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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between September 1 and September 30, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

SUN

On the 1^st, the sun rises at 6:27 a.m. and sets at 7:19 p.m. On the 30^th, the sun rises at 6:47 a.m. and sets at 6:39 p.m.

PLANETS

Mercury is close to the sun all month long and is not safe to observe. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus on the 1^st, sets in the west-southwest at 9:00 p.m., and is 39-percent illuminated and 30 arcseconds wide. On the 28^th, the sun sets at 6:41 p.m. and Venus sets at 7:39 p.m., 58 minutes later, and is 15-percent illuminated and 47 arcseconds wide. After the 28^th, Venus is close to the sun and is not safe to observe. A telescope with a magnification of 100x is needed to see the planet’s disk. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Mars is in Gemini the Twins. On the 24^th Mars enters Cancer the Crab.  On the 1^st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 2:00 a.m. and is 92-percent illuminated and 5.1 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Mars rises at 1:29 a.m. and is 90-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide. A telescope with a magnification of 200x is needed to see the small disk of Mars.

Jupiter is in Cancer the Crab. The planet enters Leo the Lion on the 23^rd. On the 1^st, Jupiter rises in the east-northeast at 4:25 a.m. and is 32 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Jupiter rises at 2:59 a.m., PDT, and is 33 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 5^th, the planet enters Cetus the Sea Monster. On the 1^st, Saturn rises in the east at 8:52 p.m. and is 19 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, the planet rises at 6:53 p.m. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 11:19 p.m. On the 30^th, Uranus rises at 9:25 p.m. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4^h 15^m 16^s and declination of +21° 6ʹ 6ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.7-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Neptune rises in the east at 8:21 p.m. On the 30^th, Neptune rises at 6:25 p.m. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 00^h 14^m 23^s and declination of +0° 0ʹ 44ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.4-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 4^th, new on the 10^th, first quarter on the 18^th, and full on the 26^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Autumn begins and summer ends when the sun reaches the autumnal equinox on September 22 at 5:05 p.m. At this moment, the sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south on its journey along the ecliptic. The sun rises at 6:41 a.m. and sets at 6:50 p.m. The day is 12 hours and nine minutes long. The days will continue to grow shorter, and the nights get longer, until the sun reaches the winter solstice on December 21.

Griffith Observatory normally provides free public sky observing day and night – weath­er permitting – through a variety of telescopes. Currently, the Observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. To plan a visit to the Observatory, please see our website (www.griffithobs.org) for the latest information. The Sky Report, also available on the website, pro­vides monthly observing information.