Sky Report

September, 2025

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between September 1 and September 30, 2025. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

The sun rises on the 1^st at 6:27 a.m., and sets at 7:18 p.m. On the 30^th, the sun rises at 6:47 a.m. and sets at 6:38 p.m.

Mercury is close to the sun all month long and is not safe to observe. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus rises in the east-northeast at 3:57 a.m., on the 1^st, with a disk 84-percent illuminated and 12 arcseconds wide. On the 19^th, Venus is about a degree west of the waning crescent moon. Both rise in the east-northeast around 4:30 a.m., PDT. On the 30^th, Venus rises in the east at 4:53 a.m., PDT, with a disk 89-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Virgo the Maiden. Mars is close to sun all month long and is not safe to observe.

Jupiter is in Gemini the Twins. On the 1^st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 2:21 a.m. The planet is 34 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Jupiter rises at 12:48 a.m. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Saturn rises in the east at 8:15 p.m., and is 19 arcseconds wide. On the 3^rd, Titan’s shadow starts transiting Saturn’s disk at 10:01 p.m. The transit ends on the 4^th, at 1:48 a.m. Titan’s shadow is about half an arcsecond in width, and a magnification of 300x or more is needed to see it. On the 30^th, the planet rises at 6:15 p.m. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 11:04 p.m. On the 30^th, Uranus rises at 9:09 p.m. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 57^m 26^s and declination of +20° 14ʹ 27ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.7-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Neptune rises in the east at 8:14 p.m. On the 30^th, Neptune rises at 6:18 p.m. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 00^h 05^m 50^s and declination of -00° 51ʹ 51ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.4-arcsecond disk.

The moon is full on the 7^th, last quarter on the 14^th, new on the 21^st, and first quarter on the 29^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Autumn begins and summer ends when the sun reaches the autumnal equinox on September 22 at 11:19 a.m. At this moment, the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south on its journey along the ecliptic. The sun rises at 6:42 a.m., and sets at 6:49 p.m.. The day is 12 hours and seven minutes long. The days will continue to grow shorter, and the nights get longer, until the sun reaches the winter solstice on December 21.

In the major lunar standstill of 2024-2025, the September southernmost moon rises as waxing gibbous on the 1^st at 3:28 p.m., and sets on the 2^nd at 12:54 a.m. The September northernmost moon rises at near last quarter at 11:06 p.m., on the 13^th, and sets on the 14^th at 2:35 p.m. Griffith Observatory will livestream broadcast the northern moonrise from Chimney Rock, Colorado on the 13^th. On the 28^th, the second southernmost moon sets at first quarter phase at 10:43 p.m., and rises on the 29^th at 2:10 p.m.  Griffith observatory is not planning any public event or web broadcast for this standstill. For details on the major lunar standstill, please visit the website at https://griffithobservatory.org/extreme-moon-the-major-lunar-standstills-of-2024-2025/

Follow All Space Considered and Griffith Observatory on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for updates on astronomy and space-related events.

September 1st to the 6th shows the Moon waxing which means more of its surface is illuminated. The Full Moon on the 7th ends this cycle. Starting from the 8th on, the Moon is waning. The First Quarter is on the 29th, and the Last Quarter is on the 14th. September 21st marks the New Moon.

Archived Sky Reports