Equinox Along Oregon, Washington, Coast: Say Goodbye to Summer, Saturn's Rings

Published 09/17/25 at 6:25 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Portland, Oregon) – Summer, longer days and even Saturn's rings: you can say goodbye to all of it this month. (Photo OMSI / Starry Night Pro)

Jim Todd, astronomy expert at Portland's OMSI, said Saturn's rings have already sort of “disappeared” - at least to our point of view. Then there's the last day of summer: that comes in the following week with a sharp, definite dividing line, at least on paper.

Todd said the seasonal shift from summer to fall will officially occur on Monday, September 22 at 11:19 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time, marked by the autumnal equinox. This astronomical event signals the moment when the sun’s rays fall directly over the equator, resulting in nearly equal lengths of day and night across the globe.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the equinox marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

“The Sun’s rays continue to make their journey south, so hours of darkness will be longer than daylight. This is why it's called an equinox, a Latin word meaning 'equal,' “ Todd said.

The period between the September equinox and the winter solstice on December 21 spans approximately 90 days of autumn.

Yachats at the end of the day.

Locally, Portland will experience near-equal day and night on September 25, with sunrise at 7:01 a.m. and sunset at 7:02 p.m. However, due to atmospheric refraction and the time it takes for the sun to fully rise and set - especially at 45 degrees north latitude - daylight slightly exceeds 12 hours. These factors contribute to the equinox day being marginally longer than night.

The equinox is observed in various cultural and religious traditions around the world, yet in Oregon and the coastline it has its own special vibe.

“Locally, modern Harvest Moon festivals with a variety of concerts, farmers markets, beer- and wine-tasting, and craft fairs,” Todd said. “The wonderful changing fall color of the trees in the Pacific Northwest is expected for the rest of September and well into October this year. This is a perfect opportunity to align sundial as the Sun rises due east and sets due west on the equinox.”

See the galaxy from Bandon - Manuela Durson Fine Arts

Above the Oregon and Washington coast – as well as the rest of the two states – things get interesting in the night skies. For one, you'll start to see the moon bumping up against Venus in the hours just before dawn.

For those wanting to go a little farther out there, Saturn does something curious.

Todd said Saturn will reach opposition on Sunday, September 21, 2025, as Earth moves directly between the sun and the ringed planet. The event marks Saturn’s closest approach to Earth this year - approximately 794 million miles (8.55 astronomical units). It's also the planet's brightest appearance, shining at magnitude +0.61.

Following opposition, Saturn will remain prominent in the evening sky for the remainder of 2025 before gradually fading into the sunset glare by February 2026.

Look east from coastal towns like Westport, Long Beach, Cannon Beach or Pacific City and you may see Venus with the moon rising. (Photo Sept 17, 3 a.m. - Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

During opposition, Saturn rises in the east at sunset and remains visible until dawn. This occurs because the sun, Earth, and Saturn form a straight line, with Earth positioned between the two. The result is a fully lit planetary disk, ideal for observation.

“The earth passed through the plane of Saturn’s rings in March 2025,” Todd said. “A phenomenon called a 'ring plane crossing,' where Earth passes through the plane of Saturn's rings, making them appear almost invisible from our perspective due to their thinness.

“This event happens roughly every 13 to 15 years, and while the rings aren't actually disappearing, they become so thin from our viewpoint that small telescopes can't readily see them for a few weeks around this time.”

As of September, the rings remain tilted just 2 degrees relative to Earth’s viewpoint, continuing to present a mostly obscured profile. Nighttime in Newport.

“You can see Saturn’s rings through good binoculars mounted on a tripod, will reveal Saturn as a bright oval-shaped disk,” Todd said. “Any small backyard telescope will easily show the rings and the ring's shadow. For stargazers and astrophotographers, it is an ideal time to view and photograph the superior planets.”

You can learn more about Saturn and the current night sky in OMSI Planetarium’s show, Starry Night Live!. For a schedule, go to OMSI.edu.

Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Oregon Coast Vacation Rentals - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours

A Bit of Oregon Coastal Swank At Not Quite the Coin
Lincoln City's Inn at Wecoma is a bit of a surprise. Lincoln City hotel reviews

Holidays 2025 - 26: Giving the Oregon Coast Online
Cyber Monday or a quick call to give a night at the beach or fun gear. Hotel specials, hotel deals, Rockaway Beach hotel reviews, Lincoln City hotel reviews, Manzanita hotel reviews, Cannon Beach hotel reviews, Pacific City hotel specials, Pacific City hotel reviews, Newport lodging deals, Newport hotel reviews

Rockaway Beach Hotel News: New Inn Near Rockaway Beach is Really 100 Years Old
Boutique inn and BnB on north Oregon coastin a forest, marvelous details; bathroom vanities created by local craftsmen, headboards made of live edge wood. Pets. Rockaway Beach Hotel Reviews

Some Thanksgiving and Holiday Weekend Vacation Rentals Still Open on Oregon C...
A handful of vacation rentals and one restaurant's feast: Newport hotel reviews, Lincoln City hotel reviews, Pacific City hotel reviews, Neskowin hotel reviews, Washington coast, specials

More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Washington Coast / Oregon Coast Articles (stories are random: hit reload to see different articles)

More on Hug Point Closure: Damage at the N. Oregon Coast Legend, Possible Timeline
Temporary closure caused by major erosion, runoff damage, cliffs washed out. Cannon Beach, Manzanita, Seaside, weather

Mussel Harvesting Back Open Along Entire Oregon Coast
Harvesting was closed in various areas because of a biotoxin. Marine sciences

Flooding Shuts Down Roads in Washington, Oregon, Coast
Road issues at Seaside, Neskowin, Hwy 6, SW Washington and more coming. Weather

Final Third of Oregon Coast Given Okay to Start Commercial Crabbing
Majority of the coast began crabbing last week. Marine sciences

Holiday Rager on South Oregon Coast All About Mountain Biking
Wild Coast Trails Holiday Ride Saturday, November 22 in Agness near Gold Beach. South coast events

Vacation Rentals Just Got Cheaper on N. Oregon Coast: Season Lows Around Pacific City
Some major specials at places to stay around Neskowin, Pacific City, Tierra Del Mar. Pacific City hotel reviews, Pacific City specials

Old Neskowin in Pictures is Subject of Oregon Coast Event
December 13 in Lincoln City: Neskowin: A Book of Found Photos. Lincoln City events

Oregon Coast Visitors Association Honored with TravelAbility Film Festival Award
A year of milestones for the coast and accessibility

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright © Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted