Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W39

Week begins: Monday, September 22, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Sep 22, 2025♎ 1
♎ Sun enters Libra · Autumnal equinox · First Point of Libra · Mabon — 18:19:20 UTC
C33 / NGC 6992/6995 · Eastern Veil Nebula — Telescope — Northern Autumn
Finest NGC 99a / NGC 6992 · Veil Nebula (East) — Telescope 7 — Northern Autumn
Finest NGC 100 / NGC 7000 · North American Nebula / C20 / NGC 7000 · North America Nebula — Telescope 4 — Northern Autumn
M73 — Telescope 9 — Tropical Autumn
Tue, Sep 23, 2025♎ 2
C42 / NGC 7006 — Telescope 11 — Tropical Autumn
C4 / NGC 7023 · Iris Nebula — Telescope 7 — Arctic Autumn
Wed, Sep 24, 2025♎ 3
Finest NGC 1 / NGC 7009 · Saturn Nebula / C55 / NGC 7009 · Saturn Nebula — Telescope 8 — Tropical Autumn
α Oct — Binoculars 5 — Antarctic Autumn
Thu, Sep 25, 2025♎ 4
61 Cygni — Naked eye — Northern Autumn
Finest NGC 101 / NGC 7027 · Magic Carpet — Telescope 10 — Northern Autumn
Fri, Sep 26, 2025♎ 5
Sat, Sep 27, 2025♎ 6
Kitalpha (α Equ) — Binoculars 4 — Tropical Autumn
Sun, Sep 28, 2025♎ 7
Alderamin (α Cep) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Autumn

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins September 22, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♍︎ 29°15′
β −0°00′		♎︎ 1°11′
β −1°10′		♎︎ 6°17′
β +0°54′		♍︎ 3°01′
β +1°01′		♎︎ 29°47′
β +0°01′		♋︎ 21°16′
β +0°00′		♓︎ 28°27′
β −2°31′
ObservingNight☉︎☉︎Naked eye -3.9Naked eye 1.6Naked eye -2.1Naked eye 0.6
Rise05:5406:0806:3003:3408:3623:5618:10
Set18:0618:0318:2417:1419:1115:1305:52

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♈︎ 11°57′
β −15°10′		♊︎ 1°22′
β −0°13′		♈︎ 0°48′
β −1°22′		♒︎ 1°29′
β −3°47′
ObservingTelescope 7.7Binoculars 5.7Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.5
Rise19:4520:3018:0916:01
Set06:3611:2906:0700:41

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 16:40:32 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W39 runs from September 22 through September 28. Saturn and Neptune are separated by about 2.4° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. To find Venus, first identify Leo, trace the Sickle, and locate Regulus in that pattern. Venus lies about 3.2° away in ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot; use the finder to transfer from Regulus to the planet.

Naked eye: No principal lunar phase is listed this week. Check the Moon's position each night and favor darker hours for low-contrast targets. Use Alderamin as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Alderamin: The Bright Star of Cepheus — An illuminating guide to the characteristics and significance of this notable celestial beacon.

Planets: Moon: In solar glare; magnitude -4.0; direct motion; 0.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Sep 22 11:35 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Sep 24 11:55 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -1.0; direct motion; 97.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Sep 22 11:35 UTC. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 89.3% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude 1.6; direct motion; 97.2% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Sep 24 11:55 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 7.7; retrograde motion; 99.7% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.1; direct motion; 99.2% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.6; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.7; retrograde motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Sep 23 12:53 UTC. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: Trace Octans’s charted figure in the finder, then identify α Oct at its charted position. Trace Equuleus’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Kitalpha at its charted position.

Alpha Oct: The Bright Beacon in the Octant Sky — Discover the characteristics and significance of Alpha Oct, a prominent star in the constellation Octans, guiding navigators and astronomers alike.

Kitalpha: A Prominent Star of Equuleus — Illuminating insights into one of the constellation’s key stars, Kitalpha stands out as a notable figure in the night sky.

Small telescope: Veil Nebula (East): consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; North America Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M73: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 7006: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Iris Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Saturn Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Magic Carpet: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

Veil Nebula (East): A Luminous Remnant in Cygnus — An enduring testament to stellar death, the Veil Nebula East reveals the intricate aftermath of a supernova explosion.

The North America Nebula: A Celestial Portrait in Cygnus — An exploration of a prominent emission nebula whose distinctive shape resembles the North American continent, offering both beauty and scientific intrigue.

Messier catalogued four stars that only look acquainted — M73 is not a star cluster at all, but a tiny asterism whose stars happen to lie along nearly the same line of sight.

The Delphinus Globular Cluster: A Stellar Beacon in the Constellation Delphinus — An overview of the characteristics and significance of this ancient star cluster in the night sky.

The Iris Nebula: A Cosmic Bloom in Cepheus — Exploring the luminous beauty and scientific significance of the Iris Nebula, a prominent emission nebula in the Cepheus constellation.

The Saturn Nebula: A Celestial Gem in Aquarius — An overview of this intriguing planetary nebula, highlighting its celestial characteristics and significance.

The Enigmatic Beauty of the Magic Carpet in Cygnus — A detailed exploration of a captivating planetary nebula that continues to intrigue astronomers and stargazers alike.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:30; sets 18:24 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.0. The disk is 97.8% illuminated (gibbous). It is 7.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.727° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 8.8° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Sep 22 11:35 UTC. Mercury: 8.8° from Zavijava in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 30.4° below the horizon. Rises 03:34; sets 17:14 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 89.3% illuminated (gibbous). It is 26.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.224° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Regulus, 2.9° away. Venus: 2.9° from Regulus in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:08; sets 18:03 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.0. The disk is 0.0% illuminated (waxing crescent). It is 2.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 12.317° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zavijava, 4.1° away. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Sep 22 11:35 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Sep 24 11:55 UTC. Moon: 4.1° from Zavijava in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 19.7° below the horizon. Rises 08:36; sets 19:11 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.6. The disk is 97.2% illuminated (gibbous). It is 30.5° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.671° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Spica, 5.9° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Sep 24 11:55 UTC. Mars: 5.9° from Spica in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 20.4° below the horizon. Rises 23:56; sets 15:13 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.1. The disk is 99.2% illuminated (nearly full). It is 68.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.142° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 7.1° away. Jupiter: 7.1° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 27.3° above the horizon. Rises 18:10; sets 05:52 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 177.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.078° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 14.9° away. Neptune is 2.6° away at the snapshot. Saturn: 14.9° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 4.2° above the horizon. Rises 20:30; sets 11:29 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.7. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 117.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.013° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 10.2° away. Uranus: 10.2° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 28.0° above the horizon. Rises 18:09; sets 06:07 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 177.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.028° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 15.8° away. Saturn is 2.6° away at the snapshot. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Sep 23 12:53 UTC. Neptune: 15.8° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 11.9° above the horizon. Rises 19:45; sets 06:36 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 99.7% illuminated (nearly full). It is 160.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.213° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 10.2° away. Ceres: 10.2° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 20.8° above the horizon. Rises 16:01; sets 00:41 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 122.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.010° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.9° away. Pluto: 8.9° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.