The Ultimate Guide to Observing the Fall Sky (Northern Hemisphere)

September 22: Autumnal Equinox

Fall officially begins in the Northern Hemisphere at 2:19 p.m. EDT (18:19 UTC) on Monday, September 22. Day and night are almost equal in length due to the Sun crossing the celestial equator. 

October 6-7: Full Moon, Supermoon

In 2025, the Harvest Moon rises on Monday, October 6, at 11:48 p.m. EDT (03:48 UTC on October 7), falling in October rather than the usual September. Remember, “Harvest Moon” is simply a fancy name for the Full Moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Traditionally, the Harvest Moon marks the time for farmers to gather their crops before the first frost. Its bright light gives them extra hours to work into the evening. It will be the first of three Supermoons, appearing slightly larger and brighter than usual as it reaches its closest point to Earth.

October 8: Draconids Meteor Shower

The Draconids, also known as the Giacobinids, are active between October 6 and 10, 2025, peaking on October 8, 2025. It is an unusual meteor shower because the best viewing is in the early evening rather than after midnight, like most other meteor showers. The Draconids will peak on the day after the Full Moon this year. Moonlight will block all but the brightest meteors. Look for the radiant near the constellation Draco, the Dragon. 

October 19: Planetary Conjunction Mercury and Mars 

Mercury (magnitude -0.1) and Mars (magnitude +1.5) appear about 2° apart in the western evening sky, low on the horizon in the constellation Libra, around 45 minutes after sunset. This close pairing will be visible in early October 2025, with best viewing conditions requiring a clear view of the western horizon.

October 20-21: Orionids Meteor Shower 

The Orionids are active from October 2 to November 7, peaking on the night of October 20–21. Expect up to 20 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. With the New Moon on October 21, skies will be dark and perfect for viewing. Meteors will radiate from Orion, but can appear anywhere in the sky. These streaks of light come from debris left by Halley's Comet.

November 5: Full Moon, Supermoon

The Full Moon on November 5, 2025, carries the titles Beaver Moon and Hunter's Moon. It reaches peak illumination at 8:19 a.m. EST (13:19 UTC). This rare overlap occurs because this Full Moon follows the Harvest Moon in October, qualifying it as the Hunter's Moon, while November traditionally hosts the Beaver Moon.
This Moon will also be the second and largest Supermoon of the year. At its closest point to Earth (perigee), the Moon will appear approximately 7.9% larger and 16% brighter than a typical Full Moon. Moonrise should be spectacular on the evenings of November 4 and 5 when the Moon hangs low on the horizon and is enhanced by an optical illusion that makes it seem even bigger.
The name Beaver Moon originates from Native American and colonial traditions, marking the time when beavers retreat to their lodges in preparation for Winter. Meanwhile, the Hunter's Moon signals the season for hunting game fattened over the Summer . 

November 17-18: Leonids Meteor Shower

The Leonids are an average meteor shower active from November 6 to 30, 2025, and may produce up to 15 meteors per hour at peak. This year, the shower peaks on the morning of November 17, and the waning crescent Moon will offer dark skies throughout the night, making conditions ideal. Meteors radiate from the constellation Leo but can appear anywhere in the sky.

December 4: Full Moon, Supermoon

The Cold Moon will occur on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 6:14 p.m. EST (23:14 UTC). Early Native American tribes, such as the Mohawk, called it the Cold Moon as winter chill settles in and the nights grow long and dark. It is also the last of three consecutive Supermoons for 2025. The Moon will be near its closest approach to Earth, appearing slightly larger and brighter than usual .

December 13-14: The Geminid Meteor Shower 

The Geminids peak on the night of December 13 through the early morning of December 14, 2025. This meteor shower typically produces 50 to 100 meteors per hour, and under ideal dark-sky conditions, rates can climb to as many as 150 meteors per hour, averaging about 2 to 3 meteors per minute! The Moon will be in a waning crescent phase, offering minimal interference from moonlight. Look toward the radiant near the bright stars Castor and Pollux for best viewing.

Aquarius

Aquarius, the Water Bearer, is a sprawling constellation covering 980 square degrees. It's bordered by Pegasus, Pisces, Cetus, Sculptor, and Piscis Austrinus. One of the 13 zodiac constellations, Aquarius also hosts the Delta Aquarids meteor shower, which peaks in late July.

Andromeda

In Greek mythology, Andromeda was the princess daughter of Queen Cassiopeia and King Cepheus, condemned to be chained to a rock as a sacrifice to the sea monster Cetus. The constellation Andromeda spans 722 square degrees and is easily recognized by its two long lines of stars. The bright star Alpheratz appears to share one corner of Pegasus's Great Square. Andromeda is also home to the Andromeda Galaxy, the brightest spiral galaxy visible to the naked eye. This constellation is near Cassiopeia, Perseus, Triangulum, Pisces, and Pegasus.

