Astrotourism in Nelson County

Tap into your inner astronomer and admire the breathtaking views of the Dark Skies of Nelson County.

On the night of September 7, a total lunar eclipse will turn the moon blood red. The spectacle will last 82 minutes—from 17:30 to 18:52 UTC—and will be visible in its entirety from much of Asia, the east coast of Africa, and western Australia. Skywatchers in Europe, Africa, and Oceania will glimpse at least part of the eclipse, while those in the Americas will miss the show entirely, as the moon rises too late.

Still, observers across the Western Hemisphere will have their own treat that night: September’s full “corn moon.” The name, rooted in North American Indigenous traditions, marks the season of the corn harvest.

The moon, Saturn, and Neptune converge—September 8

On September 8, the moon, Saturn, and Neptune will align within about 3.5 degrees of each other. Saturn will shine clearly to the naked eye, while Neptune will need binoculars or a telescope.

They’ll reach their highest point in the night sky an hour or two after midnight, depending on your location, but you’ll be able to see the trio just about all night long.

The moon and Jupiter meet—September 16

In the early hours of September 16, the waning crescent moon will pass within about 4.5 degrees of Jupiter. The pair will appear after midnight, rising in the sky until dawn drowns them out.

If you have binoculars or a telescope, take a close look at Jupiter. You may be able to spot its four Galilean moons.

Venus travels behind the moon—September 19

On September 19, Venus will slip behind the moon in an event called an occultation. The spectacle will be visible across Europe, Greenland, parts of Canada, and Africa.

For those outside the visibility zone, Venus and the moon will still appear exceptionally close in the predawn sky—in some places, they’ll be just mere arc minutes apart.

Prime stargazing conditions—September 21

September’s new moon falls on September 21, and the lack of moonlight lets the fainter objects in our night sky shine. Consult a stargazing map to look for deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae.

From the Northern Hemisphere, September is also a prime month to see the Milky Way and its bright galactic core. Astrophotographers, it’s your time to shine.

Saturn at its brightest—September 21

On September 21, Saturn reaches opposition, or the point at which it’s directly opposite the sun from the perspective of Earth. This means Saturn is illuminated brightly, making it the best time to observe the gas giant. As a bonus, Saturn will be visible most of the night, rising in the early evening and setting just before dawn.

Partial solar eclipse—September 22

Stargazers in the South Pacific and parts of Antarctica will enjoy a partial solar eclipse on the morning of September 22 (September 21 in UTC). The moon will pass in front of the sun, blocking up to 85 percent of its surface.

If you’re one of the lucky 16.6 million people living in sight of this eclipse, remember to don appropriate eye protection like eclipse glasses before looking at the sun.

Neptune at its brightest—September 23

Like Saturn earlier in the month, Neptune will reach its own opposition on September 23. The farthest planet in our solar system is also the dimmest, but it will appear its brightest during opposition.

Even with this ideal lighting, Neptune remains impossible to see with the naked eye. Turn your binoculars or telescope toward the distant planet to catch just a glimpse of it—it’ll appear as a faint dot in the sky. Luckily, the waxing crescent moon will only be at 4 percent brightness, minimizing light pollution.

“String of pearls” galaxy is well placed—September 24

In the Southern Hemisphere and the low latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, stargazers will get a good look at NGC 55, also known as the Caldwell 72 or the “string of pearls” galaxy for its irregular shape.

(Oldest known stars in our galaxy.)

Designated a Magellanic-type galaxy—one that falls somewhere between an irregular galaxy and a dwarf spiral galaxy—NGC 55 will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight local time on September 24.

Globular cluster 47 Tuc is well placed—September 27

The second brightest globular cluster in our night sky, 47 Tucanae, or 47 Tuc, will reach its highest point on September 27 around midnight local time. It will, however, only be visible in the Southern Hemisphere.

47 Tuc is visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy patch near the Small Magellanic Cloud. But through binoculars or a telescope, the globular cluster resolves into a glittering sphere comprising hundreds of thousands of stars.

Astronomical League for information and printable handouts useful for everyone from the casual observer to the moradvanced amateur astronomer. They also offer printable handouts fo every month of the year, centered around what’s up in the sky mid-month.

Devil’s Backbone Dark Skies Camping

We’re excited to help shine a light on the importance of preserving our incredible night skies here in the Blue Ridge 🌌

From now through December 31^st, book any campsite at Devils Backbone Camp with code DARKSKIES and get 20% off your stay*. Whether you’re here to hike, stargaze, or sip a cold one, there’s no better place to enjoy the beauty of Nelson County than right here at Basecamp Brewpub & Meadows. Book your stay now at https://www.dbbrewingcompany.com/camp-at-basecamp and visit the link in our bio to learn more about the Dark Skies initiative. *BLACKOUT DATES AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY.