parts of Africa (high-frequency radio communications were mildly affected for a short time) ^[16]. No major Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME) resulted from that flare, so it’s not expected to trigger geomagnetic storms. However, NOAA estimates about a 35% chance of additional M-class flares (R1–R2) over the next days ^[17], thanks to a few complex sunspot regions facing Earth. Any such flares could cause momentary radio blackouts or GPS reception hiccups, especially on the sunlit side of Earth, but would need a significant Earth-directed CME to spark big auroras. So far, no large Earth-directed CMEs have been observed in recent days ^[18] ^[19].

In summary, skywatching for auroras on Sept 25–26 is a bit of a lottery – the official outlook is quiet, but the equinox factor means surprises are possible. If you’re in a high latitude area, keep an eye on the northern sky, especially around local midnight to predawn. A diffuse green glow or faint pulsations near the horizon could mean the Northern Lights are gently dancing. Even minor auroras can be enhanced in long-exposure photos, so consider setting up a camera facing north (with a high ISO and several-second exposure) to possibly catch what your eyes might miss ts2.tech. And of course, stay tuned to trusted space weather sources like NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center or NASA’s solar monitors – if a sudden solar eruption occurs, you’ll hear about any aurora alerts for these dates.

(Background: Auroras occur when charged particles from the Sun (carried by the solar wind) slam into Earth’s upper atmosphere and make the air molecules glow. During geomagnetic storms, these shimmering lights can spread far beyond their usual polar zones, creating unforgettable sights of green, red, and purple rippling curtains in the night sky.)

Planets on Parade (Saturn, Jupiter, Venus & More)

Late September 2025 offers planetary eye-candy for both evening and morning skywatchers. The headliner is undoubtedly Saturn, which is putting on its best show of the year. Saturn reached opposition on September 21 – that’s the point when Earth passes directly between Saturn and the Sun, so Saturn is opposite the Sun in our sky (rising at sunset, setting at sunrise) ts2.tech. Around opposition, Saturn comes closest to Earth for the year and appears brightest (at about magnitude +0.4) ts2.tech. In these September 25–26 nights, Saturn is essentially at peak brilliance, easily visible to the naked eye even from many cities. Look for a steady, pale yellow-white “star” rising in the east around sundown. By midnight it will be high in the south, and it remains visible until dawn in the west. As NASA puts it, “Saturn will be at its closest and brightest all year!” ts2.tech So this is prime time to enjoy the ringed planet.

If you have a telescope or even good steady binoculars, definitely train them on Saturn. You should be able to see Saturn’s rings – appearing now as a tiny set of protruding “ears” on either side of the planet in small scopes ts2.tech ts2.tech. The rings are currently tilted at only about 2° from edge-on (very narrow from our perspective) ts2.tech, so they look thinner than in past years, but they’re still visible and utterly breathtaking to behold. You might also spot Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, as a faint point of light nearby. Saturn’s steady shine (it doesn’t twinkle much) and its golden hue make it stand out nicely against the background stars of Aquarius/Pisces. Don’t miss it – Saturn won’t be this bright again until the next opposition in 2026!

Not far from Saturn in the sky lies Neptune, the most distant planet. In fact, Neptune reaches its own opposition on Sept 23. This means Neptune, too, is currently visible all night, located about 20° east of Saturn in the constellation Pisces. However, Neptune is much dimmer (around magnitude +7.8) and not visible to the naked eye – you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to glimpse it ts2.tech. Through a telescope, Neptune appears as a tiny bluish “star” or disk. It’s a fun challenge for dedicated observers, but as one astronomy source notes, “it will still be relatively dim and difficult to see without decent equipment” ts2.tech. So casual stargazers can skip Neptune unless you’re keen on saying you’ve spotted the furthest planet. (For those who try, an astronomy app or star chart can help pinpoint Neptune’s spot near some faint stars in Pisces.)

Meanwhile, the pre-dawn sky is hosting a brilliant gathering of planets as well. Venus and Jupiter are the stars of the morning, shining low in the east before and during dawn. Venus has recently transitioned into the role of the “Morning Star” – after spending mid-year in the evening sky, it swung between Earth and the Sun (inferior conjunction) and now emerges ahead of the sunrise. It is extremely bright (around magnitude –4), outshining everything in the night sky except the Moon. If you’re up around 5–6 AM local time, look toward the eastern horizon: Venus will be the dazzling white “star” low in the twilight, and you can’t miss it ts2.tech. Above Venus, higher up in the southeast, you’ll see Jupiter – not quite as blindingly bright as Venus but still the second-brightest planet in the sky (mag –2.6 or so). Jupiter is rising a bit earlier each night (it’s on its way to opposition in a couple of months), so by 1–2 AM it’s already coming up in the east ts2.tech. Before dawn, Jupiter appears higher than Venus, and the two planets form a striking line with any nearby Moon. In fact, on the morning of Sept 24, a slim waning crescent Moon joined Venus in the eastern sky, creating a lovely tableau ts2.tech. By Sept 25–26, the Moon will have moved out of the morning scene (having passed new phase on Sept 21 and moved into the evening sky), leaving Venus and Jupiter as a brilliant duo for early risers.

And what about Mars? The red planet is currently a bit of a ghost on the stage – it’s very faint and lingering low in the sunset glow ts2.tech. Mars was at a bright opposition back in January 2025, but since then it has been receding from us and heading toward the far side of its orbit (conjunction with the Sun). By late September, Mars is only about 30° east of the Sun, so it sets shortly after the Sun does. It’s also at a distant part of its orbit, so it appears dim (around magnitude +1.6). Still, Mars is technically visible right after sunset, very low in the west. On September 25, as mentioned, the slender crescent Moon will help point it out. If you have clear skies and an unobstructed western horizon, try to spot Mars as a tiny reddish pinprick just above or to the side of the Moon after sunset ^[20]. You may lose it in the twilight pretty quickly, as both Mars and the Moon follow the Sun down. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere might have a slightly better view, since the ecliptic (the path of the planets) stands more vertical relative to the horizon at dusk in spring, making Mars a tad higher in their sky than for those in the Northern Hemisphere ts2.tech. But overall, Mars is a subtle target now. It will return to prominence in late 2025 and 2026 when it comes to opposition again, but for now it’s a challenge object.

Don’t forget the Moon itself: we just passed the New Moon on Sept 21, so on the 25th–26th the Moon is a young crescent in the early evening ts2.tech. On Sept 25 the Moon will be only ~4 days old and ~10% sunlit, and on the 26th about 15% sunlit. A young crescent Moon is a beautiful sight – look for the rest of the Moon’s disc gently glowing with “earthshine” (sunlight reflected from Earth faintly illuminating the Moon’s dark side). The Moon will be low in the southwest as darkness falls and will set roughly an hour or two after the Sun, so it won’t interfere with late-night stargazing. These moonless evenings mean darker skies for seeing faint stars, the Milky Way, meteors, and comets. Enjoy the darkness while it lasts – in another week the Moon will be bright enough to wash out some of the faint sky objects.

(Background: “Opposition” is when a planet is directly opposite the Sun from Earth’s perspective, generally making it closest to Earth and brightest. “Conjunction” is when a planet appears near the Sun in the sky – for superior planets, that’s when it’s on the far side of the Sun. Inner planets like Venus have both superior (far side) and inferior (between Earth and Sun) conjunctions. The term “Morning Star” is a nickname for Venus when it’s visible before sunrise, due to its brilliance.)

A “Once-in-a-Lifetime” Comet in the Evening Sky

One of the most exciting skywatching opportunities this month is the appearance of Comet C/2025 R2, nicknamed SWAN. This comet was serendipitously discovered in early September by amateur astronomer Vladimir Bezugly, who noticed a moving “bright blob” in images from the SWAN ultraviolet camera on the SOHO solar observatory ts2.tech. It’s rare to discover a comet via the SWAN instrument, and Bezugly noted that in his memory this was one of the brightest comets ever first spotted in SWAN imagery ts2.tech. The comet was confirmed on September 12 and has been rapidly brightening since its discovery ts2.tech.

