September begins in western tropical astrology with the sun in the sign of Virgo and ends in the sign of Libra. Astronomically speaking, the sun actually begins in the constellation of Leo and ends in the constellation of Virgo.

In Latin, septem means "seven". The origin of the name may also be attributed to Vedic culture. In sanskrit, Sapta refers to "seven" and Ambar means "sky". "Sapt-Ambar" referred to the seventh sky or month in the Vedic culture. September was also the seventh month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC.

Ginkgos along Harlem Avenue in Riverside, IllinoisAstronomically, it begins with the autumnal equinox (around September 23 in the Northern hemisphere, and March 21 in the southern hemisphere), and ends with the winter solstice (around December 21 in the Northern hemisphere and June 21 in the Southern hemisphere). However, meteorologists count the entire months of March, April and May in the Southern hemisphere, and September, October and November in the Northern hemisphere as autumn. An exception to these definitions is found in the Irish Calendar which still follows the Celtic cycle, where Autumn is counted as the whole months of August, September and October.

Although the days begin to shorten after the summer solstice, it is usually in September (Northern Hemisphere) or March (Southern Hemisphere) when twilight becomes evidently shorter and more the change more abrupt in comparison with the more lingering ones of summer.

Autumn colours at Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, England.Autumn is often defined as the start of the school year, since they usually begin in early September or early March). Either definition, as with those of the seasons generally, is somewhat flawed because it assumes that the seasons are all of the same length, and begin and end at the same time throughout the temperate zone of each hemisphere.

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