Astroblog: Thursday October 9 to Thursday October 16

Tuesday, October 07, 2025

Thursday October 9 to Thursday October 16

The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday October 14. Mercury is low in the evening twilight climbing towards Mars. Mars is in Libra and is close to the bright star apha2 Librae on the 14th. Saturn is past opposition, but is still visible the entire night. Jupiter is visible in the morning sky near the bright star Pollux. On the 14th the crescent Moon, Jupiter and Pollux form a triangle. Occultation of the star 69 Geminorum.

The Last Quarter Moon is Tuesday October 14.

North-eastern twilight sky on the morning of Tuesday, October 14 as seen from Adelaide at 05:39 ACDST (60 minutes before sunrise, click to embiggen).

Jupiter is passing through Gemini and is near the bright star Pollux. The crescent Moon, Jupiter and Pollux form a triangle. Occultation of the star 69 Geminorum is about to occur (5:44 ACDST).

The insets are the telescopic view Jupiter at this time and the occultation of 69 Geminorum at 5:44 ACDST.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes before sunrise).

Western sky on Saturday, October 11 as seen from Adelaide at 20:54 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen). Comet C/2025 R2 (Swan) is near Scorpius heading for a close approach to Asteroid Vesta. The inset is the approximate binocular view of the comet at the time.

Comet C/2025 R2 (Swan) is a (very) recently discovered comet that is around magnitude 7 (binoculars only), but it is well placed near some very bright guide stars so it will be easy to find. It will brighten a bit as it climbs higher into the dark skies, but will not really reach visual magnitude.

More information and printable charts here. https://astroblogger.blogspot.com/2025/09/how-to-see-new-comet-c2025-r2-swan-from.html

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Western sky on the evening of Saturday, October 11 as seen from Adelaide at 20:23 ACDST (60 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

Mercury is climbing closer to Mars low in the twilight. Mars is coming closer to the bright star apha2 Librae.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (60 minutes after sunset).

North-eastern sky on the evening of Saturday, October 11 as seen from Adelaide at 20:54 ACDST (90 minutes after sunset, click to embiggen).

Saturn is just past at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth. Saturn is visible all night long. Saturn is close to the waxing Moon (and also on the 6th).

The inset shows the telescopic view at this time.

Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).

Whole sky on Saturday, Saturday, October 11 as seen from Adelaide at 20:54 ACDST, 90 minutes after sunset (click to embiggen).

Mars is in the north-west. Saturn is in the east

Bright Achernar is rising from the Southern horizon. Scorpius is setting in the west and the galactic core is coming off the Zenith.

The Southern Cross is sinking in the Southern sky. The moon is waning and the fainter clusters and nebula are becoming easier to see.

Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).

Mercury climbs higher in the evening twilight coming closer to Mars.

Venus is lost in the twilight glow.

Mars is in Libra coming closer to the bright star apha2 Librae.

Jupiter climbs in the morning twilight. The crescent Moon, Jupiter and Pollux form a triangle.

Saturn was at opposition, when it was biggest and brightest as seen from Earth on the 21st. Saturn is visible all night long.

Printable PDF maps of the Eastern sky at 10 pm AEST, Western sky at 10 pm AEST. For further details and more information on what's up in the sky, see Southern Skywatch.

Star Map via Virtual sky. Use your mouse to scroll around and press 8 when your pointer is in the map to set to the current time.

Cloud cover predictions can be found at SkippySky.

Here is the near-real time satellite view of the clouds (day and night) http://satview.bom.gov.au/

Labels: weekly sky