"What's Up" From NASA and JPL for the Month of October, 2025
A "Supermoon" graces our October sky and two perenial meteor showers - the Draconids and the Orionids - will also pepper our night sky with bright streaks.
All Month - The Planets
Saturn:
The ringed planet Saturn will be shining brightly in our nighttime sky all month. It's rings are nearly invisible now, being only 1 degree from edge-on. Find it early in the eastern evening sky and then follow it all night until it disappears in the western morning sky.
Shorthly after sunset on the 5th, Saturn will be neatly tucked just below the nearly full Moon, with the bright star Formalhaut slightly to the southwest.
Venus:
Venus will appear just above the eastern horizon in the early morning hours before sunrise.
Mars:
The Red Planet will appear very low in the west, just after sunset. Mars will become increasingly difficult to view as the month progresses, as it nears its conjunction with the Sun.
Jupiter:
Rising before Venus in the eastern sky, the King of the Planets is well positioned for viewing after midnight.
Skywatching Highlights from October's episode.
A Harvest Supermoon
On the night of October 6th, our Moon will reach its full phase. This particular full moon, however, will occur at its Perigee, or closest approach to the Earth. When this happens, we observe a "supermoon", with our natural satellite appearing 14% bigger and 30% brighter than when it is at apogee, or furthest approach.
The Draconid and Orionid Meteor Showers
The Orion meteor shower peaks on the 21st, so the Moon shouldn't have a negative affect on viewing. It normally produces about twice the number of meteors as the Draconids. With the Moon a non-factor, you should be able to observe around 20 streaks per hour.
Watch "What's Up" for October, 2025 graciously provided by the fine folks at NASA and JPL.