Aries

Known as "The Ram," Aries is traditionally listed as the first zodiac constellation, due to the Sun's position within it around the beginning of spring in 1800 BC. Its symbol represents a ram's horns and is anchored by Hamal, a second-magnitude yellow giant star. Aries lies near Pisces to the west and Triangulum to the north.

Cassiopeia, named for the wife of King Cepheus of Ethiopia, is a circumpolar constellation most prominent in the Fall. It sits between the north celestial pole and the constellation Andromeda. Its brightest stars form a distinctive "M" or "W" shape, making it one of the easiest constellations to identify. Cassiopeia is located within the Milky Way and contains several deep-sky objects, including open star clusters visible through small telescopes.

Cepheus

Cepheus, named after the mythological King of Ethiopia, is a circumpolar constellation visible year-round in the Northern Hemisphere. Located near the North Celestial Pole, its five-sided shape resembles a house. Cepheus contains some of the largest known stars in the Milky Way, making it a fascinating target for deep-sky observers.

Cetus

In Greek mythology, Cetus was the fearsome sea monster sent to devour Andromeda. The constellation lies below Pisces and is best seen in late fall and winter. Covering 1,231 square degrees, Cetus is the fourth-largest constellation in the night sky.

Perseus

Named after the legendary Greek hero who used Medusa's head to turn Cetus to stone, Perseus is a prominent constellation located along the Milky Way, southwest of Cassiopeia's "W." It hosts the annual Perseids meteor shower, which peaks in mid-August and appears to "rain" stars. This constellation also features several deep-sky objects and the famous eclipsing binary star Algol, often called the "Demon Star."

Pegasus

Bordered by Cygnus, Pisces, and Andromeda, Pegasus, the winged horse, is easy to recognize thanks to its prominent "Great Square," a standout feature in the mid-Fall sky. One of its corner stars, Alpheratz, is shared with Andromeda. While Pegasus hosts numerous deep-sky objects, most are too faint to be seen with small telescopes.

Pisces

Pisces, or The Fishes, is a sprawling Fall constellation of faint stars. It resides in a region of the sky often referred to as "The Sea," alongside other water-themed constellations. Pisces lies next to Aries and directly below the Great Square of Pegasus.

Triangulum

Triangulum is a small but distinctive constellation above Aries and beneath Andromeda. Its name, Latin for "triangle," reflects its shape, formed by three bright stars that resemble an arrowhead. Though it lacks major star clusters or nebulae, Triangulum is home to the Pinwheel Galaxy, a face-on spiral galaxy that belongs to our Local Group.

Algol

Algol, known as the Demon Star, resides in the constellation Perseus. Its brightness fluctuates between magnitudes 2.1 and 3.4 due to its nature as an eclipsing binary system—two stars orbit each other and periodically pass in front of one another from our vantage point on Earth. Because their orbital plane is nearly edge-on to us, this causes Algol to dim and brighten in a predictable cycle, roughly every 2.87 days.

"Algol" derives from the Arabic Raʾs al-Ghūl, meaning "head of the ghoul," a reference to Medusa's snake-covered head in Greek mythology. Spooky and scientifically fascinating!

Almach

Almach is a striking double star at the "foot" of the Andromeda constellation. Through a telescope, the brighter star glows a warm golden hue, while its companion shines a vivid indigo blue, making it one of the most colorful double stars in the sky.

Despite appearing as a simple pair, Almach is a quadruple star system. The blue companion is a triple star system, making Almach a complex and beautiful example of stellar multiplicity.

Andromeda Galaxy

A favorite Autumn target for stargazers, the Andromeda Galaxy is the brightest (magnitude 3.4) and nearest spiral galaxy to our Milky Way. Located in the constellation Andromeda, it lies approximately 2.5 million light-years away and is the most distant object visible to the naked eye.

From a dark-sky location, it appears like a faint, fuzzy patch of light. A rich-field telescope or a good pair of binoculars will reveal its bright core and two satellite galaxies—Messier 32 (M32) and Messier 110 (M110).

Astronomers have discovered that the Andromeda Galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way, though this cosmic encounter won't occur for another four billion years. When it does, the two galaxies will merge to form a new, larger elliptical galaxy—an epic transformation on a galactic scale!

Double Cluster

A popular Autumn target, the Double Cluster, also known as h and χ (Chi) Persei, is a stunning pair of open star clusters about 7,600 light-years away in the Perseus constellation.

Use binoculars and scan the sky halfway between Cassiopeia and Perseus. From a dark-sky site, it appears as a faint smudge, but through a telescope, it transforms into two glittering clusters packed with stars, including several brilliant blue and red supergiant stars. The Double Cluster is a favorite among amateur astronomers for its beauty and ease of viewing.

E.T. or Owl Cluster

NGC 457, affectionately known as the Owl Cluster or E.T. Cluster, is a charming open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. Its two brightest stars resemble glowing eyes, evoking an owl or the lovable alien from the movie E.T.

