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Duncan Pond Aug. 30, 2025
September's Celestial Spectacles: Your Interactive DWARFVision SkyGuide
September's Celestial Spectacles: Your Interactive DWARFVision SkyGuide
Get Ready for a Total Lunar Eclipse and Planets at their Best!
Hey Astro-nuts and fellow DWARF-wranglers,
Fall is just around the corner, and for many observers in the Northern Hemisphere, September marks the unofficial start of "astronomy season." The long, lingering twilight of summer finally gives way to longer, truly dark nights. As the air begins to cool, the atmosphere often becomes steadier and less hazy, providing the crystal-clear skies we crave for deep-sky imaging. It’s the perfect time to get back out there, and this month kicks things off with some of the year's most dramatic events! Your DWARF 2/3 scopes are in for a real treat. This is your official September highlight guide from DwarfVision!
September Events at a Glance:
September 7: Total Lunar Eclipse ("Blood Moon")
September 12: Moon Occults the Pleiades Star Cluster (M45)
September 19: Daylight Lunar Occultation of Venus
September 21: Saturn at Opposition
September 22: The Autumnal Equinox
September 23: Neptune at Opposition
Throughout September: Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Puts on a Show!
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September 7 - The Main Event: A Total Lunar Eclipse
September 7 - The Main Event: A Total Lunar Eclipse
Get ready for the most significant lunar event of 2025 for observers in Europe, Asia, and Africa! On September 7, the full Moon will pass directly through Earth's shadow, creating a beautiful Total Lunar Eclipse. During totality, the Moon will glow with a reddish-orange hue, earning it the famous "Blood Moon" nickname. This eerie light is caused by all of Earth's sunrises and sunsets being filtered through our atmosphere and projected onto the lunar surface.
For many observers in Europe, the show will be extra dramatic, as the Moon will rise while already partially or fully eclipsed! Be sure to find a spot with a clear view of the eastern horizon to catch this stunning sight.
DwarfVision Challenge: This event is perfect for both DWARF 3 lenses! Use the wide-angle lens to capture the surreal sight of the red, eclipsed Moon rising over a scenic landscape. Then, switch to the telephoto lens to get detailed shots of the deep red and copper tones on the lunar surface.
Capturing a time-lapse of the entire event would be an incredible project, allowing for the changing light and colors to be captured. TIP: Use the object tracking feature on the moon instead of the “moon” tracking feature, as the moon may be too dark to be recognised by your Dwarf, more on this is on the way in our upcoming Lunar Eclipse Guide!
Event timeline:
Partial Eclipse begins: 16:27 UTC (18:27 CEST / 12:27 PM EDT / 9:27 AM PDT)
Full Eclipse begins: 17:30 UTC (19:30 CEST / 1:30 PM EDT / 10:30 AM PDT)
Maximum Eclipse: 18:11 UTC (20:11 CEST / 2:11 PM EDT / 11:11 AM PDT)
Full Eclipse ends: 18:52 UTC (20:52 CEST / 2:52 PM EDT / 11:52 AM PDT)
Partial Eclipse ends: 19:56 UTC (21:56 CEST / 3:56 PM EDT / 12:56 PM PDT)
September 12 - Moon Hides the Seven Sisters
September 12 - Moon Hides the Seven Sisters
Here’s a beautiful event for observers across Europe and Western Asia! In the early hours of September 12, the waning gibbous Moon will pass directly in front of the famous Pleiades star cluster (M45). This is a fantastic opportunity to watch the bright stars of the cluster disappear one-by-one behind the Moon's bright edge and then reappear from the dark side. The event will be visible to the naked eye, but your DWARF scope will provide a stunning view.
DwarfVision Challenge: Use the telephoto lens to frame the Moon and the Pleiades cluster. The challenge is to create a time-lapse video showing the stars winking out as the Moon moves in front of them. This is a great way to visualize the Moon's steady orbital motion in real-time against the backdrop of distant stars.
The moon at 10 pm CEST (9PM GMT) on September 12th - Over the course of 2 hours it will pass over each star in M42 also known as The Pleiades or Seven Sisters
September 19 - A Celestial Game of Hide-and-Seek
September 19 - A Celestial Game of Hide-and-Seek
Prepare for one of the year's unique and challenging events! On September 19, the Moon will pass directly in front of the planet Venus, hiding it from view in an event called a lunar occultation. What makes this so special is that it will be visible during the daytime from much of Europe!
This is a true test of your observing skills and a fantastic demonstration of the solar system in motion. From London, for example, Venus will disappear behind the Moon's bright edge around 11:55 UTC (13:55 CEST / 7:55 AM EDT / 4:55 AM PDT) and reappear from behind the dark edge around 13:14 UTC (15:14 CEST / 9:14 AM EDT / 6:14 AM PDT). You will absolutely need your DWARF scope or another telescope to see this against the blue daytime sky.
DwarfVision Challenge: This is an advanced challenge for dedicated DWARF-wranglers! The first task is to locate the thin crescent Moon in the blue daytime sky. Once centered, use your telephoto lens to spot Venus nearby. The ultimate challenge is to capture a video showing the precise moment Venus vanishes behind the Moon and the thrilling moment it pops back into view from the other side.
The Moon, about to occult Venus On Sept. 19 at 14:00 CEST
A Month of Oppositions: Planets at their Best!
A Month of Oppositions: Planets at their Best!
September is truly a month for planet hunters, with two gas giants reaching their peak visibility for the year. An "opposition" is when a planet is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. This means it rises at sunset, is visible all night long, and is at its closest and brightest.
September is truly a month for planet hunters, with two gas giants reaching their peak visibility for the year. An "opposition" is when a planet is on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun. This means it rises at sunset, is visible all night long, and is at its closest and brightest.
Saturn at Opposition (September 21)
Saturn at Opposition (September 21)
The magnificent ringed planet, Saturn, takes center stage! Shining at a bright magnitude of 0.6 in the constellation Pisces, it will be an unmistakable golden "star" that doesn't twinkle. This is the absolute best time of year to view and photograph Saturn.
The magnificent ringed planet, Saturn, takes center stage! Shining at a bright magnitude of 0.6 in the constellation Pisces, it will be an unmistakable golden "star" that doesn't twinkle. This is the absolute best time of year to view and photograph Saturn.
Neptune at Opposition (September 23)
Neptune at Opposition (September 23)
Just two days after Saturn, the distant ice giant Neptune reaches its own opposition. Located in the constellation Pisces not far from Saturn, Neptune will be shining at its brightest for the year, though at magnitude +7.8, you will need your DWARF scope or binoculars to spot it. Look for a tiny, distinctly blue-tinted point of light
Just two days after Saturn, the distant ice giant Neptune reaches its own opposition. Located in the constellation Pisces not far from Saturn, Neptune will be shining at its brightest for the year, though at magnitude +7.8, you will need your DWARF scope or binoculars to spot it. Look for a tiny, distinctly blue-tinted point of light
The Autumnal Equinox (September 22)
The Autumnal Equinox (September 22)
On September 22, at 18:19 UTC (20:19 CEST / 2:19 PM EDT / 11:19 AM PDT), the Sun will cross the celestial equator heading south, marking the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the official astronomical start of autumn, bringing us one step closer to those long, crisp winter nights perfect for astronomy!
On September 22, at 18:19 UTC (20:19 CEST / 2:19 PM EDT / 11:19 AM PDT), the Sun will cross the celestial equator heading south, marking the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the official astronomical start of autumn, bringing us one step closer to those long, crisp winter nights perfect for astronomy!
Comet Corner: A Tale of Two Visitors
An Interstellar Visitor Gets Brighter: Comet 3I/ATLAS
Our special guest from another star system, the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, is putting on a fantastic show! As predicted, it brightened steadily through August, and the performance is only getting better. Throughout September, the comet is expected to brighten significantly, potentially reaching magnitude 10 by the end of the month. This makes it one of the most exciting targets in the sky for DWARF scopes!
