Astroblog: Southern Skywatch October 2017 edition is now out!

Sunday, October 08, 2017

Southern Skywatch October 2017 edition is now out!

Morning sky as seen on September 18 half an hour before sunrise. The crescent Moon is close to Venus and forms a triangle with Mars. Similar views will be seen elsewhere in Australia at the equivalent local time. (click to embiggen).

The October edition of Southern Skywatch is now up. Sorry this is late again, but I was up in QLD with dodgy internet celebrating mum's 95th Birthday.

This month Mars climbs higher in the morniing sky and is close to Venus.

Jupiter comes closer to the western horizon and it is lost to view by the end of the month.

Saturn is still high in the early evening sky this month. This is still a good time to watch this ringed world in a telescope, although the window of good observation is narrowing. On the 24th Saturn is close to the crescent Moon.

Mercury enters the evening sky late this month but is very difficult to see low on the horizon. Next Month it will be very good viewing.

Venus gets lower in the morning sky this month. The crescent Moon is close to Venus on the 18th, forming a triangle with Mars. Venus is also lost to view by the end of the month.

The Orionid meteor shower is active towards the end of the month, with the best rates in the early morning of the 21st and 22nd.

Labels: southern skywatch