An extremely bright Saturn and a vibrant full moon will materialize in the California night sky in September.
Most of the world will be able to view a rare celestial spectacle — a total lunar eclipse.
Here are some of the astronomical sights in store this month:
Total lunar eclipse will turn moon ‘blood red’
On the night of Sunday, Sept. 7, a total lunar eclipse will be visible over much of the world.
The 82-minute spectacle where the full moon will turn “blood red” can be spotted across parts of Asia, Africa, Western Australia, Europe and Oceania, according to National Geographic.
Once the eclipse starts, the full moon will take on a reddish hue and begin to look like a chunk has been taken out from one side, NASA said.
When the moon is in the shadow, or the umbra, of the Earth, our planet casts a crimson shadow.
“The moon appears orangish or reddish during a lunar eclipse,” the space agency said. “The more dust or clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the moon appears.”
About 85% of the world’s population will have a chance to observe the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022, Time and Date said.
However, the rare lunar sight will not be present in the California night sky. Instead, stargazers will have a chance to catch a glimpse of the corn full moon.
“Those in the Americas will miss the show entirely, as the moon rises too late,” National Geographic said.
When to watch September full moon in California
The ninth full moon of 2025 will reach peak illumination at 11:08 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, according to online calendar Time and Date.
How did corn moon get its name?
The September full moon is called the corn moon, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
The late summer moon’s name refers to the time of year when corn is harvested in most of the northern United States. The name originates from Native American tribes, including the Western Abenaki and the Dakota, the Almanac said.
The September moon has also been called the autumn moon by the Cree peoples, the falling leaves moon by the Ojibwe and the leaving turning moon by the Anishinaabe.
These alternative names represent the transitional period between summer and fall, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
See Saturn at its brightest
Saturday will be much brighter than usual in September.
Stargazers can see easily see the ringed planet shining in the eastern evening sky and the western early morning sky all month, according to NASA.
The planet will be at its brightest with an “out-of-this-world performance” on Sunday, Sept. 21, when it reaches opposition, NASA said.
At this point, the Earth will be temporarily sandwiched in a straight line between Saturn and the Sun.
The result is a must closer and more luminous Saturn, according to NASA.
“Saturn will be visible with just your eyes in the night sky, but with a small telescope, you might be able to see its rings,” the space agency said, adding that the planet will be “at its closest and brightest.”
When does fall officially start in California?
Monday, Sept. 22, marks the official beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere.
The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun sits right above the equator, resulting in a nearly equal day and night of about 12 hours, according to NASA.
Following the equinox, days grow shorter than nights as the sun rises later and the sets earlier, the Old Farmer’s Almanac said.
Daytime will continue to shrink through the winter solstice on Sunday, Dec. 21.
After that date, days will begin to lengthen again, the Almanac said.