Raw blue sapphires. Image via Amy Kozak.
The sapphire, birthstone for September, is a relative of July’s birthstone, ruby. Like ruby, it is a form of the mineral corundum, a normally drab grey mineral. Red corundum is called the ruby, while all other gem quality forms of corundum are called sapphires.
Typically, sapphires appear as blue stones, ranging from very pale blue to deep indigo, due to the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure. The most valued shade of blue is the medium-deep cornflower blue. Sapphires also occur in other natural colors and tints – colorless, gray, yellow, pale pink, orange, green, violet and brown – called fancy sapphires. These different colors are caused by different kinds of impurities within the crystal. For example, yellow sapphires get their color from ferric iron, and colorless gems have no contaminants.
The Logan Sapphire Brooch, the second largest sapphire known (at 422.99 carats), is on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Image via Andrew Bossi
The biggest source of sapphires world-wide is Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland. Found in alluvial deposits of weathered basalt, Australian sapphires typically are blue stones with a dark and inky appearance. Kashmir, in India, used to be a well-known source of the cornflower-blue stones. In the United States, a major source is the Yogo Gulch Mine in Montana that mostly yields small stones for industrial use.
The word sapphire has its roots in several ancient languages: the Arabic safir, the Latin sapphirus (meaning blue), and the Greek word sappheiros for the island of Sappherine in the Arabian Sea where sapphires were found in ancient Grecian times. Ancient Persians called sapphire the “Celestial Stone.” It was the gem of Apollo, Greek God of prophesy and was worn by worshipers visiting his shrine in Delphi to seek his help. It was used by ancient Etruscans as far back as the 7th century B.C.
The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy. Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful. It was believed that the stone’s color would darken if worn by an adulterer or adulteress, or by an unworthy person.
Sapphires were once believed to be protection against snakes. It was said that if poisonous reptiles and spiders were placed in a jar containing the stone, the creatures would immediately die. The French of the 13th century believed that sapphire transformed stupidity to wisdom, and irritability to good temper.
One of the most famous sapphires rests on the Imperial State Crown, worn by Queen Victoria in 1838. It resides in the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This gem is called the St. Edward’s Sapphire because it once belonged to Edward the Confessor, who wore the stone on a ring during his coronation in 1042.
Find out about the birthstones for the other months of the year:
January birthstone
February birthstone
March birthstone
April birthstone
May birthstone
July birthstone
August birthstone
September birthstone
October birthstone
November birthstone
December birthstone
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Raw blue sapphires. Image via Amy Kozak.
The sapphire, birthstone for September, is a relative of July’s birthstone, ruby. Like ruby, it is a form of the mineral corundum, a normally drab grey mineral. Red corundum is called the ruby, while all other gem quality forms of corundum are called sapphires.
Typically, sapphires appear as blue stones, ranging from very pale blue to deep indigo, due to the presence of small amounts of titanium and iron within the crystal structure. The most valued shade of blue is the medium-deep cornflower blue. Sapphires also occur in other natural colors and tints – colorless, gray, yellow, pale pink, orange, green, violet and brown – called fancy sapphires. These different colors are caused by different kinds of impurities within the crystal. For example, yellow sapphires get their color from ferric iron, and colorless gems have no contaminants.
The Logan Sapphire Brooch, the second largest sapphire known (at 422.99 carats), is on display at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Image via Andrew Bossi
The biggest source of sapphires world-wide is Australia, especially New South Wales and Queensland. Found in alluvial deposits of weathered basalt, Australian sapphires typically are blue stones with a dark and inky appearance. Kashmir, in India, used to be a well-known source of the cornflower-blue stones. In the United States, a major source is the Yogo Gulch Mine in Montana that mostly yields small stones for industrial use.
The word sapphire has its roots in several ancient languages: the Arabic safir, the Latin sapphirus (meaning blue), and the Greek word sappheiros for the island of Sappherine in the Arabian Sea where sapphires were found in ancient Grecian times. Ancient Persians called sapphire the “Celestial Stone.” It was the gem of Apollo, Greek God of prophesy and was worn by worshipers visiting his shrine in Delphi to seek his help. It was used by ancient Etruscans as far back as the 7th century B.C.
The sapphire was said to represent the purity of the soul. Before and during the Middle Ages, it was worn by priests as protection from impure thoughts and temptations of the flesh. Medieval kings of Europe valued these stones for rings and brooches, believing that it protected them from harm and envy. Warriors presented their young wives with sapphire necklaces so they would remain faithful. It was believed that the stone’s color would darken if worn by an adulterer or adulteress, or by an unworthy person.
