Shining Venus and the famous Harvest Moon: the main celestial events of late September

Fans of astronomy in September are waiting for several remarkable celestial phenomena: Venus will reach its maximum brightness, the International Moon Observation Night will take place, the autumn equinox will come, and the so-called Harvest Moon will rise. NASA has prepared recommendations that will help to better organize observations of these events.

On September 18, Venus will reach its maximum brightness – it will appear as an expressive luminous point low above the western horizon and will stand out from the rest of the stars. To see the planet, it is important to have an open view of the western part of the horizon. In Belarus, it will be possible to observe it only about 35 minutes after the sun disappears behind the horizon.

Another significant event is scheduled for September 19 – the International night of lunar observation. Within the framework of the event, you can not only admire the Earth’s satellite, but also get acquainted with the scientific research of the moon, as well as learn what impact it had on the traditions and culture of different peoples over the centuries.

It will be possible to take part in the program, including in the online format - on the NASA website.

September 23 will be the autumn equinox: at this point the Sun will be exactly above the equator, and the length of day and night will be the same. For the Northern Hemisphere, this means the official beginning of autumn, while in the Southern Hemisphere spring begins.

The full moon, known as the Harvest Moon, will arrive on September 26 at 19:49. The name is associated with the peculiarity of this astronomical phenomenon: in the Northern Hemisphere, the Moon appears in the sky for several evenings in a row almost immediately after sunset. In the past, this gave farmers extra light time to work in the field and helped to harvest more quickly.

Photo: Pixabay / is illustrative