The Visible Planets
Mercury is not visible this month as it stays in the Sun’s setting glow in the southwestern sky all month long. Southern latitude observers however, will able to see Mercury well after sunset due to the higher inclination of the ecliptic from their vantage point.
Venus still lingers low above the west-southwestern horizon at sunset from our northern latitude, keeping Venus in the light of the setting Sun. On October 6, look for the Venus just to the right of the very thin waxing crescent Moon.
Mars rises along the northeastern horizon before midnight through the month. The planet is found in the constellation of Gemini, the twins, at the start of the month but moves into the adjacent constellation of Cancer, the crab, on October 30. Over the month, you can see Mars move through the constellation of Gemini. On the nights of October 23 and 24, look for Mars near the waning gibbous Moon.
Jupiter rises along the northeastern horizon about an hour or so after sunset this month. It is found amongst the stars of the constellation of Taurus, the bull, and will be seen just above and to the east of the bright star, Aldebaran, which represents the eye of the bull. On October 9, Jupiter becomes stationary and afterwards begins its retrograde path in Taurus as Jupiter moves closer to its point of opposition on December 7. Through the night of October 21, look for Jupiter near the waning gibbous Moon.
Saturn is seen in low along the southeastern horizon at sunset and is found in the constellation of Aquarius, the water bearer. As the night goes on Saturn moves higher into the southern sky, appearing highest in the south around 12:00 a.m. MDT early in the month and by 10:00 p.m. MDT by the end of the month. On the nights of October 13 and 14, look for Saturn near the waxing gibbous Moon. Having just passed opposition in early September, Saturn continues to provide exceptional views through a telescope this month.
Moon Phases
October 2 New Moon
October 10 First Quarter Moon
October 17 Full Moon (The Hunter’s Moon) Largest Full Moon of 2024
October 24 Last Quarter Moon
Special Events
International Space Station (ISS) Observable Passes
During the month of October there will be early morning, pre-sunrise passes of the ISS starting around October 16 through until the end of the month. Exact times of these passages for your location can be found by visiting the website http://www.heavens-above.com or by using satellite tracking smart phone apps like Sputnik or Spot-the-Station.
October ? ESA’S Hera mission launch to the Didymos-Dimorphos asteroid system
October 2 Annular solar eclipse (not visible from North America)
October 4-10 World Space Week!
October 10 Europa Clipper launch to the Jupiter system (Start of 21-day launch window)
October 11-31 Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS C/2023 A3 may become visible in our western evening sky! Comets are notoriously unpredictable in what they do. If it becomes bright enough, then some special viewing may occur at the RASC Observatory. Stay tuned for developments! The comet will be seen in our western sky after sunset.
October 12-20 Jasper Dark Sky Festival
See https://jasperdarksky.travel/ for more details of the event.
TWOSE staff will be at the event on Friday, Oct. 18 & Saturday, Oct. 19.
October 17 Moon at perigee (357174 km). Largest Full Moon of 2024
October 21 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Edmonton Centre meeting
Live in the Zeidler Dome at TWOSE and presented virtually through Zoom.
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 pm
Free for anyone to attend.
See http://www.edmontonrasc.com for more details.
October 20/21 Orionid meteor shower peaks in the evening hours.