Home
Weather London
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
Career
    Home / Editor's Pick /

    September astro outlook: Fourth supermoon and Neptune appears

15:00
2 September 2023

September astro outlook
Fourth supermoon and Neptune appears

star-gazing

September is not the most active month for stargazers, but it does deliver the autumn equinox, ushering in the new season.

The month begins with a new moon on September 15 offering dark skies perfect for those wanting to see fainter objects in the night sky.

Those faint objects will include Neptune in opposition on September 19, though only for those with powerful telescopes.

The furthest planet from the sun will be illuminated by the star on this day, offering the best chance to spot the gas giant.

A few days later, we find Mercury at its greatest western elongation. On September 22, the closest planet to the sun will be visible in the UK and Ireland. Look towards the eastern horizon before sunrise.

A day later, and the autumnal equinox heralds the beginning of astronomical autumn. This year, the equinox takes place on September 23, at 07:50 am BST.

At the equinox the sun will shine directly on the equator, giving us an almost equal number of hours of day and night. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is the spring equinox.

Finally, the month is rounded out by the year's fourth, and final, supermoon. Rising on the evening of September 29, this full moon is dubbed the harvest, or corn, moon.

The closest full moon to the equinox is always referred to as the harvest moon. This year it becomes a supermoon as it arrives in parallel with the moon's perigee, the closest point to Earth in its orbit.

If you head out to capture the supermoon, have a telescope powerful enough to spot Neptune, or use the darkness of the new moon for a spot of stargazing... we would love to see what you capture.

Tap the image icon in the app or use our dedicated uploader.

Tips: Astrophotography with your phoneread more
Ryan Hathaway
More on the topic
New record June temperature in the UK. Likely to be broken again. . . Thursday, 25 June 2026
Heat map of southern England on 24.06 showing extreme temperatures across Hampshire, with Gosport highlighted at 36.1°C and nearby Portsmouth around 35°C amid deep red heat zones.
Thursday, 25 June 2026

Likely to be broken again

New record June temperature in the UK
50 years since historic 1976 heatwave. Three-month hot spell. . . Tuesday, 23 June 2026
Black-and-white photograph from the 1976 UK heatwave showing a crowded outdoor swimming area packed with people bathing, wading, and sitting along the water's edge during extreme summer heat.
Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Three-month hot spell

50 years since historic 1976 heatwave
Schools closed and more heat disruption. Red warnings now live. . . Wednesday, 24 June 2026
Split image showing a person using a sun umbrella near the Elizabeth Tower in London on the left and a temperature map of England on the right with widespread red heat, temperatures reaching 35°C near London, and a large thermometer icon.
Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Red warnings now live

Schools closed and more heat disruption
All weather news
This might also interest you
Storm Benjamin impacts the UK. Warnings active. . . Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Split weather map showing UK wind speeds in orange-red shades up to 40 mph on the left and warning levels in green-yellow on the right, with a central wind warning sign.
Wednesday, 22 October 2025

Warnings active

Storm Benjamin impacts the UK
Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands. Storm and rain. . . Friday, 12 December 2025
Weather graphic showing rain and wind fields over the Canary Islands and a central warning symbol.
Friday, 12 December 2025

Storm and rain

Turbulent weather in the Canary Islands
Flooding, gales, and heavy snow. Storm Chandra. . . Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Split image showing aerial flooding in a town with muddy water covering roads on the left, and a rural road on the right blocked by heavy snowfall with vans stopped and a person walking in snow.
Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Storm Chandra

Flooding, gales, and heavy snow
All articles
Weather & Radar

Weather & Radar is also available on

Google Play StoreApp Store

Company

Contact us Privacy Policy Legal info Accessibility statement

Services

Uploader

Socials

facebooktwittertikToklinkList