Sapphires were once believed to be protection against snakes. It was said that if poisonous reptiles and spiders were placed in a jar containing the stone, the creatures would immediately die. The French of the 13th century believed that sapphire transformed stupidity to wisdom, and irritability to good temper.
One of the most famous sapphires rests on the Imperial State Crown, worn by Queen Victoria in 1838. It resides in the British Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. This gem is called the St. Edward’s Sapphire because it once belonged to Edward the Confessor, who wore the stone on a ring during his coronation in 1042.
Find out about the birthstones for the other months of the year:
January birthstone
February birthstone
March birthstone
April birthstone
May birthstone
July birthstone
August birthstone
September birthstone
October birthstone
November birthstone
December birthstone
Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!
Donate to EarthSky: Your support means the world to us
Photo taken August 30, 2017 by Tom Wildoner. Visit Tom at LeisurelyScientist.com. He took the photo from the U.S. state of Pennsylvannia, but Venus and these stars can be seen from around the world now, in the direction of sunrise, before the sun comes up.
Tech Specs: Canon 6D, Canon EF17-40mm f/4L USM, tripod mounted, 3.2 second shot, ISO 3200, f/4 and 24mm. Date: August 30, 2017 Image Location: 41.048399, -75.747473 (cut and paste into Google).
Photo taken August 30, 2017 by Tom Wildoner. Visit Tom at LeisurelyScientist.com. He took the photo from the U.S. state of Pennsylvannia, but Venus and these stars can be seen from around the world now, in the direction of sunrise, before the sun comes up.
Tech Specs: Canon 6D, Canon EF17-40mm f/4L USM, tripod mounted, 3.2 second shot, ISO 3200, f/4 and 24mm. Date: August 30, 2017 Image Location: 41.048399, -75.747473 (cut and paste into Google).
Tonight – September 1, 2017 – finds both the moon and the dwarf planet Pluto in front of the constellation Sagittarius the Archer. Will you see Pluto near tonight’s waxing gibbous moon? No way. It’ll be difficult enough to spot the 3rd-magnitude star Albaldah (Pi Sagittarii) in the moon’s glare, or the Teapot asterism to the south of the moon.
Both the star Albaldah and the Teapot are easily visible in a dark country sky on a moonless night. Pluto, on the other hand, is nearly 2,000 times fainter than the faintest star that’s visible to the unaided eye. But you can use tonight’s moon to get a ballpark idea of Pluto’s place in the starry sky.
Sky chart of the constellation Sagittarius via the International Astronomical Union (IAU). We label the star Albaldah (Pi Sagittarii) to the upper left of the Teapot.
If you can locate the star Albaldah (Pi Sagittarii) on a dark, moonless night (see above sky chart), then you’ll have an even better feel for Pluto’s position in front of the constellation Sagittarius. Another nearby star – the “bright” binocular star HP 179201 – shines closer yet to Pluto, but this 6.4-magnitude star is still some 1,600 times brighter than Pluto (magnitude: 14.4). Click here for a sky chart of HP 179201, remembering that the star’s name won’t appear unless you place the cursor on it. Click here for more information on Pluto and a high precision sky chart.
Even the experienced practitioner of the telescope will find it hard to catch Pluto. You need a 14-inch or larger telescope to view Pluto as a dim speck of light amid dim specks of light. But if you can at least spot the star Albaldah on a dark night, you’ll have a good idea of where Pluto resides in front of the backdrop stars.
Tonight – September 1, 2017 – the moon and Pluto are both in front of Sagittarius, one of the 13 constellations making up the zodiac.
Tonight – September 1, 2017 – finds both the moon and the dwarf planet Pluto in front of the constellation Sagittarius the Archer. Will you see Pluto near tonight’s waxing gibbous moon? No way. It’ll be difficult enough to spot the 3rd-magnitude star Albaldah (Pi Sagittarii) in the moon’s glare, or the Teapot asterism to the south of the moon.
Both the star Albaldah and the Teapot are easily visible in a dark country sky on a moonless night. Pluto, on the other hand, is nearly 2,000 times fainter than the faintest star that’s visible to the unaided eye. But you can use tonight’s moon to get a ballpark idea of Pluto’s place in the starry sky.
Sky chart of the constellation Sagittarius via the International Astronomical Union (IAU). We label the star Albaldah (Pi Sagittarii) to the upper left of the Teapot.
If you can locate the star Albaldah (Pi Sagittarii) on a dark, moonless night (see above sky chart), then you’ll have an even better feel for Pluto’s position in front of the constellation Sagittarius. Another nearby star – the “bright” binocular star HP 179201 – shines closer yet to Pluto, but this 6.4-magnitude star is still some 1,600 times brighter than Pluto (magnitude: 14.4). Click here for a sky chart of HP 179201, remembering that the star’s name won’t appear unless you place the cursor on it. Click here for more information on Pluto and a high precision sky chart.
