Often in astronomy and stargazing, celestial objects align in the night sky at just the right time, creating a beautiful spectacle that reminds us of the wonder of the Universe, but also of its clockwork regularity.
One such occurrence is happening this week, as Saturn is getting brighter and easier to see, and the Moon is approaching a lunar eclipse.
What's more, these two objects are getting closer together with each passing evening so that, by the weekend, the Corn Moon – also the 'blood Moon' lunar eclipse – will meet Saturn in the night sky.
Saturn is approaching its best in September 2025
As a rule of thumb, the best time to see the outer worlds of the Solar System – Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto – is when they're at opposition.
A planet or other celestial body at opposition means it's on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun.
This means the body is fully illuminated by the Sun and appears bigger and brighter, primed for observing.
Saturn is currently approaching opposition on 21 September 2025, meaning conditions for observing the ringed planet are improving night after night.
And with sunset getting earlier and earlier each evening, now's a good time to get out your binoculars or telescope and see if you can get a closer look at Saturn and its moons.
Don't expect a good view of Saturn's rings at the moment, however.
The planet underwent what's known as a ring plane crossing on 23 March 2025, when its rings were completely edge-on, from our perspective on Earth.
That effectively rendered them invisible as seen from Earth, and the rings' tilt towards Earth means they're still difficult to see.
Also, you may be able to spot Neptune just above Saturn with your binoculars or telescope.
The most distant planet in the Solar System is also approaching opposition, this time on 23 September 2025, making now a good time to see Neptune.
If you don't have binoculars or a telescope, you'll be able to see Saturn with the naked eye, appearing as a bright star in the east-southeast after sunset.
Corn Moon and lunar eclipse
Saturn remains in largely the same location in the sky each night, rising in the east just after sunset and making its way to the southeast by midnight.
The Moon, however, tracks eastward across our night sky each night, meaning it's getting closer and closer to Saturn every evening.
As it does so, the Moon will get brighter and brighter each night as it approaches full Moon.
On 7 September the Moon will be full, and the September full Moon is known as the 'Corn Moon' because it appears at the time of year when corn is traditionally harvested in North America.
What's more, on 7 September the Moon will undergo a lunar eclipse, when Earth's shadow is cast on the surface of the Moon, turning it a dark, rusty red colour.
By this time, the Moon will be big, bright and full, it will be eclipsed and it will be sitting close to Saturn in the night sky, making for a beautiful naked-eye spectacle.
Look towards the southeast after sunset and you'll see the Moon. Saturn will be to the left of it.
On the evening after the lunar eclipse, 8 September, Saturn and the Moon will be even closer together in the east after sunset, Saturn now below and to the right.
Get observing the Moon and Saturn now
In the run-up to the meeting between the Moon and Saturn on 7–8 September, it'll pay to observe both objects in the sky night after night this week (weather permitting!)
You'll see Saturn rise in the same location – in the east – after sunset, but you'll see the Moon get fuller and fuller each evening, tracking eastwards and getting closer and closer to Saturn as it does so.
Of course, the Moon and Saturn aren't really close together: they just appear close together from our perspective on Earth.
But watching the two bodies dance across the sky is a beautiful reminder that we're staring outwards across the plane of the Solar System, watching its mechanical, clockwork motion in action.
If you observe or photograph the Moon and Saturn this week, share your observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
