In this guide we'll reveal what you can see in the night sky tonight, and throughout the month.
Those of us who enjoy stargazing and observing the night sky can't always plan when and where we're going to get the chance to gaze upwards.
Busy schedules, light pollution, the weather: sometimes finding even just 30 minutes to stand and stare up at a clear, dark night sky and take in the planets, stars and constellations can be a feat in itself.
So when you do find the time, you'll need to know what's visible in the night sky tonight, and the best things to look out for when stargazing.
Complete newcomer? Read our guides to the best telescopes for beginners and astronomy for beginners.
Here's our stargazing guide to what you can see in the night sky tonight.
Our guide is centred around what's visible from the UK, but all northern hemisphere observers should be able to use it, with the odd adjustment to stated times.
In our guide, we use Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST). UT is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. BST is one hour ahead of UT
We also use RA (Right ascension)and dec. (declination).
These coordinates are the night sky’s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial ‘globe’.
For help with these, read our guide to celestial coordinates.
For more advice, read our guide on how to stargaze or sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for weekly tips delivered directly to your email inbox.
If you're south of the equator, find out what you can see in the Southern Hemisphere night sky tonight.
What's in the night sky tonight?
October astronomy highlights
- 5 October: Venus lies near the waxing crescent Moon (pm)
- 14 October: Saturn very near the waxing gibbous Moon (pm)
- 17 October: Perigee full Moon (supermoon)
- 19 October: Lunar occultation of the southern part of the Pleiades (pm)
- 26 October: Ganymede shadow transit of Jupiter from 23:42 BST (pm)
Planets
Darkness takes hold in October, aided towards the end of the month by the end of British Summer Time (BST). This ceases to be in effect from 27 October, when the clocks revert to UT once again.
Quite a month it will be too, with the main planets putting their best foot forward. With the exception of Mercury, all are on show this month, and this is the beginning of the planets being visible again throughout autumn and winter 2024.
Venus sets 90 minutes after the Sun by the end of October, Mars brightens to mag. +0.1, Jupiter shines at mag. –2.3 and is able to reach its highest altitude in true darkness, as is Saturn, although this is dimmer at mag. +0.4.
The ice giants Uranus and Neptune are also well-presented this month – planetary heaven for those who enjoy observing these amazing objects!
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS will be interesting in October 2024 month too.
Predicted to reach its brightest magnitude in October, this should place it easily within the naked eye range. How will it be presented for UK observers?
Find out more with our guide to Comet C/2023 A3 in October and our beginner's guide to comet A3.
The Moon
Lunar fans are well catered for during October too.
On 1 October, there’s an opportunity to grab a very thin 1%-lit waning crescent Moon in the dawn twilight.
A tricky sight at the best of times, finding such a thin Moon in the bright twilight is very rewarding.
After passing new Moon on 2 October, on 5 October an easier to find 7%-lit waxing crescent Moon can be seen near bright Venus in the evening twilight.
On 7 October, the red supergiant Antares can be seen 1.2° northwest of a 21%-lit waxing crescent Moon just before they set.
At 19:15 BST (18:15 UT) on 14 October, the now 89%-lit waxing gibbous Moon sits 53 arcminutes southeast of Saturn, a separation measured from the centre of the Moon’s disc.
As the Moon appears 30 arcminutes across, this places Saturn 38 arcminutes from the Moon’s limb.
On 17 October full Moon occurs at 12:26 BST (11:26 UT), just 10 hours 40 minutes after lunar perigee.
This makes the 17 October full Moon, the Hunter’s Moon, a perigee full Moon, or supermoon.
On 19 October the 91%-lit waning gibbous Moon moves in front of the southern portion of the Pleiades open cluster. Can you pick out stars Alcyone and Electra?
Then as dawn breaks on 21 October, the waning gibbous Moon, now 81%-lit, sits near bright Jupiter.
The bright Moon on this date spells bad news for the Orionid meteor shower which peaks on the morning of 21 October.
The last quarter Moon appears near Mars as they both rise around 23:00 BST (22:00 UT) on 23 October.
Stars and constellations
In terms of the stars and constellations, October gives you the best of three seasons: summer towards the west early evening, autumn centre stage late evening and winter in the early hours.
