The Night Sky This Week

France. Seine et Marne. Bussy Saint Georges. A beautiful view of the Thrush Pond (Étang des grives) at night with the Moon. In the sky Jupiter (on the left of the Moon) and Saturn (on the right of the Moon) are visible.

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Each Monday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.

The Night Sky This Week: Sept. 8-14, 2025

The week begins with the waning Corn Moon sliding past Saturn and ends with the moon’s last quarter, bringing the welcome return of darker skies. In between, a minor meteor shower, a sparkling star cluster, and a guided tour to the Milky Way’s final seasonal display make for a varied celestial menu. Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:

Monday, Sept. 8: Moon Close To Saturn

Tonight, a 97%-lit waning gibbous moon appears beside golden Saturn in Pisces. Saturn is near its brightest for the year ahead of its Sept. 20 opposition, but you’ll need any small telescope to glimpse its ring pattern.

Tuesday, Sept. 9: ε-Perseid Meteor Shower

Before dawn, the minor ε-Perseid meteor shower peaks, delivering about five meteors per hour from Perseus. While not a major event, it’s a pleasant bonus if you’re up very late. Face toward the darkest part of your sky and let your eyes adjust for 20–30 minutes.

Friday, Sept. 12: Moon And The Pleiades

A 64%-lit waning gibbous moon rises near the delicate Pleiades star cluster in Taurus. Look an hour before midnight to see the moon glowing orange on the horizon with the tiny blue stars just above it. The Pleiades appear more vivid in binoculars, with a blue tint from their hot young stars.

Saturday, Sept. 13: Mars and Spica Close Again

Just after sunset, Mars appears above Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, with both sinking quickly toward the west-southwest horizon.

Sunday, Sept. 14: Last Quarter Moon

The moon reaches last quarter tonight, rising after midnight and offering 10 nights of increasingly dark evening skies — prime conditions for stargazing and deep-sky viewing.

The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.