As of late September, Comet SWAN R2 has reached about magnitude +7 in brightness ts2.tech. This means it’s just below naked-eye visibility (under perfect dark-sky conditions the human eye can maybe see down to mag ~6). However, at mag 7 the comet is an easy target with binoculars or a small telescope ts2.tech. Observers who have managed to spot it describe Comet SWAN as a diffuse smudge of light with a condensed core (coma) and a wispy tail extending a couple of degrees ts2.tech. Long-exposure photographs show a much more dramatic tail, but visually through binoculars you’ll likely see a small fuzzy star. Still – the fact we have a comet this bright, discovered only weeks ago, is a treat. It’s not often a brand-new comet is visible without big telescopes.

Where and when can you see Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN)? Timing is key: you’ll need to look shortly after sunset, during late twilight. The comet is currently emerging from the Sun’s glare in the western sky. On September 25–26, it is located in the constellation Virgo, drifting toward Libra, not far from where the Sun set ts2.tech ts2.tech. Practically, that means it’s very low above the west-southwest horizon after sunset. About 30 to 60 minutes post-sunset is the window to try spotting it. Use binoculars and scan just above the horizon in the general direction of west-southwest. If you have a star chart or an astronomy app, find the bright star Spica (in Virgo) or the star Zubenelgenubi (in Libra) – the comet is in that vicinity, and in early October it is expected to pass near Zubenelgenubi, which will help as a reference ts2.tech.

Currently, Southern Hemisphere observers have the advantage. From Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, etc., the comet appears higher in the sky after sunset (since it’s spring in the southern hemisphere, the ecliptic path is nearly vertical at dusk) ts2.tech. Reports indicate southern stargazers have already been picking it up with binoculars and small telescopes. In the Northern Hemisphere, the geometry is less favorable – the comet stays very low in twilight due to the shallow angle of the ecliptic at Northern Hemisphere autumn ts2.tech. So northern viewers will need very clear skies and perhaps a bit of patience, catching the comet only in a brief window before it sets. The good news is that each day, as the comet moves further from the Sun, it will appear a little higher and set a little later, improving viewing chances for northerners. EarthSky notes that autumn twilight is challenging, but the comet “has been, and still is, getting easier to see” each night ts2.tech.

What’s next for Comet SWAN? The comet is on its way toward closest approach to Earth, which will occur in mid-October (around Oct 19) at a distance of about 0.26 AU (~39 million km) ts2.tech. It has already passed its closest point to the Sun (perihelion was on Sept 12) ts2.tech. As it comes nearer to Earth (while receding from the Sun), it might continue brightening a bit more. Current forecasts suggest Comet SWAN could reach roughly magnitude +6 by the first half of October ts2.tech. That’s right on the edge of naked-eye visibility in very dark skies. So it might become barely visible without optical aid for sharp-eyed observers in rural areas, but more likely it will remain a binocular object. Comet experts caution that predicting brightness is tricky – the comet could surprise us either by brightening more or fading out. But the consensus is that SWAN R2 will hover around mag 6–7 through October ts2.tech.

Regardless of whether it crosses the naked-eye threshold, this comet is special. Its orbital calculations indicate it has an extremely long period, on the order of tens of thousands of years ts2.tech. In other words, this comet won’t return in our lifetimes, so it truly is a once-in-a-lifetime visitor to our skies ^[21]. If you have a chance, try to see or photograph it in the coming weeks. One handy date: around October 2, Comet SWAN will appear near the bright double-star Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae) in the sky ts2.tech, which could help in locating it with binoculars.

For those who miss Comet SWAN or want more comet fun, note that another comet, C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), is also inbound. Comet Lemmon was discovered earlier in 2025 and is expected to possibly reach magnitude +4 to +5 in early October, meaning it could also become a faint naked-eye object under dark skies ts2.tech. It’s currently dim (~mag 9–10) and requires a telescope, but it’s brightening every week ts2.tech. We might end up with two comets visible in October: SWAN in the evening and Lemmon later at night. Additionally, an interstellar comet, designated 3I/ATLAS, is passing through our solar system this fall ts2.tech. That one, unfortunately, won’t get bright enough to see without big telescopes, but it’s a fascinating science story as only the third known interstellar object (after ‘Oumuamua and Borisov). Astronomers are actively observing 3I/ATLAS with large observatories to learn about its composition ts2.tech ts2.tech.