Even the experienced practitioner of the telescope will find it hard to catch Pluto. You need a 14-inch or larger telescope to view Pluto as a dim speck of light amid dim specks of light. But if you can at least spot the star Albaldah on a dark night, you’ll have a good idea of where Pluto resides in front of the backdrop stars.
Tonight – September 1, 2017 – the moon and Pluto are both in front of Sagittarius, one of the 13 constellations making up the zodiac.
Harvest Moon with Century Saguaro (over 100 years old) against the Santa Catalina Mountains of southern Arizona, via Randall Kayfes.
Full moon happens at the same instant worldwide, on September 6, 2017 at 7:03 UTC; translate to your time zone. Here, in the contiguous United States, the moon turns precisely full on September 6 at 3:03 a.m. EDT, 2:03 a.m. CDT, 1:03 a.m. MDT and 12:03 PDT. That’s why we say the full moon falls on the night of September 5, for the Americas.
Is this September full moon the Harvest Moon? Not precisely, but it’ll act like one.
More often than not, the September full moon is the Northern Hemisphere’s Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is usually defined as the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which – in the Northern Hemisphere – comes on or near September 22 each year.
Last year’s Harvest Moon fell in September. Next year’s Harvest Moon will, too.
But, in 2017, the September 6 full moon comes too early to be the Northern Hemisphere’s official Harvest Moon, according to the most widely accepted definition of the term. That’s because the full moon of October 5, 2017, will fall closer to this year’s September 22 equinox. The October 2017 full moon will be this year’s Harvest Moon, while the September 5-6 full moon will carry its ordinary monthly full moon name of Fruit Moon in the Northern Hemisphere (and Worm Moon, Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Sugar Moon, Chaste Moon or Sap Moon in the Southern Hemisphere). Read more about full moon names.
However, in most respects, the September 2017 and October 2017 full moons can be regarded as Harvest Moon co-stars. By that we mean that both have the characteristics of a Harvest Moon. The primary Harvest Moon characteristic has to do with the moonrise. On the average, the moon rises some 50 minutes later with each passing day. Around the time of the full Harvest Moon, the lag time between successive moonrises is reduced to a yearly low.
In 2017, there’s no appreciable difference between the lag in moonrise times associated with September and October full moons. In both of these months, the moon rises a shorter-than-usual time after sunset for several evenings in a row, following the date of full moon.
Read more about the Harvest Moon
As the sun sets at and near the autumn equinox, the angle of the ecliptic – or sun and moon’s path – makes a narrow angle with the horizon. Image via classicalastronomy.com.
The narrow angle of the ecliptic means the moon rises noticeably farther north (left) on the horizon. For a few to several days after the full Harvest Moon, there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise. Image via classicalastronomy.com.
A full moon is always opposite the sun. That’s why it looks full to us. At full moon, the moon and sun are on a line, with Earth in between. It’s as though Earth is the fulcrum of a seesaw, and the moon and sun are sitting on either end of the seesaw. So as the sun sets in the west, the full moon rises. When the sun is below our feet at midnight, the full moon is highest in the sky. When the sun rises again at dawn, the full moon is setting.
As the moon orbits Earth, it changes phase in an orderly way. Follow these links to understand the various phases of the moon.
Four keys to understanding moon phases
Where’s the moon? Waxing crescent
Where’s the moon? First quarter
Where’s the moon? Waxing gibbous
What’s special about a full moon?
Where’s the moon? Waning gibbous
Where’s the moon? Last quarter
Where’s the moon? Waning crescent
Where’s the moon? New phase
Bottom line: A full moon looks full because it’s opposite Earth from the sun, showing us its fully lighted hemisphere or day side. The September 5-6, 2017 full moon isn’t a true Harvest Moon, but it acts like one.
Can you tell me the full moon names?
Moon in 2017: Phases, cycles, eclipses, supermoons and more
Harvest Moon with Century Saguaro (over 100 years old) against the Santa Catalina Mountains of southern Arizona, via Randall Kayfes.
Full moon happens at the same instant worldwide, on September 6, 2017 at 7:03 UTC; translate to your time zone. Here, in the contiguous United States, the moon turns precisely full on September 6 at 3:03 a.m. EDT, 2:03 a.m. CDT, 1:03 a.m. MDT and 12:03 PDT. That’s why we say the full moon falls on the night of September 5, for the Americas.
Is this September full moon the Harvest Moon? Not precisely, but it’ll act like one.
More often than not, the September full moon is the Northern Hemisphere’s Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is usually defined as the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, which – in the Northern Hemisphere – comes on or near September 22 each year.
