September is almost over, but it still has some stunning celestial displays in store for those in South Florida who make sure to look up.
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The biggest one (visually) is the Harvest Moon.
On Sept. 26, a full, bright moon will rise above the horizon much faster than usual due to the fact that the angle of the moon’s orbit relative to Earth’s horizon is at a minimum, according to Britannica.
The brilliant moon will be up shortly after sunset, and bonus: it won’t be alone.
“Saturn appears nearby, with faint Neptune completing a wide triangle in the sky,” NASA says. “Saturn is the easy one-you can see it with just your eyes. Neptune is a bit more challenging.”
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The name “Harvest Moon” dates back to a time before electricity, when farmers depended on the moon’s light to harvest their crops late into the evening, according to NASA.
Neptune at opposition
But there’s more good news for astronomers in South Florida.
Late Friday, Sept. 25, Neptune is going to be directly opposite the sun when viewed from earth, and it’ll be “the best time to see our farthest planet,” according to the University of Arizona’s Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium.
However, it’s too faint to see without binoculars or a telescope… which the Fox Observatory in Sunrise is happy to provide! Yes, it just so happens that the celestial event will also be visible on Saturday night, when the observatory hosts free public viewings.
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