October Skywatching Highlights
Key Events:
- Oct. 4: Saturn reaches opposition, becoming visible throughout the night.
- Oct. 6: A crescent Moon appears near bright Jupiter before sunrise.
- Oct. 21-22: The Orionid meteor shower peaks; best viewing after moonset before dawn.
- Oct. 27-28: The Moon passes close to the Pleiades star cluster (the Seven Sisters).
October Overview
October brings exciting celestial events as Saturn shines brightly, meteor showers light up the sky, and the Moon visits the famous Pleiades star cluster.
Saturn at Opposition
On October 4th, Saturn will reach opposition. This means Earth will be positioned directly between the Sun and Saturn, allowing the planet to rise around sunset and remain visible all night. Exciting news for astronomers—recent observations reveal a ten-sided atmospheric wave forming around Saturn’s south pole, adding to the already fascinating hexagon-shaped jet stream observed previously.
Orionid Meteor Shower
The Orionid meteor shower, occurring on the night of October 21-22, is formed from debris left by Halley’s Comet. While the radiant point is in the constellation Orion, meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. This year, a bright waxing gibbous Moon may hinder visibility; your best chance for observing meteors will be a few hours before dawn after the Moon sets.
Moon and Pleiades
Look out for the Moon passing near the Pleiades (or Seven Sisters) on the night of October 27 into the 28th. The Pleiades is visible from nearly everywhere on Earth and appears as a sparkling group of 6 or 7 stars. It’s easily seen with the naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope will reveal even more detail.
Moon Phases
For further lunar observations, stay tuned for specific phases throughout October.
Stay connected with NASA’s ongoing missions and explore more about our solar system and beyond at NASA Science.
Presented by: Raquel Villanueva from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
