What's in the Sky: Darkness comes earlier and stays later in October

Sunset is coming early, at about 6:45 p.m. at the start of the month. By the end of the month, it will be at about 5:50 p.m. Sunrise is at about 7:05 a.m. on Oct. 1 and 7:45 a.m. at the end of the month.

The Moon begins October nestled close to the Sun, difficult to see. Look for it by Oct. 6 low in the southwest, in the constellation Scorpius. On the 9, the waxing crescent Moon will lie in the “teapot” in the constellation Sagittarius, low in the southern sky. On the 13th, it will be just to the right of Saturn, and the next day will be to the left of Saturn. A good time to locate the ringed planet. The Moon will lie near Jupiter on the 20th and 21st, in the morning sky. The full “hunter’s Moon” will be on Oct. 17. This will be another “super moon” a bit closer than average. Although it is a bit bigger than average, that is hardly noticeable. You may detect that the night sky is a bit brighter, though.

The Moon will be near the Sun and out of the evening sky on Halloween, so skies will be dark for trick-or-treaters.

Saturn will be hard to miss in October. It will lie in the constellation Aquarius, in the southeastern evening sky, due south at 9 p.m. by the end of the month. Saturn will be easy to spot, the brightest object in the southern evening sky (other than the Moon, of course). Saturn appears yellowish to me in the sky.

Brilliant Jupiter enters the evening sky in late October. Look for it low in the east by 9 p.m. on Halloween. It will make its closest approach in early December. More about Jupiter in the coming months.

Mars is close behind Jupiter, rising at about 11 p.m. at the end of the month. Early 2025 will be the time to view Mars as it grows closer to us and more prominent in the evening sky.

An easy to locate constellation in October is Pegasus, with its “great square” of almost equally bright stars. Look for it above Saturn. The dim constellations Aquarius, to the right of Saturn and Pisces, between Saturn and Pegasus, can be picked out as well. Low in the south, below Aquarius, you may detect a bright star, Fomalhaut, in the constellation Piscis Austrinus.

You may hear of a solar eclipse in October, following the September partial lunar eclipse. Yes, there will be a solar eclipse on Oct. 2. However, it will only be visible in the far southern end of South America, far from here!

Enjoy October’s night skies!