(Background: Comets are often called “dirty snowballs” – mixtures of ice and dust left over from the formation of the solar system. As a comet approaches the Sun, it heats up and releases gas and dust, forming a glowing coma (head) and often two tails – one of gas (ion tail) and one of dust. The dust tail shines by reflected sunlight and often appears curved and whitish, while the ion tail glows bluish and points straight away from the Sun. Comet SWAN’s long tail suggests it’s actively shedding material as it nears the Sun. Comets can be very unpredictable in brightness; sometimes they fizzle, sometimes they exceed expectations – part of the fun for comet watchers!)

Shooting Stars: Meteor Outlook for Late September

If you’re wishing on a shooting star this week, you may need a bit of patience – late September falls in a lull between major meteor showers. But that doesn’t mean the sky is completely empty of meteors. On any given night, there’s a background level of random meteors called sporadics, and there are also some minor meteor showers quietly underway.

Currently, the Southern Taurids are the meteor shower to watch, albeit in their early stages. The Southern Taurids are a long-lasting, minor meteor shower that runs from late September through November, peaking in early November. They originate from debris left by Comet 2P/Encke. Right now (around Sept 23–30), the Taurid activity is just beginning – only a few meteors per hour at most can be attributed to this stream ts2.tech. In fact, the International Meteor Organization predicts perhaps ~3 meteors per hour from the Southern Taurids under dark skies at this time ts2.tech. These meteors, when they appear, tend to be slow-moving, long-lasting streaks. Taurids are known for producing a higher fraction of bright fireballs than other showers, which is why they’re famous despite their low rates. So while you won’t see a “meteor storm” by any means, if you do catch a Taurid it could be a memorable one (a slow, bright orange fireball creeping across the sky). Taurid meteors will seem to radiate from the direction of the constellation Taurus (which rises late evening), but they can be seen anywhere in the sky.

Earlier this month, skywatchers were excited by the Chi Cygnid meteor shower – a very unusual, five-year periodic meteor outburst that peaked around September 14–15. The Chi Cygnids are so sparse that they’re not normally noticeable except in those rare outburst years. 2025 was one of those years: observers and cameras recorded a small flurry of extremely slow meteors coming from the constellation Cygnus (overhead in the early evenings) ts2.tech ts2.tech. By now, that display has essentially ended. The International Meteor Organization noted in its Sept 20 update that “the last of any chi Cygnids is expected early this week” ts2.tech. So it’s pretty much over – any Chi Cygnid you might see now would be a very lucky catch. But it was a neat reminder that the sky can still surprise us with new meteor phenomena (the Chi Cygnids were only identified in 2015 and have shown up around 2015 and 2020 before this).

Aside from those, we have the ever-present sporadic meteors. These are random bits of dust and rock (often from asteroids or old, dissipated comets) that hit Earth’s atmosphere every day. Under a dark sky, you might see on the order of 5–10 sporadic meteors per hour on average ts2.tech. The rates tend to be best in the pre-dawn hours (after midnight to before morning twilight), because that’s when your location on Earth is facing the direction of Earth’s orbital motion – essentially plowing into the meteor streams, which increases the relative speed and rate of meteors ts2.tech. In the evening, sporadic rates are lower (maybe 3 per hour) ts2.tech. So if you want to maximize your meteor sightings, the few hours before dawn on Sept 26 would be ideal. Fortunately, as mentioned, the Moon will set early, leaving those pre-dawn hours nice and dark for meteor watching ts2.tech.