With a magnitude of 6.4, it's just beyond naked-eye visibility but easily seen with binoculars or a small telescope. The surrounding stars form a shape that resembles an owl with wings outstretched, ready to soar. This object is a hit at star parties, especially with kids, thanks to its fanciful appearance and easy location.

Fomalhaut

At magnitude 1.1, Fomalhaut is the brightest star in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, also known as "the Southern Fish." It stands out as a solitary beacon in a relatively empty region of the sky, earning it the nickname "the loneliest star."

In 1983, the IRAS satellite detected a dusty debris ring surrounding Fomalhaut, and in 2008, astronomers discovered an exoplanet orbiting it, Fomalhaut b, also called Dagon. While the debris ring and exoplanet aren't visible through amateur equipment, Fomalhaut is a brilliant sight through binoculars or a telescope, especially from a dark-sky location.

Messier 15

Messier 15 is a dazzling globular cluster located in the constellation Pegasus. Discovered in 1746 by Jean-Dominique Maraldi and later cataloged by Charles Messier as his 15th entry, M15 is one of the oldest known globular clusters, estimated at around 13 billion years.

With an apparent magnitude of 6.2, M15 appears as a faint, fuzzy star in binoculars. However, telescopes with at least a 6-inch aperture reveal a dense, bright core packed with hundreds of thousands of stars. Located approximately 33,600 light-years from Earth, it spans about 210 light-years across. M15 is also notable for being the first globular cluster found to contain a planetary nebula, Pease 1, a rare and fascinating feature.

Messier 33

The Triangulum Galaxy, also known as NGC 598, is a nearby face-on spiral galaxy and the third-largest member of the Local Group, following the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way. Located about three million light-years away in the small constellation Triangulum, it shines at an apparent magnitude of 5.7, just on the edge of naked-eye visibility under exceptionally dark skies.

Despite its brightness, the galaxy has low surface brightness, meaning its light is spread across a wide area, nearly the size of four Full Moons in the sky! M33 makes for a rewarding challenge for amateur astronomers. A pair of binoculars or a low-powered, wide-field telescope is ideal for spotting its delicate spiral structure.

Messier 34

Nestled in Perseus's constellation, Messier 34 is a vibrant open cluster containing around 400 stars, approximately 1,500 light-years from Earth. Positioned about 5 degrees from the variable star Algol (the Demon Star), M34 shines with an apparent magnitude of 5.5, making it visible under dark skies.

Its stars are loosely bound and spread across a region about 15 light-years wide. They are best appreciated with binoculars or a low-power telescope.

Mu Cephei

In the regal constellation Cepheus, Mu Cephei reigns as one of the most luminous and largest stars visible to the naked eye. Known as Herschel's Garnet Star for its deep reddish hue, this red supergiant glows at an apparent magnitude of 4.08, easily spotted in dark skies.

Its absolute magnitude of -7.0 translates to a staggering luminosity about 350,000 times that of the Sun. As a carbon-rich star nearing the end of its life, Mu Cephei is destined to go supernova, though that dramatic finale is still millions of years away. Until then, it remains a breathtaking gem in the celestial crown.

VV Cephei

VV Cephei is a fascinating binary star system located roughly 4,900 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus, often nicknamed "the King." With an apparent magnitude that varies between 4.9 and 5.4, it's visible under dark skies and makes for a rewarding target with binoculars or a telescope.

This system consists of two dramatically different stars: A cool red supergiant, one of the largest known stars in the Milky Way, boasting a mass of about 19 times that of the Sun, and a hot blue-white main sequence companion, which orbits the red giant in a complex dance.

VV Cephei lies inside the recognizable asterism known as Cepheus' "square house", making it easier to locate. Its variability and sheer scale make it a favorite among observers.

Tip #2: Seeing Conditions

Steady viewing conditions are crucial for observing objects like planets, the Moon, or double stars. However, poor viewing conditions impact deep-sky objects such as nebulae and galaxies. Avoid nights with turbulent atmospheres, as your targets will appear as shimmering blobs in your telescope's eyepiece. Begin with low magnification and gradually increase it if the views remain steady. You'll be amazed at how sharp and detailed objects can appear on a night of good seeing.

Tip #3: Telescope Cooldown

Tip #4: Collimation

Collimate, collimate, collimate! If you own a Newtonian or Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope, ensure your telescope's optics are collimated. Proper collimation can significantly enhance your ability to discern fine details. Misaligned optics may prevent you from seeing the clearest and sharpest details. Make it a habit to check and adjust collimation once your telescope has cooled down. Most refractor telescopes generally do not require collimation.

Tip #5: Dress in layers

Warm, balmy nights might feel like shorts and t-shirt weather, but it's wise to keep a light jacket handy in case the temperature drops. Early fall evenings can bring out mosquitoes and other creepy crawlers, so it's good to cover up and apply bug spray to ensure your stargazing session remains pleasant.