EarthSky Minute for September 25 – October 1
September 30: The moon and Jupiter
Tonight, the waning gibbous moon will rise shortly after sunset in the east and float near bright Jupiter. You can watch the pair travel across the sky all night, until dawn.
Late September, into early October: Venus and Mercury
You’ve seen Venus before dawn, yes? You can’t miss it, as the brightest planet, rising in the east before the sun. Venus will reach its greatest elongation – its greatest apparent distance from the sunrise – on October 23. And the other inner planet in our sun’s family – Mercury – is up before the sun now too. It’s not far from brilliant Venus and the bright star Regulus, in Leo the Lion. Mercury is brighter now than it was when it emerged from the sun’s glare in mid-September. And it’ll get a little brighter still, as October opens. But soon Mercury will be gone. Watch for it soon! The video below has more.
October 1 and 2 evenings: Moon near Jupiter and Pleiades
The bright waning gibbous moon will glow near Jupiter on the evenings of October 1 and 2, 2023. Also nearby is the lovely and delicate Pleiades star cluster, one of the cosmic gems in Taurus the Bull. The moon will rise about an hour after sunset, so this eye-catching trio will be visible traveling across the sky together until dawn.
October 4 and 5 mornings: Moon near Betelgeuse and Aldebaran
The waning gibbous moon will hang near the bright orange star Aldebaran on the morning of October 4, 2023. Aldebaran is the eye of Taurus the Bull. The next morning, on October 5, the moon will be closer to the bright red star Betelgeuse. It’s one of the many bright stars in Orion the Hunter. They’ll all rise before midnight and be high in the sky before dawn. You can’t miss them.
October 6: Last quarter moon
The instant of last quarter moon falls at 13:48 UTC (8:48 a.m. CDT) on October 6, 2023. It’ll rise around midnight on October 6 and set around mid-afternoon on October 7.
Ways to watch a solar eclipse safely on October 14
The time is now to get ready for the annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, visible over the Americas. Also, the sun’s Solar Cycle 25 is ramping up, and there is going to be an increasing number of spots on the sun in the coming years. Watch this video for tips on observing the solar eclipse and the sun safely.
October 6 and 7 mornings: Moon near Castor and Pollux
On the mornings of October 6 and 7, the last quarter moon will pass Castor and Pollux, the twin stars of Gemini. They’ll rise around midnight and be high in the morning sky. The bright star Procyon will also be nearby.
October 8 and 9 mornings: Moon near Venus and the Beehive
The thick waning crescent moon will glow next to the famous Beehive star cluster on the morning of October 9, 2023. You will need binoculars to spot the dozens of stars in the busy Beehive star cluster. Then, on the morning of October 9, the moon will be near brilliant Venus and Regulus, the brightest star in Leo the Lion.
October 10 and 11 mornings: Moon near Venus, Regulus and the Sickle
On the mornings of October 10 and 11, 2023, the waning crescent moon will float near the dazzlingly bright planet Venus. Also nearby is the bright star Regulus, marking the bottom of the backward question mark asterism called the Sickle. Regulus is the brightest star in Leo the Lion.
Moon at apogee around October 10
The moon will reach apogee – its farthest distance from Earth in its elliptical orbit – at 4 UTC on October 10, 2023 (11 p.m. CDT on October 9), when it’s 251,919 miles (405,425 km) away.
2nd and 3rd weeks of October: Watch for the zodiacal light
The weeks around the September equinox are the best time to see a hazy pyramid of light in the sunrise (Northern Hemisphere) or sunset (Southern Hemisphere) direction. Watch for this light – called the zodiacal light – before dawn breaks in the north, or when all traces of evening twilight have left the sky in the south. Read more here, or watch the video below.
October 12 and 13 mornings: Crescent moon and Venus
On the mornings of October 12 and 13, 2023, the thin waning crescent moon will lie just above the horizon in the eastern morning twilight before sunrise. Brilliant Venus and the bright star Regulus will be higher in the sky. On both mornings, the unlit portion of the moon will exhibit the lovely glow of earthshine, which is reflected light from Earth.
Heads up! Annular solar eclipse October 14
The first of two great American solar eclipses will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Only those using proper eye protection – in a narrow swath sweeping over North and South America – will get to see the sun form a ring around the moon at mid-eclipse. But many more will observe a partial solar eclipse. Make sure you protect your eyes with eclipse glasses throughout this eclipse. Order them now!
New moon on October 14
The instant of new moon falls at 17:55 UTC (12:55 p.m. CDT) on October 14, 2023. It’s a perfect time for stargazing under dark skies.
October 16 and 17 evenings: Crescent moon reappears in the evening
On the evenings of October 16 and 17, 2023, the thin waxing crescent moon will hang in the evening twilight near the horizon shortly after sunset. The bright fiery red star Antares will lie near the moon. Can you see any of the constellation of Scorpius – other than Antares – in the bright twilight? Also, on both evenings, look for the subtle glow of earthshine. Earthshine is the dim glow on the darkened portion of a crescent moon. It’s light from Earth shining on the night side of the moon.
