"What's Up" From NASA and JPL for the Month of October, 2026
October 2026 brings us a chance to view the ringed planet Saturn at opposition, view meteors from the Orionid shower and watch the Moon slip by the bright Pleisdes cluster.
Skywatching Highlights from October's episode.
October 4:
Saturn reaches opposition - meaning it lies in a direct line from the Sun, through our Earth and out to the planet. This puts Saturn in prime viewing territory, where it is visible most of the night. After appearing nearly edge-on last year, the rings are now tipped about 7 degrees, giving us a view of its southern hemisphere.
October 6:
The thin crescent Moon appears near Jupiter in the early morning hours, before sunrise.
October 21, 22:
The peak of the Orionid meteor shower occurs on these two nights. The Moon's light may interfere with your early observing, so it would be best to view them after moonset and before dawn.
October 27, 28:
The Moon passes near the Pleiades star cluster on these two nights.
Watch "What's Up" for October, 2026 graciously provided by the fine folks at NASA and JPL.