| October is the tenth month in the Gregorian calendar and consists of 30 days. The name of October is derived from the Latin ‘octo’ meaning eight. October was the eight month when the year used to start on March 1. |
The Full Moon for October occurs on October 3rd. Being the Full Moon closest to the Autumnal Equinox, it is the Harvest Moon.
The New Moon for the month occurs on Saturday, October 17th, which make the weekend of October 17-18 as the best weekend for dark sky observation
Mercury is visible in the morning during the first half of October and disappears into the glare of the sunrise around October 18th. Mercury begins this month in the constellation Leo (The Lion) until October 4th when it crosses into the constellation Virgo (The Maiden).
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On October 5th, Mercury reaches its Greatest Western Elongation, which is the best morning view for its current orbit. Mercury is 17°56’42” from the Sun at this day and rising over a hour before the Sun. |
| On October 8th, Mercury, Venus and Saturn are in triple conjunction being less than 5°50’ of each other. Mercury and Saturn are a mere 0°30′ from each other. |
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Venus is the Morning Star this month. Venus starts October in the constellation Leo (The Lion) and on October 9th moves into the constellation Virgo (The Maiden) where it will spend the rest of the month.
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On October 8th, Mercury, Venus and Saturn are in triple conjunction being less than 5°50’ of each other. Mercury and Saturn are a mere 0°30′ from each other. |
| On October 13th, Venus is a mere 0°30’ from Saturn. |
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Mars is visible from the early morning hours of October. Mars rises around 12:45 am (PDT) at the beginning of the month and rises around midnight by the end of the month. Mars begins the month in the constellation Gemini (The Twins) until October 12th when it moves into the constellation Cancer (The Crab) where it will spend the remainder of the month.
On October 11th, the waning, crescent Moon will pass less than 2° of Mars.
On October 31st through November 2nd, Mars will pass through the
Beehive Cluster (M44).
Jupiter is observable in the morning hours of October, rising around 2:45 am (PDT) at the beginning of the month and rising around 12:50 am (PDT at the end of the month. Jupiter is located in the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat) until January 2010. Jupiter is in retrograde motion until October 12th.
| On October 26th, the waxing, gibbous Moon passes with 2°45’ of Jupiter. |
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Saturn appears briefly in the morning hours of October. At the beginning of the month Saturn rises about 5:55 am (PDT) and by the end of October, Saturn rises around 4:15 am (PDT). Saturn is located in the constellation Virgo (The Maiden) until December 2012.
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On October 8th, Mercury, Venus and Saturn are in triple conjunction being less than 5°50’ of each other. Mercury and Saturn are a mere 0°30′ from each other. |
| On October 13th, Venus is a mere 0°30’ from Saturn. |
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As October proceeds, Saturn continues to improve its position rising earlier and earlier and further away from the Sun.
Uranus begins the month in the constellation Pisces (The Fish) until October 13th when it passes into the constellation Aquarius (The Water Bearer) where it will remain until January 2010. Uranus is observable most of the night, setting around 5:45 am (PDT) at the start of October and setting around 3:40 am (PDT) at the end of the month.
On October 2nd, the waxing, gibbous Moon passes within 5°30’ of Uranus.
Neptune is located in the constellation Capricornus (The Sea Goat) until the year 2010. Neptune is viewable until the very early morning hours of October, setting around 3:20 am (PDT) at the beginning of October at setting around 1:20 am (PDT) at the end of the month.
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Neptune can be found within 6° of the planet Jupiter for the entire month of October. |
Neptune continues in retrograde motion until November 5th.
Located in the constellation Sagittarius (The Archer) until the year 2023, Pluto is observable in the evening hours of October. Pluto sets around 11:20 pm (PDT) at the start of October and sets around 9:20 pm (PDT) at its end.
| On October 22nd, the waxing, crescent Moon passes about 4°20’ of Pluto. |
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10/2/2009 The waxing, gibbous Moon passes less than 5°30′ of Uranus
10/3/2009 Full Moon
10/5/2009 Mercurys Greatest Western Elongation - Best morning view ( 17°56′42″ )
10/8/2009 Triple conjunct with Mercury, Venus and Saturn less than 5°50′ of each other. Mercury and Saturn are less than 0°30′
10/11/2009 Last Quarter Moon
10/13/2009 Mercury and Saturn are less than 0°30′ from each other.
10/17/2009 New Moon
10/22/2009 The waxing, crescent Moon passes within 4°20′ of Pluto
10/25/2009 First Quarter Moon
10/26/2009 The waxing, gibbous Moon passes within 2°45′ of Jupiter
10/31/2009 Mars begins to pass through the Beehive Cluster (M44)
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