October 18 evening: Moon close to Antares
On the evening of October 18, 2023, the thin waxing crescent moon will float close to the bright red star Antares. It’s the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion. The subtle illumination on the unlit side of the moon is earthshine. Its glow is light reflected from the Earth enabling us to see the dark side of the moon.
October 19 and 20 evenings: Moon near the Teapot
The thickening waxing crescent moon will pass the Teapot – an asterism – of Sagittarius the Archer on the evenings of October 19 and 20, 2023. On the second evening, the moon will float in front of the Teapot. By the way, the spout of the Teapot points to the center of our Milky Way galaxy.
October 21 and 22 evenings: Moon near Capricornus
The 1st quarter moon will pass the constellation Capricornus the Sea-goat on the evenings of October 21 and 22, 2023. Under dark skies, the constellation has the distinct shape of an arrowhead. The moon and Capricornus will be visible as darkness falls and set around midnight.
October 21 evening: 1st quarter moon
The instant of 1st quarter moon falls at 3:29 UTC on October 22, 2023, (10:29 p.m. CDT on October 21).
October 22 morning: Orionid meteor shower
The predicted peak of the Orionid meteor shower is the morning of October 22, 2023.
October 23 morning: Venus greatest distance from the sun
Venus will reach greatest elongation – at 46 degrees – from the sun at 23 UTC (6 p.m. CDT) on October 23, 2023.
October 23 and 24 evenings: Moon near Saturn
The waxing gibbous moon will pass the steady light of golden Saturn on the evenings of October 23 and 24, 2023. The Water Jar asterism of the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer will shine nearby. You’ll be able to watch Saturn and the moon until they set after midnight.
October 25 and 26 evenings: Moon near the Great Square
The waxing gibbous moon will glow brightly below the asterism of the Great Square of Pegasus on the evenings of October 25 and 26, 2023. You can find the moon and the Great Square until a few hours before dawn.
October 25-26: Moon reaches perigee
The moon will reach perigee – its closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit, at 3 UTC on October 26, 2023 (10 p.m. CDT on October 25), when it’s 226,720 miles (364,872 km) away.
October 27 and 28 all night: Moon near Jupiter
In the late evening of October 27, 2023, the bright waxing gibbous – an almost full moon – will glow near bright Jupiter. The following evening, on October 28, 2023, the full Hunter’s Moon will rise next to Jupiter shortly after sunset. The pair will travel across the sky together all night.
October 28, all night: Full Hunter’s Moon
The instant of full moon falls at 20:24 UTC (3:24 p.m. CDT) on October 28, 2023.
October 29 and 30 evenings: Moon near the Pleiades
After having visited Jupiter the night before, the bright waning gibbous moon will pass the Pleiades star cluster on the evenings of October 29 and 30, 2023. Pleiades is also known as the Seven Sisters or Messier 45 and appears as a glittering, bluish cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. How many stars can you see in its tiny “dipper-like” shape? The moon and Pleiades will cross the sky together until dawn.
October 31 evening: Moon near Aldebaran
On Halloween, October 31, 2023, the bright waning gibbous moon will lie near the fiery red star Aldebaran of Taurus the Bull. The shimmering Pleiades star cluster will shine nearby. You can follow them until sunrise.
Heads up! 2 great American eclipses coming
The first of two great American solar eclipses will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Only those using proper eye protection – in a narrow swath sweeping over North and South America – will get to see the sun form a ring around the moon at mid-eclipse. But many more will observe a partial solar eclipse. Make sure you protect your eyes with eclipse glasses throughout this eclipse. Order them now!
Planets in September
Mid-September mornings: Venus and Mercury
Around now, for viewers in the Northern Hemisphere, Venus will climb higher each morning and will reach its greatest elongation on October 23, 2023. And Mercury will rise in the east shortly before sunrise. It will lie in the bright morning twilight near the similarly bright star Regulus and far below brilliant Venus. Mercury will brighten from magnitude -0.3 to -1.0 during the month. This is the best morning apparition for Mercury in 2023 for the Northern Hemisphere. Around greatest elongation, on September 22, Mercury rises about an hour before sunrise.
September mornings: Venus
After passing between the sun and Earth on August 13, 2023, brilliant Venus is up in the September dawn sky before sunrise. Venus will be brightest in the morning sky around September 19, 2023, and will reach 44 degrees elongation from the sun by the end of the month. Venus will brighten from magnitude -4.6 to -4.8 during the month. It’ll reach greatest elongation from the sun next month. The bright star Procyon of Canis Minor the Lesser Dog shines nearby. Venus will rise about 2 hours before sunrise at the beginning of the month and about 3.5 hours before by month’s end. The planet Mercury may be visible below Venus and near the horizon.
