Skywatching Highlights

Comets: Unpredictable, Yet Irresistible

All Month

• Planet Visibility:
• Venus: Look for it low in the west just after sunset.
• Saturn: Spot it toward the southeast as night falls.
• Mars: Rises around midnight.
• Jupiter: Appears in the first half of the night, rising earlier as the month progresses.

October 2

• New Moon.

October 11

• This morning, Europa will be easily visible next to Jupiter using binoculars.

October 14-31

• Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS): Watch for this comet low in the west after sunset. If the comet’s tail is well-illuminated, it could be visible to the naked eye. The best viewing opportunity is from October 14 to 24, especially with binoculars or a small telescope.

October 13-14

• After dark, look for the nearly full Moon near Saturn in the southeast.

October 17

• Full Moon.

October 20

• The Moon will rise close to Jupiter, which will be exceptionally bright. Look for them low in the east after 10 PM.

October 23-24

• Early risers can catch a glimpse of Mars with the Moon high in the southern sky both mornings.

October 25

• Once again, Europa will be easily visible beside Jupiter this morning with binoculars.

What’s Up for October?

This month’s viewing tips for Venus, Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter. Discover the best times to observe NASA’s next deep-space mission destination and learn how to catch a potentially bright comet this month.

October Planetary Visibility

First up, let’s explore the visibility of the planets this October. Venus can be spotted low in the west just after sunset, but it sets by the time the sky is fully dark. Saturn appears toward the southeast as night falls and sets by dawn. Mars rises around midnight throughout the month and climbs high into the south-southeast by dawn, often seen alongside Jupiter. Jupiter rises in the first half of the night; early in the month, it will be positioned high in the south as dawn approaches, while later on, it will shift westward before sunrise.

In exciting news, NASA is set to launch its latest mission to explore one of Jupiter’s moons this month. The Europa Clipper mission is scheduled to launch as early as October 10th. Europa is believed to harbor a vast ocean of salty liquid water beneath its icy crust, making this the first mission dedicated to studying an ocean world beyond Earth. Europa Clipper aims to assess whether this icy moon could support life and enhance our understanding of the conditions that allow a world to be habitable.

If you’ve ever looked at Jupiter through binoculars or a telescope, you’ve likely experienced the thrill of seeing its four large moons, which were first discovered by Galileo in 1610.

Two mornings this month, on the 11th and the 25th, will provide excellent opportunities to observe Europa. During these times, the moon will be at its greatest distance from Jupiter, appearing by itself to one side of the planet. Don’t miss your chance to glimpse Jupiter’s moon as NASA embarks on its mission to explore this ocean world.

Moon and Planet Pair-Ups

Now, let’s highlight some exciting Moon and planet pairings for October. On the 13th and 14th, after dark, look for the nearly full Moon near Saturn in the southeast. Then, on the evening of October 20th, the Moon will rise close to Jupiter, with the giant planet shining brightly. You should be able to find them low in the east around 10 PM that night.

Finally, early risers on the mornings of October 23rd and 24th can catch a glimpse of Mars alongside the Moon, high in the southern sky.

October: A Chance to Spot the Brightest Comet of the Year

This October presents a unique opportunity to observe what may be the brightest comet of the year. Earlier in the year, we caught a glimpse of Comet 12P, which was visible with binoculars but lacked brightness. Now, another ancient icy body is passing through our solar neighborhood on an 80,000-year orbit from the distant Oort Cloud. The comet, known as C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), is currently racing through the inner solar system. It reached its closest point to the Sun in late September and will be closest to Earth on October 13th. After that date, the best viewing opportunities will be from mid-October until the end of the month, as the comet becomes visible low in the western sky during twilight.

Each night, the comet will rise higher, making it easier to spot, but it may also become slightly fainter. As with all comets, predictions about its brightness are uncertain. If the comet’s tail is well-lit by the Sun, it could potentially be bright enough to see without binoculars. However, comets often surprise us, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Your best chance to catch a glimpse will be from October 14th through the 24th, especially with binoculars or a small telescope and a clear view toward the west. Good luck, and may the skies be clear for all comet hunters!