Last year’s Harvest Moon fell in September. Next year’s Harvest Moon will, too.
But, in 2017, the September 6 full moon comes too early to be the Northern Hemisphere’s official Harvest Moon, according to the most widely accepted definition of the term. That’s because the full moon of October 5, 2017, will fall closer to this year’s September 22 equinox. The October 2017 full moon will be this year’s Harvest Moon, while the September 5-6 full moon will carry its ordinary monthly full moon name of Fruit Moon in the Northern Hemisphere (and Worm Moon, Lenten Moon, Crow Moon, Sugar Moon, Chaste Moon or Sap Moon in the Southern Hemisphere). Read more about full moon names.
However, in most respects, the September 2017 and October 2017 full moons can be regarded as Harvest Moon co-stars. By that we mean that both have the characteristics of a Harvest Moon. The primary Harvest Moon characteristic has to do with the moonrise. On the average, the moon rises some 50 minutes later with each passing day. Around the time of the full Harvest Moon, the lag time between successive moonrises is reduced to a yearly low.
In 2017, there’s no appreciable difference between the lag in moonrise times associated with September and October full moons. In both of these months, the moon rises a shorter-than-usual time after sunset for several evenings in a row, following the date of full moon.
Read more about the Harvest Moon
As the sun sets at and near the autumn equinox, the angle of the ecliptic – or sun and moon’s path – makes a narrow angle with the horizon. Image via classicalastronomy.com.
The narrow angle of the ecliptic means the moon rises noticeably farther north (left) on the horizon. For a few to several days after the full Harvest Moon, there is no long period of darkness between sunset and moonrise. Image via classicalastronomy.com.
A full moon is always opposite the sun. That’s why it looks full to us. At full moon, the moon and sun are on a line, with Earth in between. It’s as though Earth is the fulcrum of a seesaw, and the moon and sun are sitting on either end of the seesaw. So as the sun sets in the west, the full moon rises. When the sun is below our feet at midnight, the full moon is highest in the sky. When the sun rises again at dawn, the full moon is setting.
As the moon orbits Earth, it changes phase in an orderly way. Follow these links to understand the various phases of the moon.
Four keys to understanding moon phases
Where’s the moon? Waxing crescent
Where’s the moon? First quarter
Where’s the moon? Waxing gibbous
What’s special about a full moon?
Where’s the moon? Waning gibbous
Where’s the moon? Last quarter
Where’s the moon? Waning crescent
Where’s the moon? New phase
Bottom line: A full moon looks full because it’s opposite Earth from the sun, showing us its fully lighted hemisphere or day side. The September 5-6, 2017 full moon isn’t a true Harvest Moon, but it acts like one.
Can you tell me the full moon names?
Moon in 2017: Phases, cycles, eclipses, supermoons and more
Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project acquired this image of asteroid 3122 Florence on August 28, 2017. The Virtual Telescope Project will have a livestream of this asteroid’s close pass. The livestream is scheduled for August 31, 2017, starting at 19:30 UTC; translate to your time zone.
Named for Florence Nightingale, asteroid 3122 Florence is the biggest near-Earth object to pass so close since this category of objects was discovered over a century ago! It’s at least 2.7 miles (4.35 km) in diameter. It’ll safely pass by our planet on September 1, 2017 at over 18 times the Earth-moon distance. It’s visible now in small telescopes and might even be visible in binoculars; here are charts that can help you find it.
Radar images of asteroid 3122 Florence, obtained from August 29, 2017 via Goldstone Radar in California. Higher resolution radar images expected in the next few days, as the space rock will also be studied from Arecibo Observatory. Image via NASA/JPL.
Bottom line: Photos of asteroid 3122 Florence, a large near-Earth object, which will pass Earth on September 1, 2017.
Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project acquired this image of asteroid 3122 Florence on August 28, 2017. The Virtual Telescope Project will have a livestream of this asteroid’s close pass. The livestream is scheduled for August 31, 2017, starting at 19:30 UTC; translate to your time zone.
Named for Florence Nightingale, asteroid 3122 Florence is the biggest near-Earth object to pass so close since this category of objects was discovered over a century ago! It’s at least 2.7 miles (4.35 km) in diameter. It’ll safely pass by our planet on September 1, 2017 at over 18 times the Earth-moon distance. It’s visible now in small telescopes and might even be visible in binoculars; here are charts that can help you find it.
Radar images of asteroid 3122 Florence, obtained from August 29, 2017 via Goldstone Radar in California. Higher resolution radar images expected in the next few days, as the space rock will also be studied from Arecibo Observatory. Image via NASA/JPL.
Bottom line: Photos of asteroid 3122 Florence, a large near-Earth object, which will pass Earth on September 1, 2017.
