The moon is new as October begins, aligning Oct. 3 with Venus in the western evening sky. Venus, as the evening star, will be quite obvious, but the sliver of the moon may be a difficult observation. Look for it about five degrees above Venus.
Near midnight Oct. 12, the moon occults (passes in front of) Neptune for viewers in northeastern Asia, Russia and northwestern Canada. For the rest of Canada, it’s a close conjunction. A telescope is a must for this event, as Neptune is so dim. The bright moon may overpower the distant planet.
The moon is full Oct. 15. By midnight Oct. 19, the moon occults Aldebaran, the bright star in Taurus, The Bull, continuing a series that occurs monthly for the next couple of years. Oct. 25 Regulus, the bright star in Leo, the lion, is within two degrees of the moon, quickly followed by Jupiter in the early morning of Oct. 28.
Mercury is a morning object, well placed for northern viewers during the first two weeks of the month. A daytime conjunction with Jupiter occurs Oct. 11.
Venus continues as the bright “star” in the western evening sky, joining up with Saturn Oct. 30, then Antares Oct. 31.
Mars is not a very good target, as it sets shortly after sunset in the western sky.
Jupiter becomes a morning object by mid-October, low in the dawn twilight. Watch for the daytime conjunction with Mercury Oct. 11, and a pairing with the moon Oct. 28.
Saturn is low in the southwestern evening sky, setting in late evening. Watch for the conjunction with Venus Oct. 30, and a close approach with nearby Antares.
Uranus is well placed for evening observation, at opposition Oct. 15.
Neptune is in the sky during the entire night, having just passed opposition in October. Watch for the nearby moon Oct. 11.
A weak meteor shower, the Draconids, happens on the evening of Friday, Oct. 7, into the morning of the Oct. 8. The name derives from the constellation where the meteors appear to originate – Draco, the dragon, in this case.
— James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now the Society’s president, assistant editor and a contributor to the renowned Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 General Assembly in Edmonton.
