Some highlights for the night sky in October 2006
Sunday 1 October 2006
- Shortly after sunset look for Mercury very near horizon
- Also at this time look for Jupiter near Alpha Libra
Tuesday 3 October 2006
- Shortly after sunset try again to see Mercury (if you have a clear horizon in the WSW
- After sunset, Jupiter is visible, getting lower in the sky as the days go by
Friday 6 October 2006
- Before sunrise this morning, Moon is nearly full, and at perigee
- Full Moon occurs this evening (look for moonrise at sunset)
Monday 9 October 2006
- Columbus Day celbrated in USA
- Moon occults several stars in Pleiades (best seen west of Texas)
- Look for Moon near Pleiades about 3.5 hours after sunset
Tuesday 10 October 2006
- About 30 minutes after sunset look for Mercury and Jupiter (separation less than 10 degrees)
- Look for Antares about 30 degrees to the left of Jupiter
Friday 13 October 2006
- After sunset look for Mercury and Jupiter (less than 7 degrees apart)
- Near midnight, look for Last Quarter Moon rising near Pollux
Monday 16 October 2006
- Mercury at greatest elongation (and only 5 degrees from Jupiter)
- In the SW after sunset look for Antares
Friday 20 October 2006
- After sunset look for Mercury near Jupiter (less than 4 degrees apart)
- In the SW after sunset look for Antares
Wednesday 25 October 2006
- About 30 minutes after sunset look in SW and find Mercury, Jupiter, Antares and crescent Moon
- Crescent Moon is to the left of Antares in SW
Friday 27 October 2006
- About 1 hour after sunset, look for crescent Moon in Sagittarius (aka Teapot)
- Venus is at superior conjunction
Sunday 29 October 2006
- First Quarter Moon
- About 1 hour after sunset, Antares near SW horizon
Tuesday 31 October 2006
- Halloween (watch for children)
- After sunset Mercury is about 3 degrees from Jupiter, but getting even harder to see
Good skywatching resources
John Avellone's provided web sites