While some are scrolling through their social media feeds, others are scanning the night sky: looking for Saturn, catching meteors, and debating where the Pleiades shine brightest. Astronomy has long ceased to exist solely on the pages of textbooks; it has found a new home in Instagram stories, city parks, and on rooftops. Irina Feoktistova, Director of the Planetarium at Samara University, tells us what celestial phenomena can be observed in September and why the stars are now trending.
— Lately, there has been a massive surge of interest in astronomy. Is this a new trend or an escape from reality?
— In the past, the path to the stars began with long searches for books and finding that one "uncle with a telescope." Today, everything is much simpler: technology has become more accessible, and beginners can rely on podcasts, videos in various languages, and social media channels. There are even special mobile applications (more on those later!). You don't just read about space; you can observe it immediately and even participate in collaborative projects with amateur astronomers. Against the backdrop of a growing general interest in science, astronomy is gradually transforming into a fashionable urban hobby—one that is both intellectual and highly photogenic. It works as a kind of meditation: by looking at the sky, you temporarily "switch off" from your daily routine and truly feel the grandeur of time.
— What should we look for in the September sky over Samara?
— After sunset, the Summer-Autumn Triangle lights up in the southern sky: Vega in the constellation Lyra, Deneb in Cygnus, and Altair in Aquila. After midnight, the celestial company changes: Capella in Auriga and Aldebaran in Taurus appear in the southeast. With binoculars or a telescope, you will be able to "catch" the brightest night objects of September (after the Moon and planets, of course!)—the Andromeda Galaxy and the open star cluster Pleiades in Taurus. With the naked eye, you can see Saturn in Pisces after sunset in the southeast, Mars in Gemini, and Jupiter in Cancer before sunrise in the east. Venus and Mercury are almost impossible to see this month, as they are hidden by the sun's glare. Additionally, on September 26, Samara will experience a full moon, traditionally known as the Harvest Moon. In the past, its bright light helped farmers continue harvesting their crops in the evenings, even after sunset.
— Will any meteor showers be visible? How noticeable are they compared to the August starfall?
— The main shower of the month is the September Epsilon Perseids. At its peak activity (September 9–10), it yields up to eight meteors per hour. This year, the maximum will coincide with the new moon, meaning the sky will be as dark as possible. On September 13, they are joined by the September Lyncids—a minor shower producing only three to four meteors per hour. However, the thin crescent moon will not interfere with observations. Therefore, your chances of catching a couple of "shooting stars" and making a wish are actually higher than on brighter nights.
— On September 19, International Observe the Moon Night will take place. What makes this event interesting, and how can people participate?
— This is an annual festival that has been bringing astronomy enthusiasts together in over 40 countries since 2010. In 2026, the event falls on a Saturday, close to the first-quarter moon phase. It is precisely at this time that the terminator line—the boundary between light and shadow on the lunar surface—is especially beautiful. Here, the moon's relief looks maximally three-dimensional, allowing craters and mountain ranges to be seen in sharp detail. You can join in various ways: go outside with binoculars or a telescope, attend an organized local meetup, or tune in to online events on the NASA website. In Samara, special programs and masterclasses will be held at the university planetarium on September 19 and 20. The schedule and details are available in our VKontakte group.
— How can someone start stargazing: what should they bring, and where should they go in the Samara region?
— The main rule of night observation is to seek less light pollution and a more open horizon. Ideal locations include the outskirts of the city, the banks across the Volga River, or any place where streetlights don't "eat up" the sky. If you are still on "formal terms" with the stars, you can download apps like Star Walk or Star Chart. In real time, they show exactly what is located in the point of the sky where you point your phone's camera. There is one nuance: geolocation and the internet must be enabled for them to work correctly.
In general, it is always good to be at least a little "in the know." The Samara University Planetarium regularly conducts educational programs and seminars. There, you can learn exactly where to start your observations and immediately get involved in the process. The schedule and further details are available in our VKontakte group.
Text: Ksenia Bakanova
Photo: Alexander Leontiev, archives of the Samara University Public Relations Center
Source: Sobaka.ru
