Saturn reaches opposition on 21 September 2025, shining at mag. +0.2 in Pisces and peaking at 34° altitude as seen from the UK.
That makes it one of the best planets to see in September.
On 8 September, Saturn appears near a bright waning gibbous Moon around 21:00 BST.
Its rings remain narrow due to the planet’s small tilt angle, which reduces from 2.5° on 1 September to 1.8° by opposition.
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Although the true ring plane crossing occurred in March, between 11 November and 8 December Saturn’s tilt shrinks to just 0.4°, making the rings appear almost edge-on in small telescopes.
By the end of September, Saturn drifts back into Aquarius, still at mag. +0.2, with Neptune lying 2.6° northeast of it on opposition night.
Here's our quick guide to each of the Solar System planets in September 2025.
Mercury
- Best time to see: 1 September, 30 minutes before sunrise
- Altitude: 5.5° (low)
- Location: Leo
- Direction: East-northeast
Mercury is a morning planet at the start of the month, rising 70 minutes before sunrise. On 3 September, the mag. –1.6 planet sits 1.6° from Regulus (Alpha (α) Leonis), the pair visible in the dawn twilight from around 05:40 BST (04:40 UT).
Mercury is tricky to see after this, moving to superior conjunction on 13 September and thereafter poorly positioned for the rest of the month.
Venus
- Best time to see: 19 September, 12:00 BST (11:00 UT)
- Altitude: 45°
- Location: Leo
- Direction: South-southwest
Mag. –3.8 Venus is a morning planet 1.4° south of the Beehive Cluster, M44, on 1 September. On this date, it rises 3 hours before the Sun at 03:20 BST (02:20 UT), giving an hour of darkness to catch it close to the cluster.
On 19 September, Venus is occulted by the Moon from 12:48 to 14:07 BST (11:48–13:07 UT). If you’re up early that day, Venus rises around 04:15 BST (03:15 UT), with the then 5%-lit Moon 3.5° to the northwest and Regulus just 0.8° away.
By the end of the month, Venus rises 2.5 hours before the Sun, but maintains its impressive mag. –3.8 brightness.
Mars
Mars is an evening planet but not visible in September 2025.
Jupiter
- Best time to see: 30 September, 06:00 BST (05:00 UT)
- Altitude: 50°
- Location: Gemini
- Direction: Southeast
Jupiter improves throughout September, reaching a peak altitude of 28° at around 05:00 BST (04:00 UT) in darkness on 1 September, shining at mag. –1.8. It sits 1° from mag. +3.5 Wasat (Delta (δ) Geminorum), the separation reducing until 6 September to just 10.8 arcminutes.
On the morning of 16 September, mag. –1.9 Jupiter is joined by a 30%-lit waning crescent Moon. At the end of the month and shining at mag. –2.0, Jupiter reaches a peak altitude of 50° under deep twilight at around 06:00 BST (05:00 UT).
Saturn
- Best time to see: 21 September, 01:00 BST (00:00 UT)
- Altitude: 35°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
- Features: Rings, subtle atmospheric features, moons
- Recommended equipment: 150mm or larger
For more info, read our complete guide to observing Saturn in September 2025.
Uranus
- Best time to see: 30 September, 04:30 BST (03:30 UT)
- Altitude: 57°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: South
The planet Uranus reaches a peak altitude of 48° under darkness at the start of the month, the mag. +5.8 planet lying 4.5° south of the Pleiades.
It achieves a peak altitude of 57° in darkness from 22 September onwards, brightening slightly to mag. +5.6 by 30 September.
Neptune
- Best time to see: 23 September, 01:10 BST (00:10 UT)
- Altitude: 36°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
Neptune reaches opposition on 23 September, when it can be found relatively near Saturn, shining at mag. +7.8.
It’s currently in Pisces and able to reach a peak altitude of 36° under dark-sky conditions.
Share your Saturn observations and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
