Moon Phases
Fri., October 4, 8:34 p.m. EDT
New Moon
The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it
is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a
morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an
evening or two after New Moon.
Fri., October 11, 7:02 p.m. EDT
First Quarter Moon
The First Quarter Moon rises around 2:00 p.m. and sets
around 12:30 a.m. It dominates the evening sky.
Fri., October 18, 7:38 p.m. EDT
Full Moon
This is the first Full Moon following the Harvest Moon last
month, and so is known as the Hunter’s Moon. It rises around sunset and sets
around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all
night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the
daytime sky.
Sat., October 26, 7:40 p.m. EDT
Last Quarter Moon
The Last Quarter Moon rises around 11:30 p.m. and sets
around 2:00 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.
Observing Highlights
Thu.–Thu., October 3–17, before morning twilight
Zodiacal Light
This faint light reflected from countless pieces of
interplanetary material will be visible in dark skies for the next two weeks.
It rises in a conical shape along the ecliptic before morning twilight.
Thu., October 3, 10 a.m. EDT
Uranus at opposition
The planet Uranus will be in opposition to the Sun, and
visible all night.
Sun., October 6, evening twilight
Saturn, Mercury, and the Moon
A triple conjunction low in the southwest just after sunset.
Wed., October 9, evening twilight
Mercury at greatest elongation east
Mercury will be at its greatest elongation east of the
setting Sun, but this will be an unfavorable opposition because of the low
angle of the ecliptic to the horizon. Saturn will be 5 degrees above Mercury.
Fri./Sat., October 11/12, 12:32–1:37 a.m. EDT
Triple shadow transit on Jupiter
It is very rare that three of Jupiter’s moons cast their
shadows on Jupiter simultaneously. This will be visible tonight in telescopes
with at least 90 mm. aperture. Later, the moons themselves will transit Jupiter’s
disk. Some events will happen before Jupiter rises in your location (around midnight).
This event is only visible in its entirety in eastern North America, taking
place before Jupiter rises on the West
Coast.
EDT CDT MDT PDT
11:12 10:12 9:12 8:12 Callisto’s
shadow enters
11:24 10:24 9:24 8:24 Europa’s
shadow enters
12:32 11:32 10:32 9:32 Io’s
shadow enters
1:37 12:37 11:37 10:37 Callisto’s
shadow leaves
1:48 12:48 11:48 10:48 Io
begins transit
2:01 1:01 12:01 11:01 Europa’s
shadow leaves
2:02 1:02 12:02 11:02 Europa
begins transit
2:44 1:44 12:44 11:44 Io’s
shadow leaves
4:02 3:02 2:02 1:02 Io
ends transit
4:42 3:42 2:42 1:42 Europa
ends transit
Sat., October 12, 10 p.m. EDT
Juno and the Moon
The 9th magnitude asteroid Juno will be just
north of the 9-day-old gibbous Moon, and close to the two wide double stars in
western Capricornus, Algedi and Dabih.
Tue., October 15, before dawn
Comet ISON, Mars, and Regulus
An unusual grouping of a comet, a planet and a star, as
Comet ISON puts in an early appearance. This image is based on early estimates
of ISON’s brightness. It now is known to be nowhere as bright as shown, but may
be visible in binoculars.
Wed., October 16, after sunset
Venus and Antares
Look just below Venus for the red giant star Antares. If you
look carefully, you may also be able to spot Mercury and Saturn.
Wed./Thu., October 16/17, 4:57–7:09 a.m. PDT
Double shadow transit on Jupiter
Observers on the West Coast will have the best chance of
seeing this event, which mostly takes place after sunrise in the East.
EDT CDT MDT PDT
6:30 5:30 4:30 3:30 Ganymede’s
shadow enters
7:57 6:57 5:57 4:57 Io’s
shadow enters
9:13 8:13 7:13 6:13 Io
begins transit
9:27 8:27 7:27 6:27 Ganymede’s
shadow leaves
10:09 9:09 8:09 7:09 Io
shadow leaves
Fri., October 18, 7:50 p.m. EDT
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
The Moon will pass through the edge (penumbra) of the Earth’s
shadow just after moonrise on the East Coast of North America. This eclipse is
very slight, so you will have to look closely so as not to miss it. Look for a shading
on the lower half of the Full Moon. It will also be visible in Africa, Europe,
and the Middle East.
Fri./Sat., October 18/19, 2:25–4:37 a.m. EDT
Double shadow transit on Jupiter
Most of this event will be visible all across North America.
EDT CDT MDT PDT
2:00 1:00 12:00 11:00 Europa’s
shadow enters
2:25 1:25 12:25 11:25 Io’s
shadow enters
3:41 2:41 1:41 12:41 Io
begins transit
4:37 3:37 2:37 1:37 Europa’s
shadow leaves
4:37 3:37 2:37 1:37 Europa
begins transit
4:38 3:38 2:38 1:38 Io’s
shadow leaves
Fri./Sat., October 25/26, 4:37–6:31 a.m. EDT
Double shadow transit on Jupiter
All of this event will be visible all across North America.
EDT CDT MDT PDT
4:18 3:18 2:18 1:18 Io’s
shadow enters
4:37 3:37 2:37 1:37 Europa’s
shadow enters
5:32 4:32 3:32 2:32 Io
begins transit
6:31 5:31 4:31 3:31 Io’s
shadow leaves
7:10 6:10 5:10 4:10 Europa
begins transit
7:14 6:14 5:14 4:14 Europa’s
shadow leaves
7:46 6:46 5:46 4:46 Io
ends transit
Planets
Mercury is well
placed in the evening sky for observers in the southern hemisphere, but very
low for northern observers.
Venus is now a
bright “evening star” setting just after the sun.
Mars is now a bright
object in Leo in the morning sky. Mars will have a close encounter with Comet
ISON on October 15.
Jupiter is the
brightest object in the morning sky all month. It is located in Gemini. There
are several double shadow transits this month, plus a very rare triple shadow
transit on October 11/12.
Saturn vanishes into
evening twilight this month.
Uranus is in
opposition on October 3. It is visible in Pisces all night.
Neptune is visible
in Aquarius most of the night, setting around 3 a.m.
Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night Software Support
All graphics © 2013 Starry Night Software
