Woking Planetarium

Read our October sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!

Map

Constellations

These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.

Cygnus begins the night near the zenith, rotating west through the night before setting in the north in the early hours of the morning. This constellation is also known as the Northern Cross. It is visible for most of the night all month.

Pisces rises shortly before sunset in the eastern sky. Watch it move westwards across the sky throughout the night before setting in the west shortly after sunrise. It will be visible all night.

Perseus first appears in the north eastern sky at sunset. It then moves up towards the zenith and back down towards the north west before disappearing at sunrise. As the month goes on, it disappears at lower points in the sky.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month, but it can be seen low in the eastern sky at dawn from about the 16^th onwards. It will be at inferior solar conjunction on the 9^th, passing around the near side of the Sun. Its closest approach to the Sun, perihelion, occurs on the 20^th, and it will be at dichotomy (half-phase) on the 23^rd. Mercury’s highest altitude in the morning sky occurs on the 25^th and it will also be at greatest elongation west on the 25^th.

Venus can be seen just above the horizon in the southwestern sky during the second half of the month. Its furthest point from the Sun, aphelion, is on the 3^rd. Venus will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 9^th, at dichotomy (half phase) on the 28^th, and at greatest elongation east on the 29^th.

Mars is very close to the Sun this month, so will not be visible. It reaches solar conjunction on the 8^th.

Jupiter appears in the south eastern sky at sunset. It sets in the west in the early hours of the morning, setting earlier as the month goes on. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 15^th, and ends its retrograde motion on the 18^th.

Saturn appears in the southern sky at sunset and moves west throughout the night, just ahead of Jupiter. It sets earlier each night so evening is the best time to see it. Saturn enters retrograde motion on the 11^th and will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 14^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It appears low in the eastern sky at sunset, moving westwards to reach a high point in the south early in the morning.

Neptune is too faint too be seen with the naked eye. It appears in the southeastern sky at sunset, moving across to set in the west just before dawn.

Meteor Showers

The October Camelopardalids reach their peak on the 5^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is the in the constellation of Draco. This constellation is circumpolar so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be before dawn as Draco is highest in the sky in the morning.

The Draconids reach their peak on the 8^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Draco. This constellation is circumpolar so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be just after dusk when Draco is highest in the sky.

The Southern Taurids reach their peak on the 10^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Cetus. Meteors will be visible from about 19:07 BST until 06:42 BST, when Cetus is in the sky. Best displays are likely to be around 02:00 BST when the radiant reaches its highest point. You will likely see about 3 meteors per hour.

The δ-Aurigids reach their peak on the 11^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Auriga. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays are likely to be around 05:00 BST when Auriga is highest in the sky. You will likely see about 1 meteor per hour.

The ε-Geminids reach their peak on the 18^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Gemini. Meteors will be visible from about 21:21 BST until 06:57 BST, when Gemini is in the sky. Best displays are likely to be just before dawn when the radiant is at its highest point. You will likely see 2 meteors per hour, with significant interference from the Moon.

The Orionids reach their peak on the 21^st. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Orion. Meteors will be visible from about 21:56 BST until dawn, when Orion is in the sky. Best displays are likely to be around 05:00 BST, when the radiant is at its highest point. You will likely see about 12 meteors per hour.

The Leonis Minorids reach their peak on the 24^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Leo Minor. Meteors will be visible from dusk until 20:36 BST, becoming active again around 22:44 BST. Best displays are likely to be shortly before dawn, as the radiant reaches its highest point after sunrise. You will likely see 1 meteor per hour with significant interference from the Moon.

Moon

Full Moon: 20^th

Last Quarter: 28^th

New Moon: 6^th

First Quarter: 13^th

The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 8^th and apogee, its furthest point on the 24^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 8^th and aphelion, its furthest point, on the 18^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Points of Interest

Asteroid 40 Harmonia is at opposition on the 2^nd. It lies in the constellation of Cetus and will reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. Look for it between 21:57 BST and 04:13 BST as it moves across the southern sky.

The dwarf planet 136199 Eris is at opposition on the 17^th. It lies in the constellation of Cetus and will reach its highest point in the sky around 01:09 BST. Look for it between 21:45 BST and 04:33 BST as it moves across the southern sky.

Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.

Last updated: 1^st September.