The wedge-shaped constellation of Andromeda, the Chained Princess extends south of the northeast corner of the Great Square of Pegasus.
Mid-way along the wedge lies the bright spiral galaxy M31, which is visible to the naked eye from reasonably dark skies.
Andromeda stretches towards her husband and rescuer, Perseus, the Greek Hero.
Her mother and father appear further to the north, represented by W-shaped Cassiopeia, the Seated Queen and house-shaped Cepheus, the King.
Using binoculars, look at the region between Cassiopeia and Perseus where you’ll find the spectacular pair of clusters known individually as h and Chi (χ) Persei or collectively as the Double Cluster.
Night sky in October 2024, night-by-night
Tuesday 1 October
A 1%-lit waning crescent Moon hangs low above the eastern horizon around 06:00 BST (05:00 UT).
Thursday 3 October
At 21:00 UT, a telescopic view of Saturn will show the planet’s largest moon, Titan, just
6 arcseconds south of the planet’s southern pole.
Saturday 5 October
Catch Venus 3.7° to the north of the 7%-lit crescent Moon, low above the southwest horizon around 18:15 BST (17:15 UT).
The shadow of Saturn’s moon Dione is in transit at 23:28–02:36 BST (22:28–01:36 UT).
Tuesday 8 October
Magnitude +0.4 Mars sits 56 arcminutes from mag. +3.5 Wasat (Delta (δ) Geminorum) tonight and into tomorrow morning.
Wednesday 9 October
The shadow of Saturn’s moon Rhea transits the planet at 21:44–01:12 BST (20:44–00:12 UT).
Peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower (ZHR 5) occurs tonight and into tomorrow morning.
Friday 11 October
Saturn’s moon Titan appears 5 arcseconds north of the planet’s northern pole this evening.
Monday 14 October
Saturn appears 53 arcminutes northwest of the 89%-lit waxing gibbous Moon’s centre this evening. Closest approach is during evening twilight at around 19:12 BST (18:12 UT).
Tuesday 15 October
This evening’s 95%-lit waxing Moon lies 1.4° east of binocular planet Neptune.
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan–ATLAS sits 1.4° from mag. +5.8 globular cluster M5 this evening.
Wednesday 16 October
The shadow of Saturn’s moon Dione transits the planet’s globe between 22:17 and 01:26 BST (21:17–00:26 UT).
Thursday 17 October
Today’s full Moon (technically full at 12:26 BST (11:26 UT)) occurs just 10 hours and 40 minutes after lunar perigee, making it a perigee full Moon, popularly known as a supermoon.
Friday 18 October
The shadow of Saturn’s second-largest moon Rhea crosses the planet’s disc at 22:40–02:10 BST (21:40–01:10 UT).
Saturday 19 October
This evening, the 91%-lit waning gibbous Moon passes across the southern portion of the Pleiades open star cluster
Titan appears 7 arcseconds south of Saturn’s southern pole as darkness falls around 19:23 BST (18:23 UT).
Sunday 20 October
Tonight is the peak night for the Orionid meteor shower, the predicted peak occurring at 07:00 BST (06:00 UT) on the morning of 21 October. A bright gibbous Moon will greatly mar this year’s display.
Monday 21 October
The 81%-lit waning gibbous Moon sits 5.6° north of Jupiter just before dawn breaks this morning.
Wednesday 23 October
Planet Mars can be seen 9.3° southeast of the 61%-lit waning gibbous Moon as dawn breaks. Later today, around 23:00 BST (22:00 UT), both objects rise with Mars now 3.3° southwest of the last quarter Moon.
Friday 25 October
The 42%-lit waning crescent Moon sits 3.5° to the northeast of the Beehive Cluster as they rise together around 00:00 BST (23:00 UT on 24 October).
Saturday 26 October
You can see an excellent Ganymede shadow transit this evening, starting at 23:33 BST (22:33 UT) and concluding at 01:52 BST (00:52 UT). Ganymede itself transits between 02:30 and 04:44 UT on 27 October.
Sunday 27 October
Dione and Rhea’s shadows cross Saturn, Dione’s at 22:05–23:14 UT and Rhea’s at 22:33–02:00 UT.
British Summer Time ends at 02:00 BST, when UK clocks go back an hour to 01:00 UT.
Share your observations and images with us, or send us your astronomy questions to contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