Look for it as it moves from the constellation Libra and into Virgo. This is a crucial time to capture this interstellar traveler, as its brightness and tail development will be changing week by week.
The Rising Hope: Comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS)
While 3I/ATLAS is our interstellar celebrity, this is the one to watch for future greatness! C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) is on its inbound journey toward the Sun and is expected to brighten steadily throughout the month. It's still a faint target, likely around magnitude 11 or 12, but it's a perfect project for DWARF owners at dark sites. Tracking it now will let you witness its evolution ahead of its peak performance in the autumn.
Deep Sky Delights
With the Full Moon and eclipse action at the beginning of the month, the last two weeks of September will offer beautifully dark, moonless nights—perfect for hunting faint, deep-sky objects. As we move into autumn, the magnificent Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33) are rising high in the sky, making them prime targets. Here are a few other stunning DSOs that are perfectly placed high overhead this month:
The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) in Andromeda: Our majestic galactic neighbour is ideally placed for imaging. It's so large you can spot its fuzzy core with just your eyes from a dark site.
DwarfVision Challenge: The Andromeda Galaxy is massive! The challenge is to use your DWARF 3's mosaic mode to capture the entire galaxy, from its bright core and dust lanes to its faint, sprawling arms. This will create a breathtaking, high-resolution panorama.
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The Triangulum Galaxy (M33) in Triangulum: The third-largest member of our Local Group, M33 is a beautiful face-on spiral galaxy. It's more diffuse and has a lower surface brightness than Andromeda, making it a more challenging but equally rewarding target.
DwarfVision Challenge: The Triangulum Galaxy is a more subtle beauty than the Andromeda Galaxy. The challenge for M33 is to gather enough data with a long integration time to reveal its faint, sprawling spiral arms. For a pro-level challenge, try to resolve the bright pink star-forming regions (HII regions), especially the massive nebula NGC 604, scattered throughout its arms!
The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) in Vulpecula: One of the brightest and largest planetary nebulae in the night sky, the Dumbbell looks like a cosmic apple core. Its vibrant colors and distinct shape make it a rewarding and relatively easy target for your DWARF scope.
DwarfVision Challenge: Use a long, stacked exposure to bring out the faint "ears" or lobes extending from the main nebula. For an advanced challenge, try using a duo-band filter to really make the Ha and OIII gases pop!
The Veil Nebula Complex in Cygnus: This is the remnant of a star that exploded thousands of years ago, leaving behind a delicate and sprawling web of glowing gas. The two main parts are the "Witch's Broom" (NGC 6960) and the "Eastern Veil" (NGC 6992).
DwarfVision Challenge: The Veil is huge! The challenge is to create a multi-panel mosaic with your DWARF 3 to capture the full extent of either the Eastern or Western Veil. Aligning the panels to create one seamless, ghostly image is the ultimate goal.
The Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 & NGC 884): A true celestial gem, this target offers two for the price of one! It's a pair of brilliant, sparkling open star clusters packed so closely together they fit within the same field of view. It's a breathtaking sight even in short exposures.
DwarfVision Challenge: The goal here is color and sharpness. Stack your images to capture the beautiful range of star colors, from young, hot blue stars to older, yellow and orange giants. The challenge is to get perfectly sharp, pinpoint stars across the entire frame.
The Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) in Aquarius: Often called the "Eye of God," this is one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth. It's massive in apparent size (about half the width of the full moon!) but has a very low surface brightness, making it a true challenge target.
DwarfVision Challenge: This is a faint ghost! Your challenge is to use a very long total integration time from a dark sky site to reveal the faint outer halo of the nebula. Capturing the intricate details within the "eye" is a true test of your DWARF's light-gathering power.
So get your DWARF 2/3 charged up, mark your calendars, and prepare for some unforgettable celestial sights. Let's make the most of this incredible month!
Clear Skies and Happy Hunting!
Duncan from DwarfVision
Septembers Interactive Almanac
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