To observe meteors, find a safe, dark location away from city lights. Bring a comfortable chair or blanket to lie back on – you want a wide view of the sky. Dress warmly (late September nights can get chilly, and you’ll be sitting still). Simply watch the sky – no telescope or binoculars needed (in fact, those restrict your view too much). It can take 20–30 minutes for your eyes to fully adapt to the dark, so give yourself time. You might go 10+ minutes without seeing any, then catch two in a row. That’s normal. If you’re under truly dark skies, you may even see the soft band of the Milky Way arching across the sky, especially after the evening crescent moon sets ts2.tech. This time of year, the Milky Way runs from the south, through the zenith (overhead) in constellations like Cygnus, and down toward the northeast – a beautiful backdrop for any stray meteors.

One more subtle sky phenomenon to mention: with the Moon absent before dawn, keen observers in extremely dark locations might look for the Zodiacal Light. In late September mornings (Northern Hemisphere), about 1-2 hours before sunrise, a faint pyramid of light may be visible rising from the eastern horizon along the ecliptic ts2.tech. This is the Zodiacal Light – essentially sunlight reflecting off countless dust particles in the inner solar system. It looks like a diffuse, hazy glow, often mistaken for dawn twilight. It’s only visible in very dark, moonless conditions. If you’re an early bird camping or in a rural spot, see if you can spot this ethereal “false dawn” before the real dawn begins. (In the Southern Hemisphere, the zodiacal light appears after sunset in the west at this time of year ts2.tech.) It’s a minor treat for the dedicated, but an example of how even dust can create a sky spectacle!

(Background: Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through trails of debris left by comets (or sometimes asteroids). These tiny particles burn up in the atmosphere, creating streaks of light. The point in the sky they seem to come from is the “radiant.” Meteor showers are named after the constellation containing their radiant (e.g., Taurids radiate from Taurus). Sporadic meteors have no particular radiant – they can come from any direction. The Zodiacal Light is caused by interplanetary dust in the plane of the solar system – we see it as a cone of light along the zodiac after dusk or before dawn.)

Eyes to the Sky: Satellites, ISS and Other Notable Events

Not all celestial sights are natural – human technology often makes its presence known in the sky, and Sept 25–26 has a few such highlights. The most prominent is the International Space Station. The ISS orbits ~400 km above us and is the size of a football field with giant solar panels, which reflect sunlight brilliantly. When conditions are right, the ISS is visible as a bright, fast-moving “star” sliding across the sky in the early morning or evening. It typically appears shortly after sunset or before sunrise (when the sky is dark for us, but the station is still sunlit high above). During these dates, many locations worldwide will have good ISS passes. For example, in late September evening passes are occurring over Europe, while predawn passes occur for parts of North America ts2.tech. But this varies by location – the ISS might be visible in your area at a completely different time. The key is to use NASA’s Spot the Station website or a smartphone app which, when you input your city, will give you the exact times and directions to look ts2.tech.

When you do spot the ISS, it’s an awe-inspiring sight. It travels from one horizon to the other in a matter of a few minutes. It will not blink or flash (like airplanes do), and it maintains a steady speed and brightness, often reaching magnitude –3 to –4 (rivaling Venus). As Britain’s astronomy society notes, “The International Space Station is one of the brightest objects in the sky… making a spectacular series of evening passes” this month ts2.tech. Knowing that it’s a habitable research lab with astronauts onboard can really give you goosebumps as you watch it soar overhead.

In addition to the ISS, there are thousands of other satellites orbiting Earth, and sometimes they create unusual sky events. Satellite flares used to be common (sun glinting off Iridium satellites would create bright flashes), though those specific satellites have been retired. Nowadays, the launch of Starlink satellites has become something to watch for. SpaceX frequently launches batches of dozens of Starlink internet satellites, and right after launch they can appear as an eerie “train” of lights moving in a line. If you hear reports of a chain of lights crossing the night sky like a string of pearls, that’s likely a freshly launched group of satellites. They gradually spread out and fade over days to weeks. In the days after Sept 24, there may be some Starlink trains visible from the latest launch – check online trackers for timings if interested.