September overnight: Jupiter
Jupiter is in the constellation of Aries the Ram during the month of September. It will shine near the pretty Pleiades star cluster. Jupiter will brighten from magnitude -2.5 to -2.7 during the month. Jupiter will rise about 10 p.m. (your local time) at the beginning of the month and will rise around 8 p.m. by month’s end. It’s high in the sky at dawn.
September all night: Saturn
Saturn will lie in the southeast after sunset during September. It will be near the dim “Water Jar” asterism of Aquarius the Water Bearer. Saturn reached opposition on August 27, 2023, so it will remain well placed for observing this month. Saturn will shine at magnitude 0.5 during the month. The full Harvest Moon supermoon will visit Saturn on September 28, 2023. Saturn will rise and set with the sun at the beginning of the month and will rise before sunset and set about 3 hours before sunrise by month’s end.
Planets in October 2023
Early-October mornings: Venus and Mercury
Brilliant Venus will climb higher each morning and will reach its greatest elongation from the sun on October 23, 2023. It’ll be 46 degrees from the sun on the dome of our sky that day. Venus will begin the month at -4.4 magnitude. Also, keep an eye on Venus and the bright star Regulus getting closer together at the beginning of the month. They’ll be closest around the morning of October 9, 2023, when they appear about two degrees apart. A lovely waning crescent moon will join Venus and Regulus on the morning of October 10. After that, Venus and Regulus will drift apart. Meanwhile, Mercury will rise in the east shortly before sunrise. Mercury will brighten from magnitude -1.0 to -1.3 before disappearing in the morning sun before mid-month. Its recent September 22 greatest elongation was the best morning apparition for Mercury in 2023 for the Northern Hemisphere.
Mid-October mornings: Venus
After Mercury slips away in the morning sun, Venus will continue to dazzle as a beacon in the morning sky. The bright star Regulus – the bottom star in the backward question mark asterism known as the Sickle – will be nearby. Around mid-month, Venus will fade slightly to -4.3 magnitude. It’ll still outshine all natural objects in the morning sky except the moon. It will rise about four hours before sunrise.
Late-October mornings: Venus
In late October, brilliant Venus will shine at -4.2 magnitude below the bright star Regulus. It will be near the constellation Leo the Lion. After reaching greatest elongation on October 23, 2023, Venus will slowly descend a bit more each day, but it will remain a dazzling light in the morning sky through the end of the year. It will end the month rising about four hours before sunrise.
October evenings, all night: Jupiter
Jupiter will rise in the east shortly after evening twilight subsides and will be visible until dawn. It will shine near the pretty Pleiades star cluster in the constellation of Taurus the Bull. It’s racing toward opposition on the evening of November 1-2, 2023, when we fly between it and the sun. By then, Jupiter will be visible all night. Jupiter lies in the dim constellation of Aries the Ram. It brightens from -2.7 to -2.8 magnitude in October. The moon will float by Jupiter on October 2 and October 29, 2023.
October evenings: Saturn
Golden Saturn will shine in the south after sunset during October. It will be near the dim Water Jar asterism of the constellation of Aquarius the Water Bearer. Our solar system’s beautiful ringed planet is well placed for observation this month and shines at 0.6 magnitude for most of the month. The waxing gibbous moon will visit Saturn on the evenings of October 23 and 24, 2023. Saturn will be setting after midnight this month.
Where’s Mars?
It’s too close to the sun to be visible for the rest of 2023. It’ll be back next year.
Thank you to all who submit images to EarthSky Community Photos! View community photos here. We love you all. Submit your photo here.
Looking for a dark sky? Check out EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze.
Sky dome maps for visible planets and night sky
The sky dome maps come from master astronomy chart-maker Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2023 in his Astronomical Calendar.
Guy Ottewell explains sky dome maps
Heliocentric solar system planets
The sun-centered charts come from Guy Ottewell. You’ll find charts like these for every month of 2023 in his Astronomical Calendar.
Guy Ottewell explains heliocentric charts.
Some resources to enjoy
For more videos of great night sky events, visit EarthSky’s YouTube page.
Watch EarthSky’s video about Two Great Solar Eclipses Coming Up
Don’t miss anything. Subscribe to daily emails from EarthSky. It’s free!
Visit EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze to find a dark-sky location near you.
Post your own night sky photos at EarthSky Community Photos.
Translate Universal Time (UTC) to your time.
See the indispensable Observer’s Handbook, from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.
Visit Stellarium-Web.org for precise views from your location.
Almanac: Bright Planets (rise and set times for your location).
Visit TheSkyLive for precise views from your location.
Bottom line: Tonight, the moon will rise shortly after sunset and float near bright Jupiter. You can watch the pair travel across the sky all night, until dawn.
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