The Visible Planets
Mercury is not visible this month from our latitude, as it sets in the west around the same time as sunset. However, observers located around the equator of the Earth, will get a good view of Mercury in the western sky after sunset through most of the month.
Venus is not visible from our latitude for most of this month due to the shallow arc of the ecliptic and Venus’s position near it. For more southerly latitudes, Venus lingers low in the western sky at sunset for the first half of October. Venus reaches inferior conjunction (situated between the Sun and the Earth) on October 24. By the end of the month, Venus begins to slowly reappear low along the east-southeast horizon before sunrise.
Mars rises above the east-northeast horizon at around 1:00 am MDT early in the month and then by 12:30 am by the end of the month. For most of the month, Mars travels through the faint zodiac constellation of Cancer, the crab, but by the end of October, Mars moves into the adjacent zodiac constellation of Leo, the lion. By the end of the month, look for Mars nearing the planet Jupiter amongst the stars of Leo. Mars will have an orange colouration, while the brighter planet Jupiter, will have more of a cream colouration to it. In the overnight hours of October 4 to 5, the waning crescent Moon can be seen near Mars.
Jupiter rises above the northeast horizon by 2:50 am MDT early in the month and by 1:30 am MDT at the end of the month. It is found amongst the stars of the constellation of Leo, the lion, and will be seen just to the west of the bright star, regulus, of Leo. In the predawn hours of October 6, look for Jupiter near the waning crescent Moon.
Saturn is seen rising above the eastern horizon at sunset and is found in the constellation of Cetus, the “sea monster” or “whale”. As the night progresses, Saturn moves higher into the southern sky, appearing highest (about 38 degrees) in the south around 1:40 a.m. MDT early in the month and by 11:30 pm MDT by the end of the month. On the nights of October 23 and 24, look for Saturn below the waxing gibbous Moon. Saturn is at its point of opposition (closest distance to the Earth) on October 4, which will provide exceptional telescopic views all month-long, clear skies permitting!
Moon Phases
October 3 Last Quarter Moon
October 10 New Moon
October 18 First Quarter Moon
October 25 Full Moon (The Hunter’s 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 1 Launch at 9:10 am MDT of CSA astronaut, Joshua Kutryk, to the International Space Station as part of the Crew-13 mission for a 6-month mission.
October 4 Sputnik launched into space in 1957 (69 years ago)
October 4 Saturn at opposition (70-light minutes from Earth)
October 4-10 World Space Week!
October 5 Marc Garneau, Canada’s first astronaut, launched into space 42 years ago on Shuttle Mission 41-G. Marc Garneau passed away last year on June 4. He is sadly missed.
October 5 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Edmonton Centre meeting
Presented virtually through Zoom as the TELUS World of Science – Edmonton is closed for repairs.
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Free for anyone to attend.
See http://www.edmontonrasc.com for more details.
October 12 Thanksgiving Day
Mercury at its greatest elongation east (25 degrees)
October 16-25 Jasper Dark Sky Festival
See https://jasperdarksky.travel/ for more details of the event.
RASC public observing will be held on Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12.
TWOSE staff will be at the event on Friday, Oct. 17 & Saturday, Oct. 18.
October 21 Orionid meteor shower peaks in the evening hours.
October 31 Happy Hallowe’en!