After the bright summer nights, it gets dark much earlier again in September. Most of the constellations can already be seen at around 21:30. First to fall vertically above us is the bright star Away up. If you look there again later, when it has become completely dark, you will also see the small diamond-shaped constellation Lyre in which Vega is the brightest star. If you do not see Lyra, you may not have seen Vega, but perhaps the star Atair (constellation Eagle) or Deneb (constellation Swan) in their sights. Vega, Atair and Deneb together form a large triangle called the "summer triangle". In the middle of the summer triangle and slightly to the left of it are the small constellations Arrow and Dolphin. Neither of them have any bright stars, but because they are so small, their figures stand out at first glance. Now the Milky Way as a pale, shimmering band high above our heads. Both the western part of the sky with the setting early summer constellations and the eastern sky with the rising autumn constellations are poor in bright stars. In the constellation of Pisces Saturn and right next door you can Neptune observe.

On September 7, a total Lunar eclipse takes place. The moon is already eclipsed above the eastern horizon in Central Europe. By the end of totality at 20:53, it is just under ten degrees above the horizon. At 21:57, the moon leaves the Earth's umbra again. See also the point Events on our homepage.

The moon phases in September 2025

The planets in September 2025

Mercury is not observable in September.

Venus is on its way south along the ecliptic. It runs from the constellation of Cancer to the constellation of Leo. We can still see Venus as a bright morning star. On 19.9. it is directly next to the main star Regulus and the crescent moon is just in front of Venus. In the afternoon of September 19, the moon will cover Venus in the daytime sky.

Mars passes through the constellation of Virgo, but this remains hidden in the bright sunshine.

Jupiter in the constellation of Gemini rises at midnight. On 16.9. the waning moon is close to Jupiter.

Saturn reaches its opposition this year on 21.9. It rises in the evening, is in the south at midnight and sets in the morning. On September 8/9, the full moon will pass Saturn. We are currently looking almost exactly at the edge of Saturn's rings. There will also be interesting events involving Saturn's moons with transits in front of the planet's disk and shadows cast.

Uranus in the constellation of Taurus now rises in the early evening hours, and it is worth observing it with binoculars from around midnight.

Neptune reaches this year's opposition to the sun on September 23. The distant planet is currently in the constellation of Pisces. To see it, you need good binoculars or a telescope.

In a slightly modified form from The starry sky in September 2025 - Vereinigung der Sternfreunde e.V.

After 10 pm, the first stars can be observed due to the darkness that sets in. If you look steeply upwards at around 11 pm, you will see the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyre can be seen. Together with Vega, two other bright stars form the "summer triangle": to the left of Vega is the star Deneb in the constellation Swan and a good distance towards the horizon the star Atair in the constellation Eagle. As soon as it gets really dark again at night in mid-August, you can sense how the ribbon of the Milky Way draws. In the east Pegasus and Andromeda the first pictures of fall. Deep in the south-east, the Saturn in Pisces can now be seen over the horizon. Not far away from it is the faint Neptune to find.

The moon phases in August 2025

The planets in August 2025

Mercury can be seen in the morning sky after mid-August.

Venus is still a "morning star". It passes through Gemini and therefore rises far to the north-east. On 12.8. it appears to pass the orbit of Jupiter and passes the gas giant at a distance of just under one degree.

Mars passes through the constellation of Virgo and is then no longer visible in the evening sky.

Jupiter in Gemini is an object in the morning sky and passes Venus on August 12, see above. On 20.8. the waning crescent moon joins the planetary duo. A great motif that is definitely worth getting up early for!

Saturn moves retrograde through the constellation of Pisces. The ringed planet is clearly visible from around midnight. The second of three conjunctions with Neptune this year occurs on August 6.

The Uranus can be observed in the morning sky in August.

Neptune like Saturn, is retrograde through the constellation of Pisces. At the conjunction of the two on 6 August, their mutual separation is just over one degree.

Source: VdS (Text modified)

July is the best month to see the southern constellations. Scorpio and Sagittarius to observe. From Germany, they can be found very close to the horizon. However, if you are on vacation in the Mediterranean region, you can see them much higher in the sky. The inconspicuous constellations are hidden above Scorpius and Sagittarius Serpent bearer, Snake and above it the Hercules. The particularly bright stars in the sky are Arcturus in the Boats, Wega in the LyreDeneb in the Swan and Atair in the Eagle.

The ribbon of Milky Way stretches across the sky. However, as it doesn't get completely dark at night in July, it's better to wait until August to see the Milky Way. The Big bear is only partially visible on the star map. It sinks increasingly towards the horizon and can now be found in a north-westerly direction.

The moon phases in July 2025

The planets in July 2025

Mercury takes a sunbath in July and is therefore not to be seen.

Venus greets all early risers above the eastern morning sky. On 22.7. the narrow moon joins Venus once again.

Mars roams through Leo and can still be seen in the evening. On July 28, the thin, waxing crescent moon passes by the red planet.

Jupiter reappears in the morning sky from mid-July. The narrow crescent moon is above it on 23.7.

Saturn in Pisces becomes the observation target for the second half of the night. On July 16, the waning crescent moon points the way to Saturn.

Uranus in Taurus can be seen in the morning sky from mid-July.

Neptune in Pisces is not far from Saturn. You can photograph both together with a telephoto lens.

With the kind permission of VdS e.V. (Association of Friends of the Stars)