Sign Up for Our Amazing Newsletter!
A daily update by email. Science news, great photos, sky alerts.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Visible planets and night sky guide for October
Visible planets and night sky guide. This evening, the moon hangs near Saturn in the eastern sky. In the morning, look for Jupiter and Mars.
October 24, 2026
Olbers’ paradox asks ‘Why is the night sky dark?’
Olbers' paradox asks why is space dark if the universe is filled with stars. The answer has to do with traveling light and red-shifting colors.
October 23, 2026
Orionid meteor shower 2026: All you need to know
The Orionid meteor shower is here! Find out where and when to look up with our charts and viewing tips.
October 20, 2026
Comet Halley is parent of 2 meteor showers
The famous comet Halley spawns both the October Orionid meteor shower and the May Eta Aquariid meteor shower. It'll return to the inner solar system in 2061.
October 18, 2026
Inferior conjunction — Venus! October 23-24, 2026
Venus reaches inferior conjunction — passing between Earth and the sun — at 4 UTC on October 24, 2026. Afterwards, it emerges into the eastern sky before dawn.
October 17, 2026
Proxima Centauri is the closest star to our sun
Proxima Centauri is the nearest star to our sun at 4.22 light-years away. It's home to at least 3 planets and has massive solar flares.
October 14, 2026
Meet Aquarius the Water Bearer and its stars
Aquarius lies in a “watery” part of the sky, near Pisces the Fish, Cetus the Whale, Eridanus the River and Piscis Austrinus the Southern Fish.
October 13, 2026
Meteor shower guide 2026: Up next … the Orionids
Up next is the Orionid meteor shower. Best viewed around the mornings of October 21. Check EarthSky's meteor shower guide here.
October 9, 2026
The ghost of Biela’s Comet: It created a storm and disappeared
November's Andromedid meteor shower is from the ghost of Biela’s Comet. It stunned observers in the 1800s, breaking up and producing meteor storms.
October 8, 2026
Flashing star in autumn? Here are 3 candidates
Flashing star in October? Discover 3 bright stars that shimmer in red, green and other colors, and find out why they put on this dazzling show.
October 6, 2026