Speaking of launches, on September 24 in the early morning (EDT), SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket from Florida carrying NASA’s IMAP probe (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) and NOAA’s SWFO-L1 space weather observatory, among other payloads ^[22] ^[23]. If you live in the southeastern U.S., sometimes these pre-dawn launches create stunning glowing plumes – a phenomenon often called a “space jellyfish.” In one launch this week, witnesses saw a ghostly jellyfish-like cloud in the dawn sky as the rocket’s exhaust caught sunlight ts2.tech. These are short-lived but spectacular if you happen to be in the right place at the right time (generally within a few hundred miles of the launch site).

Another thing to be aware of: fireball reports that turn out not to be meteors. In recent days there have been a couple of notable incidents. On Sept 19, a brilliant slow fireball that broke apart over northern India startled many residents – it was later confirmed to be the reentry of a discarded Chinese rocket stage (a piece of space junk) burning up ts2.tech. Similarly, a fireball sighting over Texas on Sept 21 was tied to a reentering SpaceX Starlink satellite ts2.tech. These reentries can look a lot like meteors or even UFOs, with fragments flaring as they disintegrate. The key difference is they move slower across the sky than natural meteors and often follow a shallow path. There’s no harm on the ground (these objects almost always completely burn up high in the atmosphere), but they can put on quite a light show. It’s a good reminder that human-made objects are up there alongside the natural celestial ones.

Finally, while Sept 25–26 themselves don’t feature an eclipse or major alignment, it’s worth noting we are in an eclipse season. Just a few days before, on Sept 21, there was a partial solar eclipse visible in parts of the Southern Hemisphere (e.g. at sunrise in New Zealand, and across some of Antarctica and the Pacific) ts2.tech. And earlier, on Sept 7, a Total Lunar Eclipse (a “Blood Moon”) occurred, visible across Africa, Europe, and Asia ts2.tech. Those events are over now, but they set the stage for what a special month September has been for skywatchers. Coming up next, in March 2026, a total solar eclipse will cross parts of Europe – but in the meantime, enjoy this week’s more modest celestial offerings.

(Background: The ISS travels at ~28,000 km/h, completing an orbit every ~90 minutes. It is visible when it passes near your location’s twilight zone. Satellite “trains” are a new phenomenon due to megaconstellations like Starlink. Rocket launches, especially around dawn or dusk, can create illuminated plumes as the exhaust reflects sunlight – these are harmless but amazing to see. And space junk reentries are common; hundreds of objects reenter yearly, usually unnoticed, but occasionally they put on a show. As for eclipses: a lunar eclipse happens at Full Moon when Earth’s shadow darkens the Moon (turning it reddish), and a solar eclipse happens at New Moon when the Moon blocks the Sun. None are on 25–26 Sept, but it’s good to know if people ask.)

Closing Thoughts

September 25–26, 2025, offers a rich variety of skywatching delights – from the subtle glow of possible auroras on the northern horizon, to the eye-catching brilliance of Saturn overhead, a brand-new comet peeking out after sunset, and even spacecraft gliding through the darkness. It’s a great reminder that our sky is dynamic and full of wonders, both natural and human-made. As you head out to gaze upward, make sure to give yourself the best chance: find a dark spot if possible, let your eyes adapt, and be patient. Check the weather forecast for clear skies, and use tools like astronomy apps or star charts to locate the planets and comet. Whether you’re admiring the dazzling planet Saturn at midnight, tracing the delicate crescent Moon near Mars at dusk, or catching a shooting star in the quiet hours before dawn, these experiences can be truly inspiring.

The cosmos is putting on a show this week – enjoy the celestial theater! And remember, all of these events are part of the grand clockwork of our solar system: planets orbiting, comets visiting from the distant Oort Cloud, and the Sun sending out wind and flares that make our nights dance with light. Keep looking up, and clear skies!

Sources: For further information and real-time updates, check out resources like NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center (for aurora alerts) ^[24], NASA’s skywatching guides ts2.tech ts2.tech, EarthSky’s nightly observing tips ^[25] ts2.tech, the International Meteor Organization (for meteor shower forecasts) ts2.tech, and Space.com or Astronomy Magazine for expert coverage of these events. Happy skywatching!

Saturn, Comet, & Northern Lights