Home
Weather Dublin
WeatherRadar
RainfallRadar
TemperatureRadar
WindRadar
LightningRadar
Weather News
Editor's Pick
Discover the app
Weather widget
Contact us
Apps
    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
Long-term trends need a pinch of salt. Heading over 40°C?. . . Tuesday 21 July 2026
Temperature radar of 2022 heatwave where the all-time temperature record in the UK was set. Warning symbol overlain.
Tuesday 21 July 2026

Heading over 40°C?

Long-term trends need a pinch of salt
A wet start before conditions settle. Commonwealth Games 2026. . . Wednesday 22 July 2026
Split image showing a weather map for western Scotland with widespread rain around Glasgow on the left, and runners poised at a starting line on an athletics track on the right.
Wednesday 22 July 2026

Commonwealth Games 2026

A wet start before conditions settle
Violent storms impacting northern Italy. Hail and storm damage. . . Thursday 16 July 2026
A weather map showing thunderstorms over northern Italy and a photograph of large hailstones in a hand.
Thursday 16 July 2026

Hail and storm damage

Violent storms impacting northern Italy
All weather news
This might also interest you
Storm Chandra makes impact. Severe gales & heavy rain. . . Tuesday 27 January 2026
Split image showing strong winds over the UK on a forecast map and widespread rain and snow on a weather radar map.
Tuesday 27 January 2026

Severe gales & heavy rain

Storm Chandra makes impact
Bright and warm conditions take hold. Spring-like outlook. . . Thursday 23 April 2026
Split UK map showing warm temperatures up to 21 degrees in orange on the left and clear sunny conditions with temperatures from 12 to 18 degrees on the right, with sun icons across the country.
Thursday 23 April 2026

Spring-like outlook

Bright and warm conditions take hold
New records for England and Wales. Broken again tomorrow?. . . Thursday 25 June 2026
Temperature map of southwest Britain on 25.06 showing extreme heat across southern Wales and southwest England, with Bute Park in Cardiff highlighted at 34.2°C and Yeovilton at 36.4°C amid widespread deep red heat zones.
Thursday 25 June 2026

Broken again tomorrow?

New records for England and Wales
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

facebooktwitteryouTubelinkList