Tuesday, October 06, 2026
Thursday 8 October to Thursday October 15
The New Moon is Sunday October 11.
Saturn is low above the north-western horizon. Mars is in the heart of the Beehive cluster (M44). Mars forms a line with Jupiter and the bright star Regulus.
The insets shows the binocular view of Mars in the Beehive cluster and telescopic view of Jupiter at this time.
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes before sunrise).
Venus is just above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. Venus is near the crescent Moon and below Mercury. Crescent Venus and the crescent moon will (just) fit into the field of view of 10x50 binoculars.
Venus is a clear thin "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes, and even 10x50 binoculars (although the brightness may make it hard to see due to internal lens reflections).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
Venus is just above the horizon when the sky is fully dark. Mercury is below the crescent Moon and above Venus. Mercury is 3° to the right of the 3rd magnitude star Alpha Librae (Zubenelgenubi), a visual binary of yellow and white stars worth a look with binoculars (see the inset). Some places may see the Chinese space station pass close to Venus and Mercury.
Venus is a clear thin "Crescent Moon" shape and is increasing in size. The shape is readily visible in even small telescopes, and even 10x50 binoculars (although the brightness may make it hard to see due to internal lens reflections).
Similar views will be seen from the rest of Australia at roughly the equivalent local time (90 minutes after sunset).
Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon. Saturn was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th and is and is sill a magnificent telescopic sight.
The asteroid Vesta is at opposition and us easily visible in binoculars on the 12th. unfortunately there are no bright guide stars to easily get to it.
The insets shows the telescopic view of Saturn and the binocular view of Vesta at this time.
Elsewhere in Australia will see a similar view at the equivalent time (90 minutes after sunset).
Mercury climbs higher in the the evening twilight. The planet reaches its greatest elongation, 25° from the Sun, on the 12th, also on the 12th, the 2-day-old thin crescent Moon will appear about 5° away, between Mercury and Venus. On the 13th, the planet is 3° to the right of the 3rd magnitude star Alpha Librae
Venus leaves is becoming bigger and brighter but is slowly returning horizon-wards. On the 12th, Venus will be 3° to the left of the 2-day-old thin crescent Moon with Mercury above the pair, best viewed about an hour after sunset.
Mars is low in the twilight. From the 11th to the 13th, Mars crosses the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer. At magnitude 1, the Red Planet is much brighter than any of the stars in the Beehive Cluster, making for an interesting photo opportunity.
Jupiter climbs higher the morning twilight but remains low on the horizon forming a line with Mars and the bright star Regulus.
Saturn Saturn was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth, on the 4th. Saturn is the brightest object above the eastern horizon.
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
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